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.