That's the south coast of Cornwall done!

A walk on the south coast of Cornwall with Mrs P that marked a milestone for our trek around the county. Read on...………….

 A 6-miler that involved parking one car at Downderry, driving to Tregantle Fort with the other and then walking back to Downderry by the Coastal path. Undulating is the best way to describe it, as the elevation profile shows. Weatherwise, it was clear and sunny when we started but it became misty with poor visibility for the major part. It brightened up later.

The significance of this walk is that we have now completed all of the south coast of Cornwall, that's around 154 miles from the eastern extremity at Cremyll Ferry to Land's End. In fact, as you might be able to make out from the black line on our 'route' map, the continuous stretch runs up to around Polzeath, which is 247 miles from Cremyll. It is now generally accepted that the coastline is around 296 miles, so we've got about 30 miles more to do to complete it (we've already done bits and pieces of the remaining stretches. Unfortunately, we've left the most strenuous parts in North Cornwall for last. Better get it done whilst our legs can still do it!

We started the walk at Tregantle Fort and were greeted by this friendly fence...………

...and this welcoming notice from the MOD.

 

The footpath goes, when the firing ranges are not being used, through the grounds of Tregantle Fort, one of several forts surrounding Plymouth that were built as a result of a decision in Lord Palmerston's premiership to deter the French from attacking naval bases on the Channel coast. Collectively they are known as 'Palmerston's Follies' as they were never really used in anger.

It really is an impressive structure, built to house over 1000 soldiers and around 100 large guns. In practice, these numbers were never met and the fort is now used for gunnery practice on a regular basis. As far as I can gather, there is no permanent military presence kept at the fort.

Looking back along the 4 miles of sands of Whitesands Bay, a very popular place in the summer for the good people of Plymouth, who stream here over the Torpoint Ferry. In the distance is Rame Head.

Portwrinkle. A village based on fishing for pilchards but the glory days have long passed into history. Nowadays it's a mixture of holiday lets, chalets and the Whitesands Bay Hotel and golf course. The Jolly Roger Café was a convenient stop for tea and coffee but I wouldn't add to my list of favourites.

We came from the right and went to the left. Not quite sure why the footpath was signed as being 'unsuitable for motor vehicles' as it was only about 3' wide at this point. I wonder what was the reasoning behind putting the sign up.

 

Looking west over flowering blackthorn towards Batten Cliff, the highest point on our walk.

Close to the end of our walk, the beach at Downderry. It gradually gets sandier as it morphs into Seaton Beach.

Female Winchat and friend.

Male catkins of Goat Willow - again. These prompted a botany lesson for Mrs P who can now identify a dioecious tree from 20 yards.

The verdant but slippery path down to the beach at Downderry.

Male Winchat and gorse.

I've never had much luck photographing Skylarks but, at least, I got the full body of this one as it came into land. There were lots of them around but way up in the sky, singing away.

Leucojum vernum - Spring snowflake. A really attractive flower that comes just after the Snowdrops. We've transplanted a few into our garden from a garden in Bournemouth (thank you, Anne!).

Vinca minor alba - small white periwinkle. Is it native or is it an escapee? The literature seems ambivalent on this question. 

Sweet Violet/Wood Violet/Common Violet - Viola odorata. In quantity, these were the most numerous flower on this walk. Apart from the blossoms of Blackthorn, that is. And the celandines. Oh, yes, let's not forget the daffodils that were still around. There were quite a few dandelions as well as some Red Campion.