Day 23: 300 miles down

Start: Porthleven

End: Lizard

Miles: 14

Total miles: 301

I left Portleven early to attempt to complete the majority of the miles before the height of the heat. After leaving town I arrived at the Loe Bar, a stretch of pebbles separating the sea and a freshwater lake. It felt strange having water on both sides of me, it's usually only the sea to my right. The pebbles were difficult and tiring to walk across. From here I walked to Mullion Cove, where a few people were out for morning sea swims. As I continued South towards the tip of the Pennisula, the people on the path became more sparse until it was just me and the cows. The breeze was strong and consistent, keeping me cool in the climbing temperatures.

The cliffs were lined with heather and wild flowers and groups of rugged stacks protruded from the sea. I began to see more people as I approached Kynance Cove. I stopped for lunch here and tried to find some shade, but my attempt was futile so I pushed a little further to camp. I was happy to be finished and was ready for a cold shower. When I arrived at camp the woman at reception asked me where I'd come from, I told her I'd left Portleven this morning but started in Minehead 3 weeks ago. She replied with a big grin, "Oh you're one of those!" and then handed me a cold berry smoothie she'd just made and we chatted about my journey so far.

I've now completed 300 miles of the path. This feels like a huge milestone to me. It's by far the furthest I've ever travelled on foot and it's almost halfway. I'm at Lizard Point now, the most Southerly point in the UK. From here I'll complete the Pennisula and then the final stretches of the South Cornwall coast. I've been walking for just over 3 weeks now. Wearing normal clothes, regularly sleeping in the same bed and not carrying everything I need to survive on my back feels like a distant memory. I’ve fully embraced the long-distance hiker look; dishevelled and weathered with hair that I gave up on trying to tame days ago. The same t-shirt and hiking trousers combo, accessorising with a cap and completing the look with a hiking pole strap tan line. I feel proud and happy that I've come this far and walked 300 miles of the coast. Tomorrow I'll begin chipping away at the next 100 miles. One mile at a time.