Day 1: Padstow
Headed to Bodmin Parkway train station to meet the group. Great to see our Trip Leaders Richard and Karen Bell again!
Day 2: Boscastle to Tintagel
Our first full day of hiking, lots of up and down, including stairs. Lovely sunny day with beautiful coastlines and wildflowers! Ended in Port Isaac where Doc Martin is filmed. Dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant!
Day 3: Constantine Bay back to Padstow
Longest hike today (11 miles), but less up and down than yesterday, and again, lovely weather!
Day 4: Porthcothan Bay to St. Ives
Shorter, but more strenuous hiking—lots of ups and downs along the beautiful North Coast of Cornwall. I swam in a new body of water—the Celtic Sea (very cold)! We ended by attending an interesting production of The Zig Zag Way at the Minack Theater, perfect timing before our tour of the Levant Tin Mine tomorrow, preceded by a lovely picnic cooked by Karen and her friend Toni.
Day 5: Levant Mine to Lands End
Started the day at the Levant Tin Mine where the site curator, Anthony, shared its fascinating history with us. Lunch was true Cornish pasties from the oldest Cornish pasty shop in Cornwall (or anywhere for that matter!) followed by a hike up the coast, then a short transfer to Land’s End (the westernmost point in England) and a lovely dinner in St. Ives.
Day 6: Lamorna Cove to Porthcurno
Wonderful hike even though the fog never totally lifted—but no rain! Ended at the Telegraph Museum in Porthcurno, which was fascinating.
Day 7: Truro, Lost Gardens of Heligan
We started today with a walk into Truro, passing lovely Georgian and Victorian row houses. Beautiful cathedral! Next off to the Lost Gardens of Heligan (look it up, amazing story!). Then a walk down a woodland (and muddy!) path to Megavissey where we caught a ferry to our last hotel in Fowey (pronounced Foy, “Fowey rhymes with Joy”).
Day 8: Polperro to Poluruan
Hot and totally clear day for our hike from Polperro up the coast and back to Fowey via a foot ferry from Polruan. I also swam in a new body of water! The English Channel.
Day 9: Last hike – Fowey to Polkerris
Last day of hiking. We walked along the coast to Polkerris for a nice pub lunch, then back through the woods on the Saints Way—a trail used by early Christians to travel between the north and south coasts since it was safer for them to go overland. Lovely final dinner in the Fowey Hotel
-Photos and text by 4-time WT adventurer Barbara Hughey, Hiking in Cornwall
