33 Photos: A Circular Walk Based On Gover Valley, St.Austell, Cornwall

A different sort of Cornish walk today, with no beautiful beaches or cliffs! Instead the 33 photos will take you on a circular walk starting in Gover Valley, St.Austell and through some of the old china clay district.

The walk starts in Gover Road, St.Austell. There are usually several places to park a car. Walk up the road to the viaduct and you are then properly in Gover Valley.

The London to Penzance train travels over the viaduct. There is greenery while you walk.

The first sign of any industry from the past is the large chimney on the right hand side of the road.

There are a few cottages and also an old chapel has been converted into living accommodation.

The track is in reasonably good shape and the occasional car might be seen.

More china clay workings to the left of the road.

Another photo below of the track.

You'll pass a pleasant house tucked away ...

... and they have put up an old road sign just in case you get lost!

A small stream follows the valley.

There are some more china clay workings on the right hand side of the track.

There is a sign that directs walkers to to the left for a shorter walk but we go straight on ...

... and avoid going over the wooden bridge.

The path gets stonier.



Many of the trees are covered in moss because of the dampness of the valley.

The path gets narrower still.

To the right it's now possible to get a clear view of the countryside. The hills are the waste product from the china clay industry - but nature is taking them over.

The same clay hills but a closer photo.

At last the path leads to a road, with a wind turbine nearly hidden away. The road is very little used - we saw no cars or other vehicles as we walked. 

We walk left from here along the road, until we can get on to a footpath.

There are china clay settling tanks to the right of the road.

The views on the left show green fields.

It's also possible to see the sea! Unfortunately it was quite misty when we walked - but you can still make out Gribbin Head with it's tower.

The road forks, take the left fork and you'll see the Public Footpath sign. It may look like you are heading onto someone's private property but this is a legal footpath. A lovely new house is being built with glorious views.

We pass what I presume was once a farm house.

The footpath is quite green, which shows that not many people walk this way.

There are views over the countryside 

... and we keep following the path.

Eventually we reach some houses where we have to turn left down Trevanion Hill. It's a proper road but there is only room for one car - so can cause a problem if two cars meet!

We head down Trevanion Hill and there is a spot on the right where we can see the Gover Valley and its viaduct.

Across the far side of the valley there is a farm with a few animals.

It's quite a drop going down the hill - but much easier than walking up the hill!

We arrive at the last photo and can see the chimney we saw in the fourth photo. We head down to the bottom of the hill, turn right and we are back where we started. Another walk completed. I think it took us about two and a quarter hours.

A Meal at the Pier House, Charlestown and lots of Flowers

It was my wife's birthday and in the evening eight of us went for a meal at the Pier House, Charlestown. A good time was had by all! 

There are photos of Charlestown harbour on my post Charlestown Harbour on a Sunshine Morning

The roses were received by wife. The pink and white ones were perhaps past their best when I took the photo ...

... but the yellow roses were perfect...

... as was the orchid.

There is generally a bit of colour about now. The following three photos were taken this morning as we walked to a local shop.

And, as usual, there is a nice display of bluebells in Kings Wood, Pentewan - below. The bluebells above were in a garden we passed.

A Walk At Lerryn, Cornwall With River and Country Views, Woods and a Church With Celtic Crosses

There is a very pleasant walk from Lerryn, Cornwall which takes in river and country views, woods

and a church with Celtic crosses.

We parked our car at Lerryn and crossed the River Lerryn using the stepping stones (right) - this can only be done when the tide is low as the river is tidal. The alternative is to use the 500+ year old  bridge as per the photo at the top of the post.

Once to the other side. it's initially just a matter of following the path alongside the river.

The path soon ends and into the woods we go, still easy going. I guess the total length of the walk is just over five miles.

As the path through the woods steepens there are lovely views over the river (below).

As the woods fade away we have to hop, well climb, over the style and into a farmer's fields. 

There are often cows or other animals roaming about but this is a public right of way, so they no doubt get used to walkers.

We leave the River Lerryn behind as it becomes the River Fowey but continue walking along the bank as we are nearly at St.Winnow.

We reach St.Winnow and head into the church where there are some lovely examples of Celtic crosses.

 St.Winnow Church was founded in the 7th century and was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086.

St.Winnow, or St. Winnoc, was an evangelist who set up many churches and died around 717 AD. The church tower was most likely added in the 15th century.

The church itself found a fame back in the mid to late 1970s when it featured in the first series of television's Poldark,  based on the books by Winston Graham, which were  set in Cornwall in the 1700s.

When following this walk we often sit for a while in the churchyard. It's pleasant to look across the river - more Celtic crosses - though it turned a little hazy. 

While at the church I noticed an old memorial (as above) to Sir William Sawle who died on the 16th of February 1651. The verse reads:

When I was sick most men did deem me ILL

If I had lived I should have been so still

Praised be the Lord, that in the Heavens doth dwell

Who hath received my soul, now I AM WELL

Then it's off again into a farmer's field with a well trodden path.

Nice to look back at the river and the animals in the fields.

Now it's back into the woods along an easy path.

Once finally out of the woods there are more fields, with many fine old oak trees - until we eventually  return to the stepping stones / bridge.

Yes, a very pleasant easy walk.