Par to Polkerris

 In 2013 when we were still new to Plymouth, we walked from Par to Fowey.  In my blog in Walking the South West Coast Path I finished by saying this was one of the prettiest walks we had done.  More than 10 years later I wanted to see if it was really that good.  However, I knew we would not manage to walk all the way to Fowey but we planned to just walk to Polkerris then catch the bus back to Par.  But in the end we walked to Polkerris then caught  the bus to Fowey before returning to Par.

As before we caught the train to Par then walked down to the sand dunes and along the coast path to Polkerris.  In Par the walk was flat, but the coast path went up and down.  There was a long string of steep steps leading down to Polkerris and we didnt fancy climbing them to walk back.

After a brunch overlooking the beach and wandering along the beach and harbour we walked up the road,  to catch the bus back to Par.  This was a steep long hill.  There was nowhere to stand at the bus stop and cars were wizzing past.  We tried walking down the road on the other side but the pavement ran out. When we got home we discovered there was a stile leading to a path through a field but we did not see this. We returned to the bus stop and decided to catch the bus in the opposite direction and go into Fowey.

The bus could not go all the way into the town as  a road was closed, we therefore had a steep walk down to the harbour and shops. After an icecream we climbed up the hill and caught the bus to Par then train home

Polkerris was as pretty as I remembered. But I don't think I would want to do this walk again as there were so many steep hills

Burrator

 We parked at Burrator Dam and walked along the road to the Information Centre.  Along the way there were rhododendrons and azelias, which looked beautiful with the reservoir in the background.

Just after the Centre we went through the gate marked permissive path.  This led us to a walk around the reservoir and we did not need to walk on the road again until we came to the other end at Norseworthy Bridge.  There were bluebells along the way and  other flowers as well as views of the reservoir, then river that fed it.  

The path was not as good as in the past, rain seems to have washed away soil leading to stoney areas and lots of exposed roots.  We stopped for lunch st Norseworthy Bridge and admired the irises growing at the side of the river.

After a short walk along the road we were able to go back inside to the area around the reservoir.  There were more bluebells on this stretch.  When the reservoir is low you can walk right along the shoreline but this was not possible to today and at one point we had to return to the road for a short stretch.

The views from the end of the reservoir were lovely and I was able to experiment with the panaroma setting on my camera.  It was then a short section back to the dam to take more photos and and have an icecream.  The end of of lovely walk.

6.211 km, 11134 steps  1.52 minutes walking

East Portlemouth to Gara Rock

 Salcombe is a favourite place for us to visit.  We catch the train to Totnes then bus from the railway station to Salcombe.  Usually we just walk to North Sands, but today we thought we would do something different and caught the ferry to East Portlemouth and walked to Gara Rock.  It was a number of years ago that we did this and it made a lovely walk. (June 2011)

Because the tide was out we were able to walk along the sand to Millbay before picking up the South West Coast Path.  To begin with this was an easy track, just having to watch out for tree roots.  There were wonderful views across the estuary to Salcombe and we could see North Sands and South Sands.

As we walked further on the path became more difficult with rocky sections and at times very close to the cliff edge.  There were lots of ups and downs.  Once we were out of the estuary the view of the sea did not change, but there seemed to be more flowers around, bluebells, gorse, foxgloves, thrift etc.  

Eventually we came to Gara Rock and turned inland walking back on a good footpath then bridleway that went grandually downhill to Millbay.  There were bluebells in the woods at the sides, but more of a haze than a carpet.  By the time we were back at Millbay the tide had come in so we had to walk down the road to the ferry, not such a interesting walk as along the beach.  

We got back to the bus stop tired but feeling we had had a lovely walk and day out.

Stats, taken from Map My Walk,   6.63 km

Gardens around Plymouth in May

 May has continued like April with warm dry weather, where we have been able to get out and view the beauty of nature.  Photos of bluebells are on a separate blog, but below are photos of other plants showing their splendour.

Central Park - 5 May

Buckland Abbey -6 May

Gardens around Plymouth in April

This year (2025) we have had a very dry warm April.  We have taken the opportunity to get out and walk around as many gardens as we can.  They have been full of beauty and colour.  Many also have bluebells, but any photos of these I have put on a separate blog but below are photos I have taken in April.

Tulips in Saltram  - 3 April

Cherry Trees in Pounds Park  -  10 April

Lost Gardens of Heligan - 11April

Mount Edgcumbe  - 16 April

Lanhydrock - 26 April