On Tour: City of Bath and the Roman Baths

Yes, you are quite right this isn't Cornwall but, while no one was looking, we scuttled away to the city of Bath in Somerset. I wanted to visit the Roman Baths.

The photo above is Pulteney Bridge in Bath built way back in 1774.

It was a dull day initially. We wandered through the park and headed for the Roman Baths.  

To start with a quote of Solinus in the third century.

Destination achieved here we are looking down on the water from a high walkway.

I read that thermal springs rise on this site and the baths can still flow with natural warm water. 

Some fine statues alongside the walkway.

Another look at the water from a different angle.

Two maidens smiled as I snapped a photo by the bath - okay one of them did.

Looking across the water again.

The stone below is said to be the earliest inscription from the baths. It is from a small monument and dates to 76AD. This means the baths must have been built by that date.

Seemingly the inscription above reads: 'In the 7th consulship of the Emperor Vespian'. This was seven years after he became Emperor in 69AD. 

Another walkway leading to various original exhibits.

There is, of course, more to Bath than the baths. The Abbey for example. It was founded in the 7th century - but has been rebuilt twice in the 12th and 16th centuries.

There were lots of street entertainers about near the abbey.

Can't be easy playing a violin while balancing on a tightrope. Not that I have ever tried.

This gentleman made a pleasant sound.

We made our way through some of the streets, full of character. Jane Austen lived in Wells from 1801. Some say that Bath was the site of the Battle of Mons Badonicus where King Arthur defeated the Saxons, circa 500AD. But, whatever, it's a very pleasant city.

After we had our fill of Bath we hopped on a bus to take us to the city's Park and Ride where our car was waiting.

And, for us, that closed the door on Bath. 

A FEW OTHER POSTS OUTSIDE OF CORNWALL

(1) On Tour: Visiting Wells Cathedral - 16 Photos.

(2) On Tour: Visiting Glastonbury Abbey, Glastonbury Tor and King Arthur

(3) On Tour: Visiting Cheddar Gorge

(4) From Cornwall to the Canary Islands

Thanks for visiting my blog. Hope you have a happy weekend and week ahead ~ Mike.

Goss Moor Walk and Newquay Beaches

It was a grey, drizzly day and, after much discusion, we decided to go for a walk on Goss Moor*. Incredibly, at least for us, was that we had never been on the seven mile circular walk previously.

We found one of several starting points and parked our car. There was no one else about.

We found out that we were actually walking on what was originally the old A30 road. Okay, but to be honest, it was a bit boring as everything was the same and  there were no views. If you looked left or right you just saw shrubs and a few flowers as the above photo.

A train zoomed past near by, thus the railway crossing photo below. The train was on the Atlantic Coast line which runs from Par to Newquay - just about 21 miles.

We continued walking, but it was still drizzling with fine rain.

I guess though that the history of this stretch of the trail is interesting. It is thought that it was once an old Roman Road and could well have been a prehistoric track prior to that. In the 1700's it was also a Turnpike road - part of  the coaching route from Jamaica Inn on the Bodmin Moor, to the coaching Inn at Indian Queens. The Jamaica Inn will be familiar to Daphne du Maurier readers because of the book of the same name.

The rain got harder so we decided not to finish the trail. We'll have another try some other time, starting at a different point on the trail.

*See Goss Moor Multi-use Trail

MOVING ON:

Something, perhaps, more typical of Cornwall, a few photos of Newquay.

This is the small harbour at Newquay built initially to export china clay in 1875. Back then there was a railway line to the pier on the left of the photo below.

Next, the small beach at the harbour.

Of course there are many superior beaches in Newquay, at least ten. It's why so many visitors head for this area. It is often said that Newquay is England's surfing capital.

Three photos of different Newquay beaches.

MOVING ON AGAIN:

A while back I wrote a post The Green, Green Fields But With A Sting In The Tail. The sting has started as they are now building on the green fields.

Below are green fields next to the development. I wonder if these will also disappear in time.

It is, of course, necessary that people, especially young locals, can purchase affordable houses near to where they live. This isn't always possible in Cornwall because of inflated house prices due to outsiders purchasing them as second homes or for the holiday trade. Anyway, I won't ramble on!

I will mention though another development,  near to the one above, that will have 460 homes, 150 of which are described as 'affordable'. There will also be a hotel a pub and restaurant, shops and so on. I did a post on this a while back: Large New Development at Higher Trewhiddle, Cornwall Is On It's Way 

Thanks for visiting my blog, hope the sun will shine for you ~ Mike.

Photos of Par Beach Cornwall Plus a 500 Year Old Bridge

On my previous post I mentioned Par beach, so I thought that today I'd follow on from there. As you can see in the photo above, the tide goes out a long way - a very long way!

Below is looking inland with the sandy beach in the distance.

Some ripples left behind by the tide.

Also left behind by the tide was this attractive jelly fish. I think it might be a Compass Jellyfish (Chrysaora Hysoscella) though I'm not certain.

Slowly getting nearer to the sea and the seaweed. 

Looking towards the end of the beach you might just be able to see the china clay works, which has its own harbour.

There were lots of patterns in the damp sand. I could make out all sorts of patterns and faces.

Nearing the far end of the beach, with green fields inland.

At the end of the beach, by the clay works, is a river and most times there are swans to be seen. It looks like some of the family are missing, hope they are okay.

As we walked inland more green fields and wild flowers in the dunes.

As the sign states there is a clay trail starting here but we walked the opposite way.

At the back of the beach there is Par Sands Holiday and Caravan Park with caravans and mobile homes - as per the photo below.

There are also lodges with a view of the small lake.

And this is the lake from the opposite side. Many birds congregate here. Lots of Canadian geese on my visit but usually swans, ducks and so on.

From Par Beach there is access to Cornwall's coastal path. There's a lovely walk to Polkerris, with it's small harbour and beach. See my post Polkerris Harbour, Cornwall on a Perfect Sunshine Day. Photo of Polkerris below.

You'll find the coastal path from the Par Beach car park. Looking towards the sea it's on your left towards the back of the car park.

 A FEW OTHER BITS

In a previous post I mentioned the ceramic art work on display in St. Austell town centre. I've just noticed another piece I previously missed.

On the outskirts of  St.Austell town there is a very old bridge that is rarely given a second glance. It no longer carries traffic, other than perhaps a few bicycles. This is a shame because the bridge is well over 500 years old.

We know it's minimum age because it was mentioned by someone called John Leland in 1538. He was King Henry VIII's Chaplain who was sent out around the country to gather material for a history of England.

Leland, sometimes spelt Leyland, didn't seem to think much of St. Austell as he wrote (in old English): "... the poore toun of St Austelles is nothing notable but for the paroch chirch. And there is a bridge of the same name."

Below is the bridge. Hard to imagine that crossing this was then the main route into St. Austell from the west.

And finally, the lilies in our garden have ventured forth.

Thanks for visiting my blog, hope you have an interesting week ~ Mike.