Wednesday 27th May 2015 – 21/52 – St. Peter Port to Icart Point.

Unfortunately due to a family holiday in Spain I was unable to do this stretch on the day, but I am most grateful to my fellow walkers, Sue, Clive and Steve who kept the continuity of the weekly walks going by completing the leg from St Peter Port to Icart Point. I understand the weather was brilliant, and the cakes at the Jerbourg Hotel were something else! Thank you again for completing the walk on the day, your effort was very much appreciated.

Sunday 31st May

Having returned from holiday I was anxious to get this 21/52 leg completed as soon as possible as I do not want to get behind with my weekly schedule. Please note that as I was making up a scheduled walk and I was on my own, I took the opportunity to do the walk in reverse from Icart Point to St Peter Port – all are usually in a clockwise direction.

I would normally want to start as early as possible, particularly as I was on my own on this occasion, but the heavy rain and poor visibility on this Sunday morning delayed my start at Icart until just before mid- day. The wind was strong as I started and the rain was still coming down lightly, but I knew that the forecast was to get better and that once on my way around to Saints Bay the windy conditions would improve. The walk conditions were certainly different today and it soon became apparent that there is now a lot of overgrown vegetation on the cliff path route as I was constantly getting ‘swiped’ by the saturated foliage.                                                                                           

Normally I see quite a number of other walkers, but today I met no-one until I arrived at the car park at Moulin Huet, where I came across a large, organised group of walkers being briefed by a walking guide. The weather conditions started to improve as I got out onto the top heading towards Petit Port and it was a wonderful sight to see the huge expanse of sand with the tide out in the bay. I am delighted to say the path and steps down to Petit Port are now open, and I highly recommend going down to the bay if you can manage the steps!

It was nice to meet another solitary walker as I headed towards Jerbourg Point, a lady who was getting in some training before her 39 mile walk next weekend in the annual Saffery Champness walk. I wish her well along with all the other walkers: it is tough doing that amount of miles in difficult terrain and all in one day, with a 5am start!

I missed the purple orchids that I had seen last time I was out in this direction: badly overgrown vegetation was more the view today. The weather had vastly improved and it was pleasing to see a number of people out and about around the car park area of Jerbourg; it was also a pleasant change to walk down the steps towards the Point today as opposed to climbing them. I even took the opportunity to count the steps, 228 I made it!

It was lovely walking towards Marble Bay and on to Fermain Bay – the views with the sun shining brightly were quite spectacular. I was surprised to see only one person on the beach at Fermain Bay at 1.30pm, with the sun shining, but there were more people at the Fermain Kiosk when I arrived there. The walk from Fermain to St Peter Port is very popular with locals and visitors and it was no surprise to see numerous people out enjoying the sunshine and the walk, as I headed towards St Peter Port and the finishing line for me.

I was pleased to finish today as I felt quite tired by the end, but equally pleased to be back on track again, before the ever-testing leg from Icart to Pleinmont next Wednesday.