We got the bus back to Charlestown to pick up from where we left off yesterday in the twilight. A pretty murky, drizzly morning but still warm and no real wind.
The path gets us straight into the countryside.
The path leads onto Carlyon bay and a very large beach next to a golf course. None of the golfers seem to be in the slightest bit interested in the coast and we are frowned at a couple of times to pause so they can take their shots.
We have a nice reminder that we are on the path
As we go down through a little cove and back up into Par (why didn’t they call it “Par Golf Course”?)
Anyway, Par has a big industrial China works which we have to walk behind and some housing estates
Soon we get to the beautiful Par beach through the dunes, which are a nature reserve - a few people are learning to kite surf now the wind has picked up.
Quickly we are away looking back over our recent achievements
And we come to Polkerris, which is apparently a big windsurfing and sailing beach, no-one is doing it here today. There is a pub, a restaurant and a beach cafe here and that’s about all.
It is very muddy underfoot again today and we are slipping around in some sharp inclines and declines. Quite glad I bought my Grandad walking pole now 😀
There are some nice cliffs to marvel at as we go passed on our way to Gribbin Head
In the distance you can see the Daymark Tower
This was built in 1832 as a navigational aid to help sailors find Fowey (“Foy”) over rival ports and to help establish Fowey as a major port in those times, even though it is the furthest away from the tin and clay. Marketing in action.
From here we head to Polridmouth
As well as the beach being nice, albeit with a load of seaweed and other things all over it (no jellyfish I can see)
It also has this amazing house and lake which inspired the beach house in Daphne Du Maurier’s novel Rebecca - I have seen the book but never read it.
Some big climbs from here to help get the blood up
The beach is called Readymoney Beach and is a small place next to Fowey and St Catherine’s castle - is on the entrance to the harbour. This area is heavily fortified after Henry VIII ordered it to be fearing attacks from the catholic French and Spanish after the Reformation.
Harry is loving the beach
Fowey itself is a very quaint place with lots of big town houses and a bustling main street. Seems difficult to believe it would have been a relatively big port when Plymouth is so massive just down the road.
It looks over the other side of the harbour to Polruan, which looks equally pretty but much more serene, and where we will go by ferry tomorrow to continue the walk...
