Looe to Kingsand - Tuesday 8th April 2014
Path Facts - Length: 17.3 miles, Ascent: 2200 feet
One of the most, if not the most EPIC walking days today. To even out today and tomorrow's walks I had initially envisaged cutting off Rame Head today then backtracking over it tomorrow. I especially thought that announcing a 17 mile walk to Andy would have brought on a dozen psychosomatic conditions instantaneously. But no, "LET'S DO IT!", or words that effect, he said.
So after a below average breakfast just to round off my underwhelming experience of Looe we stocked up with emergency extra rations from the Co-op and got walking by 9.15 am.
Rame Head can be seen as the most distant point in the photo below. We would be going beyond this today.
Passed through some chavvy chalets then past some seriously posh chalets with boats outside. The weather was cool but bright and dry.
Quick tea stop at Downderry. Need extra tea today for endurance! There was a stuffed owl that hooted periodically in the tea shop.
There were a few diversions on this strip due to land slips. Then stopped at Portwrinkle for lunch.
The cafe was closed which was initially disheartening as there wasn't another stop in view for miles. Then we discovered the Whitsand Bay Hotel which didn't look promising at first but was great food (reasonably priced) service and ambience inside. Also a great window seat with views out to sea.
Next point of interest was passing through the military base/shooting range at Tregantle. The fort has been there since 1865.
There were more path/navigation problems as we negotiated a sprawling area of chalets on the approach to Rame Head.
This was at about the point of the escape route if we were going to cut across to Kingsand by the inland route and leave Rame Head until tomorrow. As we both felt ok at this point we kept on going.
Although not yet the end of Cornwall, Rame Head feels like a bit of a landmark. From this point onwards to view in front is pretty much all Devon.
Here is the view back towards Looe and today's walk (not yet finished).
From here on we were in the realm of Plymouth Sound and the Navy in evidence.
The last few miles were definately accompained by increasing fatigue. We arrived at Kingsand about 5.45pm which was better than expected time given the distance. The weather was sunny towards the end of the day. Luckily the B&B and this evening's great pub were within a few yards of each other and the path.
Kingsand was about as far removed from Looe as could be envisaged. Really nice B&B, great pub with good food and loads of character in the village without it being too busy or overrun with shops & cafes.
Info
Accommodation - Ashgrove House
Location *****
Room ****
Facilities ****
Noise *****
Food *****
Ambience *****
Price **** £65 for the room
Food – The Rising Sun
Quality ****
Price ***
Beer - yes, probably
