Day 22 Finish line!

Today I finished my Cornish Coastal Challenge!!

I left Penzance at 9.30am and arrived in Newlyn at 10am to be met by an applaud and lots of photos. The short walk from Penzance harbour to Newlyn was wet and blustery but there was a hot cup of tea and lots of cake awaiting at the end. After a few photo opps on the boat and with the crew I sat and relaxed feeling quite chuffed at my acheivement.

I would like to say a huge Thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way by either simply talking to me, to donating generously, to providing a place to stay and even buying me dinner. Thank you so much! I have really enjoyed the experience and loved meeting so many people. My total raised currently stands at around £600 but I still have more to collect and if you are reading this and haven't yet donated to this great charity then please do so now. We all use the sea whether it be sailing, surfing, swimming or just enjoying the fabulous view whilst walking. Lifeboats are a common sight around the Coast and I am truly amazed at the support that has been shown for the lifeboat crews, they are amazing people and very important part of our coastal towns and villages.

Day 20 to Day 21 Cadgwith to Penzance

Day 20: The day it snowed the Ocean!


Today was very, very, VERY windy and the waves were HUGE but thankfully the wind was in my favour as it was behind me pushing me uphill. We walked from Lizard to Porthleven with the occasional shower. We saw some incredible sights, such as the illusion that it was snowing. This was in fact the spume from the sea being blown ashore by the massive winds we were experiencing. It came in a blizzard fashion, up the side of the cliffs leaving them white like Dover. Below you can see the white milk like sea and to the right a picture of a beach completely covered in the foam.

As we left Kynance Cove and headed towards Porthleven we were literally blown away by the scenery and the winds. We watched waves crash into the coves with such force that you could be forgiven for thinking that a hurricane was iminent. We lunched at Mullion Cove and then joined many tourists on the harbourside wall watching the waves in complete awe.

Day 21 was great, it was the homeward leg of my trip around Cornwall. Again it was raining, but that didn't matter as the excitement of reaching home territory was taking over. We saw seals and basking sharks as well as crazy people swimming and BBQ-ing on the beach. The walk itself was very flat and quite easy although in distance it was 14.75miles, so not a short walk. The path, in contrast to the North Coast was practically at beach level so we were often covered in sea water more so than the rain. There were still a few cliffs to walk like this one just past Praa Sands.









As we rounded Cudden Point I had a small celebration dance as I was met with this view. Home!

Mounts Bay and St. Micheals Mount, what a sight? Even in the rain... We now walked with pace as we knew it was near the end. In Marazion we had a pint or Cornish Cider before trekking on the in rain to Penzance. In Penzance I joined the Fireball sailors at the Sailing Club for a drink where they were very generous and made lots of contributions to the cause. Thanks guys!!

If you haven't guessed, this is me rather wet arriving in Penzance.

Day 15 Day 19 Polruan to Cadgwith

So, it's been an interesting walk, not only did I manage to almost kill my walking buddy with heat exhaustion but I also hurt my own foot by walking too fast!! Lets go back a few days...

Random: We are not sure what this was but we found it at Par Sands...

Leaving Polruan, Laurence and I headed for Pentewan. The day was very hot and clamy and we pushed on through Fowey making a short stop at the Lifeboat Station. We walked with a good pace to Par Sands where we suddenly slowed down due to the midday heat. Walking round to Par Sands we passed a place called Little Hell and I can tell you that it certainly felt like Hell walking with our backpacks and trying to keep a steady pace. Leaving Par we passed Carlyon Bay -  a bit of a dive due to the abandoned buildings on the beach. We arrived in Charlestown where we had a drink and sandwich and I even managed to steal a Pirates Parrot!

The route from Charlestown to Pentewan was very up and down and we became very angry at the seeing the same sign numerous times. "Pentewan 3.5 miles" It certainly wasn't considering each sign had about a 40 min walk between each one!! Again I think someone in the South West Coastal Path team is having a laugh. As we arrived on Black Head it became apparent that my buddy was in a bad way so we headed for a road where I bundled him off in a car to our next destination.

Pentewan we were joined by my posh friends Sophie and Chris who treated us to dinner after our long ordeal. Yes Sophie this picture is for you!!

My buddy Laurence went home that night to recover leaving me to continue on the next day to Portloe. Waking up at Pentewan I was a bit dazed and confused especially when I found that the Pesky Piskies had stolen my toothbrush! I know I left it beside my pillow when I went to bed, so either they stole it or someone had been in my tent!! I hope it was the Piskies...

