Downderry to Cremyll/Plymouth: all done!

This blog relates to Saturday. 

In an attempt to make today the last walk by completing the full 17 miles, we arranged for the taxi to collect us early'ish. This meant we started walking at about 10am from Downderry: the end of yesterdays walk. 

The path out of Downderry to Portwrinkle (2.5miles) was a combination of road, steps, meadow and narrow walkways. It can only be described as steep, it continued climbing for nearly a mile (parts of which were very steep).   The rest of the walk to Portwrinkle was a roller coaster, luckily not as steep as the first mile. It took about 70 minutes to walk 2.5miles: the terrain really does limit progress. 

Once at Portwrinkle we rewarded ourselves to a nice cuppa tea at the 'jolly roger' cafe. 

We pushed onto Tregantle: 2.75miles. Tregantle Fort was built in the 1800's to protect Plymouth and the coast from the dreaded French! The fort and land remains owned by the Ministry of Defence and is still used as a military firing range for all of the armed forces. Because the range is still used for live-firing practice warnings are posted at all access points (see photo's): alternative routes are given to negotiate the path safely. Today we were lucky and were able to walk across MOD land. The path was mostly meadow (although on a slope, which makes walking hard work), with open views to the sea. All of the military bits and pieces along the walk added an extra interest. 

The next section to and around Freathy and Whitsands Bay was convaluted by landslides which meant a bit of road walking and detoured paths, the signage was a bit hit and miss: this went on for about 3miles. 

Did i mention the beautiful weather. Blue sky, sun and a breeze: for me it was perfect walking weather. The coast line looked stunning, calm with shimmering seas. 

We stopped for lunch, once again Colin boiled up his 'jetboil' stove for a cuppa tea. Its good to be able to make a hot drink in the middle of no-where. We were just wondering why Whitsand was called Whitsand without any sign of sand! All was explained when a local couple out walking stopped to spend the time of day with us. Apparently today was a high summer tide, we were informed that generally there is a large, 7 mile long beach: which we couldn't see any evidence of, the sea was splashing against the cliffs! 

Over the last few days 'Rame Head' has been looming in the distance, but not getting any closer, that is until today. After another 1.5miles we had made it to Rame Head where we 'ummed & ahed' whether to divert to see St Michaels Chapel: situated upsteps on the narrow headland. We're both glad we did, a stunning view, the current structure dates to 1397, but an earlier building on the site dates to 900. 

Rame Head signified the half way point for today's walk. A good path and fantastic weather suggested our aim to complete this stage and my last walk would be successful today. 

We continued to follow the path (an area of outstanding beauty) to Penlee Point (we missed a pod of dolphins!!!!), where Plymouth came into view on the opposite side of 'The Sound'. We ambled through woodland to Cawsand and Kingsand: two harbour villages which have merged into one. Narrow, steep roads over looking little bays, very quaint. Ice cream for Colin and a coffee for me gave us time for a brief rest, check the book/route and a timecheck. 

Despite the sore feet, we cracked on up hill to enter Mount Edgcumbe Country Park, the last stretch to Cremyll Ferry. The path wound its way up and down through woodlands: views of the coast was obscured by trees. Coincidentally way back at the start of this Journey in May, the first few days walking was through woodlands, and now my last walk ends in Woodlands rather than coastal views. 

So with a backdrop of beautiful Edgcumbe House and its formal gardens, and with Plymouth across the estuary in front we finally  finish todays walk and my final walk of a wonderful 7weeks of walking. 

Photo's taken in front of Cremyll Ferry (the ferry across the Tamar), just in time to miss a short shower of rain. Then to the Edgcumb Arms pub to celebrate and rest sore feet and legs. 

Over the last few days we've both been saying how much we were looking forward to eating a Roast dinner, by luck the pub had a carvery. What a way to finish: a beer and for me a big plate of veggies and roast potatoes - fantastic!

Fitbit records 49,159 steps, 17.62 miles and 282 flights of stairs. 

Official path miles: 17. If the path hadn't of eased in difficulty after the first stage between Downderry and Portwrinkle i doubt whether we would have managed the 17 miles today, but would have needed to walk again tomorrow (Sunday) to finish the job. 

I'm not sure how i feel about this being the end of my adventures, i guess i need time to absorb the reality of no more 'path'. However, Guess what today is? The start of the Tour de France: three weeks of watching cycling, i couldn't have timed the end of my epic walk better. 

A day of rest tomorrow (Sunday) before we head home on Monday. Once home i'll write one last blog, which will include a list of stages, official path miles walked and also total miles walked (this includes additional steps: to and from campsites, shopping, sightseeing etc...). 

But for now... todays photo's: