Tuesday, 26 October 2010

Coastwalk , South West Coast Path

Helford Passage → Falmouth

pendennis-castle.png Distance: 8.91 miles
Ascent: 437 metres
Duration: 3 hours 31 minutes

In the mizzle
« Coverack | Place »

Today's weather is the opposite of yesterday's. The blue skies are a murky grey and setting out from Helford Passage it's hardly possible to make out Helford village on the other side of the river.

Walking into Falmouth would be easy in fine weather, but the rain turned the path to mud and by the time we reached Cliff Road on the south side of town my feet were soaked. (Time to get new boots!)

The rain had almost stopped by the time we reached the small headland that forms the tip of the natural harbour barrier, and we had time to look at the sturdy blockhouse at Pendennis Castle. A rather charming monument stone commemorates the motorcycle races that took place on the public roads around the castle in the 1930s, although it was hard to imagine speeding down the steep roads in the wet. Further on, we were greeted by the sight of the massive cranes in the Queen Elizabeth dry dock, one of several docks at Falmouth that now offer repair and refit services to vessels from across the world.

We stopped the walk at the newly-developed Discovery Quay, now home to the National Maritime Museum, and treated ourselves to fish and chips from Rick Stein's latest eatery.

Posted by pab at 15:18 | Comments will be back later in the year. Please email me instead!