Blackie Ball Beach Traditional Cache
westtremabedasher: Alas visit today confirmed landslide had taken cache. Hopeful put a new one out in the area (as it deserves it) soon.
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If it is a cheap and easy cache you are looking for (although once on site you should have little difficulty) then forget it - Move on. If however you don't mind a slightly challenging walk (especially back), wonderful views and with the possibility of a pot of gold(en beach) at the end then follow me .....
Having travelled plenty, I have struggled to find a better beach. If the sun is out and it is at or near low water (use related web page to establish tide times take off 10 mins from Plymouth) it would have to be in my top 5 beaches anywhere. Blackie Ball Beach is at the foot of Harrys Ball Cliff or Skinner's Ball Cliff depending on who you talk to on the matter. It is on the western side of Whitsand Bay and marks the extreme western edge of the MOD firing range at Tregantle. Please don't go any further east of the signs on the beach if you see a red flag flying over Tregantle (or you can hear gunfire in the event of fog!!).
You have two choices of starting point. Either park in Crafthole and walk halfway down to Portwrinkle before finding the footpath which takes you across the golf course. Alternatively park in Portwrinkle (use side road from the car park to avoid paying(!) and join the coast path near the entrance to the Hotel. Either way both paths join and you must then follow the coast path east out of the golf course. Once you are about 100m clear of the golf course you will see a clearly marked path heading towards the sea. Follow this down to the beach.
Halfway down/up I suggest you pause and enjoy the view of Whitsand Bay around to Rame Head in the East and Looe Island, Dodman Point and even the Lizard on a good day out to the West. Additionally some 10 miles south you can see Eddystone Lighthouse.
Care should be taken on the beach when climbing over rocks which will be slippery when wet. At High or Low Water you will have to climb over rocks for 50m. Even in the summer the beach is only sparsely populated by locals and the reason for this and the terrain rating will become apparent on your return journey.
Alternatively, if you time the tides correctly, you could continue your walk along the beach the mile to Tregantle, bag the neighbouring cache before returning along the coast path (total distance will be between 3-4 miles).
This cache has been placed with the kind permission of the National Trust.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Vs lbh nccebnpu sebz gur sbbgcngu qverpgvba vg vf oruvaq gur fdhner!
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