Walking Cornwall
There's something freeing about setting off with nothing more than a camera, a couple of sandwiches and a rough plan.
It was one of those days where the journey mattered far more than the destination.
On a warm June morning, I headed out on an 11-mile solo hike along the Cornish coast, following a route from Pentire Headland to Holywell Bay and back again. The coastline seemed to change around every corner, cliff paths opened onto sweeping views across Crantock, woodland canopies gave way to open heath, and the air was filled with birdsong.
Every pause offered another photograph.
Wildflowers lined the paths, and every pause offered another photograph waiting to be taken. Somewhere along the way, a portion of cheesy chips became the perfect excuse to sit still for a while before continuing on.
a good day for slow walking
A small group of seals had gathered just offshore, completely unaware of the excitement they were causing.
I’ve always found seals strangely relatable, they seem to have perfected a life of swimming in the sea, basking on the beach and enjoying the moment. Watching them felt like a reminder to slow down.
The walk home took me through fields of blooming poppies, an endless sea of red moving gently in the breeze. It felt like the perfect ending, until I reached the Gannel. I’d completely forgotten about the tide.
Determined not to add several extra miles to the journey, I decided to wade across. What I’d failed to account for was being 5’2”. Before long I was soaked, trying to keep both myself and my camera above the water. Thankfully, a passing paddleboarder came to the rescue and ferried me safely across the deepest section.
I arrived home with wet clothes, an empty phone battery and a huge sense of gratitude that my camera had survived the adventure.
The best part of the walk isn’t on any map. It’s being rescued by a stranger on a paddleboard, camera held over my head, halfway across a tidal creek I should have checked the tables for first.
Related · the collection this walk belongs to
Coast
If a place deserves this kind of attention, let’s talk about what that could look like.