Wednesday 1^st July – 26/52 – Icart Point to Pleinmont

This is the halfway mark of my 52 walks around the island, on what could possibly be my warmest walking conditions this year. I knew Clive S was coming but there was a question mark about Anne S, so when I arrived it was good to see Anne was there; although she was unable to commit to walking the full length she would walk to Petit Bot with us, then turn around and head back into St Martin’s.

The weather was rather dull to start off with, but still quite warm, with the prospect of the temperature constantly rising as the morning progressed. Not a lot of fellow walkers were around this morning, but we did meet the odd one or two as we made our way along towards Petit Bot.

I was talking about coming along the same route last week as I had extended my previous Wednesday walk rather than finishing at Icart, as it was my intention to cut inland through a route I had previously been on numerous occasions with Club Bons Amis, but to my astonishment I was confronted with a farmer’s electric fence preventing me with any access. The denied route actually takes you back into the road route coming up from Petit Bot and winding back into St Martin’s.

The sun was trying hard to break through as we made our way up the lung busting steps out of Petit Bot valley and I just had to stop at the top and take on fluid to replace that leaving my body at a rapid rate in the hot conditions. On we went, and through to Le Gouffre where we were seeing more people out on the cliff path; many visitors and locals were keen to use the cafe facilities on such a lovely day.

The real hard work and difficult terrain starts immediately after passing through Corbiere car park and you know psychologically there is ‘no gain without pain’ as you tackle the steep steps that are a permanent feature all the way through to Les Tielles. In my experience to date I know I just have to adopt a very positive attitude to this stretch, although in today’s hotter conditions it really was energy sapping as we both worked hard to get into a good walking rhythm.

Les Tielles is always a most welcome sight as you know the remainder of the walk is less physically demanding; the stronger winds, can of course, be yet another challenge at times on the more exposed Pleinmont Point. The sun had broken through fully now and it was getting very warm as we progressed along the top with that great view of the lighthouse out to sea. We decided to take a different route down into Portelet Bay today and took the path down through the shaded bushes/trees that eventually brings you out on to the road path heading towards the kiosk.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable walk again today despite the hotter conditions: one of those days when you think to yourself “Where else would I like to be today?” and you just keep answering “Nowhere else, just Guernsey, out here on the cliff paths”. The views and colours were stunning, although we did not see many birds of prey, which is unusual.

We were both tired and ready for a sit down by the time we reached the Portelet Kiosk, just short of three and a half hours after starting at Icart Point at 10am.