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.

Boats, Ferries and other Crafts in the Villages , Harbours and Towns of Cornwall

Boats and crafts of all sorts hide away in the harbours, coves and rivers of Cornwall.

I'm zig-zagging all over the place. Mevagissey  above and then Newquay, on Cornwall's north coast.

Back to Cornwall's south coast on the River Fowey. This is the ferry which crosses over from Fowey to Polruan.

Another ferry, which carries cars and other vehicles from Fowey, this time to Bodinnick.

Along the coast to Mevagissey for the ferry to Fowey in the summer season.

Meanwhile on Cornwall's north coast the ferry which crosses the River Camel from Padstow.

Some boats prefer to hide away in peaceful creeks, as this one in St. Just in Roseland.

Zipping across to Cornwall's city of Truro and the River Truro. An abandoned boat gradually deteriorates. 

Boats paraphernalia, some quite old. VR for (Queen) Victoria Regina.

Boxes used by fishermen.

And, of course, boats at sea need lighthouses as per this one at Mevagissey. I got a bit wet taking this photo!

Heading over to Padstow Harbour now. A very popular place in the summer months.

Still in Padstow.

Moving on, this time I was actually on a boat heading along the river to Falmouth.

Zooming back to the small cove of Polkerris, only a few boats in the harbour. Tresco is the name of one of the Scilly Islands which are about 25 miles off the south west of Cornwall.

Meanwhile at Charlestown there all sorts of boats, ships and sails.

Finally red sails in the sunset, okay not quite, but I remember my dad singing the old song. So a happy memory.

"Red sails in the sunset, way out on the sea
Oh, carry my loved one home safely to me.
She sailed at the dawning, all day I've been blue.

Red sails in the sunset, I'm trusting in you ...

...and so on".

Visiting a Newquay Beach, Cornwall One Day Before the Coronavirus Lockdown.

'Twas the day before the latest coronavirus lockdown in England. So what to do? Head for the coast and a beach while we can.

As we had to visit the church in St. Stephen in Brannel we then continued onward to the Newquay area on Cornwall's north coast. There was traffic everywhere, the road was jam packed. Other people must have had a similar idea.

I turned down a narrow road and ended up near Porth Beach.

It was a sunny, but cold day. After parking the car, we wandered along heading for the beach. On the way we passed a few chimneys. Have been fascinated by them recently, not sure why!

The tide was out so there was plenty of elbow room on the beach.

Not many people ...

... but somehow I slipped into a distant time with ladies of the day paddling in the chilly water.

The year was 1876 and the first passenger arrived at the new Railway Station in Newquay. The chairman of the railway predicted that Newquay, "would soon become the best watering place in the country".

Returning to today, Porth beach and the water looked quite tempting but way too cold for me.

At the back of the beach the road leads to Watergate Bay, often the choice for surfers.

Just to clarify Porth Beach and Watergate Bay are just two of Newquay's many beaches - this is why the town is such an attraction.

On the return walk to our car - more chimneys!

Pleasant views across the coast.

The final photo gives an idea of the length of the inlet and beach at Porth.

Thank you for visiting my blog. Wherever you are, take care.

Posts will continue during the coronavirus lockdown.