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South West Coast Path 2002 - Padstow to Sennen
• Day 3: Newquay to Perranporth
12.3 miles • Distance from Padstow: 35.5 miles • Distance from Minehead: 201.6 miles • Read today's journal entry
Surfing centre of the world: This is the famous Fistral Beach, beloved of surfers, and with a whole shanty town of tents and rusty VW microbuses in the car park behind it.	Check the tides: One of the major headaches of this day is working out how to cross the Gannel estuary. The Penpol tidal bridge is your best option...	Watch your footing! It's not too wet or slippery however, but swimming dogs who want to shake the water out of their fur are another hazard here.
Out of the estuary: From here the path takes you over Pentire Point East then through dunes behind Crantock Beach	Take it seriously: Porth Joke is one of the most beautiful spots on this section of the path - but you could get cut off, and the waves are huge.	Last stop before Perran Sands: Holywell beach, with Gull Rocks visible in the distance. Round Penhale Point, then it's all sand to Perranporth.
Hands up: There's a massive military installation on the top of Penhale Point and the path runs between fences. We thought best not take too many pictures...	Strong stomach needed: This is one of the mercifully rare places on the path that induced real vertigo for us - but it was manageable.	Taking the high road: It would have been a good idea to follow this sign through the dunes - we stuck to the beach then had a horrendous climb.
	Perran Sands at dusk: Another simply beautiful spot if beaches are your thing. We sat here for a while, watching surfers.
Day 1 • Day 2 • Day 3 • Day 4 • Day 5 • Day 6 • Day 7 • Day 8 • Day 9 • Postscript 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002: Padstow to Sennen • 2003 • 2004 All distances are calculated courtesy of the South West Coast Path Association handbook and mileages from the relevant National Trail Guides.

South West Coast Path 2002 - Padstow to Sennen