A Walk Along Par Beach, Cornwall

It's Par Beach today, not perhaps one of my favourite beaches but it's pleasant to walk along the sand.  Oh yes,  I nearly forgot, dogs like the beach.

The tide goes out a long way  and, when the tide is high, the water is still shallow unless you walk quite a distance into the sea. Children seem to like this in the summer season.

Backing onto the beach are some sand dunes.  

Below is part of the beach looking from the dunes, with green fields in the distance.

At the far back of Par Beach are caravans and chalets to let in the summer season. This area is now known as Par Sands Holiday Park.

The caravans are all neat and tidy.

Here are a couple of the chalets by a lake.

The lake is deep, so swimming, fishing and boating aren't allowed.

Seagulls, Canadian geese and ducks gather around the lake. Mostly because people like to 'feed the ducks'.

Looking across the lake, with a couple of chalets on view.

The sun got brighter as we walked and more people headed to the beach.

We had parked our car in the bumpy carpark. The cost was £1 per hour - I don't know if this will increase in the main holiday season.

The photo below, of  Par Beach, was snapped last summer.

If you like walking you'll find  Cornwall's coastal path in the Par Beach carpark. Looking towards the sea it's on your left towards the back of the car park. There's a lovely walk to Polkerris  (and beyond) along the path - the photo below was taken in July.

Here's a blog post on Polkerris: 

Photos of the Magical Polkerris Harbour

That's all for today. 

Thanks for visiting my blog ~ Mike.

Going Quackers at Cornwall's Duck Ponds

We were passing through St. Blazey when my wife suggested we should have a wander around the local Duck Pond. So we did.

St. Blazey is named after St. Blaise a Bishop who was martyred in Armenia in the fourth century. He supposedly landed at nearby Par in the third century. Oh yes, and it is said that his name is invoked by those who suffer from throat problems. Anyway, back to the pond!

In the good old days, okay just a short while back, I'd take my grandchildren to the pond armed with duck food. That was always fun.

The pond is all very pleasant, though there didn't seem to be as many ducks, and the like, as I remembered.

Three photos from back then.

Moving on to the pond at Par, near Par Beach

A duck admiring his reflection in the pudle.

The seagulls seem to think they are in charge of Par Pond ...

... but the Canadian Geese would perhaps disagree.

Anyway, to finish today's post four photos snapped in our garden

Wishing you a happy week ahead and thanks for visiting my blog. All good wishes ~ 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.

A Touch of Cornish Magic, Animals and Birds

Sometimes there seems to be unexpected magical moments - perhaps time slips. I was at Charlestown and everything was so quiet, not a sound to be heard. I could only see two other people as I clicked my camera for the photo above. It felt as if I had stepped back in time.

Okay, perhaps this is a little fanciful but the next three photos, were snapped at the same place - Spit Beach.  The changing sky altered the appearance of the sea and beach.

Moving along the coast now to the village of Tywardreath the setting of Daphne du Maurier's book, The House on the Strand. Below is the church where some of the scenes are set. The story is about drug induced time travel - so there is a touch of magic lingering here.

Tywardreath, in the Cornish language is : Ti War Dreth. This means a house on a beach or strand. The village was recorded in the Domesday Book way back in 1o86.

Below are some of the village cottages.

And here is an unusual road sign which is no doubt necessary as the road narrows.

Daphne du Maurier moved to this area following the death of her husband in 1965. Her previous Cornish home was at Menabilly which was the inspiration for Manderley featured in her book Rebecca.

Returning to the House on the Strand this mentions the nearby green fields, as below, near Par.

There are Almshouses at Polmear, Par. The first of these houses was built in 18oo by William Rashleigh who, at the time, was the Sheriff of Cornwall.

Nearby Polkerris is also mentioned in the House on the Strand. The first photo is looking down from the cliffs and ...

... and then here we are at sea level as the tide arrives.

I think that's enough of The House on the Strand. So moving on to a happy pig!

A few photos of animals next which I have noticed when out and about.

What a wonderful horse - with his shadow. Where would mankind be without horses.

Of course even a robin can cast a shadow.

The little fellow below was searching for crumbs in a cafe.

A couple more birds I spotted.

Oh, and also a flashy pheasant.

That's about it for today's post, but first a warning - be aware of the Devil Cat when out and about at night!

And on that note I'll close today's post.

All good wishes, stay safe ~ Mike