The weather when we set off from beside the Jolly Sailor cafe at Portwrinkle was fine and dry and it was an easy walk along the edge of the golf course to the firing range, which was open, so we were able to see the Tregantle Fort and beyond to the Military Road that runs along the coast at this point for some distance.
On reaching Freathy we could see that the weather was changing and then the heavens opened with lashing rain and thunder and lightning. The road is fairly exposed and, although there were chalets on the seaward side, we were only able to find minimal shelter standing against a hedge. When there was a slight easing in the rain we ventured a little further up the road only to find a sign advertising a cafe in a chalet park. This is the Cliff Top Cafe at Freathy Cliff where we were made most welcome along with others who had been caught on the beach. The owner provided towels for us all and we stopped here to have lunch until the main part of the storm had passed ...
From here, with the weather now much drier, we took the official coast path option to descend the cliff towards chalets, amazing at how such properties had been built with the seemingly non existent vehicle access to deliver building materials etc.
From Wiggle Triangle the route starts the climb passing Polhawn Cove ...
... towards Rame Head which we have had in view for much of the day so far. Reaching the chapel on the top of Rame Head the wind was very strong and gusty. After taking in the panoramic views we carried on to Cawsand where we knew that Fiona was having her lunch whilst sheltering from the weather.
Stopping briefly for a drink with Fiona, Justine and I set off to complete the walk to Cremyll, leaving David A behind as he was having a problem with his hip ...
It was a short walk to the neighbouring village of Kingsand where it was interesting to see that before 1844 Cawsand was in Cornwall but Kingsand was in Devon, illustrated by a plaque on a property just before the Post office ...
The walk from here was straightforward although by the time we reached Picklecombe the weather changed again but as much of the path was through trees it was nowhere near as uncomfortable as earlier in the day. The final part of the walk is through the Mount Edgcombe formal gardens where we noted on the gate that the gardens would be closed at dusk - other walkers take note!
The gardens in front of the Orangery were vey colourful and well maintained ...
Finally we reached the Edgcombe foot ferry at Cremyll to meet up again with Fiona and DavidA for a welcome drink in the attractive pub nearby with views across Plymouth Sound to the naval college ...
