Day 2.9: Port Isaac - Padstow

Today was already the last day of hiking, wow, how time flies...

It has been sooo beautiful and also sooo exhausting. I had been looking forward to it for sooo long and now it went by sooo quickly. But enough of the melancholy, the last stage was still ahead of me. With almost 19km and a lot of altitude, as well as several villages, it was clear: today the middle part will be shortened...

The ascent to Port Isaac was very idyllic, the little nest nestled in the landscape like a painting. The view over the bay of Port Isaac with Tintagle on the left - a dream. UNBELIEVABLE, that I was there yesterday morning!!!

Afterwards followed a very nice, albeit exhausting, path of about 2.5 hours to Port Quin. Unfortunately, there was no bus stop there, contrary to my hope, but there was a very cute food truck where I ordered a delicious lunch. While I was still considering the most clever way to get to Polzeath, I met three English hikers again, whom I had met a few hours earlier on the way to Port Quin (and also yesterday), as they had hiked both stages in the opposite direction. After briefly explaining my plan to shorten the route, they spontaneously offered to drive me to Polzeath, even though they had to go in the opposite direction - hikers understand tired hikers. ;-)

Polzeath was busy, its large beach attracts many bathers and surfers. After the tranquility in nature, this loud, bustling activity was a little shocking. The coastal path between Polzeath and Rock, where the ferry crosses the Camel to Padstow, also seems to be very popular. And so I was approached twice by people who offered to take pictures of me... funny. :-)

Along the beach of Daymer Bay, along the foot of Brea Hill, then through the dunes and finally along the beach, the one-hour walk was very varied. I was really looking forward to the ferry ride, as it represents a very symbolic arrival at the end of the stage for me and it was also my first ferry on the SWCP (Appledore - Instow was cancelled last year due to a storm).

The Camel has large sandbanks that are washed in from the sea and the harbor has to be continuously dredged to prevent it from silting up. There is also a hiking trail along the Camel, the Camel Trail, which runs along the riverbank - sounds quite flat - and a bit boring... ;-)

I had announced myself later in my accommodation in Padatow, so I could take a brief look around Padstow... Padstow is very famous thanks to the TV chef Rick Stein, who owns several restaurants here. Overall, there is always something going on here in terms of tourism, which is also noticeable in the number of shops and restaurants.

My B&B was quite remote up on the hill, but quiet and with a beautiful view over the Camel.

Last evening, last pub... the plan was to enjoy and soak up everything... :-)