An inquisitive cat peers into the tent, as I wake after a good night’s sleep. It is too timid to come any closer. A bowl of freezing water to wake me up and I am on my way. My back is very stiff after two nights of camping, but the path is gentle, with the Great Mew Stone guiding me into Plymouth.
Mount Batten gives me a fine view of Smeaton’s Tower, a memorial to lighthouse designer John Smeaton, and The Royal Citadel. It also makes me appreciate how far East I must walk around The Sound to get there.
It is a relief to reach the end of the last inlet and head West again. The A379 approach to the Laira Bridge is not the most scenic, but there are a few colourful old boats, and an interesting series of poems inlaid into a high wall.
The next stretch, along roads through various industrial estates, is predictably grim. The only fun is spotting the tiny acorn signs, telling me I am on the right path.
A light rain falls, as I pass the art deco Tinside Lido, striking against the grey sea and sky. I follow the seafront to Stonehouse, with Cornwall beckoning across the water, before heading for the comfort of a warm and dry train back to London.
Walk distance: 15 miles.
Total distance: 574 miles.