Wednesday 21st October 2015 – 42/52 – Icart Point to Pleinmont

I am always conscious of what the weather might throw at us on this tough leg, and took great interest in what the weather forecasters were saying for today. The forecast was for a dullish start with rain coming in around mid-day, but unfortunately the rain came in much earlier, and when I arrived at Icart there was wind and rain to greet me. On the plus side my walking buddy, Clive S, was available today, which meant that, regardless of the weather conditions, I at least had some good company to help me along the way.

Setting off in the wind, rain and dull grey skies at Icart, I also wanted to complete another exercise: I wanted to count all of the steps we walked up or down today.
Many of you who know and walk this stretch will be aware that there are a lot of steps, just how many it was difficult to predict. I had borrowed a ‘clicker’ counter from a walking colleague, which turned out to be a very useful tool for what I was hoping to achieve.

The wet conditions do make the granite slippery, and it is very important to have good, serviceable boots for walking the cliff paths, particularly when the conditions are wet. Mine are well worn in now, and saw us quickly through to Petit Bot. The cars using the back roads whilst the Forest Road was closed far outnumbered the walkers/dog walkers one usually sees in this area. As usual, it was hard work climbing out of Petit Bot, but there was some relief getting into the shelter of the wooded area at the top from the persistent wet weather.

Onwards we went to Le Gouffre, and looking out to sea and seeing a single fishing boat putting out their lobster pots reminded us of just how unglamorous a job they have in poor weather conditions like today, with poor visibility an additional hazard. We met a few hardy souls down at the car park at Le Gouffre, wrapping up well for a quick walk around the exposed headland in the rain.

Although we were making good time we were also getting steadily wetter, despite being well dressed for the conditions, and knew that the further west we headed, the stronger the wind would probably get. Arriving at Corbiere car park, which was completely empty, we were aware that the next half hour or so was really going to push our physical capabilities to the limit under such conditions, but despite this, and the loneliness, there is still something that drives you on and gets you through it. The natural beauty of the cliffs can still be admired even at this time of the year, the large expanse of light brown bracken being a very good example today.

I really appreciated having Clive with me today, he knows this cliff path like the back of his hand and adapts his pace well to suit the terrain, so much so that we arrived at Les Tielles well on schedule, with an opportunity for a quick drinks break. Despite knowing we had overcome the most difficult stretch on this leg we also knew that once we got onto Pleinmont Point we were likely to encounter stronger winds and possibly driving rain. Full marks to an elderly gentleman we met further along the cliff path who was heading in the opposite direction, for St Peter Port: he was no spring chicken and had a rather large rucksack on his back; needless to say he was the first walker/dog walker we had seen since Le Gouffre. Sure enough the wind increased and the rain was hammering into our faces as we headed over the top of Pleinmont, but we had spectacular views across to the Hanois Lighthouse, it has to be said.

What a contrast and a relief when we eventually arrived at the bottom of the steps at the Fairy Ring – the wind and rain had subsided, and there was shelter from the battering we had encountered on the top. The gentle run in to the Portelet Kiosk along the tarmac road was sheer bliss after 3 hours of difficult walking conditions today.

Oh, by the way, I do have a sore finger from hitting the click counter: would you believe it, we climbed up/down 1,924 steps in completing this leg from Icart to Pleinmont today!

I have only experienced one other tougher leg than today, which was also on this stretch when I completed it alone back in September.