Oh, we do like to be beside the seaside

Circumstances gave us an afternoon in Tintagel and we decided that we'd walk a shortish stretch of the Coastal Footpath. Tintagel as a village is not my favourite spot in Cornwall. It's far too busy and full of tat associated with King Arthur - Merlin Burger anyone? But the castle, and the new bridge, are well worth visiting when it's quiet. Best to go out of season. Or better still, do what we did and don't stop! Ignore me, I’m just an old curmudgeon. Go and enjoy yourself and why not buy a plastic sword and shield? Or a full-sized round table?

We started in the car park next to St Matriana's church on the outskirts of Tintagel. We've been there several times previously and it has some very interesting stained glass windows. But today was about walking and not spending too much time church visiting. Top tip: the car park by the church is free.

A straightforward 3 mile walk. Out of the car park, turn right and walk along the coast for about 2 miles. Then take a left and follow a few paths back to the church. 

A few steps from the car park and this is what in front of you.

If you look to the right, eastwards, you can see Tintagel ‘Island’ where the castle is. Look carefully and you can make out the hordes as they pick their way around the ruins. And spend more time dwelling on who wasn’t there than those who were.

If you look down, you can see drifts of Thrift and the amazingly blue sea.

And to the left - westwards - we can see across Port Isaac Bay with Gull Rock, off Trebarwith Strand, in the mid-ground.

Armeria maritima - thrift, sea thrift or sea pink. Extremely prolific along the coastal footpath at this time of year.

Another coast-scape looking east. The Youth Hostel at Tintagel can be made out. It has a spectacular view and all for a very reasonable fee (I assume).

At low tide, this is one long sandy beach. The Prince William pub at Trebarwith Strand can be made out in the distance. Good place for a drink with a view but a very steep descent to reach it. We skipped that this time around.

Swathes of Thrift along a bank.

A slate stile, some thrift and a dry stone wall with a herringbone pattern. Three distinctive features on this walk.

All along this stretch of coast are the remains of a series of slate mines/quarries. All long gone but these stacks stand testament to their presence. The stacks were formed when all the valuable slate was removed around them, leaving the core of harder, commercially valueless stone.

A few more stacks and a couple of ruinous mine buildings. At one time, the area would have resonated to the sound of the mines/quarries being worked. But all things must pass.

Wheatear on a rock. A lively little Summer migrant and there were lots of them flitting about.

A dry stone wall showing the herringbone pattern that comes from using relatively thin sheets of slate. Also called a Jack and Jill pattern.

The above in grey scale.

A rather ferocious guardian of a holiday let.