In October 2011, I fulfilled a long held dream of walking part of the Cornwall Coast Path. This track runs from Bude to Falmouth and is about 600km long. The track was constructed by the Coastguards in the 1800s to combat smuggling through (at the time) a remote coast of England. I started at Gunnards Head and walked round Lands End to Penzance over 3 days covering a distance of about 55km. Inspite of dire predictions the weather was most kind to me and in fact on the last day it was so warm I was able to walk in T shirt and shorts for most of the day.

The coast was wonderful with lots of caves which I could picture smugglers using to stash contraband brandy, gin and tobacco in the 1700/1800s, old tin mines hugging the cliffs and pretty fishing villages…overall just a great walking experience. As I was walking out of season, I had the track pretty much to myself for the first two days. Only on the last day did I encounter increasing numbers of people on the track as I approached Penzance.

The photos below show the scenery and highlights along the track.

The starting point…Gunnards Head Hotel

First view of Cornwall coast

Cape Cornwall with remains of St Helens chapel in midground

Selfie on the track

The sedimentary-igneous interface which gave rise to the rich tin deposits of Cornwall

Lands End

Inevitable signage at famous landmark

Smugglers coast just after Lands End

Pretty fishing hamlet of Porthgwarra

Mousehole named after the tiny entrance to the harbour

Mowzers cottage in Mousehole

Approaching destination Penzance