Day 16 I walked a relatively easy walk, meeting lots of great people on the way, especially Bob and Mary who donated generously to the RNLI after hearing about my challenge. We walked together to Caerhays Castle where we went our separate ways. That night I stayed in Veryan at the Camping and Caravaning club, where the amazing staff made me feel very welcome and gave me a free pitch for the night! Thanks guys!

Day 17 seemed to fly by super quick. I left the campsite around 9am and headed for Falmouth. the path was easy and steady, contouring around the coastline with hardly any ascents and descents. I arrived at St Anthony's Lighthouse around 2.30pm which was great timing for a 14mile walk on the coastline. I caught the ferry from Place to St Mawes and then St Mawes to Falmouth where I was met by my mum. That night I stayed at home in a bed and had a long bath follwed by a big tasty homecooked dinner - Bliss.  Falmouth view it below.

Falmouth to Porthallow, Day 18, was a relatively easy walk apart from around Helford where the path was very muddy! I met lots of families trying to walk around the point but they soon realised that Crocs are not quite the appropriate footwear. It was quite uneventful really but I enjoyed the great views back across to Falmouth.

So, today I walked with my buddy Laurence again! He is much better now. We walked without our backpacks as my mum lives out near Lizard so I could leave our bags there much to our relief. We walked in lovely sunshine round to Coverack, a beautiful village where we had lunch overlooking the beach. Felt like we were in Greece or somewhere like that. Leaving Coverack proved difficult as the path warned of challenging routes, naturally we paid no attention thinking, 'It cant be that bad, can it?' As we left the village a came around the headland we soon realised what the sign meant, we were literally up to our armpits in heather, gorse and nettles. The path had literally been overtaken by bush! We battled our way through, getting scratched, torn and tripped up by various green plants before we came out at the top of a headland revealing views right across to the Lizard point and the new Lifeboat Station sitting in the cliff side. We only made it to Cadgwith today as the rain came in and we became rather wet like soggy sailors, so we ended the day with a pint in the Cadgwith Cove Inn. Lovely stuff!

Day 14 Millendreath to Polruan

We set off a little late in the day with our first stop at the Lifeboat station in Looe. We were met by John a lovely man who showed us in, gave us water and sat us down for a few minutes before showing us around the station. We had our picture taken in not the usual manner!! As you can see.
John then took us down town for pasty and set us off on our way with a free ferry trip across the river.

We started our long trip to Polruan in the midday heat which  was very challenging. Reaching Polpero wasnt so bad until we left Polperro. The route between Polruan and Polperro was particularly tough as there were a few steep ascents and descents. After sweating profusly, we passed a sign that said Polruan 3 and half miles, thinking we were half way there we pressed on. What seemed like hours later we passed another sign that said the SAME thing. How could it still be 3 and half miles? The sign a little further on said 4 and half miles. We soon came to the conclusion that someone in the South West Coastal Path Team must be having a laugh. Either that or we were becoming delirious in the heat...

We collapsed on a headland after an awful hot hike still realising we had another two miles to go. we wanted to cry but there was no water left in us!! We staggered into Polruan rather late and headed for the pub and a cold pint of cider. We asked the pub about accomodation as we were rather lacking on that front. Luckily a lovely lady called Beth Rigg came over and said her husband was the Ray, was the treasurer of the Fowey and Polruan Lifeboat and that their holiday cottage was empty so we could stay there for £20. Of course we jumped at the offer, our tired feet were weary.

We then got chatting to a man next to us who explained he was from Newlyn and his boat was here for some repairs. His name was Steve and just before he left he gave Beth the £20 for our accomodation! We could hardly believe it and we would just like to say a big thank you to Steve! That night I slept so well.

Day 13 South Coast!!!

Yey I made it onto what felt like the home stretch. A beautiful sunny day to start the south route. I was in high spirits and I was joined by Laurence, a friend of my sister. We arrived in pretty  Portwrinkle around 3pm and continued on to Millendreath Cove outside of Looe. On the way I moaned and moaned that I had not seen any Marine animals in the way of dolphins etc. Only then, after moaning did I spot a fin in the water. we watched this fin drift slowly across the surface and decided that it was Basking Shark, seeing as my wishes were coming true I decided to wish that Johnny Depp would walk around the next corner! And would you believe it, as I got around the next headland I was met by... a large feild of muck, not Johnny Depp - Gutted!

That night we stayed at Bay View Farm where Mike Elford, the owner, let us stay for free and gave generously to the RNLI pot. Thanks Mike. That night we tucked into a chinese takeaway and watched the sun go down over the pretty view of Looe.

