portscatho to falmouth

October 02, 2022 by Mark Seymour in south west coast path

SOUTH WEST COAST PATH

sunday, 25TH SEPTEMBER 2022

The weather forecast for today looks to be pretty good so it’s time to get cracking.

Falmouth high tide 05:53

Falmouth low tide 12:18

It’s a relatively late start for us as it’s a Sunday and the King Harry Ferry doesn’t start until 09:00. We catch the first ferry which is a relatively expensive £7 single and then head to the car park above Portscatho at Gerrans. I amble down through the village, passing the Plume of Feathers.

I head down to the beach and enjoy the early morning sun.

My grandfather used to love swimming in the sea here. One day he found a great big slab of wood on the beach here and took it back to my grandparents home in Offwell, Devon. We used to use the slab of wood as a cricket wicket whenever we visited so it became known as the Portscatho Wicket.

portscatho

I leave the beach and wander around Portscatho, passing the tiny harbour, and then say goodbye to the village. It’s been seven years since I was last here and who knows how long it will be until I’m next here.

I amble along the gentle cliffs, enjoying the late season wild flowers. It is surprisingly hot and a lot warmer than I was expecting.

I’m ambling along quietly and suddenly here a familiar call. Several choughs fly over me. I can’t make out their red beaks but their call is unmistakeable. I’ve never seen choughs this far west before so they must be doing very well.

choughs

I spot a wall brown butterfly and manage to take a bad photograph. There are also clouded yellow butterflies flying around but they are much more difficult to photograph.

I continue ambling and say hello to several dog walkers while enjoying the wildflowers.

I continue towards Towan Beach where I come across a raggedy speckled wood butterfly.

I reach Towan Beach where I enjoy the sandy beach along with several dog walkers.

towan beach

On leaving Towan Beach I come across the remains of a wreck post, erected by the coastguard service and used to simulate a ship's mast in training exercises. It was still complete the last time I was here but all that’s left now is a stump. I wonder what happened to it?

It is a pleasant surprise to see another group of choughs fly over me.

I round Killigerran Head and Porthmellin Head.

I continue along the path above Porthbeor Beach. I thought that Porthbeor Beach was supposed to be inaccessible but, tantalisingly, I think I can make out footprints in the sand.

porthbeor beach

The mystery is solved as further along the path I spot people leaving the beach and climbing aboard a boat.

I now have some lovely views over to Falmouth.

I’m now at St Anthony Head and walk through St Anthony Meadow where I come across Shetland ponies grazing on the vegetation.

I round Zone Point and pass the 19th century battery on St Anthony Head and then head down towards St Anthony's lighthouse, built in 1835.

19th century battery

I follow signs behind the lighthouse before getting an actual glimpse of the lighthouse further on.

After leaving the lighthouse I have magnificent views over to St Mawes and Falmouth in the distance.

I head through woods to reach some beehives where the bees are very active.

I pass through the churchyard of St Anthony's Church and then pass the rather modest Place House.

I’ve now reached the Place Ferry. I glance at my phone and it’s 12:14. There’s supposed to be a ferry at 12:15. I’m bang on low tide and there’s no sign of a ferry so maybe it’s not running for a while.

Suddenly people start to ascend Toddy's Steps in front of me. Once they are past I descend the steps and notice the ferry further along the beach. The ferry is just about to leave but the ferryman calls out to me so I slither along the slippery beach and board the ferry, just in time.

The ferry takes me over to St Mawes and it has moved with the times and I’m able to buy a combined ticket to St Mawes and then on to Falmouth for £13.50 using a contactless machine. It's a thoroughly pleasant 5 minute trip.

I leave the ferry and then wait for the connecting ferry to take me back to Falmouth.

st mawes

I catch the 12:45 ferry and it's now a pleasant 15 minutes or so journey to my destination for the day, Prince of Wales Pier in Falmouth.

approaching falmouth

It's now a short walk up through the busy streets of Falmouth to return to our cottage, Bussillion, for the week, overlooking Falmouth harbour.

