Wednesday 23rd. September, 2015 – 38/52 – Icart Point to Pleinmont

It was a lovely sunny morning for our start today, and I was delighted to have my son, Andy, with Anne S and me for this tough leg towards the west coast of the island. Anne, who usually only joins us for part of this leg, would leave us at Corbiere, and we would then carry on until the end at the Pleinmont Kiosk. Already at this time of the morning there were a few walkers around and visitors who tend to sit in their cars in the large car park at Icart and take in the view or get out and have a stroll out onto the cliff path.

Anne was keen to check her slow-worm hides, which are just off the cliff path, shortly after we started, but to no avail as she found none in either hide. The views this morning out to sea and along the cliffs were just wonderful and sometimes I just stand in awe of such scenes as we progress along the path towards Petit Bot.

Climbing out of Petit Bot valley is always a challenge, but this morning very much compensated for by the superb view of the bay on the left hand side as you climb up to the viewing point at the top. You certainly need a breather when you reach the top, and the opportunity to take on some water and fuel!

Once through the next area above Petit Bot you actually come onto a wide open path and off to the left is a small magazine, which we took the opportunity of visiting today. The building is locked up but there has been a lot of work done in clearing the area around it and there is an additional path that leads to a very nice viewing area.

Onwards we strode in the lovely warm weather and it wasn’t long before we were climbing down the steep cliff path steps towards the turning for Le Gouffre. We did meet a couple of elderly twitchers climbing up and there was some debate as to whether the large bird hovering above was a buzzard or not? If it was it was probably the same large bird we had seen earlier on our walk at Icart. Le Gouffre Cafe was closed when we got there and the decorators were there giving it a bit of a makeover. Climbing out of the valley we quickly moved through to the  ‘snail house’ and onto the National Trust land area beyond.

I was greatly concerned when, on our way towards La Corbiere, Anne slipped on the crumbling shale of the cliff path and took a nasty tumble. Fortunately she only sustained minor cuts and grazes, and after treatment from a first aid kit she was carrying in her bag, we were back on our way. It really did emphasise just how easily falls of this nature can happen and how prepared as walkers you need to be. Anne assured us she was okay to carry on, on her own, from Corbiere as both Andy and myself headed for Pleinmont.

I must make an effort to try and count all of the steps you climb on this leg before the year is out because this really is the tough part of this walk as you are either climbing up or down them on this stretch towards Les Tielles. Personally I just like to attack it, but I am also mindful of just how beautiful these valleys and sea views are, although accepting in different weather conditions they can be quite daunting.

After a quick drinks/energy bar break at the car park at Les Tielles we were on to the last leg of the walk towards Pleinmont Point. The weather was just getting better and better as we set off again, although I was well aware that the wind might possibly be much stronger up on Pleinmont Point as we approached that area.

I was delighted to be able to have Andy with me today: not only was it a nice walk for a father and son to do together, but as Andy was leaving the island tomorrow it would be the last chance for some time for him to see the natural beauty of the island on such a beautiful day as it was today. Additionally, with today’s walk and the whole year project of 52 weekly walks being about raising money for Autism Guernsey, and Andy being the person responsible for setting it up in the island, it seemed a most appropriate way to finish his 3 year spell here in Guernsey.

The wind certainly was much stronger as we moved through Pleinmont Point but once we reached the other side and came down towards the Fairy Ring it became much calmer.

It was a lovely walk in towards the finishing line at Pleinmont Kiosk along the vehicle-free road, which is such a popular short walk for a whole variety of local and visiting walkers.

We arrived at the Kiosk around 2.15 pm, and were welcomed there with a nice cup of tea and a lovely crab sandwich, thank you Mrs G!