A walk down memory lane. A 5.4 mile circular walk takes you from Porthcurno to Gwennap Head along some of the most striking scenery in West Cornwall. What is more, it is packed with highlights.
Porthcurno beach and the cable hut
The starting view is of the lovely Porthcurno beach where the ‘sand’ consists of glistening broken shells. At the head of the beach is the little shed where the undersea cables come in, its doors open so that you can see the labels: Gibraltar, Lisbon … evocative names of far off places where the call sign PK would be instantly recognised. It is at the same time romantic and prosaic: to think that these famous places are connected with this little hut.
Our relentless search for more rock-cut swimming pools took us to the Looe and Polperro area. But first, we needed to appease the gods by visiting Duloe church which has much to recommend it. And, since we were in the area, we could not resist St Cuby’s well or Duloe: Cornwall’s smallest stone circle.
It would be good to say that they were ‘all within walking distance’ but the walk to the well would probably end in disaster for the road is winding, downhill and with no pavement.
Duloe stone circle
Millendreath was our next stop, a location we commented on unfavourably when we were walking the coast path. It hasn’t improved. the chalets still give the impression of a series of portacabins dumped on the side of the valley.
