Devil's Point

Oh boy, let me tell you about my adventurous day!

This morning, I woke up feeling like a boss with a mission to conquer Devil's Point. I had my route all planned out and was ready to take on the world... or at least this hike.
But little did I know, my plans were about to go haywire. You see, I have a talent for getting lost. And today was no exception! I went off the beaten path and ended up in some kind of neverland.
Curious as I am, I decided to embrace the unexpected and see where it would lead me. Let's just say, I stumbled upon some pretty interesting sights that I wouldn't have found otherwise.
But hey, safety first! If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, try to keep your wits about you and stay on the main roads. Or, you know, bring a compass. Or a guide. Or a map. Or maybe just stay in bed. Yeah, that sounds like a good plan.

After I arrived at Millbay docks and realized that I couldn't proceed any further in that direction, I took a couple of photos and turned around.

It was then I met a rather official looking gentleman that happened to work there and pointed out the military base just beyond, and told me I would have to walk around.

Great! I was already lost in an area I didn't know and my day had just started. Therefore, I walked back to the main road following his directions along a long road and old grey stone houses which seemed a rather long way.

I saw water through a narrow walkway between some houses and took a look, only to realize this wasn't it either.
Then, with my phone camera in hand, I turned back out of the narrow walkway. I walked along another long road that followed the main entrance to the military base.

Completely Lost

Did I mention, I was actually lost?
Well there you have it, I was.
So I headed back out of that area and carried on along the long road, which at this point had turned from houses into rock, bushes and trees.
In my mind, I could only picture Dorothy standing there in her red shoes at that moment, saying, "Toto, I've got a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore." And I could only wish I had those damn red shoes of hers. It would only have taken me three clicks on the heels for me to have already arrived and not have had to walk.

So I stop and open my Google Maps app and check my direction and it assures me I am walking in the right direction. At this point a I hear a woman's voice asking if I needed Help.
I turned to face her rather embarrassed and laughed, asking "Is it that obvious that I am lost?"
She also assured me that if I keep walking and follow the road, I'll find Devil's Point.

Nearly There

It is true that large cracks are a sign of subsidence, but this rock had more cracks than a plumbers convention.

Either way, I found this rock face beautiful.
The roots of this vegetation grow deep inside these cracks, which cling to a very dry and rough environment.
I'd love to carve this out if I could and have it displayed in my living room. Although, I'm not sure the flooring wouldn't take it and the landlord would be displeased.
I just had to take a photo of this stunning rock face and also to have a memory when I was completely lost.

Devil's Point

So after another long 15 minutes walk, I finally see a sign pointing in the direction I needed to go and proceeded to follow and eventually I had arrived at my destination.

But this was it? I was expecting something spectacular apart from a small café, public toilets and a pile of rocks after my trek halfway across the continent it seemed.

I don't mind telling you that I found a bench to park my backside on and rest my tired legs while overlooking the English Channel.
One sensible thing I did was make a packed lunch to carry in my backpack.
When I saw the prices at the small café for a cheeseburger, I sat and enjoyed my lunch even more. So I settled for buying a cup of tea.
Don't get me wrong, it had gorgeous views, fresh air, boats sailing past and other people enjoying their day out walking dogs.

As the name Devil's Point suggests, it was named after the treacherous tides that gather at this point as well as the rocky landscape that surrounds it.
In addition to that, it is also situated on the eastern side of the Peninsula, where the River Tamar mouth meets the English Channel.

Looks so beautiful

As I ventured further along the path, the scenery just kept getting better and better. To the left, I was greeted with a breath-taking view of rocky terrain that looked like it was straight out of a postcard. However, as I tried to take a seat on one of those pointy rocks for a quick break, I quickly realized that it was not one of my smartest ideas.

Despite the uncomfortable seating arrangements, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the warm and sunny day that I was lucky enough to experience at the end of January.

The chilly temperatures were no match for the sunshine, and I couldn't resist the urge to bask in its glow.

As I continued on my trek, I started to feel the burn in my muscles, but I was determined to keep going. After all, every step was worth it for the amazing exercise I was getting. I could already feel myself getting fitter than a butcher's dog!

So, onwards and upwards!

More rocks

Okay, so picture this: I was perched up high on a vantage point, looking down at the world below.

The wind had started to pick up, so I held onto my phone for dear life while leaning over a railing.

My legs were shaking like a leaf and my uneasiness was through the roof. I mean, who likes heights anyway?

Being up there is fine as long as you don't look down.

Even so, I was determined to keep down my cheese and ham sandwich I had made, plus the tea I had paid for.

Artillery Tower

After my near death experience with heights, I needed to keep my feet firmly on flat ground while walking higher up still.
This is where I came across this artillery tower, which is now home to a fine restaurant called The Artillery Tower.

The artillery tower is one of the most well preserved towers in the area and used to be part of a system of coastal defence built during the reign of Henry VIII, 1509-1547.
Originally, the tower was one of the fortifications of Stonehouse that protected the city from attacks by seaborne raiders, along with a city wall. It is a 7-sided embattled tower made of stone rubble with an old doorway that can be seen today.