From: Redgate (Bodmin Moor), Cornwall
To: Roche, Cornwall
Distance: 21.2 miles / 34.1 km
Total distance so far: 1,035.2 miles / 1,666 km
Date: 24 June 2021
I went for speed over beauty when planning today’s route, wanting to make up for the time I lost over the past few days so I could still get to Truro by tomorrow evening. That means I didn’t see Cornwall at its glorious best today; I spent the last few hours essentially shadowing the busy A30 on parallel roads that were never far from the roar of the traffic, but flatter and quicker than my originally planned meander would have been. I skipped Bodmin in favour of a nice but all too short walk through some plantations, and failed to investigate the National Trust property at Landhydrock, which seemed to be attracting tourists in their droves.
Still, I enjoyed some of the place names; I’d had no idea that a lot of the characters and locations in Poldark (books that have been turned into popular TV adaptions twice, although I’ve only watched the more recent version) took their inspiration from sites across Cornwall. I passed the sign for Warleggan, walked close to Carne Woods, and spotted Demelza on the map. The Visit Cornwall website can shine more light on the matter here – I rather enjoyed today’s Poldark spotting.
Nikki also gave me some advice on my route last night, which meant I spent the first few hours wandering some very quiet and picturesque country lanes in the southwest corner of Bodmin Moor. My ankle, although still swollen, even felt better enough to do some off-roading on tracks – I enjoyed the walk across Tawnamoor after days on walking on roads with high hedgerows and little in the way of views. Still, it was a relief to get into Roche this afternoon – I ache in a way I haven’t since the first few weeks of my hike across Britain: my back, my arms, my foot… perhaps because I’ve been walking differently to compensate for my ankle? Or perhaps my body knows the end of this absurdly long walk is in sight? Whatever it is, I’m currently really looking forward to a good old sit down!
Yes, I remember additional pains coming forward when I’ve tried to compensate for a swollen ankle on our Portuguese Camino. But you’re still walking … and that is one hell of an achievement! Love your last photo – what a beautiful track!
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Onwards! And upwards. Then downwards and upwards again…
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Thought you might take the coastal route to LE, before the crowds arrive, but nice to see an inland route chosen.
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No way! I’ve walked the South West Coast Path – I do not need those heartbreaking climbs and descents in my life at this point! I will walk on the nice easy stretch for the last few miles into Penzance though!
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Hartland Quay into Bude – I miss it too 🙂
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Nearly there,the final county.look after that ankle,hopping is not an option😃😃
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