penzance to praa sands

June 12, 2021 by Mark Seymour in south west coast path

SOUTH WEST COAST PATH

saturday, 5th june 2021

The weather forecast for this week had been looking pretty good until I got up this morning and the forecast is now showing that it’ll be grey and damp. At least there won’t be much in the way of wind. Whatever happened to all that sun?

Porthleven low tide 08:36

Porthleven high tide 14:37

I start the day on the Promenade close to Jubilee Pool (@JubileePoolPZ), Penzance's lido and the UK's largest remaining seawater lido. The view across to Newlyn is decidedly murky.

The view towards Penzance is not any better.

The last time I was here the lido had suffered significant damage in winter storms and I suspected that it wouldn’t open ever again. But I was wrong and it did open and is now looking lovely. Jubilee Pool is run for the community, by the community, and has been operated since 2017 as a charitable community benefit society. On 31st May 2020 Jubilee Pool celebrated its 85th birthday.

I duck behind Jubilee Pool and stand next to the war memorial where I have murky views over towards St Michael’s Mount.

I continue along the coast path around the harbour and pass the Isles of Scilly Travel Centre (@IOSTRAVEL). Along the way I pass the Dolphin Inn and the Dock Inn.

I wander through the car park passing the Penzance Sailing Club and then pass Penzance railway station and then join the cycleway, passing what was once the heliport for catching the helicopter to the Isles of Scilly but which is sadly now a Sainsbury's superstore.

A sign has promised me lovely views but all I can see is murkiness.

I join the beach and trudge towards St Michael's Mount (@ntmichaelsmount). It is extremely murky and I can barely see St Michael’s Mount but I do believe the mist is lifting.

There’s a river flowing down the beach so I have to retrace my steps and cross a bridge over the river next to the road before following the path next to Folly Field.

I head towards Marazion and walk along Fore Street and then Turnpike Hill, passing the Godolphin Arms, the King's Arms and the Fire Engine Inn. Beside the Godolphin Arms is Maypole Gardens.

I head out of Marazion. The coast path signs have dried up and I’m sure I haven’t gone this far out of Marazion before.

I head down a track that looks like it might go out to the coast and then follow a public footpath. I find some coast path signs again but none of this looks familiar.

I reach Trenow Cove and there is a curlew on the beach and swallows flying around me. I look back over the beach towards St Michael's Mount before heading along the path to Boat Cove.

I used to encounter southern marsh orchids along here but someone has been over enthusiastic with a strimmer and there’s no sign of them. Nevertheless, I enjoy the wildflowers around here even if they are a little damp.

I reach Perranuthnoe. In the village can be found the Victoria Inn but I skirt around the village and enjoy the relatively quiet Perran Sands just down the road before regaining the coast path.

Rain/mist looks like it is set in for the day now and it is much windier than the forecast promised. I continue to amble back along the coast path below Acton Castle where I come across masses of six-spot burnets.

I reach Cudden Point and I am now seeing wild cabbages everywhere.

I continue on to Prussia Cove. Prussia Cove is actually made up of three distinct coves, Piskies Cove, Bessy's Cove and King's Cove.

prussia cove

I continue my ambling to reach Kennegy Sands. The beach seems to be permanently closed here. It used to be difficult to access by climbing down two chain ladders but it's now fenced off. Even so, I'm sure I can spot footprints in the sand below!

I then head on towards Praa Sands. Here can be found the Sandbar. It is very murky here and the beach is all but deserted.

My walking is done for the day and so I head to the car park where my lift awaits.

FLORA AND FAUNA

Flora and fauna encountered on the walk today includes :-

echiums
red and white valerian
curlew
swallow
wrens
red campion
cow parsley
alexanders
rape
foxgloves
ribwort plantain
sea thrift
bird’s-foot trefoil
bluebells
bladder campion
yarrow
six-spot burnet
hogweed
buttercups
common dog-violet
wild cabbage
honeysuckle
navelwort
wild garlic
kniphofia
english stonecrop

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 11.3 miles which amounts to 26269 steps. It has taken me four and a half hours. The weather has been pretty poor today with rain, mist and murkiness for much of the day and it has been much more blustery than it should have been. Seven out of ten!

