I’ll answer the title straight away. Absolutely. It’s definitely worth it. I think hiking is one of the best things I’ve found to do with my time. It’s definitely improved me. It’s definitely expanded my horizons and made me aim for different things – things I’d have just ruled out when I was younger.

Of course, it might just be that I’ve got older, and that does change the way people think. Maybe getting older gave me the confidence to start doing this. To just say, why not, what have you got to lose. Personally I think the hiking was the change, but I guess it’s a bit chicken and egg.

So when I say, is it worth it, what do I mean? And this can be applied to so many things. It’s the highs and the lows. Today just got me thinking about them.

On Monday morning, two miles into my walk, I realised there was a problem and that I feared I was going to have to give up the hike and go home. The pain wasn’t just physical, in fact the main pain was not physical, it was mental. The thought of not finishing, and I know I was overreacting, was devastating. People have things that happen in their lives which truly are devastating so I’m ashamed that my little walk felt the same, but it did at that time.

However, once I had a plan, saw a way through the gloom, got to the campsite and had my bus trip, I was on cloud nine. So within a few hours I’d gone from a massive low to a massive high. I didn’t bother with the in between. And I’m like that with everything. So many different things. Little things, big things, important things, silly things. So that’s why I wondered, is it worth it. Are the highs worth the lows.

Some people seem to bob along the middle and are quite happy. Don’t seem to get down and are quite relaxed about everything. Or so they seem – I hide my emotions fairly well so maybe they’re doing the same. But I do think there are people less prone to swings than others.

For me, I think I’d miss my highs so I have to accept the lows. Because the highs are just so good. This walking lark, I think it has to have lows. Like when you’re low on water, or power, or are injured, or are just lonely. That’s a real mood drag. But once you overcome them, once you find a solution, well that feels great. So yes, it’s worth it.

The pied piper

Finding my way back to the coastal path was not trivial. It really should have been but I think the maps and the signs are now slightly out of date due to various cliff falls. Or maybe I was just being daft.

I wasn’t too bothered though, because at least now I wasn’t being followed by a herd of bullocks. I’m not normally nervous when I walk through fields with cattle. Always very aware but not particularly nervous. Well today I was nervous because they all started following me. Some were getting a bit jumpy and excited as well. I didn’t look back much but I could just hear them all walking with me as I walked across three fields. I then couldn’t find the exit for a while until I finally saw some stones sticking out of a wall, which seems to be how they do stiles here, and I made my escape.

I’m not sure if I’d done anything wrong and had somehow provoked them. Although they did me no harm. But it was a bit of a moment for me. I was certainly glad to get back to the costal path and out of that field.

No point guessing

The day was going very well. The path was a delight to walk, the weather had brightened up – I’d already had to remove a couple of layers, and my knee felt fine.

I could see Penzance very clearly, like it was just around the corner, and it felt like I’d be there really soon. However, as I referred to my map I could see it was actually about 10 miles away. This didn’t matter at all, I’m certainly not complaining, but it really does show how there is no point trying to estimate a distance by how far it looks when you’re on the coastal path. It really is better to refer to a map. Otherwise mistakes can be made and decisions about where to get food or stop for the night can turn out to be unrealistic.

I walked along the beach at Praa sands and then decided to take a break at Cudden Point. I wasn’t desperate for the break but I was trying to be sensible. Also, I at last had some decent phone reception so was able to upload the video from Sunday. I was getting very behind with my blogs. I even took the opportunity to dry my tent while I was waiting for the upload. I felt very in control and on top of things.

I must have been there for about an hour. I really do like these long breaks. And it also helped me think about my plans for later. I try to keep my options open but at some point a decision has to be made. I was starting to err towards having another short day and staying at the campground at the youth hostel in Penzance. It felt lazy, and I was worried about the distance covered, but it was becoming my favoured option. It would suit my knee situation as well. The alternative was to carry on past Mousehole and then wild camp.

Stuck in a loop

Before Marazion the path is diverted inland. I say diverted but it was like this in 2023 so I assume this is permanent now. The problem is that some of the signs aren’t very clear, and if you follow them exactly, and also follow the no entry signs put up by the farmer, it can get confusing. I was trying to meticulously follow some signs and at one stage found myself back where I’d started. It wasn’t a massive loop but luckily I realised so I only went round it once. I felt fairly daft just doing it the once so I’m glad I didn’t continue for a few more laps. Now that would have been embarrassing!

Once back on track, I made my way straight through Marazion, looked for a while at St Michael’s Mount (it was actually more impressive that I thought it’d be), and then headed towards Penzance. It was just before 3pm – I didn’t know where the time had gone – so I stopped in a little cafe for some lunch and booked my accommodation for the night. The youth hostel had won. Sensible Ben had prevailed.

Nice and flat

I enjoyed the walk into Penzance. With the sea and beach on one side and the railway line on the other. It was an easy walk and I was feeling happy that everything was holding together. I even noted how much lighter my pack felt after having those days off. It’s amazing the difference a rest makes.

Last time I found Penzance quite dreary but today I didn’t feel that at all. It felt like a happy place. I chatted to someone who was temporarily living in his camper van while his house, which he was parked in front of, was having some unexpected repairs. It was acting as his lifeboat, and he told me all about how he’d built it with his friend and how he’d toured in it. I’m tempted to give that a try one day.

The youth hostel was about a mile inland but was easy to find and once I’d finished disturbing the locals and asking them loads of questions about their camper vans I made my way there. I’d finished my walking for the day by 17:30. A nice and easy, and very good, day.