Day 14 Porthcothan to Newquay ( 11.25 miles /18km)

 Day 14   Porthcothan to Newquay  ( 11.25 miles /18km)

Breakfast at the farm stay was farm fresh eggs, as fresh as they get – chicken to plate.   An excellent start and I was up and away early.   I wanted to get to Newquay in time to do laundry and also because an extra loud talker at breakfast in a group of other loud talkers were doing the walk to Newquay today …chief loud talker said she was looking forward to the day as it was meant to be so quiet and peaceful up there…Not for long it won’t be was my thought and  so I shot off to get a head start while their farm fresh eggs were getting scrambled.

I walked back down the steep hill that didn’t seem as steep this morning as it did going up it last night .   Back on the trail I walked around Porthcothan Bay (A.K.A Nampara Cove) and sent pics to Kate from every angle.   Then up the trail goes to this majestic and magical section of coastline – where the path touches cliff edges and on this sun filled, wind free day it was just incredible to walk.   I was skipping along.   The extra loud talker was right  -it really was so quiet and peaceful.   

Each cliff top lined with wide expanses of green where Ross Poldark was filmed galloping at speed on a regular basis.    Cornwall is rightly proud of being the inspirtaion and muse for  Poldark’s author Winston Graham.    He lived in Perranporth, my destination tomorrow, where he wrote the books and based them here in the surrounding countyside – making the wilds of Cornwall almost a character itself.     The first of 12 in the historical series was written in 1945 and the BBC’s 2015 adaptation starring Aiden Turner as Ross Poldark had Kate and I hooked and transported to this scenery on screen – to be walking through it now is taking my breath away.  I keep getting goosebumps.  

The path leads on to one of the most photographed geological spots of Cornwall – The Bedruthan Steps.   A series of colossal , jagged slate sea stacks that form a pathway into the Atlantic.   Legend has it that a mythical giant named Bedruthan used them as stepping stones to cross the bay.   Hence the name.   

The path drops down from the cliffs to walk the beach for a while of Mawgan Porth and then onto the path wrapping high around the 2 mile beach that is Watergate Bay.   The surfers were out in force as I moved around the cliffs.

This beautiful day ends on a road walk into Newquay.   A bit of a shocking contrast to the previous 17km.  Walking through crowds , it is best walked through at speed and I had no need to linger.   Straight to hotel a bit out of the town – a little time to sort washing of both clothes and hair – yes!  Went for dinner feeling truly lovley.   Lights out from Newquay. xxx

What a day!

The Bedruthan Steps

Watergate Bay’s surf action

Lunch in a field

Dinner and a hair wash!

Poldark Country

Cornwall…  Sorry,  Ross blocking the view here

And again here.