Day 51: Lewdown to Launceston

Distance: 10.8 miles
Time: 3 hrs 30 mins
Weather: Cloudy with sunny intervals
Cumulative distance: 854.5 miles

Last night, Sylvia cooked a delicious dinner of pork in cider sauce, with a selection of vegetables (including Swiss chard, courgettes and peppers fresh from the garden). Afterwards, the two children Charlie (11) and Chloe (10), who are both very artistic, entertained me with tales of life on a farm - Chloe had already taken me up into the field to be introduced to her pet lambs, every one of which had a name! The other guests, who were also family friends, then arrived, Sylvia's husband Robert joined us and we all chatted until nearly midnight.

I had a fine farmhouse breakfast, then Ian phoned me at the farm to let me know that he wouldn't be able to join me today. Unfortunately, he had the trail guide, so I would have to navigate with the map alone. I checked out and set off across farmland and woods. The route was well marked on the map, so I need not have worried.

After a few hours, I left Devon and entered Cornwall, the final county of my journey. Land's End beckons, but the weather forecast is not encouraging.

I arrived in Launceston early, so sat on a bench in the main square and ate my lunch. I wandered around the centre and viewed the castle, but lasting impressions were of a very hilly town. Unfortunately, my B&B was near the bottom of a hill, which will mean a long and steep climb in the morning.

After a shower and a snooze, I walked a short distance down the road and dined at the White Horse Inn.