Talland Bay

One of my most favourite walks ever is the stretch of coast between Looe and Polperro and I've done it a couple of times now, using the local bus services for access.  I did this stretch back in 2004 with Mum and Dad, and again with Amanda back in 2011.   This time, though, the weather wasn't great and that, coupled with the breathing issues, decided me to only do half the walk - a "there and back", rather than a circular, or linear with a bus ride.

So we parked up at Talland Bay in the beach car park before climbing the (massive) hill out of Talland to the start of where we needed to be. There has been some coastal erosion on this stretch of coast so the path has been diverted inland slightly until it picks up again further on.   This road walking didn't detract at all from the views although we did have to trespass slightly into a local garden to get a couple of decent pictures!

It was a really breezy day and the sea was really choppy - we got the odd spot of rain, so didn't hang about too much.

Polperro has got to be one of the prettiest coastal villages ever - the streets are really narrow and not wide enough for cars, so you need to leave your transport in the large car park at the top of the village on the main road .   Coming into the village on foot from the coastal path is really the only way to see it - it simply takes your breath away.

We headed a short way into the village, but the rain started to come down heavier and you're a bit limited about where you can go with a dog in tow.   There is a great pub in the village which has a rooftop garden where you can take dogs, but I really didn't fancy sitting out, braving the elements.  

Before the coast path had become dangerous and been diverted, it had originally gone straight past a war memorial which had  a strategically placed bench and I've sat there now every time I've done this walk, gazing out to sea.   So I was very pleased that a path had been excavated out as far as the memorial as a diversion.   We didn't stay long though - far too windy for us!

So it was then a quick leg stretch back down to the start of the walk - not before having to hoick Finn out of a local garden where he'd gone to investigate their veggie patch.  Bloody dog.  

It was far too cold to sit outside and have a coffee, so I had planned to stick Finn in the back of the car and go and sit in the cafe for a cream tea. However, the Talland Bay beach cafe have converted three beach huts into seating areas and the lovely lady there said I could take Finn in with me.  They're all done out with Cath Kidston cushions, bunting and even crockery and the coffee comes in the old blue and white Cornishware mugs.  Heaven.  Despite the beach hut shaking about in the wind and the rain thundering off the roof.   Total heaven.

Polruan

Day 1 of our holiday started off with a bit of a wobble and not a few tears!   I had felt so rough for the past few weeks but the thing that had kept me going was the thought of a couple of coastal walks in Cornwall. However, I had forgotten about the steepness of bits of the coast path and it was only when I was standing at the top of Pencarrow Head (having parked at the National Trust car park there) that I had major doubts that I'd be able to walk any of it.

(I've since read my walk diary from this stretch of the path which I'd done in April 2004 and am glad I didn't read it in advance of walking - otherwise I'd never have done it!  "My guidebook said I had a "strenuous" seven miles to Fowey and that "we advise anyone unaccustomed to coastal walking that this is one of the toughest sections.")

I'd chosen a four mile circular walk from Pencarrow Head along the coast to Polruan, with a short stretch along the Fowey River through woodland to climb up to Lanteglos-by-Fowey church and back to Pencarrow.  (This "short" four mile walk took me four hours!)

It was a lovely, bright and sunny day, although quite breezy and we met quite a few other walkers en route. Finn made a few friends with other dogs on the path and spent most of the time off his lead chasing around, which is good for both of us.   It means I get a really quiet time for the rest of the day - with him gently snoring beside the fire and generally leaving me alone!

We reached Polruan by walking steeply down the narrow streets to the harbour.  Sadly, dogs aren't allowed on the beach at Polruan at any time of the year, so Finn didn't get his paddle.   We sat and watched the boats in and out of Fowey and Polruan for a while until it got a bit cold and we set off again.   I did toy with the idea of getting the ferry over to Fowey for a while but Finn has never been on a boat before and I was a bit worried he'd jump overboard and try and swim!   I have used the ferry before and I remember it being a very choppy crossing.

So, after a short sit down, it was time to head off again, alongside the river and through woodland which opened up occasionally and gave stunning views over to Fowey.

Once out of the woodland, it was a bit of a climb along lanes to the church at Lanteglos, and then another climb up the lane back to Pencarrow and the car.

A fab day, really enjoyed it - it took quite a long time, but the overwhelming feeling was of relief that I'd actually managed it.   Perhaps I'm not such an old crock after all!

Holiday Randoms - Cornwall

Finn and I are just back from our holiday which was a bit all over the place to say the least - it comprised one night at Heathrow, four nights in Cornwall, three nights back at Heathrow and then another four nights in Essex.   A multi-destination holiday!  The jaunt has been a bit up in the air because of health issues, etc, and, up to the Friday before, I still wasn't sure I was going to bother going.   I finished work on the Friday, planned to do sod all on the Saturday, and, if I was feeling OK on the Sunday morning, then I would do some food shopping, pack the car up and head down to Heathrow to stay at the caravan before heading off to Looe on the Monday.  I think the day spent doing nothing on the Saturday definitely helped so, with excitement mounting and not a little trepidation, off we set.  The weather wasn't very encouraging on the drive down - it was horrible and wet with little visibility - until we started to get nearer to Cornwall, at which time the sun came out and I got a couple of sneaky photos as I went over the Tamar Bridge!

We had a lovely big posh caravan at Looe Bay caravan park, a mile up the hill out of Looe town.   Amanda and I had stayed here with Finn back in 2011 so I knew pretty much where everything was - a bonus really because I didn't want to concentrate too hard on this holiday, I didn't have the energy!   We weren't due to check in until after 4.00 pm, but the traffic had been really easy so we got there with about ninety minutes to spare - I popped into the Reception and asked if I could leave my car in the car park and take Finn for a good long leg stretch down into Looe and back until the caravan was ready.   As it turned out, the caravan was already cleaned and waiting for us, so I dumped everything in the living room and Finn and I went for a walk anyway - plenty of time for unpacking when we got back.

Man, I had forgotten that hill walk to Looe - getting down into the town was a doddle, but coming back was horrendous and I thanked God that I had remembered to pack my newly acquired inhaler in my walking rucksack!  

I really love Looe and would have been happy to spend a bit more time having a mooch around, but Finn had other ideas.  There were a lot of other dogs in the town and Finn cannot cope with being on the lead and seeing other dogs on leads - he just wants to fight them all!   After a lot of barking - a LOT of barking! - and a lot of me telling him off, I thought it would just be easier to walk back to the caravan for a cuppa.   (Later in the week, Finn made so many doggy friends on our walks - but of course that's because they were all off their leads and very happy to meet each other.)  

Back at the caravan, it was time to unpack and relax.  The caravan had two bedrooms - which was perfect and I could chuck all the spare bags, etc, in the spare room and not have the place all cluttered up like my living room at home!   The view from the caravan window was lovely - if you could see past all the other caravans - and Finn spent a lot of time just gazing out the window at the rabbits running around - those rabbits made our "wee" walks quite interesting every morning and evening!

I, of course, did a lot of knitting and enjoyed seeing the blanket grow - not only that, but it was of a length by that stage when I could wrap it around my legs to keep me warm too - bonus!

The other days in Cornwall will be covered under other posts but these are a few pictures of the sunsets and sunrise views we had over the week from the caravan window.   So beautiful - I may have to move down there!