WALK DETAILS

All three of my tracking apps failed me today, including my normally extremely reliable backup myTracks app, so no walk details today.

MAP

Since all three of my tracking apps failed me today I’ve no way of generating a map.

beachcombing - part 1

October 04, 2018 by Mark Seymour in south west coast path

south west coast path

monday 24th - wednesday 26th september 2018

We’re staying in a cottage situated between Helston and Porthleven this week. I’m having a week off from walking so instead I’ll be beachcombing the various beaches around here and I’m spoilt for choice. I could visit :-

porthcurno
lamorna cove
mousehole
penzance
marazion
perran sands
praa sands
porthleven
loe bar
gunwalloe fishing cove
church cove
poldhu cove
polurrian cove
mullion cove
kynance cove
and maybe the Falmouth beaches at :-
maenporth
swanpool
gyllyngvase

Not sure how many I’ll get to so we’ll have to see.

porthcurno - 24th september 2018

We travelled down to Cornwall in filthy weather on Saturday. The weather forecast for Sunday was also filthy but it turned out to be quite a nice day and the weather this morning is glorious.

Porthcurno is one of my favourite beaches on the south west coast path. There’s a large film crew camped in Porthcurno as we arrive - presumably filming Poldark - but they don’t appear to be doing very much so the beach is very quiet.

praa sands - 24th september 2018

The last time I passed through Praa Sands the sand had been washed away by winter storms but normal order has been restored.

poldhu - 25th september 2018

It is another beautiful morning and there are already quite a few people enjoying the beach at Poldhu.

church cove - 25th september 2018

It is a short walk around from Poldhu to Church Cove.

penzance - 26th september 2018

It is another beautiful morning and there’s not a cloud in the sky. I start the day at Newlyn before making my way across the beach at Penzance and then I amble across Marazion Beach.

marazion - 26th september 2018

PODCAST

The podcast of this beachcombing is now available. You can subscribe via the iTunes store or listen using the player below.

porthcurno to penzance

June 14, 2015 by Mark Seymour in south west coast path

SOUTH WEST COAST PATH

WEDNESDAY, 10TH JUNE 2015

I'm set for another day of beautiful weather with sun all day long and no sign of rain. Can't believe this is now four walking days on the trot with decent weather after some of the rubbish we've had this year!

Penzance high tide 11:35

Penzance low tide 18:15

I start the day back at the car park behind the beach at Porthcurno. I briefly explore the beach before heading back past the Cable Hut, part of Porthcurno Telegraph Museum, to pick up the coast path out of Porthcurno.

I set off on a bushy path towards Treryn Dinas and Logan Rock with outstanding views back to Porthcurno and on to Penzance, hidden in the distance. There are foxgloves everywhere.

People have occupied the rocky promontory of Treryn Dinas since prehistoric times and the ramparts and ditches of an iron age promontory fort can be seen today, defending the landward side of the headland.

At the end of the headland is Logan Rock or rocking stone. 80 tons in weight, the stone was dislodged in 1824 by a group of "high-spirited" (i.e. drunk!) British seamen. The stone was restored with the help of 60 men using 13 capstans with blocks and chains at a cost of £130 8s 6d.

I follow a rugged path around Cribba Head and descend to Penberth Cove. Penberth Cove was once home to a pilchard fishing industry and a slabbed area here was used for landing fish. A handful of local fishermen still make their living from fishing for mackeral, lobster and crab and there are boats, nets and lobster pots dotted around.

The coast path continues seawards of a cottage by the sea and climbs up a rugged slope away from the village. I round Le Scathe Cove and pass The Gazzels and descend down to the stream at Porthguarnon Cove.

The path ascends steeply again above Trevedran Cliff. I walk through woods behind a large house and round Merthen Point back a bit from the edge of the cliff towards St Loy. I leave St Loy over the bouldery beach. In the distance I think I can make out the Scillonian III heading for the Isles of Scilly.

