Par to Fowey

We caught the train from Plymouth to Par - a pleasant journey as the train (the 9.24 to Penzance) was very quiet, having started in Plymouth.  From Par station we walked down to Par Beach a distance of about .75 miles.  We walked along the back of the beach on the dunes to the far end.  Par is a lovely large sandy beach, it is a pity about the industrial site at the side of it.

As we walked through the car park we missed any southwest coast path sign and so walked to the road and a long way around until we came to the southwest coast path from the Saints Way.  Once we were on the path it was easy to follow it to Fowey.  As usual the path went up and down, but the views were spectacular all the way.

A view back to Par Beach

 After a while we came to Polkerris and we thought this was a lovely beach and harbour.  The sand was fine and there was lots to watch as people were canoeing and windsurfing .  There was also a lovely art gallery there to browse around.

Polkerris

The next stop on our journey was  Gribben Head.  It seemed to be a long time before we saw the tower on the top of this headland and there was lots a climbing so we were glad to be able to rest when we got there.  Up to this point we had been having views of St Austell Bay, but once we were over the top we could see the River Fowey estuary and coast down towards Polperro.

View from Gribben Head

Looking back to Gribbin Head

The walk continued undulating, with some steeper parts, but it helped to see the finishing line.  On the outskirts of Fowey the path signage was confusing as there appeared to be 2 different ways you could take and still stay on the coast path!   Initially we stayed on the top path and started to walk through woods, but that took us away from the coast and so we turned around and headed down to Readymoney Cove.  This was another pretty beach and the walk into Fowey from here was lovely with views of the river and boats between houses.  

A view from Fowey

View across to Polruan

 Once in Fowey we spent an hour wandering among the shops and admiring the views before heading up the hill to catch the bus back to Par Station.  This had been one of the prettiest sections of the coast path we have done and well worth the effort expended.

Bere Alston to Bere Ferrers via Tamar Discovery Trail

Having done the first part of the the Tamar Discovery Trail a couple of days ago we thought we would attempt another section today.  We took the train to Bere Alston, which is always a very pleasant journey.  When we came out of the station it was not clear which way to go as there were footpath signs in 3 directions.  Looking at our map we realised we needed to walk towards the village and headed in that direction.  We knew we had to turn off the road in the village but we did not see the sign and had to turn around and retrace our steps.  The sign was attached to a road name sign.  From our map it looked as if we had to turn off this road after a short while but there was no signs, however as there had been no signs on this trail elsewhere we followed our instinct but yet again we were wrong!  We walked around an residential estate and came out where we started. We asked someone we passed the direction and so were confident as we continued walking down the road.  This was a good track going gradually downhill that led us to Lockridge Farm.

As soon as we passed the farm the path became became small and was overrun with grass (which was wet and slippery) and nettles.  Fortunately the path did improve and we went on for a while until we came to a very steep hill.  This was difficult to walk up as the path consisted of  loose earth.  At the top there was a stile but no sign telling us which way to go.  We started climbing up the field and came to a stile marked a public footpath, but it did not have the apple sign for the Tamar Discovery Trail and we thought we needed to follow the direction of the river so we went along the other side of the field. At least the views from this field were good.

The end of the field as a dead end so we retraced our steps and went to the stile at the top of the field.  As we followed the direction of the footpath sign we came to another stile and this time it had an apple sign on it!  Why wasn't the previous stile marked?  We continined along the path and discovered that approximately every other stile was marked.  This was OK as the the path went straight on until we came to the road at Weir Quay.  This was the best  stretch of walk - a good path (a quiet road) and pleasant views of the river.  Although it was unfortunate the tide was out so there was a lot of mud.

We continued along the road, first uphill and then down, until there was a path off that went along a stream.  Fortunately we saw the steps leading to this as the signpost marking it had fallen over.  We continued along this path until the entrance to Thorn Point.  We attempted to go down to the point but it was too marshy to walk through.  There was no Discovery Trail sign at this  point but followed the map hoping we were going right.  Eventually we found another sign.  We then walked into Bere Ferrers and we glad to stop at the Old Plough for a drink.

We started to walk on to Lopwell, but with all the diversions if we had gone all the way we would have missed the next train and we did not want to wait a further 2 hours, so after a while we turned around and made our way back to the Station and the train back to Plymouth.

Of all the walks we have done, this must be the worse as far as poor marking and the condition of the path in places.  From the map it looked as if there would have been good views of the river for a lot of the way, but this was also disappointing.  We definitely won't be doing this walk again!

Calstock and Cothele

Having walked 8 miles yesterday I felt too tired to drive far or attempt a strenuous walk, so we decided to take the train to Calstock and walk from there to Cothele House.  This is a lovely train ride as the line travels alongside the River Tamar most of the way.  As we approached Calstock we could see bluebells in the fields and apple blossom in orchards which is what we would see more of at Cothele.

From Calstock station it was a steep hill down to the river Tamar which we then walked along until we came to Cothele Woods.  The direct path to Cothele (which is about 1.25 miles from the station) goes up at the side of the wood, but we chose to carry up the Danescombe Valley as I wanted to see the bluebells in Cothele Woods.  After walking past the derelict Sawmill we took a path on the left that went uphill but away from the River Tamar.  To begin with this was a gentle incline but it then became steeper as we made our way to the top of the woods.  However, as we climbed we could see the bluebells.

