Trebarwith Strand to Port Gaverne.

The Met promised good weather but that was not apparent at Trebarwith Strand. It was wild.

As there were four of us The Stopporton's dropped their vehicle at Port Gaverne then travelled with Mel and Les to the start point at Trebarwith Strand. It was wet wild and woolly here. The tiny rocky cove was awash with huge breakers blowing ashore. The high tide added to the malevolence of the scene.

Trebarwith Strand. Literally the end of the road.

1. The start was up, isn't it always? 204 steps, Jackie counted each one. The tab was only a short six miles today as we were due at Padstow's Metropole Hotel for a Champagne High Tea for 1500hrs. A good reason to get a wiggle on. Slightly disconcerting was this 'eye' set into the wall. An omen for good or.....?

Eye eye.

The rock pinnacle due N of us is Gull Rock,

opposite Trebarwith Strand, our start.

Les and Sam looking like stunt doubles from 'Hondo'.

We had started walking at 0815hrs and it was now 0935 hrs. Les called a halt for a quick coffee from the Thermos. There was a keen wind blowing along the cliff path but the view out to sea was as clear as a bell. Indeed, far out to sea, we spotted HMS Queen Elizabeth RO8. Easily spotted by virtue of her twin 'islands'. At this juncture we were seemingly walking faster than she was sailing. She is still undergoing trials and will not be commissioned till late 2017.

Coffee  break over we continued the roller coaster path that invariably is the SWC path, especially on this coastline. Before we knew it lunch was upon us. I say lunch but I do not really believe we needed any scran at that stage. I had eaten a couple of Weetabix and a slice of toast about 0700hrs before we set off. Jackie munched on a few home made buns and a banana, Les set about a baguette that was the size of a telegraph pole. I did think that we could always hollow it out and make a canoe but by the time these thoughts occurred to me most, if not all the baguette had disappeared.

Fixing our position on the map it seemed we only had another 2 K to walk. This, given the ease of the cliff path now was soon completed. Whilst the girls dropped downhill into Port Gaverne and the pub for a coffee, Les and I walked on up to where we had left our vehicle. We drove to Trebarwith Strand to collect his car and whilst he returned to PG to collect the girls I drove back to Mullets and a shower before we all RV'd and after a quick shower and a change of clothes we managed to catch the 1400hrs ferry for Padstow and a Fat Boy cream Tea.

Mullets at Rock to Polzeath.

Rock On the Golden Girls D4.

Low tide again. makes for easier walking rather than through the dunes.

Somebody's weekend cottage overlooking Polzeath beach.

Steeper Point from the far side of The Camel River Estuary.

It was very windy today, blowing straight in from the Atlantic. Leaving Mullets, we were somewhat protected by the Sailing School on the peninsular and the curve of the beach. Once past the Sailing School it was a different proposition and we struggled against the wind which was blowing sand across the beaches from Polzeath to Rock. As one might expect, when arriving at Polzeath, virtually all shops and cafe's were closed. We knew further up the hill we could obtain food and drink in the Oystercatcher pub. We were looking for a café and toasted tea cakes.

We stumbled upon The Tubestation Café. This was once upon a moonbeam a Methodist Chapel. Established in 1898 with the purchase of a field, a tin hut was erected for worship, quickly dubbed the 'tin tabernacle' it served the local community till it's closure in 2002. The tin hut long since demolished and a purpose built chapel erected.Purchased by locals in 2006 it has been run as an organized community café and gathering space. A space also for local artists to display their 'creations' in return for 'time' serving in the café. The coffee beans are locally, Wadebridge roasted coffee beans.

Assisted by the wind at our backs for the return cliff top walk.

The winds now had abated considerably and as we were passing the Sailing School who should we bump into but Les and Mel walking Sam. We joined them and retraced our steps slightly to the Rock Inn for a coffee.

Great weather lets get the canoe out.

November and the sun is cracking the paving slabs! Well not exactly but it's great weather. Little or no wind so we decide to get out on the water. Sunday evening, I'm sat on the patio enjoying a G+T when Les suggests we go paddling. Within thirty minutes we were on the water. Beautiful sunset.

Sunday, being November 5th, we gathered on the terrace for cocktails  and to watch the firework display the other side of the river Camel at Padstow.

Jackie preparing supper. Veggie Wellington.

Lal, so disappointed that the men had no interest in making lanterns this year she made her own.

Monday am It was early to rise. A quick cuppa and we were on the water by 0815hrs. We sailed up river against the outgoing tide. Passing flocks of Oyster Catchers, Egrets and a solitary heron on fishing duty. This was Lal and Andy's first excursion in a canoe for many a year. Under Les's tutelage they were soon paddling away like a couple of extras from 'Hawkeye, Last of the Mohicans'.

Mel and Les.

Lal and Andy aboard HMS Handbag.

Brew up on the beach.

To Steeper Point

In need of some exercise after breakfast we made our way along the beach to catch the passenger ferry to Padstow. With such a low tide the 'landing craft' dropped us on the beach as opposed to the harbour. That was great as it saved us a half mile of walking. With such a low tide we made our way along the beach to the Old Lifeboat Station at Hawkers Cove. Which I believe is now, or was a holiday rental. A bit remote in my opinion. From here we took the cliff path to the Coast Watch station above Steeper Point. There was a man on duty who responded well to our enquiries about today's shipping. The wind blowing in off the Atlantic was fit to blow your hat off. We tarried not long and were soon on the move. Dropping off this feature into the lee the 'gale force' wind we had experienced on top disapeared and it was very pleasant walking through the fields back towards the beach and the return journey to Padstow Harbour for the ferry crossing to Rock. Once ashore we made our way to The Mariners for a pint of Sharpe's cider then back to Mullets for 'cakey tea'.

Mothercombe to St Peter the Poor Fisherman's Church

Mothercombe car park to St Peter the Poor Fisherman's Church at Revelstoke Beach, just east of Noss Mayo. Only 9 miles walking but there was a considerable amount of up hill and down dale on the coast path. At 0900hrs the pheasants we saw numbered 60+ easily throughout the walk. Fantastic weather for November. At sea all was flat calm. Perfect for canoeing and it would have been considerably less strenuous than walking!!

Mothercombe Beach

View from 18th century folly of Membland Pleasure House at Beacon Hill

Entrance to Stoke Beach Caravan Park

The Church of St Peter the Poor Fisherman at Revelstoke Beach, East of Newton Ferrers. Dates from Saxon times in 1226. It is a Grade 1 listed building but now a 'redundant' church and as such is administered by the Churches Conservation Trust. Of great historical/architectural interest.

A fantastic historical feel to the church. Visit it.

The Church of St Peter the Poor Fisherman.

St Peter's at Revelstoke.

Remembrance Sunday is only a few days away.

The church dates from 1226 and is Saxon.

The 'road' or cliff path back to Mothercombe away in the far distance.

Stoke Beach on the far headland, just visible.