When we visited Alison's sister and her husband in St Ives two years ago, we were impressed with their modern rented apartment in a block high up above the coastline with great views across to the town's headland. So this year we booked a similar apartment called Windsong in Morwenstow for a week late in September. It is a fifteen minute walk downhill (and obviously uphill back) to the centre of St Ives, but the views are worth it.
FRIDAY 23RD SEPTEMBER
We left at 9.45am on the Friday (quite early for us). We reached the beautiful National Trust property of Lanhydrock at 2.15pm, Alison having driven the whole way. The roads were fine and no hold ups. We sat outside the cafe for a nice lunch and then a circular walk from the parterre to the paths high above the rear of the house. Having stretched our legs, we left at 3.45pm for the last leg to St Ives. However, we had a delay of half an hour in the roadworks where the A30 dual carriageway is being completed. We arrived at 5.20pm to a lovely sunny late afternoon. Driving time five and a half hours plus an hour and a half stop at Lanhydrock and half an hour's delay on the A30. The view from our apartment was worth the long drive.
SATURDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER
We awoke to light rain on Saturday morning but it cleared as we arose. It turned into a beautiful morning as we started our walk down to the town. We went straight onto the first stretch of sand which is Porthminster beach. The tide was out so we were able to walk on the sand all the way to the harbour in St Ives and right up to all the boats that were beached at high tide.
Up onto the coastal path and up onto the headland above. We sat on benches and walls in the lovely sunshine. We followed the path down to Porthmear beach. At the far end we climbed back onto the pavement and made our way past The Tate and along the streets of St Ives. It started to rain and we ducked into one tiny cafe for a late light lunch whereupon the rain stopped. We walked along the front, back in sunshine, and up the path back to Morwenstow. In the late afternoon Alison donned her wetsuit to try the waves while I read my book.
In the evening we found a table at Harbour Fish and Chips. For me, accompanied by a lovely pint of Sharp's award winning Offshore Cornish Lager. We needed a torch for our way back up the hill. Apart from that short shower, the day had been mainly sunny, some cloud later and 16C.
SUNDAY 25TH SEPTEMBER
Another sunny morning for our drive to Godrevy Point. We parked at the furthest National Trust car park (free for us members plus a toilet block) at the far end of the headland. After watching the seals at Mutton Cove,
we walked along the path towards Portreath. Past Kynance Cove and onto The Knarocks.
My legs were starting to object so we headed back and had lunch at the car park. Once more the tide was out so we took the steps down to the beach at Godrevy Rocks where the boulders were covered in mussels.
Again we could walk along all the beaches to Peter's Point. Lots of surfers with two beach guard vehicles.
There was one place where there was an outfall where we had to remove shoes and socks. We started back along the dunes but soon gave up and went along the beach instead. We crossed a bridge and picked up the path near the road back to the car park. A brilliant day. Watched an England v Pakistan T20 before walking into St Ives for dinner at Caffe Pasta and Pizzeria. This time we walked back next to the well lit main road, The sunny day turned cloudy at the end, but there was no wind and a pleasant 16C.
MONDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER
I was a little tired after the previous two days so had a quiet morning while Alison went exploring in St Ives. i managed three film reviews and some other updates on this Blog as well as reading in the window. Alison brought back pulled pork and ciabatta rolls for lunch. In the afternoon we drove to Tesco car park for better reception for a previously arranged call on my mobile from the surgery. We had time for a late afternoon walk into St Ives and a tour of many of their galleries which were very quiet by this time. We had dinner with the England v Germany Nations League match. It had been mainly cloudy with only odd spots of rain and 15C.
TUESDAY 27TH SEPTEMBER
The rain started just after 9.00 am and didn't let up, mostly very heavy. I was glad I had my laptop and was able to write up the holiday so far. As well as completing a Samurai Sudoku. Then at 4.30 pm the rain stopped so we grabbed our coats and headed for Carbis Bay, the opposite way down the coast path from that to St Ives centre. The cliff path followed the railway until we crossed a bridge and headed down to the beach. We passed the Carbis Bay Hotel where they held the G7.
We walked on the sand of what is a fairly small beach, remembering the photos of the G7 leaders taking a photo opportunity in the same place. We were back by 6pm, just in time before the rain started once again to rain all night.
WEDNESDAY 28TH SEPTEMBER
A bright start to the day and we headed for Penzance and that huge car park next to the harbour. Also there was the bus station and Alison had the bright idea of taking the short bus ride to Mousehole. Somewhere she had never been before and if I had been, it was too long ago to remember. A very pretty place and a lovely harbour.
We walked along a deserted sea wall, sheltering under the umbrella for a series of short sharp showers every time the sun came out. We had our flask of coffee where the sea wall comes to an end.
The showers gave up and we had a nice wander around the back roads and the odd gallery. We took the bus back to Penzance and got off at the back of the town to walk back down the old high street to the harbour. We had a look at the newish shopping centre that seemed quite vibrant when we last visited Penzance in 2008 when we walked the way to St Michael's Mount (was that really fourteen years ago?) but now most of the shops were closed. On our way back we called in at Sainsbury's for provisions and petrol. I watched yet another England v Pakistan T20 and sat reading in that super alcove overlooking the bay while Alison went for a walk into St Ives. A Mixture of cloud and sun with those funny short showers only in the middle of the day. 15C.
THURSDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER
After some sorting and packing, we walked into St Ives and had a lovely walk along the front, lots of stops including sitting on benches around the harbour. We had a late lunch at The Seafood Cafe (45 Fore Street) where we both had the very nice fish pie. We then walked to the end of the harbour wall where the waves were great in the lively breeze.
A final tour of the shops brought some very nice purchases until it was time to get back to the apartment to do the final packing for an early start. The forecast had been for heavy rain and strong winds on Friday and we wanted to beat it home.
FRIDAY 3OTH SEPTEMBER
We left at 8.15am and beat the rain. But only just.
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