The bluebells were not as spectacular as thosewe had seen earlier  in the week in Wembury Woods.  It looked as if some of them were past their best.

At the top of the hill we turned left on to a flat wide path called Lady's Walk and continued along this until coming to a small path that went down to the main path from Calstock to Cothele.  As we approached Cothele we could see lots of colour from rhododendrons in the Valley Garden.  However, we decided to first visit the orchard to see the apple blossom.  Many of the trees had finished flowering but there were still a few at their best.

All the gardens around the house were looking lovely, particularly the beds on the terraced gardens.

View from Cothele terrace garden to Calstock viaduct

After a delicious tea in the garden of the restaurant we went to explore the Valley Garden.  There were lots of large rhodoendrons trees giving bold colour and  orange bottle brush shrubs giving a bright contrast  against the purple, pink, red and white rhododendrons.

From the Valley Gardens we walked back to Calstock, this time taking the direct route.  As we were a little early for the train when we reached Calstock we continued on to the quay where there was a festival going on.  We browsed the stalls and listened to the music before heading up the hill to the station.

St Austell to Pentewan

We caught the 10.42 train from Plymouth to St Austell.  This train had  only 2 coaches and as it was a school holiday and lovely sunny day it was very crowded.  Most people got off at Liskeard and it was then a more pleasant journey.

Once at St Austell we walked down through the town and out to Pentewan Road.  There was a very busy double roundabout to cross and in retrospect we realised we should have walked further up the road before crossing.

To begin with we walked along the pavement but soon we came to the Pentewan Vally Cycle Trail which took us on a path parallel to the road next to the St Austell river and then into Kings Wood.  It was a very good path, flat all the way and it was a pleasant walk.  I had read there were bluebells in Kings Wood and there were some, but they were not giving a spectacular show yet.

After 4 miles we reached Pentewan.  This was a pleasant village and the beach was lovely.  After sitting on the edge of the beach and ate our lunch while watching people enjoying the sea and sand, we set off back to St Austell.  

When we got back to the edge of St Austell we followed the signs of Cycle Route 3 instead of going the most direct way.  This meant we did not have to cross the double roundabout, but it was a long way round and we missed seeing the town centre.

Cockington

The weather forecast for today was not good with heavy showers promised.  We took the train to Newton Abbot to do some shopping (M&S Outlet being a favourite shop that we don't have in Plymouth).  At the last  minute when buying our train ticket we decided to get the ticket to Torquay so we had the option of going on there in the afternoon if the weather was kind to us.

After shopping we walked to Decoy Country Park in Newton Abbot.  We had never been there before but thought it was worth a longer visit another time.  But we hurried back to the station this time to make the most of visiting Torquay.

We walked along the seafront at Torquay towards Paignton, but soon turned off to the right to walk up to Cockington.  Soon we were on a walkway separated by the road by water meadows and a hedge. The path followed a stream with yellow irises growing at the edge and bluebells in the wooded banks above it.

Soon we reached Cockington Country Park and walked beside the cricket ground, past large beds of bright azalias  to the craft centre.  After wandering around the various craft shops and workshops and enjoying a cup of tea and cake we headed back to Torquay, walking back via the edge of the lake.

It was a very pleasant walk and destination.  It was a pity I did not have my camera to record the scenes we saw.

Falmouth

We caught the 9.20 train from Plymouth and after a change of trains at Truro we arrive in Falmouth Docks 2 hours later.  We started walking along the South West Coast Path around Pendennis Point. and then down to   the beaches in Falmouth.  It was a grey day so the views were not as good as they would be when the sun was shining.  The paths were good, and as we walked through woodland there were some daffodils which gave bridge yellow splashes.  It was a easy walk, with only gentle slopes.  We walked past Castle Beach, onto the Gyllygvase  Beach and then to Swanpool Beach.  There is one further beach in Falmouth, Maenporth Beach, but we decided to leave visiting that one until another day.

Gyllygvase Beach

At Swanpool we walked along one side of the lake watching the many different types of waterfowl there.  We also saw a water vole at the edge of the water.  We then walked into the centre of Falmouth.  On the way we stopped at the Falmouth Pavilion where we walked around the gardens.  There was a lovely display of daffodills but not many other flowers.

Bere Alston to Bere Ferrers

After weeks of wet weather it was lovely to  see clear skies and the sun for the start of 2013.  Even better was the fact we had organised to meet Mike and Ruth for a walk from Bere Alston to Bere Ferrers.

We met at the station and caught the Gunnislake train at 10.54am.  Once out of the industrial part of Plymouth this is such a beautiful train ride along the River Tamar. We alighted at Bere Alston station and walked along the roads to Bere Ferrers.  It was a very pleasant walk with lovely views.  The fields were very muddy with lots of streams of water cascading down the sides of the roads or fields.  It definitely was not the day to walk along footpaths.

One delightful surprise along the route were these daffodils out.  Spring is on the way!

At Bere Ferrers we stopped at the local pub, The Old Pough Inn, and had a delicious lunch, before a brief walk along the river and then back to the railway station to catch the train back to Plymouth.