Perranporth to Tehidy – No Walks Are Short

What do you mean ‘No walks are short’?

Sorry. I couldn’t think of owt else to write.

Well don’t write anything else then, just put Perranporth to Tehidy.

OK.

Perranporth to Tehidy – A Right Long Bastard of a Walk

From the campsite I could almost touch St Agnes, but there was a deep valley, covered in gorse, between us. So St Agnes had to wait whilst I walked back towards Perranporth, and then down a narrow road into and back out of the valley up to dear old St Aggie.

After breakfasting there my caravan moved on. Well it’s me really. The only hint of a caravan is my rucksack. Good old ruckie. Ruckie matey mate. Old pal.

I’d come quite a way inland to reach the campsite and didn’t connect to the coast path again until Porthtowan.

From here the coast path was stunning, yet again. This isn’t a green and pleasant land. It leaves that epithet way behind.

This is an other Eden, demi-paradise, a precious stone set in the silver sea. This is a blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this Cornwall.

A wonderful walk round to Portreath was my afternoon treat. This is the heart of historic tin, copper and silver mining in Cornwall, and was for many centuries. The old mines, smelting ovens with their tall chimneys and hundreds of open pits are all across this land. Many have been capped with these iron coverings or proper concrete caps. Some are still open. They drop down hundreds of feet. And the mines went out way under the ocean. Industrial heritage.

Halfway round to Portreath there were people with big cameras filming seaward. Then I saw them too, with my less-than telephoto lensed naked eyes. There they were, in the sea. A pod of small Orcas just off shore, chasing the newly arrived mackerel. An incredible sight. I’m sorry my iPad couldn’t capture it.

We stood there transfixed. A local guy with a massive telephoto lens said he was going to upload the footage to Cornwall Marine website. He said he’d never seen anything like it.

Word got round quickly and a few sightseeing/fishing boats steamed into the area.

Amazing. Back to this scepter’d isle, and these beaches that are only accessible by boats.

In Portreath, and still 4 miles to go.

I had a pint and fish and chips in the Atlantic Bar/chipper. With the locals.

After a final 90 minute walk, inland again to get to a campsite, I made it. Blooming great. Just before eight. Into the old sleeping bag and see how long I can sleep.

Night night.