Day 8: St Endellion to Boscastle

This was actually the most enjoyable day’s walking so far despite a couple of problems along the way. It was also the longest so far.

The main reason for this was the weather, which was sunny but not too hot, with a bit of a breeze. It was also good to pass the 100 mile marker. Great countryside views, though of course that has been true every day.

I walked initially down into Port Isaac (as in Doc Martin). Caroline and I came here in 1976, the year before we were married. Then I headed via little roads through lots of places prefixed ‘Tre-‘, eventually finding the first shop of the day at 3.00 in Tintagel, where I was finally able to have a snack lunch.

At one point I had a wasted mile and a half having walked to the end of road to find the marked footpath was no longer in existence – neither was it when I eventually reached what should have been the other end of it. Disappearing footpaths is so far the most irritating part of this journey (apart of course from doing up zips).

After Tintagel (I did not stop to see Tintagel Head, having seen it twice before (once in a storm, which was very dramatic), I returned to the coast path via the picturesque Rock Valley. I was very much mislead by a coast path signpost that said ‘Boscastle 2.25 miles’, strategically placed 4.5 miles before Boscastle. I thus gave my host an unrealistic ETA and kept him waiting 30 minutes. I also met a young guy who is walking Land’s end to Taunton, who turned out also to be a music teacher. I suspect our paths will cross again.

My hosts are Christopher and Heather Darwin, who happened to read about my walk in a Notts magazine that was forwarded to them They are very kindly putting me up for three nights at their beautiful farmhouse near Bridgerule, and ferrying me back to each new starting point (Boscastle, Bude, Hartland). This despite never having met me – I am so grateful to them.

Each day this week is about 16/17 hilly miles, so will have to see how I manage to pace myself. Though as I am staying three nights here, I will have only a light pack to carry for the next two days.

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To support any of the four charities go to https://linktr.ee/guygoesnorth

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Daily Data

Days left until John O’Groats	68
Route miles walked	110.94
Estimated miles until John O’Groats	939
Evening and rest day walking	3.5
Counties walked through	1
Ferry miles	0.4
Number of walking companions so far	2
Number of stiles crossed	33
Current sponsorship total	£12,118.82
Cast of characters	Jeremy Pemberton, Laurence Cunnington, Brad Poulson, Adele Poulson, Graeme Parkhill, Andy Hellwig, Patrick Lynn, Esther Lynn, Emma Rayner, Quentin Rayner, Sara Low, Robbie Low, Christopher Darwin, Heather Darwin

Support the Charities

To donate to any of the four charities, click here.