My knees and ankles have been playing up all year, although they’ve been OK on the short walks this week, so it might be time to think about hanging up the walking boots. If so this is a fitting end as I started walking the south west coast path in Falmouth seventeen years ago. It has been a great few years.

FLORA AND FAUNA

Flora and fauna encountered on the walk today includes :-

oystercatchers
red campion
mouse-ear hawkweed
common knapweed
blackberries
common toadflax
burdock
ragwort
CHOUGHS!
wild carrot
ribwort plantain
wall brown butterfly
speckled wood butterfly
clouded yellow butterflies
fleabane
great mullein
shetland ponies
bees

PODCAST

The podcast of today's walk is now available. You can subscribe via Apple Podcasts or listen using the player below.

MARKS OUT OF TEN?

According to my phone I've walked 7.7 miles and, including the ferries, covered a distance of 10.2 miles, which amounts to 18174 steps. It has taken me three and a half hours.

Sun, sea, sand, choughs and ferries. Ten out of ten!

WALK DETAILS

MAP

portloe to portscatho

October 02, 2022 by Mark Seymour in south west coast path

SOUTH WEST COAST PATH

saturday, 24TH SEPTEMBER 2022

The weather forecast for today seems to be pretty good considering that we are now well and truly into autumn territory. There’s a northerly wind blowing so it’s not going to be particularly warm but I shouldn’t get much in the way of rain.

Falmouth low tide 11:39

Falmouth high tide 17:29

I start the day at the car park high above Portloe and wander down the road, photographing the flowers as I go.

I reach the tiny beach and fishing harbour at the bottom of Portloe after passing the charming granite cottages on the way down and then the Lugger Hotel (@TheLuggerHotel).

I spend way too long enjoying the harbour before setting off on the gorse and bracken covered cliffs out of Portloe. I have fine views back across Portloe.

On leaving Portloe, I’m immediately greeted by the sound of singing chiffchaffs who have been silent all summer but for some reason strike up their song again in September. Robins are also singing away.

The wild flowers and berries, even this late in the season are looking lovely. At Broom Parc I come across hydrangeas, crocosmia going to seed and sloes.

I round Manare Point and reach the rocky shore at Parc Caragloose Cove. I enter some woodland and then climb a long, grassy slope before rounding Blouth Point.

I'm now above the bouldery Kiberick Cove and out to sea I can see Gull Rock.

I continue along the gorse covered slopes passing Horse Rock, Lemoria Rock and Haine's Rock to reach Nare Head.

A national trust sign warns me that the boardwalk in front of me is in a state of disrepair. It is indeed a bit of a mess but I take care and manage to cross it and survive.

I come across a beetle ambling along the south west coast path but I’m useless with beetles so I have no idea what type it is.

I come across my first sheep of the day. In the past this walk has been smothered in sheep.

On Nare Head I come across a World War II bunker which was used to protect the port of Falmouth. Special effects systems, scattered strategically across the headland, were controlled from this bunker by four Royal Navy crewmen.

These effects were designed by British film studios to simulate lights from docks, railway tracks and stations. As enemy bombers approached, the bunker crew switched on the lights. Flying at night, the enemy aircrew were fooled into thinking they had spotted Falmouth. As the bombs were dropped, the bunker crew triggered fires and explosions to give the impression of successful bomb strikes.

Next to the World War II bunker is an atomic early warning bunker, built in 1963. The bunker was designed as a survival unit in which three officers from the Royal Observer Corps could live for up to three weeks, following a nuclear attack, whilst monitoring radioactive fallout. Made of concrete it lies a metre below ground and measures five by three metres. It was closed in 1991 and has since been restored and equipped by the local Royal Observer Corps Association.

I now have magnificent views across Gerrans Bay towards Carne Beach and Pendower Beach.

For the first time since leaving Portloe, I come across a couple of people walking their dog near to the bridge at Tregagles Hole.

