|
Walked 26.1.1997: Ascent
1004 ft : Descent 923 ft : Distance 4.52 miles: 4¾ hrs |
|
|
It was a very foggy day today. We met along the road past
Wadebridge and went straight to the lead mines and parked, then
on to Port Isaac and parked in the top car park. We set off down
through the village and past the slipway, up the side of the
cottages and out onto the cliffs. We went down through a new
wide track at Pine Haven Valley and here saw some seals, all
the fields were fenced off with a very heavy high wooded fence
for miles and miles it really spoilt the view but it must have
saved some animals from falling over the cliffs. We clambered
down some slate steps nearly to sea level, and then the path
wound its way along just above the shoreline for at least 2 miles
bordered by this fence on one side and tumbling rocks on the
other. It really was lovely. We found a level knoll of grass
to sit on and had our lunch. A seal bobbing about within a stones
throw distance away was watching us, and when we finished eating
he just disappeared. Also we noticed a bird flying out at sea
which turned out to be a duck! We left this secluded picnic site
(only one man passed by) and climbed up some rough steep steps
and around to Kellan Head.
|
Lodder
Point from Varley Head |
Colin shouted for us to hurry up and look out to sea.
We saw dolphins just swimming slowly about, we later realised
that these were porpoises which are not as quick and lively as
dolphins. We turned the headland and saw Port Quin, a little
cove with about four houses in but masses of people about. The
tide was out and we could see more ducks, so one back around
the headland was not quite so strange after all. The fencing
stopped here by a gate when we went through we noticed a kestrel
had killed a blackbird and was eating it in the field very close
to the path. We stayed looking at it for ages; it was fascinating
to watch. (We are birdwatchers after all!)
|
Looking
back towards Doyden Castle with Kellan Head in the background |
|
On we went through Port Quin and up the hill and out onto
the headland again, past Doyden Castle that was used for gambling
parties in the old days. The fields here were full of Dartmoor
ponies grazing. Some of them went very near to the edge and we
thought that they would fall over the cliff. We went on to Lundy
Bay, there were quite a few people here on the beach as it was
very sheltered and warm down here. We went past the Lundy Hole
and then climbed up towards Pentire. The views of the Rumps from
here were lovely, a little bit hazy still, but very warm. The
sun was trying to come through the mist. We passed a group of
walkers and then went through a gate and through a field of sheep,
to the Lead Mines and the car. It was a lovely walk today and
we all enjoyed it very much. We drove back to Port Isaac and
sat and had a cup of tea before going home.
|
Lundy
Hole |
