Day 34 - Monday 12 June 2017
Crafthole to Plymouth (15.6 miles)
An overcast day mainly which was interspersed with sunny spells now and then. We were off to Plymouth today - a place we know pretty well due to our Maritime backgrounds. We had not been for a while therefore it would be interesting to see how much it had changed. We had a really pleasant stay at The Finnygook and the food in particular was very good. From Crafthole we regained the path at Whitsand Bay Golf Course and we enjoyed the warm sun on our back for a while however nearing Tregantle Fort the wind started to blow and the sky darkened.
The section between Freathy to near Polhawn Fort was a tad tedious - mainly on road with the odd bit of verge to walk on. As we reached Rame Head the sky was still dark which was a real shame as the chapel at Rame Head is such an idyllic spot. At Homebarton Hill we stumbled upon a family of horses out for the day - there were two very young foals amongst them and we simply let them by to get on with their day. As we dropped down into Cawsand & Kingsand we passed Pier Cellars but did not go in - this is a place we both know very well as it is a site that is used by the recruits and staff at nearby HMS Raleigh where we have both served.
The villages of Cawsand & Kingsand were very quiet and we stopped for a drink at The Devonport Inn - weather now sunny therefore we sat outside enjoying the warmth. The walk through the Edgcumbe Estate is always a pleasure and one to be savoured. Having just missed the ferry to Plymouth at Cremyll we decided to pay a visit to The Orangery to do some Quality Control on their cake - it was delicious. Crossing the Hamoaze we arrived in Plymouth and meandered through Millbay heading for our B&B on the Barbican.
The city was a bit of a shock to the system if we are being brutally honest - it had changed a lot, particularly around Millbay. Maybe it is for the better - time will tell. At Four Seasons we checked in & dropped off our stuff and headed off up the road to meet a very good friend of ours Kev - lovely catch up & drinks at "The Pub on the Hoe". Kev very kindly gave us £20 for Fudge's Charity which was fantastic. Quiet night in having a sort out of stuff with a Carpet Picnic.
The section between Freathy to near Polhawn Fort was a tad tedious - mainly on road with the odd bit of verge to walk on. As we reached Rame Head the sky was still dark which was a real shame as the chapel at Rame Head is such an idyllic spot. At Homebarton Hill we stumbled upon a family of horses out for the day - there were two very young foals amongst them and we simply let them by to get on with their day. As we dropped down into Cawsand & Kingsand we passed Pier Cellars but did not go in - this is a place we both know very well as it is a site that is used by the recruits and staff at nearby HMS Raleigh where we have both served.
The villages of Cawsand & Kingsand were very quiet and we stopped for a drink at The Devonport Inn - weather now sunny therefore we sat outside enjoying the warmth. The walk through the Edgcumbe Estate is always a pleasure and one to be savoured. Having just missed the ferry to Plymouth at Cremyll we decided to pay a visit to The Orangery to do some Quality Control on their cake - it was delicious. Crossing the Hamoaze we arrived in Plymouth and meandered through Millbay heading for our B&B on the Barbican.
The city was a bit of a shock to the system if we are being brutally honest - it had changed a lot, particularly around Millbay. Maybe it is for the better - time will tell. At Four Seasons we checked in & dropped off our stuff and headed off up the road to meet a very good friend of ours Kev - lovely catch up & drinks at "The Pub on the Hoe". Kev very kindly gave us £20 for Fudge's Charity which was fantastic. Quiet night in having a sort out of stuff with a Carpet Picnic.