We set up our little camp making sure the RNLI cause was obvious!








The amazing view overlooking Looe.

Day 12 Boscastle to Bude

So today was to be another immense walk, 16miles of Coast Path to Bude. I left at 8am saying bye to Josie and headed out in clear weather. About an hour into my hike it began to rain and it did that ALLDAY! I walked in mud that was so slippy and gooey I fell over four times being left to look like a bug on my back incapable of getting up because my bag was so big!

I hiked all day in wet clamy conditions finally reaching Widemouth Bay where I had truly had enough, I smelt like a wet dog and that was bad. Mum met me and we stayed at Cerenity eco campsite, where Jake the owner let me use her shower to be sure I had a hot one. She even let us stay for free as we were chsrity walking. Thanks Jake! The next morning we visited the Bude Lifeboat station before heading down to the south Coast. I could hardly believe I was already heading for the south coast....

Day 11 Port Isaac to Boscastle

Leaving in the rain was miserable but little did I know the worst was to.come. The walk from Port Isaac to Boscastle was known for being very challenging although that is quite an understatment. The path was more tha trecherous with steep inclines over loose rubble of slate and shingle, many of which I had to get on all fours to climb up.

This is taken from part way up.

I even had to do this in the rain, it actually felt impossible task sometimes. I passed a lovely lady just outside of Port Isaac, called Josie. We passed each othr a few times.in the day and.ended up walking into Boscastle together. We stayed at the YHA which was lovely and then we headed to the pub for dinner. Josie was a wonderfully interesting lady who seemed to have done an awful lot of adventures in her life. She very kindly treated me to dinner as her donation to my charity walk. I cant explain how greatful I was of a good hot meal. Thankyou so much Josie!

Got Doc Martined...

Have you ever lost a day of your life in a day that seems unreal? Well I had a surreal experience at Port Isaac where I was asked to stay and help with their lifboat fundraising day.
In doing this I was welcomed into the community with open arms and I truly felt as though I had lived in Port Isaac for years. The day was packed was lots of amazing activities like the tug-o-war and lifeboat demonstration and the weather managed stay on its best behaviour for us. I worked on the BBQ and had great fun working with the ladies cooking burgers and hiding from each intermitent shower. Its hard to explain but I could see how people came on holiday here and never left. I didn't want to leave. Port Isaac was amazing and their lifeboat crew were so amazing. I just want to extend my admiration for the team who are recieving medals for their bravery in a rescue earlier in the year. Thankyou also to Damian, Nikki and Bob who made feel very welcome in their village. The next morning I  left Port Isaac reluctantly in a down poor of rain and my thoughts as I left were wow I feel like Doc Martin almost bewildered by the friendliness and enthusiasm of such a small community. I loved it and cant wait to go back!

Port Isaac Lifeboat crew challenge the visitors to a tug-o-war.

Day 9 Harlyn Sands to Port Isaac

With an early start I was unable to visit the pastow lifeboat station so I made the 6 mile trek round the headland it was beautiful weather.

Pastow as always was bustling I had a parsty and a drink on the harbour side and watched the children crabbing . Then I headed for the ferry to rock. On board I secured a free journey as the skipper was lifeboat crew himself. On the other side I walked along the beach to Polzeath but arrived quicker than planned so I decided to carry on and see how far I could get. The walk was quite easy compared to earlier ones and I just took my time hiding in bushes each time hiding a rain cloud passed. In one particular bush I was unable very cosy with a letter box! I questioned whether I would make it too Port Isaac so I headed for Port so Quinn but there is nothing in Port Quinn so I had no choice but to carry on.

For those of you who don't know Port Isaac is home to Doc Martin.... I arrived at about 6pm andheaded straight for the lifeboat house where I was met by Nikki a crew member. She invited me in for a well earned cup of tea and I can tell you i really enjoyed that tea! Before I knew it I had been invited next door to the pub where I had a few drinks that hit me rather quick after my mammoth walk. I met Bob who was the Hon. chairman of the station and he invited me to stay the next day as it was their Lifeboat Lark day. I thought why not as I had already walked ten days a and I deserved a day off... That night I stayed at the compass rose with Dave and Marion who very kindly put me up.

Sorry again for spellings this is from my phone :-(

Day 8 Trebellan to Harlyn Sands

I left the lovely Trebellan campsite early and decided to get to Newquay as quick as I could . The walk itself was uneventful but at least dry. Arriving in Newquay as was a sight I forgot how tacky the place is in the summer. I headed for the lifeboat station where i met two fellows sat by a donation box outside the boat house. They very kindly donated to my walk and took a picture of me with the lifeboat before i was on my way again. I walked till late and till my feet wouldn't carry me anymore which brought me to Harlyn Sands campsite early only to be told they take 7 night bookings minimum! You can imagine the horror on my face. After explaining my cause they very kindly donated put me up free of charge, I was so relieved. That night I had a shower and went straight to bed.

