Introduction to Gover Valley, Cornwall

 A few photos today of Gover Valley where there is usually an abundance of greenery. 

A stream tinkles along.

It would be easy to imagine a few of the little people - fairies and the like - are watching on.

Green branches reach out to  touch the passing walker.

Boulders galore, perhaps, they provide places for those little people to hide.

A bright green wall guides the stream for a short distance.

Darker green moss clings to remnants of the once china clay industry. A gentleman I met, a while back, told me how his dog disliked this area and would not pass by without by without a struggle. 

There's a steep road  to the top of the valley, from where there are views of the greenery and a chimney from the once china clay industry

There's another look at the chimney and a row of houses. In the background is a china clay 'pyramid' cfreated from china clay spoils, but  has now been taken over by nature.

That's all for today's post but for more info on Gover Valley see my blog post with 40 photos:

 40 Photos On Updated Circular Walk Based On Gover Valley

Thanks for visiting my blog ~ Mike.

A MAGICAL WALK ALONG GOVER VALLEY, CORNWALL

It was a dull day, drizzly at times, but I decided to take a wander along  Gover Valley in St.Austell. I have previously published a post, with 40 photos, of a walk based on the valley - there's a link at the end of this post.

A few daffodils brightened the day as did the Gover Stream, which feeds into the St. Austell River, as it is known locally, but is usually  shown on maps as the River Vinnick.

Another name often used for the stream is the White River, because it can become coloured by local china clay.

Along the Gover Valley there are remnants left over from the china clay industry.

Alongside the river is the occasional cottage or house like the one below, almost hidden amongst the trees.

Being a valley it is often shaded from the sun so can be quite damp. 

The dampness encourages mosses to grow by the Gover Stream.

The moss, combined with the tinkling water, can create a magical moment. It's easy to think of this as a home for the elves and fairies - or perhaps that's just my imagination.

But, whatever, the greenness that abounds at this time of year has an attractive quality.

A Public Footpath sign shows a way to the side of the valley for those so inclined.

There's a bridge over the stream and a few steps have been made to assist the little people and us humans on their way.

I chose to continue walking along the valley itself, some gorse made a change from the greenness, it seemed to bring everything more alive.

On my return along the valley an old gate was struggling to protect access to an open field.

Delicate colour with a few primroses nestled by the edge of the road, next to a puddle from the drizzle.

Then all at once I saw a crowd,

A host of golden daffodils.

Thank you for visiting my blog. There is another Gover Valley post: 40 Photos: An Updated Circular Walk Based On Gover Valley, St.Austell, Cornwall

Good wishes - Mike

THE OLD CORNISH STORY OF THE WHITE HARE

Hello again, it's been a strange old week for me and I haven't been able to get out far with my camera.

The photos are from a short walk I managed along the Gover Valley. You may remember a few weeks back I walked the full Gover Valley walk.

This time the small river was much more attractive, you could almost hear the piskies going about their work. That is, of course, if you believe in piskies.

Anyway, today I'll fill the post with a traditional Cornish story from the early 1800's. The story is in it's original form.

THE OLD STORY OF THE WHITE HARE

It is a very popular fancy that when a maiden, who has loved not wisely but too well, dies forsaken and broken hearted, she comes back to haunt her deceiver in the form of a white hare. 

This phantom follows the false one everywhere, mostly invisible to all but him. It saves him from danger, but invariably the white hare causes the death of the betrayer in the end.

Here is one such story told in the old fashioned way.

A large landed proprietor engaged a fine, handsome young fellow to manage his farm, which was very extensive as well as a high class one.

When the young farmer was duly settled in his new farmhouse, there came to live with him, to take care of the management of the dairy, a peasant's daughter. She was handsome, and of a singularly fine figure, but entirely without education.

The farmer became desperately in love with this young creature, and eventually their love passed all the bounds of discretion. It became the policy of the young farmer's family to put down this unfortunate passion by substituting a more legitimate and endearing object. After a long trial, they thought they were successful and the young farmer married.

Many months had not passed when the discharged dairymaid was observed to suffer from illness, which, however, she constantly spoke of as nothing; but knowing dames saw too clearly the truth. One morning there was found in a field a newly born babe, strangled. The unfortunate girl was at once suspected as being the parent, and the evidence was soon sufficient to charge her with murder. She was tried, and chiefly by the evidence of the young farmer and his family, convicted of, and executed for, the murder.

Everything now went wrong in the farm, and the young man suddenly left it and went to another part of the country.

Still nothing prospered, and he gradually took to drink to drown some secret sorrow. He was frequently on the road by night than by day; and go where he would, a white hare was constantly crossing his path. The white hare was often seen by others, almost always under the feet of his horse; and the poor terrified animal would go like the wind to avoid the strange apparition.

