Wednesday, 11th March 2015 (Day 3, Week 10)
Hello everyone,
I hope you’re all having a productive week. Its been busy in this neck of the woods, but I’ve recovered my mojo and Mr RR and I managed to fit in a walk around Loe Pool this morning before returning to Porthleven in time for a lovely lunch with our good friends Mr and Mrs S, who are down from Suffolk on holiday (Happy Birthday Mr S!!).
Sunday, 8th March 2015 (Day 7, week 9)
Hello
After a murky, misty and miserable morning the sun came out this afternoon so a solitary ramble was just the thing. Continue reading
Saturday, 7th March 2015 (Day 6, week 9)
Hello!
Can you believe we’re almost at the end of week 9!
Today we went back to Cadgwith. Having had a short walk here earlier in the week (read about it here) we had promised ourselves a return visit to explore further afield. I’ve got some interesting local history and industrial archaeology for you this time (no….don’t go away, it is interesting!)
Enjoy!
Julie
Target: 1000 miles in one year (20 miles a week)
Achieved so far: 196.4 miles (Target 180 miles)
Achieved this week: 19.8 miles
Cadgwith circular via Ruan Minor and Poltesco (4.4 miles)
We started today with a hop over the stile leading to an enclosure protecting a Holy Well. This little listed building sits in the corner of a field and is dedicated to St Ruan, a 6th century Cornish saint, a bishop, and patron saint of Tavistock.
Thursday, 5th March 2015 (Day 4, week 9)
Hello friends!
What a lovely walk Mr RR and I had today! Can you believe that on Tuesday there was hail and sleet and freezing winds….and today the sun was shining, the birds were singing and the sea was deep, deep greeny blue….aaah wonderful. We almost didn’t really need coats.
We didn’t go far from home, but we hadn’t explored this area before, not sure why not, its very beautiful, around the mouth of the Helford River with views across Falmouth Bay. I think we’ll be going back again.
This walk came from Classic Walks, Cornwall (3rd ed). I’m always wary of walks from walk books, they can easily lead you astray while you look in vain for the ‘white cottage on the left’ which is now blue, or the ‘metal gate’ which is now wooden. Paths, especially on the coast, can be diverted as the cliff erodes and new paths may have appeared since the book was published. Today we took the Ordnance Survey map with us – just in case – but for the most part the walk was just as it says on the tin!
Anyway, I’m off to do some secret stitching…..enjoy reading.
Julie
Target: 1000 miles in one year (20 miles a week)
Achieved so far: 192 miles (target 180 miles)
Achieved this week: 15.4 miles
Porthallow circular via Gillan and Nare Point (4.9 miles)
At the little fishing hamlet of Porthallow, which sits on the coast just around the corner from the Helford River, there is a large stone sign letting us know that this is the mid point of the South West Coast Path from Minehead to Poole. The stone has, carved into it, names of birds and flowers that can be found hereabouts. Across the bay we can see container ships at anchor awaiting entrance to Falmouth Docks. The sun is shining, the sea is calm and the day is perfect for walking.
We set off through the hamlet, heading inland and crossing a little stream before making our way up the tree lined valley. There is, of course, mud! Lots of it! But boards walks have been provided over the worst parts and as we climb upwards we’re able to take our eyes from our feet to admire the view. There is birdsong all around us and we soon see a robin and a pair of blue tits.
Across a couple of babbling brooks and stone stiles before, eventually we join the road which will take us through hedges and rolling countryside to a track leading downhill to Gillan Harbour.
On the way, we pass through a farmyard and catch sight of these cute calves in the barn. They’re quite curious about us and not at all shy, but even so, we turn off the flash on the camera so we don’t startle them.
The track descends along a path, presumably once the drive to a large house as there is a carved gatepost at one point and it is lined with elegant beech trees, the floor littered with the remains of beech nuts, much prized by wood mice and grey squirrels, though we see neither of these.
Across the valley, on our left, an elegant art deco style house sits high on the hillside, no doubt with stunning views over the harbour and Falmouth Bay, which is ahead of us as we carry on down the muddy hill.
This is such a pretty place, so quiet and still. Across the water we can see five egrets on the shoreline. The collective noun for egrets is so disappointing that I considered not repeating it here, but my conscience won’t let me get away with that…….a heronry of egrets (it’s almost plagiarism isn’t it?). Moving quickly on…….
The little stone quay is owned by the National Trust and there is also the remnant of a Bronze Age settlement here, called The Herra.
