Introduction


When we started walking the coast of England we had no intention that this would become a major lifetime project. Having to make a last-minute arrangement for our summer holiday in 1987, we said "Let's go to the nearest piece of coast and see how far we can walk along it." It turned out well and we started adding further stretches of coast, initially once every two years, but soon annually, or even twice a year.

We had always enjoyed the coast - there is something refreshingly "edgy" about having the sea always at our side, and one of us was into marine molluscs. We also enjoyed long-distance walking and had long been involved in general natural history recording. This project enabled us to combine all three interests.

You soon discover when embarking on a project like this that you need a few rules, which evolve from the first experiences. Our main rule was that we should walk as close to the coast as possible, which meant beach-walking whenever we could (unlike the official coast paths that largely remain above shore, recognising that at high tides the beach may be inaccessible). The route should also be capable of being a continuous walk, so that when we came to an unfordable river we walked inland along its banks to the first place at which we could cross, whether a bridge or a ferry.

We only carried light packs, so that at the end of each day's walk we had the problem of getting back to our car where we started. Initially we walked back, but soon realised we would be walking the coast twice this way! We used public transport whenever this was available - buses or trains, sometimes adjusting our start and finish points to make this easier. Failing this - and it was often not possible - we would phone for a taxi (an increasingly costly option over the years). Having our car with us gave us more freedom as to where we could stay at night - and after a day walking and only light food we were usually ready for being spoiled by a good meal and a comfortable bed! Even so, we stayed on the coast itself whenever there was a decent option.

Each walk was made for enjoyment, it was not a route-march to see how quickly we could get it finished. We therefore took it gently at times when passing through pleasant scenery or where there were many plants or creatures to record.

In terms of biological recording, we systematically noted every bird, butterfly, creature or sea-shell that we came across, sometimes spending time searching for the shells. We could not record every plant in the same way - there are too many common ones - so we were more selective, noting all coastal plants and any others that were not run-of-the-mill.

In our daily posts, edited from our original diaries, we include a star-rating from no star to **** according to our subjective estimate as to how special that day was from the point of view of natural history. This score (and our daily records) will, however, have been affected by the weather - it is difficult to appreciate the environment fully, for instance, in torrential rain, and there are many more butterflies and other insects to be seen in warm sunshine!

A summary of all our natural history records on the walk can be found using this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1LLGD55lKRHYXd1SGU1QndrcUU/edit?usp=sharing





Friday, 17 January 2014

Cornwall: Perranporth to Newquay 19/6/1999

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Island, Newquay
 
From Perranporth we followed the official coast-path along the landward edge of the dunes, dropping down eventually to the beach to the path up at the end.  We passed over the headland of Ligger Point by Penhale military camp between two fences, one complete with razor wire to prevent access to the camp and the other to prevent falling over the cliff.  We emerged from this uncomfortable constriction at Penhale Point, where were patches of dyers greenweed and spring squill, although the vegetation was generally unremarkable.  Descending to Holywell Beach we noticed wild leek and valerian among the reeds.  Crossing a river and skirting huge dunes by a narrow sand-path, we got to the beach and an even steeper climb to regain the cliff-top.  There was sea holly beside this path, despite being absent from Penhale Sands.  We were then on a wide easy path through botanically poor heath. It is National Trust land but lacked interest apart from field mushrooms.  At the next cove, Porth Joke, there was sea sandwort and, in a tamarisk bush beside the stream, a crow’s nest with three well-grown chicks.  Beyond the next point was the wide Crantock Beach.  At the far side, by the cliffs of Pentire Point, runs the Gannel River.  There was a footbridge over this to Pentire.  A ferry operated at high tide when the bridge is drowned!  Steep steps, past ivy broomrape and little robin, rose to a road and we walked out to the Point, mainly coarse grass and common shrubs.  We descended to Fistral, the western beach in Newquay noted for surfing.  People were also metal-detecting, flying kites and playing ball.  At the far side we passed under a large hotel (Surf Shop) towards Towan Head, connected to the mainland by a narrow piece of land. It was a building site for a pumping station, affording access by only the narrowest of paths.  Cliffs just before Newquay Harbour provided nest-sites for kittiwakes and fulmars.  Alongside the track is the Huer’s Hut, a strangely-shaped white building once used by the person (huer) who shouted the approach of shoals of pilchard for fishermen.  Before that it was perhaps a hermitage.  The path became a flowery lane with wallflowers, hedgerow cranesbill, sea stock and garden lobelia.  A stonechat sat upon the fence just above the harbour, strangely far from its furzy home.  We descended ladders to get to the harbour beach, the tide being out, crossed beside the stranded boats and ascended the far side leading to the main beaches of Newquay.  We left the shore beside the Island, a detached rock with a café on top, reached by a small suspension bridge from the mainland.  We entered the busy centre with its surfing shops to reach the bus station.  Back at Perranporth we ate seafood at the busy Waterside Restaurant, on the front.
 
Field mushroom
 
 
Little robin
 
 
Kittiwakes
 
 
 

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