One morning the young farmer was found drowned in a forsaken mine; and the horse, which had evidently suffered extreme terror, was grazing near the corpse. Beyond all doubt the white hare, which is known to hunt the perjured and the false-hearted to death, had terrified the horse to such a degree that eventually the rider was thrown into the mine-waste in which he was found.

THE END

Thanks for visiting my blog, hope you have a good week ahead. Good wishes ~ Mike.

40 Photos: An Updated Circular Walk Based On Gover Valley, St.Austell, Cornwall

Today I'm updating the Gover Valley circular walk with a fresh set of 40 photos. The first photo, above, is of the viaduct which carries the London train to Penzance, Cornwall and vice versa. This is the start of the walk.

Details of the length of the walk and where to park etc. are at the end of the post.

Next to the viaduct is the stump of a much older viaduct built from 1859 This would have had a wooden construction supporting the railway lines - see photo at end of the post.  This proved to be a false economy so the current viaduct had to be built in 1899. 

For the start of the walk, go under the viaduct and keep on walking in a straight(ish) direction until you see the signs shown below - then continue to keep walking in a straight direction.

You will pass a few old cottages on the right hand side.

Further on there are  a couple of newish houses on the left. The one in my photo was once the local chapel. You can see the original window towards the right of the photo.

Keep walking and there is an abandoned building, on the left, once used within the china clay industry.

You will soon pass dog kennels on your left - the animals are all safely confined! Looking left after the kennels you'll see an old chimney - again once used in the china clay industry.

Keep walking in a straight direction along the lane.

Another house can be seen on the righthand side. I've always fancied this property.

They have an old signpost near the gate.

A small stream now follows, along the valley, on the right of the lane. The stream was once used for the panning of tin. Unfortunately my next two photos of the stream aren't too good as this was a blazing hot day. There were strong shadows and the water had virtually dried up. 

On the left is a large building. Yes you guessed:  once used in the china clay industry.

Carry on walking, passing a gate, which leads to a private area.

Keep walking and on the right you'll see the remnants of some china clay ovens.

The path is now quite straight for a while.

Ignore the track to the right and you will soon see ...

... a few old cottages.

You may also see the Public Footpath notice, but ignore this and keep walking in a  straight direction

By doing this you'll come to a gateway. Pass through this - no climbing necessary!

The path becomes a lot narrower.

It looks brighter out of the shadows.

Back to shadows again! 

Not to worry though as the path will soon lead to a road. At the road turn left. There is very little traffic. On my walk here I didn't see any vehicles - or meet any people!

From the lane there are pleasant views if you look to your left.

If it's a clear day you should be able to see the sea. The small tower in the far distance is Gribbin Head

Keep to the very  left of the road and you should soon be able to see a Public Footpath sign as indicated below -  which is a left turn from the road. Sometimes though, the sign is difficult to see.

The path doesn't really look like a public path as you will pass this house and a couple of other constructions. Keep to the left of the lane.

Pass by the side of the house as below.

It is now a case of following the path for quite a while.

The views are dependent on what the farmer has done with his fields, in this case growing corn. Sometimes there are views to the right towards the sea.

Looking left, as below.

Another view of the path.

Okay we are now approaching a house so - as Dionne Warwick used to sing - Walk on By. 

Unexpectedly we saw a Royal Mail van and he had to squeeze passed us. He wasn't a happy bunny as he grumpily bumped his way along the track.

Now we are coming to some civilisation. As soon as you reach the small housing estate walk down the immediate road going to the left (Trevanion Hill). It is quite narrow and goes downhill. Be careful, as it is often used by cars etc., especially if they are relying on a Sat Nav which, for some reason seems to think this is a short cut to several places.

Start to walk down the hill and on the right you'll see a wide gate  where there are views over to the viaduct where the walk started.

The next two photos were taken from the road, so you can see from the views that it is quite steep.

Nearly all over now. At the bottom of the  hill turn right and you'll soon be at the viaduct - where you started the walk.

So that's the Gover Valley walk in St. Austell, Cornwall. According to my wife's Fitbit the distance is  3.69 miles and the walk takes 2 hours and 10 minutes. You will also supposedly use 883 calories! The stats seem about right, as the last time I did the walk it took me two and a quarter hours.

As regards parking. There are usually several places to park a car in Gover Road. There is also  a sort of small, untidy, lay-by just after the viaduct on the left.

I think that wraps up today's post, other than the photo below. This shows how the first viaduct would have looked with the wooden construction for the train lines. No wonder it was replaced by all stone.

That's all for today, thanks for visiting my blog. You are welcome to leave a comment below.

All good wishes ~ Mike.