I pass high above St Loy's Cove and Paynter's Cove and walk over Boscawen Cliff high above Chough Zawn and Zawn Gamper. I pass by the lighthouse on Tater-du and over Rosemodress Cliff before descending to the bottom of Tregurnow Cliff.

The wildflowers around here are looking amazing and the foxgloves are in even greater density than I came across earlier on today. There's even some hawthorn still in flower.

I pass by the Derek and Jeannie Tangye Minack Chronicles Nature Reserve. It's a shame I don't have more time to explore. Derek Tangye was the author of a number of popular books about Cornwall.

I then follow a rocky path to reach Lamorna Cove. The rocks make the going very tricky to negotiate and I'm not the only one struggling to make progress. Unfortunately the tide is in so there's no sandy beach to explore. A little inland can be found The Lamorna Wink.

I leave Lamorna Cove by climbing the cliff through an old quarry and head around Carn-du and pass Kemyel Point.

The coast path goes through Kemyel Crease Nature Reserve, a woodland dominated by Monterey pine trees.

The path rises to Penzer Point and at Point Spaniard, joins the road before heading down Raginnis Hill towards Mousehole. I wander randomly along the narrow streets here to reach the harbour.

I wander around the harbour and follow the road signposted for Newlyn and Penzance, passing The Ship Inn and The Old Coastguard Hotel (@leroundhouse).

On the road to Newlyn there are fine views over to St Michael's Mount and Marazion.

I pass the old Penlee Lifeboat Station. There aren't any lifeboats stationed here anymore but the station is still maintained and a small memorial garden has been created to remember the 8 crew of the Solomon Browne who lost their lives on the 19th of December 1981.

The new Penlee Lifeboat Station (@penleelifeboat) was moved to Newlyn in 1983 and I'll pass it shortly.

I pass japanese knotweed control zones which look more like 'out of control' zones. The coast path ducks down below the road for a bit and I come across masses of wild flowers.

I also encounter painted lady butterflies and I finally manage to capture one on camera.

The concrete walls here are covered in graffiti.

The coast path re-joins the road as I enter Newlyn. In Newlyn I pass the Fishermans Arms Inn, the Red Lion Inn, the Star Inn and the Swordfish Inn.

I walk along the harbour passing the aforementioned lifeboat station.

The place stinks of fish! Not surprising since this is the home of Newlyn Fish Market.

I cross the bridge over the river next to the Seaman's Mission, pass The Tolcarne Inn and then walk next to the Bolitho Gardens.

I walk along the promenade just above the shingly beach towards Penzance and pass the Jubilee Pool which is still not open after the winter storms of 2014. There are plans to refurbish it but it looks to be in a worse state than when I passed it a year ago.

At the harbour I pass The Dolphin Tavern (@dolphinpz), The Dock Inn and the Isles of Scilly Travel Centre (@IOSTRAVEL). I walk over the swingbridge next to the dry dock and reach my destination for the day, the car park at Penzance. That's my walking done for the week. I'll be back in Cornwall in early September.

FLORA AND FAUNA

Flora and fauna encountered on the walk today includes :-

flag irises
gunnera
red admirals
fuchsias
horse chestnuts
monterey pine trees
buzzards
herb robert
gladioli
echiums
painted lady butterflies
orange tip butterflies
caper spurge
japanese knotweed
chaffinches
red campion
bracken
gorse
speckled wood butterflies
ox-eye daises
foxgloves
bladder campion

PODCAST

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

MARKS OUT OF TEN?

According to my phone I've walked 12.8 miles today which amounts to 29454 steps. It has been magnificent walking in glorious weather for a fourth day on the trot. Nine out of ten!

penzance to porthleven

June 07, 2014 by Mark Seymour in south west coast path

south west coast path

7th june 2014

Happy birthday to me
Happy birthday to me
Happy birthday dear me
Happy birthday to me!

Today's weather forecast looks to be a lovely, early summer's day. Perfect for walking. Woop!

Penzance high tide 12:34

Penzance low tide 06:34

I start the day at Jubilee Pool, Penzance's lido and the UK's largest remaining seawater lido. The lido suffered significant damage in this winter's storms and won't open this year. The place looks in a bit of a mess so I'm not sure that it will open again full stop.

