By: Mike

 

Saturday 28th October

We drive to Gorran Haven down increasingly narrow lanes until we nearly bump into a car.  OH – it’s an A2B taxi!  What are the chances of someone else booking a cab into this remote area?  I jump out and ask if he is Steve.  He is and he is totally lost.  He backs up, lets us pass and turns round to follow us.  We find the NT car park on the outskirts of Gorran Haven after opening two gates across the lane. Then follows another winding drive in the cab back to Portloe.  All this faffing around means we are not on the path till 10.30, and the cab has cost £50.00.

We head off up the cliff and the weather starts to really deteriorate.  It is sheeting down, but we are prepared and both have anoraks, boots and waterproof trousers.  This doesn’t stop me falling over and sliding down the hill in the mud.

We make it to Portholland East where the rain eases.  Amazingly there is a post office and take away café.  We get coffee and sit on a windy bench to review our predicament.  Chris suggests turning back or finding somewhere to stay.  However, the western sky is brightening and she agrees to keep going a bit further.  I realise that there is not enough daylight to follow the path all the way to GH and I am looking at the map for short cuts.  The weather improves and by Caerhays Castle, it is sunny.  We eat our sandwiches in a deserted coast guard look out post and begin to feel a bit better.

We have a stop at Hemmick Beach.  The path continues round Dodman Point, but time is against us and we take a short cut along the road to Penare and our car.

We are back, amazingly, in time for showers a short rest and our 20.00 booking at The Plume.

                                                    Caerhays Castle


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