D120: LOSTWITHIEL to ST BLAZEY
Sunday 21st April 2024
Today miles: 14.4 Total miles: 2019.0
After a good night sleep I left Lostwithiel and the Kings Arms whilst most people were still sleeping. The town and streets were very quiet and I took a slow walk back towards the Western bank of the River Fowey and the much appreciated large Morrisons store. I waited outside the store for a while until it opened and then collected some food for the next few days. I then walked along between the edge of the river and the railway line for the first mile. The route now turns slightly inland just before the Milltown Wood viaduct. The route later connected with the ‘Saints Way Trail’ footpath. This trail winds through Cornwalls rolling hills towards Golant and then two miles further on it enters the port town of Fowey. The ‘Saints Way Trail’ starts/finishes at Fowey and cuts through thirty miles of Cornish countryside and crossing Bodmin Moor before stopping at the coastal town of Padstow.
I noticed that the previous blue skies were beginning to darken and so I decided to take an extended break at the far end of Fowey. I bumped into a local man who gave me some good detailed information about the walk between Fowey and Polkerros. He informed me that it was a nice scenic route, with plenty to see and that he’d done a circular route between the two port towns hundreds of times over the last thirty years. It was nice to chat with him and we only said our goodbyes when the rain began to fall.
There’s a nice viewpoint from the mouth of the River Fowey and I had another short break at St Catherine’s Point and topped up my water bottle in the public toilets. There’s a series of steep ascents and descents to get me up to Southground Cliffs which then continues on to Gribbin Head. It’s barely afternoon and as there’s more great views to admire, I took yet another break. From Gribbin Head I can see the beach at Par Sands which is close to my final destination for today.
It’s an easy, peasy walk to Par Sands along the coastal path via Polkerris. On reaching the beach I decided to hang around for a while. The tide was in so I removed my footwear and dipped my feet into the cool, salty water for the half mile walk along Par Sands beach. On arriving on the Southern edge of St Blazey I replaced my socks and shoes and turned inland for the mile walk to my accommodation. It’s the place with “several cats” and I’m a little nervous. After walking along the disused railway track I arrived at my air bnb and found out that I had the whole house to myself for the next three days. The owner and his six cats are now living at another address nearby. It’s a new property, very clean and more importantly it’s now cat free. I’ve got a much deserved rest day tomorrow.
Werewolfandflump UK Coast Path 