Day 7 Porthtowan to Trebellan

So I havent had any internet for a while and so I've not been able to update my blog. I am currently in Bude yes I made it and there are heaps of tales to tell. Firstly, I am doing this from my phone so I apologise for misspellings and typos.

Porthtowan to Trebellan was day 7. Well mum dropped me back on route and I left under grey skies but by the time I reached Perranporth I was absolutely soaked the rain had chucked it down vertically and even the contents of my backpack were wet. At Perranporth I was diverted by MOD fencing thinking it couldn't be that far I followed it inland for what felt like miles it eventually turned out id almost done a full circle back a mile don't ask how I just ended up very lost in the dunes .

I eventually came to Trebellan campsite where i settled in for the night pretty much passing out as my head hit the pillow.

Day 6 HayleTowans to Porthtowan

Rain, Rain go away come again another holiday! I woke up to a storm of mizzle and blustery wind which seemed to get worse and worse. I spoke to my weather forcaster (Mum) and we planned to wait it out and continue on to Porthtowan later in the day. Sure enough this plan came good as I had a clear and dry walk to my destination.


Along the way I passed Hell's Mouth, which was a scarily high cliff over a pebble and boulder beach. The only thing between myself and sure death if I fell, was a knee high wooden barrier. 

Leaving Hell's Mouth I headed out accross the North Cliffs. This part of the path was particularly straight as it ran accross the top of the Cliffs. There were however a few diversions due to landslides and cliff erosion. The view to St Agnes Head was awesome.

I arrived at Portreath, a great little surfing village and I ate my packed lunch, kindly made for me by Sandra Chadwick. I chilled out and watched people learning to surf before heading on to Porthtowan. My route out of Portreath was like something from Labyrinth or Lord of the Rings. I ascended a footpath where claws of nettles, and arms of vines grabbed at me, one even stole my hat! I battled on through the lively bush and eventually came out at the top of the headland. The route to Porthtowan was very windy and I had to scramble up a few headlands on all fours as the wind was catching my backpack and really sending me off balance. Some of the descents and ascents were quite steep.

I reached Porthtowan and was met by my Mum and Lollypop. As the forcast was so bad for the next day we made the decision to head home for the night and have a day of rest on Day 7. However it is now Day 7 and I have woken to sunny skies so I am about to head off again. Next stop Newquay!!

Hmmm well I dont look too shocked there! Clearly did not achieve the goal hahaha. Walking on your own has definatly presented an issue with photo documenting my trip, especially when I'm the only one silly enough to be walking in the wind and rain!





Day 3, 4 and 5 Sennen to Mexico Towans

After leaving Chateau Louise, Sunday morning,  where I had a lovely hot bath followed a home cooked dinner and an ice cold pear cider, I headed for Pendeen . Today was was to be a short walk, if only to recover. Along the way I met lots of people, mostly dog walkers, all keen to see what I was doing. I walked through the area of Cornwall mostly known for its mining history. These tall broken, forgotten stacks and empty shafts leave only faint memories of a busy industrial past. The path to Pendeen was quite moderate the only worry was how high the cliff drops were to my left.

The real story of the day lay at the North Inn pub, which  I strongly recommend to anyone passing through Pendeen. The North Inn pub has a lovely campsite at the back of the pub which is very affordable. So, our eveingin in the pub was hilarious, some geat banter with my mum, my friend Louise (from Sennen) and Lollypop. We ate excellent food before having a few drinks. my little group of supporters and I made our presence known with plenty of laughter about subjects I dare not repeat on here.  I also met a lovely lady from America, who was a lifeguard and very passionate about her swimming instructing, she sat with us and watched the Olympic swimming. She was most excited to meet me as she had wanted to donate to Penlee lifeboat station but not managed to visit it, so when she saw me and found who I was fundraising for, it was like fate.

I left Pendeen next morning and headed for Zennor, but I actually made great time and arrived at 2.30pm so I had a short break at the Zennor Backpackers Cafe, who coinsidently sell the most amazing chocolate brownies ever, and headed for St Ives. I arrived at Trevalgan Campsite around 5pm and met Alison the Campsite Manager who very kindly gave me a nights stay free of charge. The campsite was just off the coastal path and had great facilities, including a catering van which made excellent sausage baps!!