Looking back to Whitsand Bay & Portwrinkle from the path over the Golf Course - Looe is in the far distance
Tregantle Fort can just about be seen to the left with Rame Head to the right
The stretch between Whitsand Bay & Tregantle Fort is superb
Here we are at Tregantle
Brings back memories of when we both used this range in far off times
Tregantle Fort
The memorial near Tregantle to Edward Spencer and his sons Reginald and Sidney who drowned here while bathing in 1875
Captain Blake's Point & Polhawn
Rame Head & St Michael's Chapel
On familiar territory now as we head along the coast to Kingsand & Cawsand
We bumped into this family outing near Cawsand
Pier Cellars provides various training facilities for the Navy recruits at nearby HMS Raleigh - we have both been here many times
Fort Picklecombe with Plymouth in the distance
Kingsand & Cawsand
Fudge meeting the locals
The Maker with Rame Institute in Cawsand & Kingsand
A welcome breather at The Devonport Inn at Kingsand and time for a group photo - we are losing so much weight that Angie & I have become invisible
The survey vessel HMS Enterprise - she was built near the South West Coast Path at Appledore in 2002
The Navigational Beacon at Hooe Lake Point - not far to go to reach The Cremyll Ferry to Plymouth
Entering the Edgcumbe Estate - Kingsand & Cawsand are behind us now
The Picklecombe Seat
The seat dates to around 1779/80 and was constructed from a Medieval doorway, enclosing a small niche with a piscina at the back. The carved stone comes from the churches of St. George and St. Lawrence at Stonehouse in Plymouth. Here there would have been a view down the valley to the open sea, but in the 1860s the gun battery at Picklecombe was developed and extended with barracks.
The seat dates to around 1779/80 and was constructed from a Medieval doorway, enclosing a small niche with a piscina at the back. The carved stone comes from the churches of St. George and St. Lawrence at Stonehouse in Plymouth. Here there would have been a view down the valley to the open sea, but in the 1860s the gun battery at Picklecombe was developed and extended with barracks.
The Breakwater in Plymouth Sound
Red Seat is a ruinous 19th century rest house at the top of the Zig-Zags. It was in place by 1869 and through the years has been known by a variety of names, including the Kiosk, Chinese Pagoda and the Indian Cottage. But there is some confusion with another structure, the Verandah, further down the slope - of which only the base remains. The Red Seat is a three-arched stone arcade and may have derived its name from the colour of paint used on its wooden superstructure, or perhaps because it lies above Redding Point.
Drake's Island in Plymouth Sound
Milton's Temple on the Edgcumbe Estate. The temple is Ionic and was built in 1755 - on the back wall is a quote from Paradise Lost.
"Over head up grow Insuperable height of loftiest shade Cedar and Fir and Pine and branching Palm A sylvan scene and as the ranks ascend Shade above shade a woody theatre of stateliest view"
"Over head up grow Insuperable height of loftiest shade Cedar and Fir and Pine and branching Palm A sylvan scene and as the ranks ascend Shade above shade a woody theatre of stateliest view"
Plymouth
...... and no enjoying yourselves either
The formal Italian Garden at Mount Edgcumbe
Oh bother! We had just missed the Ferry to Plymouth - better have a bit of cake then
Mount Edgcumbe House
Or goodbye in our case
Here comes the Edgcumbe Belle aka the Cremyll Ferry
Royal William Yard is to the right. Designed by Victorian architect Sir John Rennie and constructed between 1825 and 1831, Royal William Yard is steeped in history. Considered to be one of the most important groups of historic military buildings in Britain, it is also the largest collection of Grade 1 listed military buildings in Europe.
Royal William Yard is to the right. Designed by Victorian architect Sir John Rennie and constructed between 1825 and 1831, Royal William Yard is steeped in history. Considered to be one of the most important groups of historic military buildings in Britain, it is also the largest collection of Grade 1 listed military buildings in Europe.
Not a big fan of boaty ferry things is Fudge
The area around Stonehouse & Royal William Yard is littered with quotes such as this
Try as we might we could not wake Pancho up - clearly out of his skull on Tequila
With our good friend Kev Ryan in Plymouth
Day 34 Data
Mileage
Cumulative Mileage
Time
Cumulative Time
Total Ascent
Cumulative Ascent
Cumulative Mileage
Time
Cumulative Time
Total Ascent
Cumulative Ascent
15.6 miles
439 miles
6 hrs 45 mins
215 hrs 20 mins
3241 ft
103114 ft
439 miles
6 hrs 45 mins
215 hrs 20 mins
3241 ft
103114 ft