Cot Valley to Zennor

21/7/13 Another trip down the A30 and this time on to the free car park in St Just. It was another hot day as we walked down the Cot Valley to rejoin the coastpath. There are signs telling you stick to the path as there are many mineshafts in this area. Not all of them as conspicuous as this one.

We were soon approaching Cape Cornwall.

We passed a refreshment van in the car park here, which I later regretted not using. The scenery was becoming increasingly industrial, but still remote, as we headed inland for a section before climbing up to Kenidjack.

The industrial heritage became more spectacular as we went past Botallack

and then on to Levant and Geevor.

Past Pendeen Watch is Portheras Cove.

I was hoping for beach cafe, but no. So it was on. The path stayed mainly on the cliffs with an occasional dip, but little in the way of shade again. We managed to go wrong at Bosigran and with no signs we ended up in a farm before heading back to the coast.

The last climb up from Pendour was a killer for me. Five hours without a drink in the middle of summer was silly. The stagger to the pub at Zennor was thankfully not too long. A drink of water was needed before downing a couple of pints and catching the open-top bus back to St Just.

Lamorna to Cot Valley

15/7/13 After a warm night and light breakfast at the YMCA, we caught the bus back towards Lamorna. A gentle stroll down the valley brought us back to the path in the Cove. We vaguely remembered it being rocky from the evening before, but it was quite tricky terrain in places.

Once on the top though, it did seem more like how you'd expect a coastpath to be.

Boscawen was only a temporary respite though, soon we were back down on the rocks in St Loy's Cove.

There were several more up and downs to come. We could see some walkers in the distance at Porthguarnon

and they gave us something to aim for.

Next cove was Penberth and we were starting to get thirsty now.

So at

Porthcurno, we took a slight detour to get some drinks. We also then stopped in Porthgwarra for a pasty which we ate in the shade of the lookout station on Gwennap Head. There was little shade to be had now as we could see the Longships lighthouse and Land's End in the distance.

Most of the walking was along the cliff tops now and it became busier with people from Land's End. At the far end of Mill Bay, we did spot some seals bobbing up and down in the sea weed.

One of their heads is just visible above.

We were tempted to get another drink at Land's End, but the price put us off especially when we saw the sign saying one mile to Sennen.

We descended into the village knowing what was at the end.

At the Old Success Inn we had pints of Proper Job (4.5%) and Tribute (4.2%) for £6.90. It was a pleasant refuge from the weather, but the pints hardly touched the sides.

Helicopters had been around a few times that day. One seemed to want to show off along Whitesand Bay.

The path from here goes along the back of the beach and through the dunes until eventually coming back out onto the cliff tops. We were heading for St Just and so as the footpath went inland up Cot Valley for a short distance, we took the opportunity to keep going. We headed for a shop in St Just, but unfortunately missed the bus stop and with it the Penzance bus. So we had to wait for the coastal open-top bus back through Sennen, Land's End, Porthcurno etc back to the YMCA. The sun went in for the first time that day and it was chilly for the first time in a while. We then had the long drive home.

Penzance to Lamorna

14/7/13 A few pubs expected here and so we decided to stay in the YMCA for a night. A drive to a pub that would have been 'one too many' on the previous walk took us to the Station House, where we arrived at opening time.

Not the prettiest of pubs. But there was a queue to get in and nibbles on the bar. Butcombe (4.2%) and Bombardier (4.1%) for £6.20 with a game of pool was a nice enough start to the day.

Then we left the car at the YMCA and restarted the walk. The Dolphin Tavern was soon spotted by the docks.

Pints of Tribute (4.2%) and Dartmoor (3.8%) for £6.90. An old pub, but seemed to be more of an eating place these days.

We had discussed at length what constitutes a pub for this walk, but we hadn't considered a meadery. We choose not to use the one opposite here. So it was on along the promenade, past some bars, past some pubs just off the path until we came to Newlyn.

The Tolcarne Inn was first. Pints of Tribute (4.2%) and Betty Stoggs (4%) for £6.70 were nice enough as I read their Sunday paper, but they had a jazz duo in who didn't seem to be attracting the punters.

Shortly later as we rounded a corner next to the fish docks, two pubs came into view.

The Swordfish is the first. There was only one couple in and the barmaid was in the kitchen cooking. We soon had two pints of Doom (4%) for £6.90 though. Halfway through those, ribs, sausages and roast potatoes arrived on the bar for the customers. Very nice they were too and so we had a couple more pints.

Just a few doors away is the Star. It was busier in here, but I'm not sure why as the Guiness (4.2%) and Betty Stoggs (4%) for £7.10 were not perfect.

Up the hill a bit is the Red Lion.

Two pints of Doom (4%) for £6.80 and a couple games of pool here. We were drinking slower now. Next was the Fishermans Arms.

Pints of Trelawny (3.8%) and Proper Job (4.5%) for £6.20 here. The alcohol must have been kicking now as we tried to play darts.

At least we could stretch our legs now as we moved on to Mousehole. The Ship Inn is on the quayside there.

"No alcopops here" I was told, so I think I had a vodka and Sid a pint of something as we struggled on. In fact we struggled on a bit further as we then went on to Lamorna Cove and walked up the valley to catch the  open-top bus back to Penzance for the night.

Porthleven to Penzance

10/7/13 I intended to drive to Liskeard and then train and bus, but the train was late and so we decided to drive to Porthleven. We started walking on a hot day just before noon. The path is undulating here and there is no shade. We came across this typical Cornish industrial view at Trewavas.

It wasn't until Rinsey that a similar site offered the first piece of shelter as I walked ahead to find it. Then it was down to Praa Sands.

A pasty and drink from a beach kiosk helped us on our way. It was then on past Prussia Cove and Perran Sands. As St Michael's Mount came closer, the undulations started to flatten out. On entering Marazion, the Fire Engine Inn was there to greet us.

Pints of Tribute (4.2%) and Proper Job (4.5%) for £6.70 were gratefully received. They were nice, but hardly touched the sides on this hot day. In the centre of the town is the Kings Arms.

Here it was Tribute and Rattler (6%) for £7.50 that were well received inside this small pub. Just around the corner is the Godolphin Arms.

Pints of Doom (4%) and Proper Job for £7.20 were not so well received here.

As I had to drive home, we passed the Station House for now and followed the flat path on the embankment between the railway line and the Mounts Bay beach into Penzance. There was time for a sandwich before returning on a tardy bus to Porthleven.