I pass Shannick Point, Malmanare Point and Pennarin Point and the views over Carne Beach and Pendower beach are lovely.

I drop down onto Carne Beach, a fine south facing sandy beach. It starts to rain quite heavily but I don’t think it will last long so I don’t dive into my bag for my waterproofs.

The tide is out so I amble along the beach and cross into Pendower Beach.

carne beach

pendower beach

I head off of the beach using a slipway and pass by what was once the Pendower Beach House Hotel but is now a sad looking wreck of a building. Several attempts have been made to redevelop this site but all seem to have failed.

At least there is now a beach hut here selling ice creams and hot and cold drinks.

I climb out of Pendower Beach via the road, where I come across a flattened toad, and have magnificent views back over the beaches.

The path takes me out on to Treluggan Cliff where there are Shetland ponies chomping on the vegetation.

One friendly pony is blocking the footpath and takes some persuading to let me pass.

shetland pony

I come across and manage to photograph a small copper butterfly. There are also clouded yellow butterflies flying around but they prove more difficult to photograph.

I continue along the coast path to reach Porthbean Beach and I climb down some steps to reach the beach. I amble along the sand pondering on the forces that were at play to create the near vertical sedimentary rock strata before leaving the beach via some wooden steps.

The path leads me past the National Coastwatch Station on Pednvadan Point and I now have magnificent views over towards the village of Portscatho.

I drop down to Porthcurnick Beach which is surprisingly busy.

porthcurnick

Here can be found the Hidden Hut (@thehiddenhut) beach cafe.

I cross the beach and climb up some steps where I have lovely views back across the beach.

It's now a short walk to head in to Portscatho, home of cricket.

I walk through Portscatho along North Parade and pass Tavola pizza and pasta bar before dropping down to explore the beach.

I head out of the village, passing the Plume of Feathers and head uphill towards Gerrans where my lift awaits in the car park. Portscatho is a lovely place but it seems to be overrun with cars nowadays.

FLORA AND FAUNA

Flora and fauna encountered on the walk today includes :-

fuchsias
gorse
bracken
chiffchaffs
robins
hydrangeas
blackberries
crocosmia
red campion
holly
sloes
stonechats
skylarks
hemp agrimony
fleabane
beetle
yarrow
a flattened toad
cormorants
shetland ponies
small copper butterfly
clouded yellow butterflies
red valerian
amaryllis belladonna
agapanthus
buddleia
fig

PODCAST

The podcast of today's walk is now available. You can subscribe via Apple Podcasts or listen using the player below.

MARKS OUT OF TEN?

According to my phone I've walked 8.9 miles which amounts to 21620 steps. It has taken me four hours. It has been seven years since I last walked this section of the coast path but it never fails to delight. Ten out of ten!

WALK DETAILS

MAP

torquay to maidencombe

September 14, 2022 by Mark Seymour in south west coast path

south west coast path

monday, 5th september 2022

The weather forecast for today doesn’t look very good so I’d better just get going early in an attempt to avoid any thunderstorms.

Torquay low tide 06:46, 19:46

Torquay high tide 13:43

I start the day back in Torquay and wander past the fountain, riviera wheel, around the harbour and past the harbour.

I then head up Beacon Hill next to the now defunct Living Coasts zoo and aquarium to reach the Imperial Hotel. I always seem to get lost in this suburban section of Torquay but today I'm going to follow the coast path perfectly.

I follow what appears to be Rock End Walk before turning right into Daddyhole Road and follow the coast path at Daddyhole Plain, a limestone plateau 75 metres above the sea, where I pass NCI Torbay.

I climb down steps, follow a tarmac path which takes me down to a road bend and climb down more steps to reach a beach cafe below the Osborne Hotel. I follow the coastal road above Meadfoot Beach before following a road uphill.

I manage to find the correct path for a change and head out to Thatcher Point. I re-join the road and then head up a footpath above the road where I come across an Inukshuk on a bench, created by pupils from St Mary’s Catholic Primary in Wrexham.

