11th February 2015 6/52 – Icart to Pleinmont

Great to be back again on the cliff paths after having been on the mainland for nearly two weeks and subsequently having to postpone my 4/52 and 5/52 walks. Both of these walks will be re-scheduled into my 2015 walking programme which in turn will mean I will have to do two walks in a week at some point!

The weather was kind to me for my start at Icart with very little wind and somewhat milder temperatures. I could see the sun was shining brightly over Jersey but here in Guernsey it was rather more dull. There were no takers for my offer to join me today, so I set off on my own for this stamina-sapping leg, which I knew would drain me physically after my postponements of the last two legs of my challenge meant that I had not done any cliff-walking for 3 weeks.

Arriving at Petit Bot I was pleased to see the road had re-opened after extensive work by the States Water Board, but by the time I had climbed back out of the bay I could feel my body screaming for some respite from the steep climb. The still conditions were ideal for listening to the birds and watching the coastline with its clear blue water.

On the way to Le Gouffre I met a couple from Chandlers Ford who were here on a break and were taking the opportunity to walk some of the cliff path, which they were very much enjoying.

Having climbed out of Le Gouffre I stopped at the viewing bench for a drink and took off a layer of clothes due to the mild conditions. I always find it somewhat confusing from this point on as, if you do not know the track, you appear to be heading inland, but then have to turn sharply to the left to get back on the cliff path heading towards La Corbiere. Having arrived there I knew the path was going to get more physically demanding from now on, and sure enough I was feeling very stretched by the time I arrived at La Prevote Watch House.

Fortunately there were no changes in weather conditions, but I really had to prepare myself physically/mentally to complete that stretch from Le Prevote to Les Tielles, which is unquestionably the most physically demanding stretch of coastal pathway anywhere around the island. Arriving at Les Tielles was like heaven as I knew the rest of the walk, although still a challenge, was well within my range.

Invariably there was some wind on the Pleinmont Headland but this was nowhere near as strong as the wind I had encountered on my previous leg in January. I very much enjoy walking around the Headland: there is just so much to see before you eventually see the Fairy Ring and then the homeward view of Portelet Bay and Fort Grey.

I really did feel physically shattered by the end of the 3 hours 25 minutes it took me for the leg to be completed and I was never so pleased to see a CT Plus bus to take me back to my St Martins home!