Walk 5: Padstow to Porthcothan
Padstow to Porthcothan is a route which is familiar to Sarah and I as we walked it together when we did the Macmillan Mighty Hike in September 2022. It's a beautiful walk which is predominantly flat, although there are some slightly steeper parts along the way. The challenge is in the distance at 14 miles, but we are becoming used to these longer treks.
To save time, we parked at Porthcothan and took a 30-minute bus ride up to Padstow. I was slightly worried about Romeo's reaction to the bus but he didn't seem phased and even stayed calm with other dogs on board. Result!
We set off from Padstow - a twisty path with breathtaking views across to Rock, especially in the sunshine. Then we climbed up around the head and along a wide, grassy route which passes sheep and cattle. The weather was calm and dry, although the sun did weaken through the day, and the sea was a tranquil haze of blue.
After stopping for lunch, we ambled across the gorgeous beach at Harlyn bay, skirted along the top of little golden coves and then headed up to the lighthouse which looks over Booby's Bay and Constantine Bay. By this point, at 10 miles in, I was beginning to flag and our end point still looked a long way off. It was definitely a sign that we needed to stop and refuel, even though time was ticking on, and it did the trick, giving us the energy to walk the final stretch.
Treyarnon Bay is one of my favourite discoveries since Sarah and I started walking together. I'm totally in love with the sea pool there and myself and my daughter visited it in the summer, early one Sunday morning, for a swim followed by breakfast on the beach. Today, it looked just as inviting, although we watched as the tide began to swallow it up.
Once past Treyarnon, we headed back onto the cliff top for the last stint. We knew we were close but weren't sure quite how far round our destination was. Surprisingly, it crept up on us sooner than expected and there are some stunning 'Goonies-style' inlets along this bit of coast, with deep turquoise water which, as Sarah pointed out, had just enough room for an ancient pirate galleon to be hiding in.
Despite the gorgeous views and fresh air, I was glad to see the car. I can't imagine a better way to spend a Sunday but juggling our walks with work and family time is also part of this challenge. It's exciting to see the progress we've made along the north coast, though, and we are doubling our efforts to plan the logistics of the next stages.