“You have found an Inukshuk made by year 4 pupils from St Mary’s Catholic Primary in Wrexham, UK.
An Inukshuk in the shape of a person signifies

safety, hope and friendship

Please take me to a new place (near or far) for someone else to find!

Please take a photo and tell us where you found/placed the stone using #stmaryswxm4

We can’t wait to see how far they travel!”

— Quote Source

I take one of the stones which I’ll re-deposit in my home town of Clevedon when I get home.

my inukshuk stone in clevedon #stmaryswxm4

I re-join the road and I know I've gone wrong here in the past. This time though I spot a sign on the other side of the road. This coast path sign is clearly pointing to the right towards Anstey's Cove and along Bishops Walk. I can't possibly go wrong!

Bishop’s Walk was created by Henry Phillpotts, the Bishop of Exeter from 1831 until 1869.

I follow the woodland path of Bishop’s Walk at the end of which I come across a car park above Anstey's Cove. I continue briefly along a road before coming across a signpost marked 'To Babbacombe & St Marychurch over the downs' where I climb up steps on to a wooded slope and I'm now back up on the cliff tops.

I walk along the grassy cliffs of Walls Hill and then across Babbacombe Cricket Club.

I follow signs to Babbacombe Downs, the highest clifftop promenade in England. I'm sure I've come along Oddicombe Beach at the bottom of the cliffs in the past. Must have gone wrong again!

I reach Babbacombe Cliff Railway, built in 1926 to shuttle tourists to and from the beach. Something is wrong though as the cliff railway is roped off and there is a policeman guarding the railway.

I pass Babbacombe Model Village and follow the side of the village in an attempt to re-join the coast path but there’s a ‘road closed’ sign in my way. This is all a bit odd.

I retrace my steps and follow another footpath in an attempt to re-join the coast path but this footpath is roped off with police tape.

When I get home I find out that an engineer had died in an industrial accident, unrelated to the railway, earlier that morning and that the path between Babbacombe Beach and Oddicombe Beach had been closed as well as the path from St Marychurch down to Oddicombe Beach.

I finally re-join the coast path as it continues through woods next to Torquay Golf Club. More coast path signs lead me to the beach access road at Watcombe Beach, surrounded by cliffs and wooded hillsides.

A steep path leads down to the beach and then I have the choice to following a tarmac path or some rather shabby looking steps. I choose the tarmac path but immediately regret it as overnight rain has juiced up the path and I end up sliding down the slope. I retrace my steps and head down the neglected steps instead to reach the beach.

watcombe beach

I retrace my steps and continue through the woods to Maidencombe where I drop down to the beach, passing the Cafe Rio.

I climb back up the steps past the cafe and finish my walk at Maidencombe’s small car park where my lift awaits.

Just past the car park you can find the Thatched Tavern. Guess what! The pub has a thatched roof!!

FLORA AND FAUNA

It hasn’t been much of a day for flora and fauna. Flora and fauna encountered on the walk today includes :-

a buzzard

PODCAST

The podcast of today's walk is now available. You can subscribe via Apple Podcasts or listen using the player below.

MARKS OUT OF TEN?

According to my phone I've walked 8.6 miles which amounts to 23257 steps. It has taken me four hours and has been a tedious walk mostly through suburban Torquay and not helped by the police roping off a lot of the coast path at Babbacombe. Two out of ten!

walk details

map

brixham to torquay

September 14, 2022 by Mark Seymour in south west coast path

south west coast path

sunday, 4th september 2022

The weather forecast for the day is a bit on the dodgy side so I’d better get a move on to try and avoid as much of the rain as possible.

Torquay high tide 12:22

Torquay low tide 18:06

I start the day back in Brixham where I pass a statue of William Prince of Orange, who landed here on the 5th of November 1688, standing at the head of the harbour. The clouds are looking rather threatening.

“The Liberties of England and The Protestant Religion I Will Maintain”

I pass the full sized replica of the Golden Hind in which Sir Francis Drake circumnavigated the globe.

