Date: 21st September 2016
Route: From Coldingham village to Coldingham Sands, along the coast path to St Abbs and back to Coldingham via the Creel Path.
Distance: 6.39km/4miles
In 616AD Aethelfrith, first King of Northumberland, was killed in battle. His family, including his daughter Æbbe fled northwards finally settling on Iona where they were converted to Christianity. Later Æbbe established a community of monks and nuns at Kirkhill – now known as St Abb’s Head.
Saturday, 26th September 2015
Hello
Things are warming up around here in more ways than one! The sun has decided to shine and for the last couple of days its been just like Summer. Also, we’re hoping to move to Scotland before the end of October so it’s going to get a little too busy for walking and blogging.
Sadly I have to concede defeat and admit that I’m not going to make it to 1000 miles this year.
Never mind, there’s a whole new world of walking out there just waiting for me and Mr RR! As soon as we’ve got ourselves settled in, I daresay we’ll be off on some lovely new walkabouts.
Meanwhile, it’s going to get a little quiet on the blog…..but here are a few miles to keep you going until I get back to it all again.
See you in Scotland!
The (Notso) Wee Ricketyrambler
The Lost Gardens of Heligan (3 miles) and The Penrose Estate (6 miles)
We took ourselves up to the Lost Gardens last week and had a wander amongst the vegetable gardens and the dahlias:
I love the Italianate Garden:
but my favourite thing is the Potting Shed!
I want one!
Beautiful fungi:
Marvellous marigolds:
Fantastic flower gardens still:
Simply stunning!
They’ve got a new family of Tamworths who could squeal extremely loudly:
And a pair of Ostrich:
Mr RR did the rope bridge walk……but I’ve don’t it before and once is enough!
Then today we took the top path around Penrose, descending for coffee at the Stables Cafe and then returning alongside the lake and Loe Bar. We saw sparrows – flocks of them – A Quarrel of Sparrows! Five Great Crested Grebe – A Waterdance of Grebe, a Swim of Cormorants and a Posse of Herons! Quite a good morning for birds on the whole:
The views across to Helston were unusually clear:
These are Oak apples – a soft spongy ball found on the end of Oak tree twigs. Inside the apple is divided into cells and in each cell lives a grub, destined to become gall-wasps or flies very soon!
On the way back along the coast path from Loe Bar we noticed hundreds of tiny holes in the bank:
They went on for quite a way and there were wasps hovering all around. Despite many tries I was completely unable to get a picture of a wasp! Except this one:
Can you see it? On the left hand side – just emerging from it’s hole.
I think these must be Bee-killer wasps! These insects are voracious predators of Honey Bees – they capture and paralyse them and then carry them back to their nests before laying eggs on them. The developing larvae then feed on the bee. Twenty years ago this insect was rare but it is now colonising new habitats throughout England.
Total miles walked this year: 579
Artwork for Ricketyrambler by Andrew Major
Wednesday, 16th September 2015
Hello again!
We thought we’d take our favourite ramble around Perranuthnoe with a little diversion into Marazion. It’s a lovely walk this one and we nearly always see some interesting birds foraging in the quiet coves along the way. And it might be the last time……….that’s what I kept thinking as we walked along.
Saturday, 8th August 2015
Hello
After a sluggish start I suddenly found some get up and go and announced a local ramble to Loe Pool. Mr RR remembered being told about a path to some woods on the far side of the pool where, at dusk, badgers can be seen. Despite it being 9.30 in the morning we decided to hunt out said woods, so that if we felt so inclined we could go back and spot badgers at nightfall one day! Continue reading
Wednesday, 17th June 2015 Hello Usually our walks don’t follow much of a plan – we just get up and decide where to go over breakfast. For our Wednesday walk this week a plan was necessary! You can’t go to St Michael’s Mount without knowing in advance what the tide is doing. Well, you can – but then you chance having to get on a very small boat in very choppy seas with lots of potentially sea sick people. We’ve done this and believe me its no fun! Continue reading
Saturday, 13th June 2015
Hello
Well, as it was forecast to be wet and windy we decided to go for a quick walk along the coast path around Falmouth and then pop into town for lunch. Wrong on all counts! Continue reading
Monday 8th June 2015 Hello Lovely day today! Summer I think! We decided to take a walk around Coverack as Mr RR is on the hunt for driftwood and sometimes has some luck along this coast. We walked here back in April – starting off with ice-cream if you remember. We didn’t do that today though, just set off for the coast with sun in our faces and a light breeze to keep us cool. Unfortunately I was feeling extra rickety today, having spent yesterday altering curtains and making cushion covers (yes – they look lovely!). Continue reading
Friday, 15th May 2015
Hello
We went back to Predannack today and walked along the cliffs to Kynance Cove, returning across Lower Predannack Downs. Last month when we did this walk we were enveloped in thick fog. Today, we enjoyed bright sunshine for most of the time and could see for miles out to sea and across the heathland. Continue reading
Saturday, 9th May 2015 (Day 6, week 18)
Aiming for 1000 miles in a year
Total so far: 339.6 miles (12.5 miles this week)
Hello
A discussion over a glass of wine about all the lakes and reservoirs in Cornwall and Devon with Mr O last night, resulted in a visit to Stithians Lake today. Although it’s just up the road, we haven’t walked here before. We were nearly put off by heavy rain this morning, but encouraged by the weather forecast which predicted sunny spells later in the day, we decided to go for it – and they were right, it turned out to be fine, and a splendid walk it was too! Continue reading
Thursday, 23rd April 2015 (Day 4, week 16)
Aiming to walk 1000 miles in a year
Total so far: 310.4 (5 miles this week)
Hello
Another walk from the very useful iwalkCornwall website today (www.iwalkCornwall.co.uk) starting from the strangely named Hell’s Mouth where, fortunately there is a very nice cafe serving yummy lemon cake! Continue reading
ricketyrambler 