Day 36 - Back to the Middle of nowhere

The Middle of nowhere is, in fact, a small parking area on the B3306 to the East of Morvah and today I was tackling the walk from Zennor to there.

Despite being only 4.4 miles each way on the coast path (and perhaps another 1/2 mile from the village of Zennor to the path), I found this to be a very difficult stretch!

Overgrown paths, with brambles, gorse and ferns acting as tripping hazards, eye hazards and leg cutters, coupled with the Granite boulders that litter the path and the up and down nature of the path son took it's toll.

Within a mile, I had multiple scratches on my legs, mostly minor, although one down the side of the right knee was particularly stingy. I had also had many toe trips and near falls as hidden chunks of granite kept catching me out!

The going was slow, but the scenery dramatic. The granite cliffs and boulders resisted the thick ferns and gorse that swallowed everything else, standing tall and strong. The ponies that grazed on the high cliffs meant grass was at a premium.

The path was steep in places, whist in others it required careful consideration of foot placement to avoid twisted ankles or jarred knees.

I have discovered another one of life's great mystery's today. On this 4.4 mile stretch of coast path (rated in guide books as strenuous) only one bench was found. On walks around areas of the coast path rated easy, many benches exist. I asked myself the question, why? Perhaps it is simply the fact that the view has been taken that people who walk strenuous sections are to fit to require benches. Perhaps it is the fact that carrying the materials to make a bench along these sorts of path is too difficult. Yet there are well made wooden bridges in remote spots and stiles / gates, so the second possibility seems unlikely. Even more so when you look at the picture below of a one piece granite bridge, about ten foot long, three foot wide and ten inches thick, it must surely weigh a ton - How did that get here and how did it get put in place so exactly??

The walk down to the path from Zennor to overlook Pendour Cove was the nicest part of today's walk (in terms of good path, not to steep etc.) but as I said it didn't last long. There are some very nice houses along the trail down from Zennor, mostly holiday lets!

Passing Gurnard's head the views are impressive in both directions, but today was overcast so they weren't as impressive as they might be. Gurnard's Head apart, the scenery did not inspire me to take too many photos (although fatigue might have played a part).

When I reached the "middle of nowhere" sign, I checked the time before turning back. The 4.4 miles had taken me two and a half hours meaning the crowds of well-wishers that were waiting between Zennor and Mussel Point would be disappointed. I had planned to extend today's walk a little towards St. Ives in order to reduce the distance needed to be covered on that section, but time had defeated me.

Driving home I felt like a sleep was needed as soon as I get home and shower, but in the end, I did my BLOG first, to keep my readers happy...night.