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Day 9: Trevone to Lundy Cove (13 miles)

Over 100 miles completed and I’m relieved. I’m camped up in a little glade just above Lundy Cove at 108 miles into the walk! I’ve chosen to finish the sandwich from lunch rather than cook tonight. The tent isn’t perfectly pitched but it will do. The glade is out of the ferocious WNW wind of today which was strong enough to blow me side ways and do strange things to my cheeks when I stood on a small headland.

It’s 19:00 and I’m ready to go to sleep. Drizzle is falling and the blackbirds have just stopped dining. I can hear the waves pounding into the cove - Lindy Hole is just below me and foam is blowing up the path leaving little fluffy balls of cream in the blackthorn hedge.

I’m pleased how today has gone with the backpack. When we first set off from Trevone I confess I was worried as it felt soooo heavy but as the day has progressed I have become accustomed to it and simply ensured I take it steady and take regular breaks for fluid and snacks.

Martin turned back when we reached Gunver Head and I confess I had dreaded having to say goodbye and got very upset. But as Martin pointed out, this is my doing and I've chosen to do this. Now I have to get on and do it! Actually I felt better having got that goodbye over - I can look forward to seeing him in exactly a month’s time. Anyway, Gunver Head was a scenic place for a goodbye and I was surprised by how dramatic this coastline is as the day progressed.

Having successfully got myself up to the lookout tower at Steeper Point, I had entirely forgotten the long beach at Harbour Cove although I suspect last time the tide was in. This time it was possible to walk all the way round to Padstow. A quick stop for a hot chocolate and I was on the ferry over to Rock where the ferryman told me it would be possible to walk on the blatant to Daymer Bay. In reality this wasn’t the case and although I paused to have some lunch to see if the tide would drop in the end I walked over the Point and onto the bay to admire the beautiful steel blue and purple rocks. 


While on the ferry a lovely couple chatted to me and promised to donate. Quite a pick me up. Across to Polzeath Beach and I met Mike, a runner who took a Selfie onto Strava, and also donated. He has run Coverack to Padstow and Portowan to Padstow, the course of attrition and promised to spread the word. There was the gradual climb up to the gorgeous Pentire Head with lichen covered rock. But it was at this point rounding the corner that the wind really hit and I struggled for awhile walking in a straight line!

The Rumps with I believe an Iron Age fort are beautiful and inspired it was here that Laurence Binyon wrote “For the Fallen”.

My mind started to turn to camping spots and a small quarry would have been perfect but it was only 16:15 so too early. Coming down to Lundy Cove, as planned, at gone 17:00 the light was already low as the drizzle was coming down. And although I went down to the Cove to check, I returned to this small glade which I passed just as I was dropping down.

I’m starting to chill now so will snuggle up into my sleeping bag. Hopefully I will be warm enough tonight 🤞.








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