The kayakers look like little specks in the distance on this photo.
Port Quin was a fishing village back in the day. Their male population got wiped out on a fishing expedition gone wrong (strong storms). As a result the remaining villagers (widows and their children) left Port Quin to go live elsewhere. Today you can see traces of the fishing industry in the form of fish cellars near the harbor. Those cellars have been converted to holiday cottages. Today there are mostly cottages and vacation homes in Port Quin. The only eating establishment is a food trailer in the car park. There are no public restrooms around and only 1 water spigot to refresh (with drinkable water).
The coastal path leads in 2 directions from here. In one direction you head towards Port Isaac. In the other you head towards Doyden Castle, Epphaven Cove, Lundy Bay all the way to Pentire Point and the Rumps.
Today I will write about heading towards the latter (Epphaven and Lundy). I have not hiked past that point yet (to Pentire Point). Next time...
From Port Quin Harbor head up a steep road to your left. It is quite a hill, but fortunately around the curve you find a stile on your right. Climb over it. Signs are there saying National Trust Doyden.
From here you can either take the short cut or long cut to Doyden Castle. The short cut is a straight shot by taking the path on your left (seen in the photo above). The long cut takes you on a circuitous path to the castle (the path straight ahead in the photo). Both will take you to Doyden Castle.
This castle was built as an extravagant holiday home and is now rented out at an extravagant rate.
More recently it has been recognized as the filming location on the tv show Doc Martin when the deranged Mrs. Tishell held Doc Martin's baby hostage.
Follow the coastal path past the castle and you will run across 2 open mine shafts (barely fenced off).
They are part of Doyden Point Mine or Gilson's Cove Mine (2 names for the same place). These mines contained silver-lead (antimony) and a little copper. I am always reminded of the TV series Poldark and the mines along the Cornish coast. The main difference is the lack of buildings here to support the mine.
These are deep mines. If you shout down in them you hear the echo back.
The view walking onward to Epphaven and Lundy is spectacular. You walk up and down cliffs with beautiful views of the water below.
Here is Epphaven Cove below in the photo. Notice all the green vegetation covering the rocks. There was not as much green last year. The only way to get down to the beach is by scrambling down the rocks. With all the green slippery rocks and the high tide we decided against heading down this year. It is a rocky beach. Don't expect sand. Last year I was able to safely scramble down the rocks and sit by the water. Not this year.
As you keep following the path you reach the next cove called Lundy Bay. Fortunately there are stairs leading down to this rocky beach. We also were there at high tide, so the one little sandy strip of land I found last year was under water this year.
This photo shows Lundy from above (from the path). Look carefully to see the stairs.
The tide was high and the spray on the rocks magnificent.
Both Epphaven and Lundy are in adjacent coves along the coastal path. You can see both coves in the photo below. The nearest cove is Epphaven. The next one along is Lundy.
If you keep going on the coastal path beyond Lundy you can reach Pentire Point and the Rumps (big out crop of rocks by themselves in the water). I think it is another 2 1/2 miles to the point from Lundy. The sign post will say. To me it looks farther. Next time I want to hike to the point. You can see the point and the Rumps in the photo below.
I enjoy this hike from Port Quin to Epphaven and Lundy. It has a lot of uphill and downhill, but the views of the water are amazing.
No comments:
Post a Comment