I continue along the coast path around the harbour and pass the Isles of Scilly Travel Centre (@IOSTRAVEL). I've visited the beautiful St Mary's twice but won't have time on this visit. Along the way I pass the Dolphin Inn and the Dock Inn. The Scillonian III is moored on the harbour and people are boarding it ready to cross over to St Mary's.

I pass Penzance railway station and then join the cycleway, passing what was once the heliport for catching the helicopter to the Isles of Scilly but which is sadly now a Sainsbury's superstore. At a level crossing I join the beach and trudge towards St Michael's Mount (@ntmichaelsmount), collecting shells and pebbles on the beach.

At the causeway leading to St Michael's Mount I head off of the beach, following the path next to Folly Field.

I head towards Marazion and walk along Fore Street and then Turnpike Hill, passing the Godolphin Arms (@godolphinarms), the King's Arms and the Fire Engine Inn. Beside the Godolphin Arms is Maypole Gardens which suffered damage in the winter storms and is awaiting repairs.

On Turnpike Road I pass the Mount Haven Hotel and turn right down a road to leave Marazion behind and head towards Chymoryah East. Here I temporarily regain the shore and clamber over rocks before climbing up a metal stairway to walk along the low cliffs.

I reach Trenow Cove and look back over the beach towards St Michael's Mount before heading along the path to Boat Cove. I encounter my first orchids of the day here (southern marsh orchids I think) and then suddenly runners start to appear..

Not any old runners though. These are equipped with on board hydration tanks and stick on numbers. As I reach Perranuthnoe (@PerranTweets) the mystery becomes clear as there is a check point here for an endurance running race. The place is heaving. In this village can be found the Victoria Inn (@victoriaperran).

I escape the crowds and enjoy the relatively quiet Perran Sands just down the road before bravely facing the crowds again.

I amble back along the coast path below Acton Castle to reach Cudden Point and then Prussia Cove. Prussia Cove is actually made up of three distinct coves, Piskies Cove, Bessy's Cove and King's Cove but the tide is high and I can barely make them out.

I come across a research project investigating aspects of plant diversity in Cornwall. There are wild cabbages everywhere.

There's plenty of flora and fauna to enjoy and I manage to catch a fleeting photograph of a red admiral butterfly as well as a much more obliging speckled wood.

I then head on towards Praa Sands. Here can be found the Sandbar and the Welloe Rock Inn. Despite being slightly sheltered, Praa Sands took a battering in the winter storms but the 'sand' in Praa Sands has returned so I walk along the beach. It's a bit rough for paddling and I suspect it's freezing, despite it being June.

Half way across the beach I climb back on to the low cliffs, passing a memorial honouring the crew of a Sunderland Flying Boat which crash landed on Praa Sands in 1943.

I head through the Sea Meads holiday homes passing massive echiums and leave the holiday homes behind, climbing to reach Rinsey Head where I come across Wheal Prosper tin mine, a rubbish mine which was only open for six years.

The path then starts to ramble aimlessly along the cliffs. The coast path is heaving again as I pass a large group of walkers stretched out for miles, presumably walking for the Alzheimer's Society, before finally entering Porthleven. I pass the Ship Inn (@TheShip_levy) on the outskirts of Porthleven and head around the harbour. Time for some chips and and some pints of St Austell Brewery's Tribute Ale at the Harbour Inn.

FLORA AND FAUNA

Flora and fauna encountered on the walk today includes :-

rabbits
seagulls
rooks
red valerian
echiums
nigella
speckled woods
a tortoiseshell
southern marsh orchids
stinging nettles
chaffinches
sea thrift
the last of the bluebells
a wren
wild cabbage
buttercups
cow parsley
a red admiral
a thrush

PODCAST

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

MARKS OUT OF TEN?

According to my phone I've walked 17.1 miles today which amounts to 36190 steps. I've never seen the coast path so busy, had gorgeous sunny weather all day long. It's been a beautiful early summer's day and the walking has been fantastic. 9 out of 10.

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