We’re now on the South West Coast Path and need only to follow this back to our starting point. The path is of course muddy, with some steepish climbs and stiles to navigate, but the views along the coastline in front of us and out across Falmouth Bay towards the Roseland Peninsula are worth every step of it.
Along the way we see stonechats,bluetits, a meadow pipit and a long tailed tit. Down on the water’s edge are cormorants and a pair of Shelduck sitting amidst the gulls. After a short time, we stop to remove a layer of clothing, before ploughing on to Nare Point where there is, what must be, the Coastguard Station with the best views in all of Cornwall.
And then, after one very steep climb, we can see Porthallow in the distance, surprisingly far away. It doesn’t take us long, however, to tramp along the remainder of this muddy path and down over the hill. Just on the edge of the hamlet, right by the water’s edge, is the most delightful garden, beautifully landscaped, making you want to sit right there and drink in the view.
Not for us, sadly. We’re back at the car and removing muddy boots again!
Associated Artwork for Ricketyrambler by Andrew Major:
http://www.andrewmajorart.co.uk
http://www.artistsandillustrators.co.uk/Andrew-Major
Tuesday 3rd March 2015 (Day 2, Week 9)
Hello!
Today I had the company of Ms B for a walk along Perranporth beach. It was one of those days again where the weather can’t quite makeup its mind. Sometimes the sun was shining, mostly it was cold and windy and at the end it hailed and rained – but we had a lovely day! Thanks Ms B.
Enjoy reading
Julie
Target: 1000 miles in a year (20 miles a week)
Total achieved: 187.1 miles (target 190 miles)
Achieved this week: 10.5 miles
Bolingey to Ligger Point via Perran Beach and return (7.2 miles)
So we started off, well wrapped up against the biting cold wind, walking from Ms B’s residence down the hill through the village of Bolingey with its drystone walls full of crocus, daffodils and clumps of primroses, and then turned left onto the Perranporth road. The road follows the path of a stream as it wends its way down to the sea in Perran Bay. On our left a flooded woodland resembling a prehistoric forest with its twisted lichen lined tree trunks, and on our right a reed bed at the edge of a nature reserve.
We make our way onto Perran Sands with Chapel Rock straight ahead of us; it’s low tide and we have plenty of time for a long walk. The beach is practically deserted apart from a few hardy dog walkers and a couple of kite surfers, not surprisingly as it’s freezing cold and there has already been hail and sleet in Bolingey this morning. The skies are blue at the moment as we turn right and begin our walk along this three mile stretch of sand towards Ligger Point in the distance. The beach is host to the South West Coast Path although at high tide there are footpaths across the high dunes.
The sand dunes are impressive, extending a mile inland and known as Penhale Sands. After a while I notice caves in the cliff face and we divert to investigate. The colours of the rock are amazing and we can hear water tumbling down in the dark depths of the interior; unfortunately neither of us is equipped with a torch so we resist the urge to investigate further.
The light is constantly changing as clouds gather and disperse and at times the water looks grey and forbidding, at others a hazy purple.
Up on the dunes to our right, an enterprising person has been gathering the detritus which always spoils these places to build sculptures. We can’t quite make out what this one is – but we think it’s a lady with a shopping trolley holding a bunch of flowers:
We finally reach the far end of the bay and stop a while to watch a buzzard hover overhead. It’s in competition with a helicopter which has been circling above us and the gulls, huddled on the cliff face, suddenly become nervous, screeching and swooping, presumably protecting their nests.
As we turn to head back, looking forward to lunch, the clouds have gathered once more and before long icy hailstones are falling, a more persistent storm this one and we’re soon quite wet. Not bothered by the weather, a single oyster catcher loiters at the water’s edge and a rock pipit hops about, almost under our feet, it’s mate flitting about the rocks at the cliff edge.
These little birds prefer rocky shores where they can forage for food among the pebbles and boulders. Its known to be a relatively tame bird and this one certainly doesn’t mind us stopping to have a close look at him. Their populations are declining in Britain, possibly as their nesting sites, often on popular holiday beaches, are disturbed, so we’re lucky to catch sight of this one.
Ahead of us as we hurry back we can see Cligga Point to the South West and all the way to St Agnes Head, where Mr TB is hard at work in the Coastguard Station. We give him a wave, so that he knows we’re surviving the storms.
