Day 1 Land's End to Penzance

Day 1

Kilometers: 22

The bed in my room at the Longboat Inn is wonderful, but there was a heavy snorer in the next room so I didn't sleep as well as I had hoped. When I woke up my glasses were gone, I looked everywhere but couldn't find them. I always bring a spare, but I knew they had to be in the room. Finally, after getting everything in order I found them on the floor behind the bed. Only to find that my wind breaker jacket was gone. I would have to do with just my rain jacket.

Just as I arrived at Land's End another couple arrived. Of course I don't remember their names, but we took each other's photos, I'd been wondering how I'd do that! 

   Quite windy, but no rain.

When I walked two years ago I followed a route an acquaintance had walked many years ago. Unfortunately there were now signs saying "Private, no public footpath", so I had some problems and couldn't get to where I wanted. This time I took another route and managed to get to the top of Carn Brea.

   What a view!

Last time I walked I didn't know about the Sancreed holy well. This time I knew where to look fot the path. It was muddy, but not too difficult.

   Sancreed Holy Well and cloutie tree

"Attached to the tree nearby there are  ‘clouties’ or pieces of rags left hanging. This was a traditional custom at healing wells, whereby rags were torn from part of the body where there was injury or hurt and tied on a tree close to the well. As the material

disintegrated (most materials were biodegradable) so the hurt was supposed to go".

I had a rest at the nearby Sancreed church, where I also had my lunch sandwich. Most churches seem to be open and especially on rainy days may be the only place to sit for a bit.

After lunch I kept walking, but couldn't find the footpath I had planned to take into Penzance, so I had to road walk. Fortunately there was a footpath next to the now quite busy road, which felt a lot safer!