After the epic walk yesterday we decided we should have another stroll today. Though, as it turned out, it was a lot easier than yesterday's.
I woke, as is usual on holidays, at 4am and came downstairs had my breakfast and completed two blog posts (making this my third in one day!!) before Drew appeared at 6.45am. I then shaved, brushed my teeth and showered before discussing our plans for the day.
On the walk yesterday we had seen in the distance a bridge which appeared to connect Padstow to the the next part of the bay. The bridge, called the Little Petherick Creek Bridge, crosses the creek which leads down from the village of Little Petherick (another dedication to St. Petroc which is not obvious from the current spelling) to the sea.
The bridge, and the path to and from it, form part of the Camel Trail. Which, when pointed out, led to our silliest conversation of the day (so far). [Co-pilot's note: But the day, dear readers, is still young!]
Haydn - This is the Camel Trail
Drew - Is that like the Taff Trail
Haydn - Probably, that one is beside the River Taff, this one is beside the River Camel
Drew - Convenient that!
Like the Taff Trail, the Camel Trail is built on the path of the old Railway track, on this case the track of the North Cornwall Railway from Wadebridge to Padstow which was completed in 1899 and axed by reforms implemented after the Beeching reports of the 1960s.
The trail is well paved, see above, and well signposted as seen in the first photo of this post. Indeed compared to the mud and rough track of yesterday it was a real dream to walk on sturdy tarmaced ground. [Co-pilot's note: The Camel Trail is a lot better cared for than the Taff Trail which has copious amounts of tree root breaking through the tarmac causing large puddles/floods and are quite painful for poor Drew's when they are cycling to and from work - harsh on the coccyx.]
The route from Padstow runs along the estuary all the way to Wadebridge, full photos can be seen on Flickr, starting with this one. It ends 5.6 miles from where we started in the quiet and quaint town of Wadebridge.
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| Wadebridge Town Hall |
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| Welcome to Wadebridge |
Having checked the bus timetable we discovered we could catch a bus back to Padstow in 15 minutes or wait another hour. Making the judgement that an hour and 15 minutes was longer than we needed to stay in Wadebridge we caught the 10:52am Cornish Bus number 11A back.
Contactless payment, all passengers being masked and lots of open windows made the bus seem Covid-secure.
We arrived back in Padstow at 11:20am getting off at the Tesco Bus Stop and walking the 0.3 of a mile back to the house taking in the lovely view back up the Camel Valley as we went.
A shorter walk than yesterday, but putting enough energy in to prepare us for our Rick Stein meal tonight.
The walk from Wadebridge to Bodmin is also pleasant and paved. We used it lots on the holidays we spent in the Camel Valley Vineyard accommodation.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realise the walk from Padstow to Wadebridge was that long. We walked both ways without too much effort, perhaps as it is quite flat.
I reckon we would have done it both ways if it hadn't been for the length of yesterday's walk. Plus Drew only had 15% of his book left and wanted to get it finished today.
DeleteYes, it was a good walk the day before and Drew doesn't have many treats so he should be allowed to finish his book. We tend not to think about using buses, so wouldn't have thought of doing so, even if we were bushed.
DeleteDrew gets plenty of treats I'm sure 😉 but this book has been hanging along a long time, having started it in East Anglia he has been slogging through the 900 pages. So he is relieved to have it behind him.
DeletePre-pandemic we would both bus rather than drive to the City (or walk if we have more time). We are less likely to use them now, but was glad we gave this one a try - the time of day meant it was not full at any point, so felt very safe.
The photographs along the Trail are superb. Wonderful sculpted shapes, textures and pastel hues. I had to restrain myself from commenting on each one.
ReplyDeleteThe Lands End buses out of Falmouth are excellent and the route takes in pretty much the whole of the north and south coast. We met a couple who would take the bus to one point along the Coastal Path, then walk as far as the felt like along the coast, before turning inland and catching the bus back home. Next day they would get the bus to where they had left off.
Sounds like fun. Many years ago when we stayed in Points East Guest House, Pouch Cove, Newfoundland the same thing was in operation. We weren't there for the walking, but most of the guests were taking the East Coast Trail - https://www.eastcoasttrail.com/en/index.aspx they would be dropped off and picked up at set points each morning and evening until moving on to another guest house further along the trail every three or four days.
DeleteMore about the owner of Points East and her contibution to this developennt here - https://haydnanddrewonhols.blogspot.com/2011/08/elke-of-points-east.html
I preferred your stay in comfy chairs in Neddies Harbour Inn.
DeleteNeddies Harbour was a delight, and the bed in Points East sagged a great deal, but Elke was an interesting lady as were her friends and neighbours.
DeleteLuggage Transfers is a Cornish firm that takes walkers' bags from place to place when they are walking the Coastal Path. https://www.cornishluggagetransfers.co.uk/.
DeleteWe saw them in action when we were staying in Sennen Cove recently.
Seems like they have a similar set up either side of the Atlantic!
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