GORAN HAVEN CORNWALL ~ An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Today's  photos are based on the Goran Haven area - a couple of miles from Mevagissey, and about eight miles from St. Austell.

This time of year the harbour is at peace but can get very busy in the summer months.

Goran Haven is a fishing village. It is said that the first pier was built way back in the 15th century.  

From GoranHaven we sometimes walk along the coast to Vault Beach and beyond ....

... passing by some interesting cottages.

Alternatively it's possible to walk to Vault Beach (below) and beyond via the coastal path. It's quite a slope to reach the beach. Be warned that, at the far end of the beach, there are often naturists / nudists.

We we returned to Goran Haven, and then beyond, to Little Perhaver Beach. There are steps down to the actual beach.

Houses at the top of the cliffs must have some very special views.

We wandered to Goran Haven Village and the old customs office (below).

The sign above the door is that of the Geological Society of Cornwall. The plaque states that Charles W. Peach, the renowned Naturalist and fossil collector, lived here from 1834 to 1845.

It is said that Peach was visited here by Charles Darwin and Alfred Lord Tennyson and they would have boat trips along the coast to Mevagissey.

That's all for today 

thanks for visiting my blog - Mike.

A Short Walk on Carlyon Beach, Cornwall

We hadn't been able to get out walking for a while, so decided on a short walk along the beach at Carlyon Bay. There's no car parking charge at the moment- not that I'm a tight wad of course!

Only a few people on the beach as you can see by the photos. The weather was changeable but mostly with a touch of blue in the sky.

I've walked on the beach here for many years but had never noticed this hole in the rocks previously.

There was a lot of seaweed about.

The sea was a lovely shade blue.

We got talking to someone and the sea seemed even brighter with fluffy white clouds.

We crossed  the beach, walking towards the cliffs.

There's a proper path to walk by the cliffs.

First though, we looked across the beach.

The view stretches to the Gribbin Tower in the distance - well it did with my camera's zoom.

Back to the cliffs and more realistic colours. Actually it started rain.

A few shrubs and plants alongside the path as we made our way back to our car.

We got back to our car without getting too wet. 

The photo below shows the far end of the beach at Carlyon Bay, on a previous early morning walk. Always special to be the first on the sand.

That's my lot for today.

Thanks for visiting my blog ~ Mike.

I mentioned Gribbin Tower in the post, here's one of my posts on Gribbin Head and the Tower:

Walking to Gribbin Head Cornwall - Daphne du Maurier Country

Pentewan, Beach, Harbour, Village and Sea

A sunshine day, too good to waste indoors, so we decided on a shortish walk along part of the Pentewan Trail which, as the name suggests, leads to Pentewan Village and the landlocked harbour. The photo above is how the harbour looks today. To get on the Pentewan Trail there's a pull-in, for a few cars on the St. Austell to Mevagissey road. 

We parked our car, crossed the small bridge, as above, and followed the St. Austell River often known locally as the White River.

We passed a colourful sign post.

A bridge is for walkers wanting to visit Mevagissey or Heligan Gardens. Pentewan is straight on.

We continued to follow the river.

We soon reached a left turn to take us to Pentewan. The path is shaded by trees.

Luckily all was quiet. Have to be little careful though as bicycles are allowed on the path.

We reached Pentewan Village and the sun

was still shining.

All was quiet.

Where had everyone gone?

It looked as if everyone was at The Ship Inn pub!

The pub is around 250 years old.

We thought it would be rude to pass by without having a beer - a Cornish beer, of course! So we  sat in the pub garden with a Korev lager.

Many years ago, as mentioned below, a small train delivered china clay to the harbour for export.

Next is how a section the harbour looks today - generally very peaceful. The original harbour was built by Christopher Hawkins in 1826.

And this how the harbour would have looked in the late 1800's with tall ships on view.

Today, this is where the boats would have been. It is now full of sand

There's also a longish beach backed by the Pentewan Holiday Park. 

Bits and pieces linger from when the harbour was in working order.

A lookout looking down from the cliffs.

We lingered for quite a while on the beach, before making our way back to our car.

All in all a pleasant easy walk. Thanks very much for visiting my blog. Good wishes ~Mike.