We parked for free at Lower Tamar Lakes car park and took the aqueduct trail. The Aqueduct branch of the Bude Canal network [Bude-Holsworthy & Bude-Launceston] supplied water to the canal from Lower Tamar Lake (then Alfardisworthy Lake, named after a nearby hamlet) a reservoir built for that purpose in the 1820s. Later it was used to carry goods as far as the 13 milepost we saw. Later still, it supplied water to Bude until it was replaced by Upper Tamar Lake (built 1973-77). The picnic table we used, is dedicated to Des Shadrick. It is unclear why the border heads west of the Tamar here, but it has been so since at least the 1500s. The “Cape Horn” sign was the name given by bargemen to the almost 180 degree bend at that point.

Coming off the tow path at Morton we’re close again to the Cornwall Devon border. We didn’t see the white donkeys we encountered on the recce. It was a welcome stop at the PIGSDOWN Cafe, maybe we shouldn’t have stayed so long as it started to mizzle before we reached our cars.

A lovely FLAT walk for a change so far on this long distance route.