Day 34 - Falmouth Bay

A beautiful day today, so Mags and I headed off to Pendennis Head to walk to Maenporth.

Pendennis castle sits on top of Pendennis Head and is one of two castles that guard the entrance to Falmouth Harbour. Built by Henry VIII, Pendennis and St. Mawes castle sit on opposite headlands across the Fal estuary and form part of a string of coastal defences designed to prevent invasion by French or Spanish armies after England broke from Rome, leaving itself isolated against the Catholic nations.

Both castles are well worth a visit, but getting from Pendennis to St. Mawes involves a considerable drive, or two ferries plus a fair walk!

The walk to Maenporth starts along the road around Falmouth's western fringes, past Castle Beach, Gyllyngvase Beach before you head out into the country a bit until you reach Swanpool Beach.

All the beaches were very busy, probably signalling the taste of things to come now that lock down has been relaxed.

In lock down we heard lots about how people were struggling with their mental health due to being isolated and ways we could help ease their stress. I wonder what help will be available for people like me, who will actually struggle mentally with being unable to escape other people!

The area of Falmouth Bay is beautiful and once you pass Swanpool beach, the walk takes you along the shore on a dirt path.

Shortly after Swanpool Beach, you will pass a memorial and bench, dedicated to Falmouth home guard, on the coast path. I have never seen a memorial to the Home Guard before, so this was an interesting find.

Only a short walk further takes you past a pillbox and down to Maenporth beach.

Turning back, Pendennis Head is visible for most of the way back, with it's castle watching over the sea and estuary,

Getting back to Pendennis Head, we grabbed an Ice Cream (mainly to annoy my daughter!)