Coast 2 Coast 2008-04-29

Around 700 members from various sections took part in another very successful Mid Cornwall Coast 2 Coast Challenge, which this year saw the addition of a new event.

As well as walkers taking part from the Scouts, Explorers, Network and Fellowship sections in the long trek; the Beavers took part in their own 4 mile route on the Roseland peninsula.

With the Coast 2 Coast Challenge this year covering 32 miles from Portreath on the North to Portscatho on the South, walkers certainly had a big task in completing the distance, which is one of the longest in the event’s history.

Those taking part benefited from a weekend of almost faultless weather, not counting the heavy but fleeting Sunday morning downpours, which failed to dampen the spirits of the walkers.

Starting on the North coast at Portreath Surf Club, participants snaked through varying landscapes of countryside footpaths, flat cycle trails and some tough uphill slogs along coast paths, with a crossing on the King Harry Ferry thrown in this year too, before the finish point overlooking Portscatho and a spectacular panoramic sea-view.

Beaver Scouts had their own 4 mile walk through woods near Philleigh on Saturday, completing fun activities like putting up tents, making peg people and toasting marshmallows on checkpoints dotted along their route. This was an enjoyable event which may well see a return in future years.

Although some walkers from the 2 day challenge suffered from sore feet and blisters, aid was at hand back on the campsite at Philleigh, with first aiders and podiatrists providing care, and the hard-working catering team serving up tasty meals, fuelling the participants for their hard walk.

Congratulations go out to all who took part in both events over the weekend for all of your efforts, and huge thanks go to everybody who helped out for making the events a massive success. Hope to see you all again next year.

Paul Johnson

Mid Cornwall