Tuesday 3rd June 2003 - Day four, Portwrinkle to Plymouth and home Prev

I woke up after several hours of solid sleep and peering through the curtains saw that the weather was going to be ideal for walking, lightly overcast but bright. I went up to the top part of the split level house for breakfast, another full english with all the trimmings to keep me sustained, collected my belongings and set off. The seafront was only a few hundred yards away and I was soon back on the path.

The morning was still cool and damp as I started up the hill on the far side of Portwrinkle. Heavy dew made the wet grass hang over the path and my legs got wet very quickly. It was a long climb out of Portwrinkle and I was warmed up if a bit tired by the time I got to the top. Once on the top it was easy walking alongside flat fields. Up ahead was a military establishment with ranges and the path had to divert inland to the coast road. The path beside the road was heavily overgrown with wet grass like the hill from Portwrinkle, and my legs got soaked again.

Today I wanted to make Plymouth and home. It was only going to be a short walk this time but the next part was a major treck and would take some time to complete, I would need a full week for it.

This was a stretch of on road walking which made for quick progress. I stopped for a drink at Freathy and was overtaken by a group of soldiers in full kit on a march with a minibus behind them. The soldier driving the minibus said 'Don't worry mate, if you keel over we'll look after you'. Thanks. I followed them for a mile or so as they were keeping up a good pace until the path diverted off to the right away from the road and meandered around along the hillside. At one part a small service road with houses either side cut across, then it was onward to Rame Head.

Around the headland Rame Head came into sight. It was a more wild and exposed stretch and a cool wind blew off the sea. Out on the head was a small chapel but to visit it would have been a diversion so I marched on along the dirt track. The wind was stronger on the far side of the head but I kept to just a t-shirt which was just warm enough. By now the day had brightened up a bit more and was very pleasant. Presently the dirt track joined a made up road as it headed into woodland.

I kept up a good pace on the well made up path through the wood. Eventually I came to Kingsand and found a small shop on a corner to restock on food and drink. I had a bit of the usual problem finding the other side of Kingsland but after a wrong turn I found a well made up path which was the way out. This was obviously a place where many people strolled, and at a convienient bench I stopped for an early lunch.

This part was 'organised' countryside as I walked through the woodland then turned left from the road into Mount Edgcumbe Country Park. Looking through the trees as I walked through the country park I could see the massive and busy river with Plymouth and Devon beyond. There had been a landslip in the park and diversions sent me climbing up and up, over the top then down and down to continue, very hard work on the legs.

Eventually it changed from more the wilder woodland to more organised country park with open grassy areas, then neat roadways, grass and white buildings with pillars and statues. Signposts pointed to the ferry and as I crossed the river I left behine a dry Cornwall morning and entered a wet Devon afternoon. I was sorry to leave Cornwall because it felt like a significant stage was over although there will be a few trips and years yet before I finish the walk.

In Plymouth the coast path marked on lamposts and was just pavement walking, and crossing busy roads. I diverted from the path up to the railway station in Plymouth and took the train home.

Previous page, Day three, 3rd June 03, Portwrinkle to Plymouth.

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