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Updated information THANKS TO Paul Bloomfield for the following update (July 2007):Page 45 – Public transport services The last X9 bus to Bude on a Friday night runs at about 8.20pm and there’s no other way of reaching Bude after that. Given the tendency of trains to be very, very late, it’s a risky business relying on that bus to get you to Bude, especially if you're coming from London on a Friday. Page 70 – Bude – Where to stay Tresillian B&B has been bought and superbly renovated by Linda Shevlin (same tel; email linda.shevlin@btinternet.com); still £25pppn, very tastefully decorated rooms, excellent breakfast and a lovely atmosphere. One of the best B&Bs I’ve stayed at. Page 72 – Map 1 – Bude to Crackington Haven I think fences have been moved since Map 1 was drawn. Walkers need to find another gate in a fence near the compass tower and walk on the sea side of the fence. Page 102 – Padstow – Where to stay Dennis Cove Campsite is not easy to find from the map! It’s actually off the Camel Trail but not signposted – we walked about 15 mins past it before realising our mistake. Walking from Padstow along the Camel Trail, turn right alongside the duckpond and follow it round (pond to your left); turn left up the lane to reach the site. Not sure the owners will still promise to always take in backpackers – they were very keen on advance booking when I contacted them! Page 108 – Constantine Bay The shop is a hike from the path and since the youth hostel at Treyarnon has a good café, it’s not really worth the walk – as we found out when we lost about 45 mins getting to our lunchtime pasty! Page 110 – Mawgan Porth Magic Cove doesn’t have a separate area for campers (at least, it didn’t when we were there, and I can’t see where it would be - the site’s tiny). However, it’s extremely friendly, well kept and very cheap at £7 for a tent and two people. Page 121 – Map 31 We couldn’t find the right turn to Fistral Crescent when looking for the Fern Pit ferry. Better to turn right from Pentire Crescent up Pentire Ave, then left down Riverside Crescent. Page 126 – Perranporth Perranporth truly is a hole and the stretch of coastline from Perranporth to St Agnes is stunning, so it’s worth not hanging around. Page 130 – St Agnes – Where to stay Beacon Cottage Farm campsite is a 1-1/2 to 2-mile hike up a very, very steep hill (30-45 mins from the cove). Beacon Drive is a long, long road! It’s better continuing on the coast path and turning off around Wheal Coates, though the path isn’t especially well marked. A taxi to and from the campsite to Driftwood Spars costs about £4.50. Page 131 – Porthtowan The store and deli (which was for sale when we passed) is much nicer than the bakery at Portreath – stock up on bread, pasties etc here rather than at Portreath. Rose Hill Touring Park no longer takes campers – it’s just cabins now. Page 132 – Map 38 At the south-west corner of the map the path is slightly misleading; there’s a path through a gateway which leads into a dead-end field – so be sure to take the right-hand path here. Page 133 – Portreath – Map 40 The path follows the steep road called Battery Hill (not Bensons Hillside) near the Bassett Arms. Gwithian Gwithian Farm Campsite is very big – I imagine it’s overrun with surfers in summer but it was lovely in June; there are lovely cream teas at the cottage. There’s a new nature reserve behind Godrevy Café, and a short-cut path leading to the dunes at the back of the Churchtown Farm Campsite; it’s much nicer than walking along the road. Page 139 – Map 46 I think the map understates the walk from Hayle Towans through Hayle - it’s a long hike and the section from the estuary car park to the tidal gate is unmarked, nasty, and through a busy industrial area. Page 143 – St Ives Ayr Holiday Park is only about 200m along the road marked with the arrow (Map 49), so it is really very close to town. Page 156 – Botallack Queens Arms now does mostly fish and is pricey but good food. Trevaylor Campsite has a pretty well-stocked shop, which is useful. Page 159 – Map 58 Towards the bottom right the map suggests taking some steps down to the road, before following the road for 20m and then turning south. I think the waymarked route – further east and then doubling back along the road west towards the car park – is the correct and safer route. Page 161 – St Just – Where to stay and eat Both Lands End Youth Hostel and Penzance YH (page 177) are tough for campers; they are booked up way in advance and charge a big additional fee for non-HI members (£10.50 per person for nonmembers at Lands End, £9 per person at Penzance). Not a great deal. Page 163 – Map 60 Midway down the map it states it’s possible to walk along the beach at low tide but that it won’t save much time. Actually, I think it would save a lot of time – the path rises and dips, and is very sandy – hard work! Better on the flat beach. Page 164 Signposting on the Sennen–Porthcurno section is poor. Page 169 – Treen The campsite is actually called Treen Farm Campsite. Page 177 Penzance – Where to stay See Page 161 above Page 188 – Porthleven – Where to stay Fisherman’s Cottage cost £28 pppn in June. Page 196 – Lizard There’s a cash machine in the post office which doesn't charge for withdrawals. Ann’s Famous Pasty Shop doesn’t usually close at 2pm, more likely 3pm, or whenever they decide to stop baking (I know, I ran about a mile to catch them before 2pm, only to find they had no intention of closing for ages!). Henry's Campsite charges £6 per person. Page 201 – Coverack Little Trevothan charged £7 for the tent in June. The Curry & Rice restaurant is now The Wave café – it does a good cream tea. Page 203 – Porthhallow to Helford We were told that the stepping stones at Gillan Creek have been removed; certainly we couldn’t find them at low tide. Page 217 – Falmouth – Where to stay We stayed at Braemar Guest House because we couldn’t get in anywhere else. It’s now £28 pppn and it’s definitely NOT good value; it’s a hole, with damp walls and tiny rooms. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 56 – Natural England contact details Natural England (tel 0845 600 3078, web www.naturalengland.org.uk), Northminster House, Peterborough, PE1 1UA. Page 177 – Blue Dolphin Penzance Backpackers – kitchen for guests Blue Dolphin Penzance Backpackers, the popular and recommended budget place to stay in Penzance, does (contrary to what we say on p177) offer kitchen facilities for guests. The manager adds: "We offer double and twin rooms (not en-suite) and we also offer dormitory beds for women only (en-suite), mixed dorms (en-suite) and men only (not en-suite). Booking ahead is always a good idea especially during summer season. With regard to the kitchen we have facilities for guests to cook and store food as well as free tea and coffee. Perhaps the only other thing to add would be our office/check-in times which are 8am - 2pm then again from 5pm - 10:30pm i.e closed between 2pm and 5pm". |
Cornwall Coast Path (British Walking Guide)