St. Mewan Countryside and a Monkey Tree Puzzle

Walking the streets and complying with lockdown rules and regulations we came upon a monkey puzzle tree and quite a beauty he was.

The proper name is araucaria araucana but I doubt if I'll remember that. According to Wikipedia it is native to Chile and Argentina so must be feeling a bit lonely in Cornwall.

It's strange but, as a young child, there was such a tree near to where I lived in west London. I remember my mother telling me it was the only tree a monkey can't climb - but mum always had some fancy tales to tell.

Anyway I'm supposed to be exercising not reminiscing, so a field with some deserted farming equipment.

I'm actually walking along the A390, but there is very little traffic. In normal times this could well be heaving with traffic but we are far from normal times. The daisies seem to like the less polluted air - there's usually an upside to most things - hopefully.

Even looking into the distant morning haze, there still isn't any traffic.

Turning off from the A390 down past St. Mewan school, where all is quiet - no happy children playing.

The hedgerows are full of flowers.

A host of wild garlic.

We pass the 13th century St. Mewan church. The granite stone tower should have been built higher but, according to a local legend, the builders were prevented from raising it higher by the devil, who threw down their stones each night after the correct height had been reached.

A tree, but a very nice tree against the blue of the sky.

Bluebells enjoying the view across the fields from an old Cornish wall

And finally for today a farm in the distance.

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The Magical Hall Walk at Fowey Cornwall - With Lots of Photos

Flowers, Animals and Pebbles in Cornwall

My previous post about the Hall Walk, Fowey was quite lengthy, so something a little lighter today - flowers and animals. The photos above and below were snapped on our normal morning walk.

The rest of the flower photos are from our garden.

It seems to have been an exceptional year for primroses, an abundance in our garden and in the hedgerows. They always remind me of my mother, they were one of her favourite flowers.

The azaleas have also done well this year.

I can't remember the name of the next plants but they will soon be an array of yellow flowers, often seen in rockeries.

Below is ceanothus a new addition to the garden.

On our walk we saw this cat guarding his patch of fading bluebells.

The cockerel seemed very busy but not a flower in sight.

A good supply of hay and a shiny new haircut for the horse.

Ah yes, I mentioned the NHS Pebbles, in praise of UK's National Health heroes, on a previous post. As you can see I have now found several of the pebbles when walking. I always leave them in place after taking a quick photo.

Thank you for visiting my blog. Stay safe.

The Magical Hall Walk at Fowey Cornwall - With Lots of Photos

Today one of my favourite Cornwall walks. There is something about this area which resonates with me. I find it quite magical. I'd better add that the photos are prior the coronavirus

There is a story about King Charles I and the English Civil War relevant to the area: On the 17th of August 1644 King Charles narrowly escaped death when a shot killed a poor fisherman who was standing where the King had stood but a short while before.

This is generally known as the Hall Walk. We usually park the car and then walk down the Esplanade towards the town ...

… until we reach what was once Sir Arthur Quiller Couch's home - as below. It is said he would look at the river and the beautiful view as inspiration for his poems and writing.

From here we catch the small ferry across the River Fowey to Polruan. Note that, to confuse things a little, the ferry sometimes runs from Fowey Harbour - usually in winter.

It's only a short ferry trip but it adds novelty to the walk - especially as there is also another ferry trip at the end of the walk, but more on that later.

The Lugger Inn is on the Polruan quay. It's possible to explore the small village from here. See my blog Polruan, Cornwall : Coastal Views, Chapel Ruins And A Castle.

To continue the Hall Walk head along the road and left for the hills by the River Fowey. From here their are lovely views across the river.

We make our way along the wooded path looking down at the river. We encountered a cockerel! Goodness knows where he came from but he didn't bother us so we didn't bother him.

Continuing along the path we are now alongside a tributary of the river Fowey with the catchy name of Pont Pill.

It was a shame that the tide was out in Pont Pill as it didn't look its best - was a little muddy looking. But it's still pleasant countryside and we were up high looking down on the river. The fields we walked along here often have cows and other animals roaming free.

Through the trees we could now look down on Ponts Pill itself - so walking downhill for a while now.

Here we are able to cross the Pont Pill as there is a bridge across the water. It's also here that we often make a short detour to the lovely church at Lanteglos-by-Fowey.

Daphne du Maurier was married at the church and there is also a legend about the patron saint who carried his head after being decapitated. See my post: The Decapitated Saint Chose Where He Wanted His Cornish Church To Be Built

It is believed that Pont Pill was also the inspiration for Kenneth Grahame's Mole, Ratty, Toad and Badger's adventures in his book The Wind in the Willows

There is a notice board from 1894 showing 'discharging dues'.

Right, lets carry on walking - it's uphill along the opposite side of Pont Pill.

The path climbs higher and there are views of the river through the trees.

The path goes into a farmer's field via a very old cattle grid.

There is a right of way along the side of the field. Be aware that there are sometimes farm animals in the field.

Once out of the field we are now looking down on the river. If the weather is right the views open up before us. 

Unfortunately when I snapped this photo it was a little hazy but in the distance you can see the entrance to the River Fowey. 

On the hill to the right of the photo it's possible to just make out the Gribbin Tower on Gribbin Head. This is where much of Daphne Du Maurier's book Rebecca is based and also the house Manderley. The Gribbin farmland is the location of the murderous avian attacks in the classic film and Du Maurier's book, The Birds.

As we continue along the path we can now see the town of Fowey on the opposite side of the river.

We now leave the coastal path and head down to Bodinnick and the Bodinnick Ferry to cross the Fowey River. 

We pass the Old Ferry Inn

The Bodinnick Ferry is arriving to take us across the river to Fowey.

But, before we board the ferry, a sneaky look into the garden at Ferryside. This is the house where the author Daphne du Maurier lived when she published her very first novel. The garden is rarely seen as there is usually a big gate stopping any view.

I snapped a quick photo prior to boarding the ferry.

Once on the ferry we can look back at Ferryside.

The ferry takes us back to Fowey. From here we have to retrace our steps, first through the narrow town, and then back to where we parked the car.

A few quick photos of the walk through Fowey.

To see 24 more photos of Fowey itself - though on a dull day - see my post: A Flavour Of the Old Town of Fowey, Cornwall With 24 Photo

MAP SHOWING HALL WALK, FOWEY

Kindly note photos were taken prior to the coronavirus. Stay safe.