That night sitting in the washing block and charging my phone, I met another couple from the midlands who were on their holidays, we got chatting about the weather and sailing and then my coastal challenge. They also very kindly offered a donation.

In the morning I walked into St Ives where I visited the Lifeboat station before walking round to Mexico Towans to meet a friend who is an RNLI lifeguard. On my way to the towans I walked around Porthminster point, following a path I thought was the Coastal path only to find it came to a dead end on the point. I was met by a thick wall of overgrowth. I tunred back to meet another walker on her way to a yoga class in Carbis Bay who seemed just as annoyed at the mislabelled path. We took to road round to Carbis Bay together and upon parting she also gerrously donated to my Charity.

When I reached the Mexico Towans and met my Lifeguard friend, I spent an hour chatting with him and his work collegue about their job and what is involved and slowly realised that although it seemed an idyllic summer job there were high fitness requirements and of course the serious side, which is when things go wrong on the beach.

That night I stayed at the Chadwick household, where I had an amazing meal and lots of wine!! We watched the Olympics, which of course I have mostly missed and I must say thats not a bad thing as it seems we are not medalling very well. Come on Ainslie get your game on!!!

Day 1 and 2 Newlyn to Sennen

In the words of Bob Marley, The sun is shinning, the weather is blue.... we left Newlyn after having a photo opportunity with the crew of Penlee lifeboat station. walking to Mousehole was steady and relatively flat. we stopped for lunch having an amazing pasty from Jessies Dairy and sat on the harbour wall eating it while watching children splash around in the water. Walking round to Tatar Du lighthouse was beautiful but beyond Lamorna the path was very difficult in that we had to scramble up rocks on all fours.

As we headed for Treen - our first stop but we became very tired and started to trip over rocks so we decided to pitch up, wild style. We sat on a cliff top eating dinner and watching the PASAB sailors head out to the Isles of Scilly. That night we bed down for a well deserved rest only to be woken by my screams as a unidentified being grabbed the tent! I thought some scary person was out to get us only to find it was a dog as its owner called out "Sorry!"
the next morning we started off at 830 only to walk about 10mins around the corner and find a campsite!

We walked to Porthcurno and went to a cafe for a cup of tea just as the heavens opened. Sitting there we met a lovely family from Wimbledon on their holidays who very generously donated to the walk. We waited out the rain and then began our next leg to Lands End.

Along the way from Newlyn to Lands End we met lots of walkers all very friendly and interested in what i was doing. We met a father and son from cambridge who donated, a local lady called Nina who donated and a school teacher who was walking from Barnstaple round as far as she could. Everyone had lots of advice to share and goodwill to give, its been a lovely walk so far - apart from my blisters!

Lands End where they rip you £10 for a photo by the sign!!

I do have one question however, why is it that all guidebooks say to walk the path anticlockwise from Minehead to Poole? im walking it clockwise cos thats how the Cornish do it, Proper Job!

Being rescued by the RNLI

The sun has been shining and heat is almost unbearable but I'm still planning on leaving Newlyn to begin my Coastal Challenge around Cornwall this Friday. Although I must say the heat is not welcomed at this point - hiking with a backpack and tent - argh
With only one day to go before I begin this epic journey to raise money for the RNLI, I had the opportunity to support our local lifeboat crew with some rescue training. Sailing with Becki Pastor, I took out a local lark named Ermentrude and we spent an hour splashing about in the water capsizing and being rescued and towed. I even scored myself a blast on the inshore rib - thanks guys!!
I got to see up close what these guys do and as it was beautiful, sunny and almost flat calm, I can only imagine the lengths they will go to for the people they rescue. But from chatting to guys on the lifeboat I know they love what they do and our donations are an important part in their job. So come on guys, show your support and sponsor me!

My Cornish Coastal Dream

Hi guys, this is my first blog for my new fundraising page in aid of the RNLI. So, I guess I better tell you what this is all about.

For a while now I have wanted to walk the coast of Cornwall, to see every inch of my home and take in its magnificence. This summer I have exactly that opportunity. With the Lark Nationals being so early in the year, 6 weeks off work and no other commitments, I have the perfect window to complete this personal challenge. 

I decided to raise funds for the RNLI after hearing that it runs entirely on voluntary contributions and costs over 100 million pounds each year to run. And being a sailor myself, it is a charity I have vested interest in. 

I will be hiking the majority of the coast alone but there will be some friends and family joining me along the way. If you're interested in joining me for a day or two just drop me text, the more the merrier!!

Looking forward to seeing more of this!