17/6/2021 - Portreath to Hayle (11.54mls)

Our final walk for the week was from Portreath to Hayle and, apart from a couple of steep climbs near the beginning, the walk was easy, firstly along wide man made paths with a number off car park accesses and then through mainly firm paths in sand dunes for the last 4miles.

Fiona was looking forward to the day as she had arranged to visit an old nursing friend from when she was training at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham more than 50 years ago. We have seen Daphne and Keith a number of times over the years and in fact we met up with them in Falmouth on our last day of walking when we walked form Penzance to Falmouth.

Climbing out of Portreath we soon came to Porth-cadjack Cove where the hillside was covered in a wonderful mixture of wild flowers ...

On the opposite side of the cove the path climbed steeply, but we had a choice of either going straight up or following the zig-zag path that intersected the vertical path in several places. Unable to get a consensus on the way to go we used to old scissor, paper, stone method which I lost on both occasions but rather go on to 'best of3' and then 'best of 5' until I won, Justine volunteered to use the straight up path whilst the two Davids did the zig-zig path. Justine won of course!

Nearby is Samphire Island, so named because samphire, which is used as a delicacy in salads and garnishes, can be found there.

The path from here is firm, wide and goes on for many miles. Whenever we are walking we deliberately force a cheery hello and eye contact on anybody we pass, particularly those people who look as if they are going to pass us without any sign of recognition even though we are probably the first people they have seen in the last couple of hours! Along the path we came upon a couple with 2 dogs who when we said hello with a smile were so delighted that they stopped for a chat and thanked us as they had earlier been so disappointed to not be acknowledged by people.

Finally we reached Godrevy Point and it was there that DavidL had a déja vu moment. I suddenly recognised the landscape and the lighthouse as the place Fiona and I had visited with Daphne and Keith a couple of years ago when we were also with our friends Shrimp and Rob staying in Padstow. Walking around the headland was a trip down memory lane although I was disappointed that the cove that can be viewed from the headland was totally devoid of seals.

As we were leaving Godrevy Justine also had a déja vu moment when she saw a cafe near the beach which she had stopped for a drink and walk when recently visiting a friend in St Ives. I suppose in both our cases it was the fact that we had approached the area form the opposite side which had confused our memories.

What was interesting about the area were the swathes of purple/blue crops. At first it was thought to be flax but when we got to Godrevy there was an information board which explained that it was a crop called Phacelia which is a great source of nectar for butterflies and bees. It also acts as a 'green manure' for the farm crops and reduces the need for fertiliser.

The end of our week of walking was literally now in sight but not before 4 miles of walking through the sand dunes back too Hayle or the alternative path along the beach. Having walked along the 3mile beach at Perraporth some years ago we opted for the sand dunes route which sounds worse than it was. Most of the path was reasonably firm and well marked with large slate markers - only in some areas was the sand soft but not too difficult especially as at one point we reported to a bit of yomping!

Finally we got back to the North Quay at Hayle where Fiona was waiting. As ever, the first priority was an end of walk drink and then it was over the road to stock up on pasties to take home. In the evening we went into Penzance for an end of walk meal thanks to Justine's husband Jake, and then on the following morning to Marazion for coffee with thanks to Justine's dad Ernie.

All in all an excellent week - good weather, good walking, good food (thanks to Fiona), good company, and lots of laughs.

After every walk it is Fiona's 'treat' to colour in the map, so here goes ...

Looking forward now to September when we will be starting to continue the SWCP from Falmouth towards Plymouth.