Soon we’re back at Perranporth and walking over the bridge into the main street in search of lunch. Revived by hot soup and once more in the sunshine, we make our way back along the road and up the hill to Bolingey.
Associated artwork for Ricketyrambler by Andrew Major:
Monday, 2nd March 2015 (Day 1, Week 9)
Hello, here we are again!
Just a short walk today but more than our fair share of mud I feel! And the hailstones were not pleasant either.
Anyway – some interesting things to talk about.
Enjoy!
Julie
Target: 1000 miles in one year. Weekly goal 20 miles
Total achieved so far: 176.6 miles (Target: 180 miles)
Achieved this week: 3.3 miles
Cadgwith Cove circular via St Grada Church and the Devil’s Frying Pan (3.3 miles)
Hailstorms had been happening over Porthleven before we left home this morning, but the sky was blue now with just a few clouds. Stepping outside though it was bitterly cold with a freezing wind and before we’d reached the top of the hill out of the village there were black clouds overhead. And this was the way the morning continued. One minute bright sunshine, the next icy rain and gusty winds.
Undeterred, we parked in a lay-by at the top of the hill outside of Cadgwith Cove and walked a few yards back along the road to the stile which leads to the footpath across the fields to the church of St Grada and Holy Cross which we could see ahead. We cast worried glances at each other as we trudged through the water-logged field and approached the next stile – we were sinking ever deeper in the quagmire. Mr RR sensibly went off to look for an alternative route whilst I, determined not to be beaten, slurped my way onwards. Not clever! I was soon stuck ankle deep in the yucky brown stuff. After some serious squelching and tugging I rejoined Mr RR for a little powwow – what to do?
There was nothing for it, we would have to take the boring roadway round the edge of the fields and so off we tramped, slipping and sliding across the field to an open gate. It wasn’t far really, left and left again, and there we were at the lane leading down to the church. We decided to take a little detour down the lane – more mud! – to visit this isolated church. It was originally founded in medieval times but was rebuilt in 1862. However, it’s in a desperate state of repair with an unsafe bell tower and funds badly needed for the roof repairs. Inside, there is no electric lighting but the sun is shining through some beautiful stained glass windows and this allows us to see the 13th century font and the pulpit and lectern carved from local Serpentine rock.
Nicholas Orme’s book ‘The Saints of Cornwall’ tells us that Grade (latinised to Grada) was a Brittonic saint about whom nothing is known. A quick search of the internet does tell us though, that this lovely church was used in 1966 as a location for filming Dr Who!
Leaving the church we made our way back along the muddy lane to the road and headed towards the turn off for the coast path. On the way we noticed that the large duck pond, which is usually hidden by grasses and weeds, has been cleared, although the ducks were shut away in the adjacent hen house – along with the hens, and were making their displeasure with this arrangement known!
As we turned right following the footpath down to the coast, the sun came out and the skies cleared giving us amazing views of coast including The Lizard coastguard station and the lifeboat house.
Out at sea, a glimpse of a gannet and sitting on some rocks below us, what we thought were a pair of cormorants, although we were perplexed by one of them having an unusual tuft of feathers on top of his head. A quick flick through the RSPB bible reveals that this was in fact a pair of shags – the breeding adult has a curly crest on the front of his head. How exciting – never seen one of these before! You can just see them on the edge of the rocks in this picture.
Also along the pathway we see a pretty clump of purple flowers, hidden away beside a bench. These are the common dog-violet which usually flower between April and June according to my book – so these have obviously got confused by the weather.
As we clamber up and over some rocks a glance out to sea tells us that rain is on the way – although just a little further to the right the sun is pushing it’s way through the clouds!
Before we get much further the rain catches up with us and turns to hailstones but we hurry on round the corner towards Cadgwith Cove passing The Devil’s Frying Pan on the way. This 200 feet deep hole was once a cave, the roof having collapsed leaving a bar of rock and an archway through which the waves pound.
It’s raining hard as we head down the pretty shrub lined pathway into Cadgwith Cove itself. Up on the far cliff we can see the Huer’s Hut, from where the lookout could spot the shoals of pilchard and send out his cry for the fishing boats to take to the water.
We remind ourselves to walk the other side of this pretty fishing village soon but don’t hang around as we’re fairly wet now. Up the hill via the pathway through the centre of the valley, passing St Mary’s Church – a little corrugated iron building – and a quick glance back down the hill at the village before we turn onto the road and back to the car.
Associated artwork for Ricketyrambler by Andrew Major:
ricketyrambler 