An escape to the coast was looking unlikely this summer but I'm writing this post after a few days of tent life in Cornwall. Never have I ever seen England looking so beautiful!
Along with two friends, I took the train from London Paddington to Penzance and then hopped on a bus to a campsite between St. Just and Botallack. I did a similar trip 2 years ago but stayed further south, near Sennen, so this was a new area to explore. And I'm so glad that we did. The area is mine country, with old stone tin mines looming out of the mist along the coast path and teetering on the edge of harsh, rocky cliffs.
Despite the supposed "swarms" of Brits descending on the coastline, we saw barely a soul on the paths in this neck of the woods. Perhaps it was down to the thick mist which engulfed us at least once a day or perhaps to the fact we walked miles and miles, lingering only at points to dive into the waves of secluded coves. This was how the first couple of days were spent before the sun burst through and the sea changed colour.
On our last two days, we ventured south-east along the coast to Sennen and then on to beyond Boleigh, from where we walked back along the path towards Porthcurno. This was my favourite day of the trip and perhaps even of this summer as a whole. The sun baked our shoulders as we trekked up hill and down dale, we cooled off in lush oases of trees and finally made it to Cornwall's worst-kept secret - Pedn Vounder beach. Despite the hairy clamber down, we arrived to a pretty packed cove so made straight for the turquoise waters. To say it was idyllic would be the understatement of the century. It was INCREDIBLE so I'll let the photos do the talking.
As if it couldn't get any better, we then continued on to Porthcurno for pasties and people-watching before catching the last bus 'home'!
Cornwall, I WILL be back (*hopefully permanently)!