A Pleasant Walk at Boscastle, Cornwall

Today it is Boscastle, Cornwall. The photo above shows the hazardous entrance to the harbour. 100 years ago this was the only place a harbour could be built on this stretch of Cornwall's intimidating north coast. 

It was an active port and harbour until the railway reached Cornwall in 1893. Today there are just a few fishing boats and pleasure crafts in the harbour.

Boscastle is now very much a tourist destination. There is a very large car park and from here it is a walk to the old harbour wall. You can't get lost - you just follow the small river, as shown in the photo below.

Along the valley there are a few cottages and buildings ...

... most constructed from local stone.

You'll also find a Witchcraft Museum! It is said to be the oldest and largest collection of items relating to witchcraft and the occult in England.

The river gradually widens. I snapped the photos when the tide was low, okay very low!

There's somewhere to get a cuppa or lunch in Boscastle. Several of the old buildings now cater for tourists needs.

At last we get the first glimpse of the old harbour wall, only a couple of small boats to be seen.

Below is a close up of the stonework of the harbour wall, said to have been built way back in 1584.

Another view of the entrance to Boscastle harbour.

The photo below was taken from the harbour wall looking inland.

There's somewhere to tie up your boat.

On our walk we now had to retrace our steps to a small bridge so we could get to the other side of the valley. The photo shows the main harbour wall from a different angle and also the smaller second wall.

There's a footpath on this side of the river so as to get a higher view from the cliff top.

The photo below is looking inland from the footpath.

After the walk we meandered back to the car, passing The Cobweb Inn ... but then we realised it's possible to also walk along the valley inland, which leads to St. Juliot church.

The church has a significance for any Thomas Hardy followers. He was the architect for the church restoration in 1870 - and it was here that he met his first wife. It is believed that their love affair was his inspiration for his novel A Pair of Blue Eyes. 

All very pleasant!

Thanks for visiting my blog. Sorry that some of the photos are a bit dark ~ Mike.

Also see : My Coincidence Meeting at Boscastle

A walk at Boscastle, Cornwall

Following on from my previous post we were staying in Bude for a week. One of the well known nearby villages is Boscastle, so we headed that way.

Boscastle has an enormous car park (three hours for £3.70) which can get very busy. Fortunately, as it was  starting to drizzle with rain, we found a space quite easily.

We simply walked, following the river, until we reached the very old harbour wall. I snapped the photos as we walked. Fortunately the rain eased.

The harbour is a natural inlet with a very old harbour. The walls were built in 1584 by Sir Richard Grenville.

Grenville served as a Member of Parliament for Cornwall and was also a Sheriff of Cornwall in  in 1591.

Nearing the harbour now, with a few fishing boats in view.

More small boats - and the rain has nearly ceased.

A sighting now of the old harbour wall, also chains from another era.

Steps on the harbour wall. I wonder what tales they could tell.

It's possible to climb higher, even to the very top of the cliffs for some great views. On a previous visit I did manage to climb quite high.

There is also a new harbour wall.

Having sat on the old harbour wall for quite a while - along with a mug of tea, of course - we retraced our steps.

All is quiet in the harbour nowadays but 100 years ago it would have been heaving with activity.  Entrance into the harbour can be difficult and dangerous. In days gone by the old sailing ships had to be towed into the inlet. This was done with the help of hobbler boats, which were powered by eight oarsmen.

Today Boscastle is a busy tourist attraction and the boats to be seen are fishing boats and pleasure craft.

We returned to where we started, but then carried on walking through the Valency valley following the footsteps of the poet and novelist Thomas Hardy. 

As a young man in the 1870's Hardy spent time in the valley while courting his first wife, Emma Gifford.

When I think of Boscastle I always remember the strange coincidence we once had visiting the village see: The Coincidence Meeting At Boscastle, Cornwall.

Oh yes, nearly forgot, there was another coincidence I remember - or maybe it was  magic! Nothing to do with Boscastle though. I wrote a post on this: Magic Brought Us What We Wanted!

I'd better finish this post now before I get too carried away!  Thanks for visiting my blog. All good wishes ~ Mike.

How Boscastle Harbour Today Compares With 1870

I came across the 1870 photo below of Boscastle harbour and it struck me how little it has changed. It remains very much the same today.

The photo above is a recent picture I snapped of Boscastle. There is the same lion like cliff guarding the entrance to the harbour. The harbour wall, built in 1584, remains virtually in it's original condition.

The natural inlet was the only place a harbour could be considered along the forty miles plus of rugged cliffs.

All is quiet in the harbour nowadays but 100 years ago it would have been heaving with activity.  Entrance into the harbour is difficult and dangerous. In days gone by the old sailing ships had to be towed into the inlet. This was done with the help of hobbler boats, which were powered by eight oarsmen.

Today Boscastle is a busy tourist attraction and the boats to be seen are fishing boats and pleasure craft. 

See also:

Boscastle, Cornwall : Walking to the Old 1584 Harbour Wall - 16 Photos

Lots to See and Do Near Tintagel Besides The Castle: Cliff Walk, Waterfall, Boscastle Harbour, Bronze Age Carvings, Holy Well & Chapel