Bude to Tresmorn
I really liked Bude. It had a relaxed, beachy, artsy (but not toffee-nosed) vibe. I could have happily stayed there a few days to explore and to write and to enjoy the many groovy-looking coffee shops. But, alas, a day off was not to be. I had miles to cover, and a three-course dinner to get to when I would finally arrive at Higher Tresmorn Farm B&B.
Technically, this was a ‘moderate’ level difficulty day – doable to carry a fully-loaded beast (sans camping gear). So, since I’d had a (kind of) rest day on day 10, and 17.4 km of moderate difficulty didn’t sound too bad, I was in an optimistic, energetic frame of mind as I set off up the rise from Bude to the tower overlooking Compass Point, and then up to Efford Beacon. Gorgeous, wide views. Bright, if-not-quite-blue, day.
What’s not to love, hey?
For much of the way the fancy GCHQ satellite array ‘radio station’ was on my rear horizon. I’d missed it by diverting the previous day.
By the time I got to the last down-up at Millbrook I was stuffed and, since I was to stay off-path that night anyway, I decided to go cross-country from Dizzard, cutting away from the swcp about two km from my destination. This proved hazardous.
The public footpaths marked on my map looked a whole lot like do-not-enter farmer’s fields. I probably looked like an idiot, dashing along hedgerows and getting the beast stuck in fences I tried to climb through. And, once I was on the country lanes I took many a flying leap into the hedges as locals zipped around blind bends. (In general, the hazard level is inversely proportional to the number of photos taken – no photos means scary.)
Eventually, I arrived at High Tresmorn Farm where I was welcomed with a steaming pot of tea, a potted history of the nearby bronze-age ruins, and a gorgeous, creaky, old room.
The three-course dinner wasn’t bad either 😉
[Surge stats: 15.34 km, 149 floors, 24716 steps]
PenLoper 