The Rumps Coastal Walk

When it gets to this time of year, I like to grab every sunny day that we get. Each one feels like a bonus day before we slip into the colder, wetter months of late Autumn and Winter. The shops are already filling up their shelves with Christmas gifts and mince pies, and you have to remind yourself that we're not actually in December yet.

With that in mind, I arranged to meet my friend and go out for a walk around the Rumps on the North Cornwall coast. This is a lovely section of the South West Coast Path, and there is a nice circular walk from Pentireglaze round to Polzeath. I parked at the National Trust car park at Pentireglaze, free for members, and we followed the signpost to The Rumps. Once we had doubled back through the wild flower field and turned off on the correct path, it was a pretty clear route. You can omit The Rumps themselves and stay on the coastal path, but the climb is worth doing for the fantastic views. This was also where we saw a pair of seals swimming about in the sea below us. Thanks to the two ladies from Surrey who alerted to this. We all spent a good 20 minutes watching the seals and chatting.

Back on the coastal path and continuing our walk, we came across a bench and a commemorative plaque to Laurence Binyon. Apparently, this is the very spot where he wrote the poignant poem long associated with Remembrance Day, For The Fallen, and these same words are simply written on the plaque:-

       They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
         Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
         At the going down of the sun and in the morning
         We will remember them.

This is a beautiful location, and perfect for a rest while we had our lunch. At Pentire Point, we felt the full effects of the wind as we turned the corner into Daymer Bay and the estuary of the River Camel. The views draw your eye across to Stepper Point and Trevose Head and along the estuary towards Padstow and Trebetherick. A gentler downhill section from here towards Polzeath followed, and we soon found ourselves beside the beach at Pentire Glaze. On a warmer day, we might have stopped for a paddle, but we took the inland path back up to the car park.

There are good facilities adjacent to the car park. The new cafe serves hot and cold drinks as well as sandwiches, pasties, sausage rolls, etc. There is plenty of outdoor seating with tables, and public conveniences. Across the road is an orchard area, with a small children's play park and more benches.

We opted to call in at the Seaview Farm Shop for a pot of tea on the way home. Aptly named, it offers superb views over Port Isaac and along Lundy Bay towards The Rumps. There are plenty of tempting cakes on offer, as well as cooked food, and they also have local produce and goods for sale alongside meat from their neighbouring farm.

For more information on opening times and menus, do check out the Sea View Farm Shop.

The postcode for satnav to locate the car park at Pentire is PL27 6QY. For directions and more details, please visit the National Trust.