Day 5 - Portreath to Perranporth - 12.7 miles

We'd been warned that today's walk was going to have a lot of ascents and descents and the day started with a long climb out of Portreath. If there's one thing that strikes me about new houses we've seen in Cornwall so far (and there are a lot) is that the owners either i) don't have any taste, ii) couldn't give two ***ts about scale or proportion or iii) the local authority really needs the money. I've never had a problem with the idea of local planning rules and regulations and have always thought they should encourage good neighbourliness. In Cornwall, the local authority seems to have lost the book. Nuff said! There is scope for a book of "Modern Cornish Carbuncles" - it wouldn't be a short read!!!! - and that's just as you climb out of Portreath. Rant over!

Over the last few days we've seen and heard a wonderful range of birdlife. Today, as we passed the MOD's radar defence listening station above Portreath, it was the chance of the linnets. They were in large numbers and seemed to be enjoying the farmland surrounding the site.

After passing the MOD base, I'd spotted the cove, Sally's Bottom on the OS map so couldn't resist the obvious photo opportunity. 

All along this section of the coast there are remnants of tin mines and quarry workings.
Then on to St Agnes where we dropped in to the RNLI station and met volunteers Margaret and Shirley. 

The weather improved throughout the day and developed into gorgeous warm sunshine.
Our highlight of the day, as we climbed out of Trevaunace Cove was Sally seeing an adder as it crossed her path.

Having been warned of the ups and downs, it seems we climbed almost 2900 feet today so we felt justified in our tiredness when we eventually descended into Perranporth after a long day's walking.


Total distance so far = 53.6 miles
Total ascent so far = 7593 feet

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