I then pass behind Brixham Fish Market which has some lovely pictures representing Brixham on its walls.

I head out of Brixham passing Oxen Cove next to what was once AstraZeneca's Brixham Environmental Laboratory but which was donated to Plymouth University in 2013.

I climb up concrete steps to reach Battery Gardens and pass the Brixham Battery Heritage Centre. I round Fishcombe Cove and a steep climb out of the cove awaits.

I walk around the beach at Churston Cove and a woodland path takes me past Churston Golf Club.

I walk across the shingly beach at Elberry Cove, which is surprisingly busy with dog walkers and joggers.

I round Churston Point, which is heaving with dog walkers, to reach the delightful Broadsands, you guessed it, a broad sandy beach flanked by colourful beach huts.

broadsands

I enjoy the sandy beach here before walking past the colourful beach huts and exit at the far end of the beach, passing beneath the railway viaduct. I’ve now got a bit of blue sky which is a bit of a surprise but I’m not complaining.

I then follow the railway line towards Goodrington Sands and the Paignton to Kingswear steam train passes me, heading in the opposite direction.

I head along the beach at Goodrington Sands, passing the colourful beach huts and head past the Inn on the Quay.

I follow paths over Roundham Head and walk through Roundham Gardens where I have lovely, if rather murky, views back over Goodrington Sands.

I come across a load of pebbles with dinosaurs on them perched on the red sandstone cliffs.

Paignton is now laid out in front of me.

I pass Paignton's tiny harbour and walk along the esplanade to reach the pier.

I head out onto what’s left of the red sandy beach and amble along the sand, passing the pier and the colourful beach huts.

At the end of the esplanade I head inland a little along a busy road. I walk by the dwindling beach at Preston Sands and then pass more colourful beach huts.

At the end of the beach huts I climb up a concrete slope and head across Hollicombe Head, cross a bridge over the railway line and enter Hollicombe Park.

I head along the main road into Torquay, passing Livermead Sands, and then pass what is left of Corbyn Head Beach where you can find more colourful beach huts and a beach cafe.

I walk along the sea wall next to Torre Abbey, founded in 1196, which started life as a medieval monastery before its dissolution by Henry VIII. Nowadays it is a museum, art gallery and Ancient Scheduled Monument.

A crowd has gathered to watch a seal. I take some photos of the seal but they are rather blurry. It briefly starts lightly raining but almost immediately stops.

I reach Torquay Harbour on the north shore of Tor Bay, which although now given over to marine leisure activities, still remains a commercial and busy little port.

torquay harbour

I stop off in a park with a fountain under the shadow of the English Riviera Wheel.

I explore a bit more of Torquay but my walking for the day is over.

FLORA AND FAUNA

Flora and fauna encountered (not much of it) on the walk today includes :-

common mullein
hydrangea
seal

PODCAST

The podcast of today's walk is now available. You can subscribe via Apple Podcasts or listen using the player below.

MARKS OUT OF TEN?

According to my phone I've walked 9 miles which amounts to 22296 steps. It has taken me three and three quarter hours. The weather has been a bit on the dull side but the rain mostly held off and the walking has been very easy. It has been a thoroughly enjoyable short walk through suburban Torbay. Eight out of ten!

WALK DETAILS

MAP

dartmouth to brixham

September 14, 2022 by Mark Seymour in south west coast path

south west coast path

saturday, 3rd september 2022

The weather forecast for this week looks awful but I might just about get away with a day without rain today.

Dartmouth high tide 11:10

Dartmouth low tide 16:52

I start the day in Dartmouth and head through the lower part of Dartmouth where I have lovely views across to Kingswear.

I amble down towards the lower ferry and wait for it to cross over from Kingswear.

I cross over the River Dart to Kingswear using the lower ferry which costs me £1.50. It’s exactly the same cost as six years ago. On reaching Kingswear I pass under an arch next to the post office and then climb up Alma Steps.

