Coastwalk , South West Coast Path

Harlyn → Porthcothan

Distance: 7.21 miles
Ascent: 517 metres
Duration: 2 hours 39 minutes

Summer begins
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It's a luxury to be able to do this: to decide on the spur of the moment to race down to Cornwall for two days' walking. Fortunately we picked a good weekend for it, with wall-to-wall sunshine today.

This walk was relatively short, chiefly driven by availability of accommodation between Harlyn - where we left off in 2008 - and Newquay, the departure station for our train home tomorrow.

It's also been a very windy day, but that's not deterred the typical Brit, who's descended on the glorious sandy beaches in large numbers. On days like this we feel very much the odd ones out, marching along in hiking boots and rucksacks, rather than just lazing on a towel with a book, waiting for the barbecue to be ready.

Along the cliff-tops the wild flowers have been particularly noticeable today, with thrift and campion blooming in neat clusters and red valerian growing thickly in the hedgerows near Trevose Lighthouse.

By this evening, the wind had got the better of the sun, making it sadly too chilly to eat outside. Inside the pub we bumped into another couple staying at the same Bed and Breakfast as us. They too were walking the South West Coast Path, but had ambitions to go further so pushed us for stories, recommendations and tips.