Day 1: Land’s End to Pendeen

The first day is done! After an obligatory photo at Land’s End, I set off on the South West Coast Path to Pendeen. 

• Date: 21 March 2024
• Start: Land’s End
• End: Pendeen
• Miles: 11.2
• Total miles: 11.2
• Accommodation: The North Inn campsite

I started the day at the Saddle and Stablerooms accommodation in Sennor, just a mile from the start point. Given that this first day was to be a bit shorter than the average day in distance, I made the most of having a bed and didn’t leave until 9:30. 

After the walk down the road to the Land’s End complex, I went to get my photo taken at the start line. They normally charge you for this, but as an End To End participant, they let me have my photo for free.

In what felt like a scene from the TV show, Race Across The World, I was asked to sign a book to show that I had set off. Apparently I’ll sign another book in John O’Groats to show I’ve made it. Forgive my terrible handwriting. 

At 10:15 I was off on the first 11.2 mile stretch to Pendeen. I’m following the South West Coast Path for the next couple of weeks as it’s the most straightforward way to get out of Cornwall. The weather was grey all day but no rain. Although given how bad the weather has been recently, it was a bit chilly and there were bogs in places. 

I stopped for lunch in an old church, mainly using it as shelter to protect my stove from the wind. As I was cooking my basic cheesy pasta, a couple popped into the church to have a look and kindly made a donation. 

As I continued to Pendeen, I passed lots of old mines which dominate the area. 

I then took a short walk from the path to Pendeen, where I set up camp in a field behind a pub and then had a beer in the same pub. 

After a nice hot shower, I went to the Spar next door to get something that I could cook for dinner. I really need to start stocking up on the good backpacking dehydrated meals, as my concoction tonight was instant mash, hot dogs and peas. Not particularly the most nutritious of meals, but I was impressed by the instant mash!

It was still pretty cold, so I retreated back into the pub for a pint. 

On to St Ives tomorrow, where I’ll be covering about 14 miles in total. There is rain forecast in the morning, so it could make for an interesting day.