I take one final look back over to Dartmouth and then set off for Brixham.

I follow a minor road out of the village where I come across the autumn flowers of amaryllis, hydrangea, agapanthus and cyclamen. I then follow a private road towards Kingswear Court.

I enter Warren Woods and zig zag down a slope, cross over a stream and then zig zag up the other side of the valley.

I now have lovely views back over to Dartmouth Castle on the other side of the river mouth.

I reach Brownstone Battery at Inner Froward Point, built in 1940 to protect the Dart estuary and Slapton and Blackpool Sands from enemy invasion.

I pass by Froward Point Coastwatch Station and head down the battery.

The battery consists of two gun positions and each would have been armed with six inch guns. The gun emplacements remain to this day as do the two magazines that served the guns. Below the gun emplacements are two searchlight positions which would have scanned the sea for enemy ships. The trouble is that all of the information boards that were here six years ago seem to have disintegrated so nobody passing now would be able to read about all of this.

The path zig zags up and down the cliffs towards Outer Froward Point where, out to sea, can be seen Shooter Rock, Shag Stone and Mew Stone. I continue meandering along the coast path passing Old Mill Bay, Kelly's Cove and Pudcombe Cove.

I come across the rear entrance of Coleton Fishacre which used to be infested with rhododendrons (presumably ponticum) but these appear to have been grubbed up now leaving hydrangeas all around.

I round Scabbacombe Head and then a steep, slippery descent leads me down to Scabbacombe Sands. Everywhere is so parched that it feels like I’m constantly pouding on concrete.

I come across fresh pony poo but I don’t see any ponies today. I also come across several beetles writhing on their backs so I stop to put them upright.

I head along the cliffs high above Long Sands and round Crabrock Point, passing Crabrock Point Coastguard Cottage, to reach Man Sands where I enjoy the pebbly and sandy beach, although there’s not much in the way of sand. For such an isolated beach it is surprisingly busy.

man sands

It is a steep climb up onto Southdown Cliff and I have to stop several times to catch my breath - otherwise known as admiring the view.

I reach Sharkham Point and then head around St Mary's Bay, passing below the holiday village. I head down some concrete steps where the cliffs are infested with japanese knotweed and head out onto St Mary's Bay Beach. There are a few dog walkers on the beach but there’s not much of a beach today.

st mary's bay

It is now a short walk to Berry Head, a National Nature Reserve, where I amble along the meandering paths.

I join a road which passes the Berry Head Hotel and walk through Shoalstone Car Park. It is now a pleasant waterfront walk leading me into Brixham where I pass above the art deco Shoalstone Sea Water Pool.

A harbourside walk from the breakwater takes me past the marina and into the centre of the town.

I pass by a memorial garden dedicated to the memory of Winston Spencer Churchill and opened on the 24th May 1966. I don’t know whether there is any connection between Churchill and Brixham.

I pass Torbay Lifeboat Station next to the marina.

I pass a statue of William Prince of Orange, who landed here on the 5th of November 1688, standing at the head of the harbour.

“The Liberties of England and The Protestant Religion I Will Maintain”

I amble around the harbour, passing the full sized replica of the Golden Hind in which Sir Francis Drake circumnavigated the globe but Brixham is way too busy for me today so I don’t hang about.

I head behind Brixham Fish Market to reach the car park where my lift awaits.

brixham

FLORA AND FAUNA

Flora and fauna encountered on the walk today includes :-

amaryllis
hydrangea
agapanthus
cyclamen
stonechats
gunnera
speckled wood butterflies
fuchsia
herb robert
buddleia
red valerian
sloes
japanese knotweed

PODCAST

The podcast of today's walk is now available. You can subscribe via Apple Podcasts or listen using the player below.

MARKS OUT OF TEN?

According to my phone I've walked 12.1 miles which amounts to 32273 steps. It has taken me six hours. The weather has been pretty good given the forecast and I haven’t encountered any rain. Eight out of ten!