Marazion to Porthleven (Oct 10th)

St Michael's Mount

Saturday morning we drove to Marazion and parked overlooking Mount's Bay where the tide was in. As we had walked my favourite places already I wasn't expecting much today but it was a real surprise.

We walked through Marazion and out onto the low cliffs. There were stunning views, being able to see the steep southern side of St Michael's Mount and then on across Mount's Bay towards Newlyn and beyond.

There had been a heavy dew and earlier rainshowers and the plants were glistening with water droplets.

Tamarisk

This pic doesn't really capture it but the fronds were covered with gems :-)

One of the lovely little surprises was rounding a corner and finding a superb little beach, with a lovely swell rolling in and numerous surfers riding the waves.

Perran Sands

I hadn't realised there were two Perran Sands (maybe there are more?) but this little beach by Perranuthnoe was a treasure and the waves perfect!

From here we walked out towards Cudden Point, by now the sun was warm and it was a beautiful day. This was like walking around a miniature version of Land's End, so pretty but with a touch of wildness about it.

Looking towards Cudden Point.

Cudden Point


Looking back at Cudden Point

Piskies Cove

From Cudden Point we passed Bessy's Cove also known as Prussia Cove, renowned for its smuggling. Bessy used to run a kiddlywink selling 'duty free' liquor!

Beyond that, another surprise...

...this is Porth En Alls which is a base for masterclasses of the International Musicians' Seminar. Apparently they give concerts in local churches. An amazing place perched right on the edge of the cliff by Kenneggy Sands which is only accessible via a vertical ladder, and visible from some distance away.



What a lovely walk we were having! We were in need of refreshment by this time and found another perfect stopping place. Sydney Cove is the western end of Praa Sands and here sits a wonderful cafe, clean and bright and welcoming...The Cove. Here, I had a fabulous bacon and egg bap, Tim a pot of tea and I ordered a piece of boiled fruit cake - asking them if they'd wrap up half of it for later,

I thought she'd forgotten when she brought me my plate as I had a huge piece awaiting me... and it was delicious. (And the other half was wrapped ready!!!)

From here we walked across the beach passing surfers and sunbathers,

and had been told by the lovely lady in the cafe to look out for the Meerkat...

...can you see him?

We also had wonderful glimpses of old tin mines which have been carefully restored,

and great rock strata!

The path was so pretty...

and guess what we found in a field to make Tim's day complete?

Yes! A pair of choughs. You can't really see their red beaks and legs but they were there, and very excited we were too.

Just before reaching Porthleven there is a famous lump of rock on the beach below the cliff - a garnet-gneiss erratic, quite different from all the other rocks in Cornwall, but similar to rocks in Greenland.

The erratic

From here it wasn't far to Porthleven

which has a tight inner harbour.

We wandered around the shops and sat in the warm sunshine along with many others. We caught the bus back to Marazion.

The tide was now out and St Michael's Mount looked quite different.

It had been an unexpectedly delightful day.