Walk 12: Zennor to Cape Cornwall

We attempted this walk on the Friday of May half-term, right on the back of a week of scorching weather. I had been busy doing some extra marking work all week - yes, instead of enjoying the sunny holidays - and was desperate to escape it. The weather forecast was 18 degrees and cloudy so I decided to take both dogs along as they had only been able to get out in the evenings and were properly fed up. 

I met Sarah at Cape Cornwall and then we drove one car back to Zennor. As we set off, it quickly became clear that the weather was going to be much sunnier and warmer than expected and I prayed I hadn't made a massive mistake bringing the dogs. The first mile delivered views worthy of Greece and Turkey - the colour of the sea was a vivid turquoise - and this continued for most of our walk. 



Overall, the walk was hard-going due to its remoteness but probably one of my favourites so far due to the views. I've visited this area several times but not recently and it was nice to be somewhere unfamiliar and properly explore. The breeze made the heat manageable and the dogs enjoyed regular dips in the streams we passed. 

The shale proved to be my biggest nemesis again - I was slipping and tripping all over the place, half-pulled by the dogs. The cow field proved to be Sarah's nemesis and we had to find another way round (through a bog), which was probably for the best as we noticed they were quite reactive to dogs. We had a lovely stop and paddle on Portheras beach and then hit the half way point. 


The second section tested our resolve. Walking through Lelant mine was hot and barren with no shelter whatsoever. I wanted to crack on and get to the end whereas Sarah was keen to make a detour for refreshments and a loo - this really was remote from start to finish. When we did find a cafe which Sarah recognised, it was closed and then, the last mile - which felt like 4 - took us across a valley and back to the Cape. 


Overall, I loved the wilderness, the adventure and the beauty of this walk but the heat made the lack of refreshments very real. Our supplies quickly dwindled and we will definitely need to bring extra when we attempt Cape Cornwall to Porthcurno. 

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