SWCP: Carn Galver mine to Sennen Cove

 

Elizabeth picked me up at 10.30 and we drove to the mine and parked there. We weren’t sure how far we would walk but the ideal goal was Sennen. We chatted a lot along the way and that made the day go very quickly. The weather was great, sunny most of the day but not too hot and with a cool sea breeze. Merlin the dog came along and his equanimity astonished me - he just trotted along behind us all day, light on his feet and uncomplaining. He even kept stopping to make sure both the humans were present. Very polite.

Rocks near Morvah, shortly after our start

Beautiful colours of heather along the route

Boscaswell had more dramatic rocks and the remains of an arsenic mine. The workers got cloth masks for their mouths, cotton wool to stuff in their nostrils and coat to out on their exposed skin. I expect none of them saw old age. 

The dynamic duo

Cape Cornwall had a picturesque mine with a huge chimney. We stopped here for a welcome cup of tea from a little seasonal cafe.

Cape Cornwall in the distance 

Ooh me legs

We got to the Cot Valley, west of St Just, which is subtropical and has a beach of large, smooth boulders that reminded me of dinosaur eggs. 

I didn’t take this photo

Above the Cot Valley

Sweaty grins

The path got more boulder-strewn as we approached Sennen. It was getting late and we knew there wouldn’t be a bus now till 7.20. Elizabeth had the half hour bus ride and then the prospect of an hour’s drive home. 

Soldiering on

Merlin being a trooper

The last hour always seems the longest

We were happy to finally reach the beautiful Sennen Cove. We saw these dogs on the way, who seemed keen to join in the fun but weren’t allowed on the beach.

Sennen Cove finally comes into view!
We were going to have a dip in the sea but a cold wind had sprung up.

Back in Pendeen, I arrived home to find my host entertaining several dinner guests so I needed to keep out of the way. I made a dash to the local pub shortly before they stopped taking orders and got myself a mediocre curry, the remains of which will serve me well for lunch tomorrow. I’ve discovered that the Coaster bus service is a bit rubbish as it doesn’t start till too late in the day - tomorrow I won’t be able to get to Sennen till nearly midday. It’s also not an ideal scenario having to rely on it from my next accommodation at Land’s End, especially as we almost reached Land’s End already today. But I guess I’ll just have a shorter day of walking tomorrow, which my knees and feet will probably thank me for.