A Fresh Visit and Photos of the Mysterious Roche Rock and Hermitage, Cornwall

After lunch the sky looked a pleasant shade of blue for a change so I decided I'd head for Roche Rock - as above. But Cornwall being Cornwall the weather often has a mind of its own. 

After parking the car, all seemed well though the ground was very sodden from days of rain. 

There were pleasant views across the countryside.

As I have often mentioned I like stones and rocks. This area is a mixture of grey quartz and black tourmaline. They have been around for quite a while, as they were created some 270 million years ago which is quite mind boggling.

As for the heathland, this has probably remained the same for hundreds, maybe thousands of years.

The main attraction though is the old chapel or hermitage built high on the rocks - but first three photos leading to the chapel.

There is yellow gorse everywhere at this time of year, it even seems to grow on the rocks themselves.

The weather began to change rapidly, there was a chill in the air or maybe it was the ghost of an old miner said to frequent these parts.

In the middle of the photo below there is what looks like a hole high in the rocks. This is the Roche Rock chapel.

The chapel can now be seen much clearer in the three photos below.

It's often called a chapel but may well have been an hermitage. In 1584, for example, a John Norden wrote of a high rock on which is a cell or hermitage and stands upon the wild moors far from society.

The next photo is of the rocks leading up to the chapel. At the time I thought it looked like a rabbit or a face - but not so sure now!

I have previously published two posts on Roche Rock and the photo below was taken at that time - a day of brilliant sunshine. The links are at the end of this post and include stories and a little history of the chapel.

By the time I left on this visit it was very different as can be seen by my final photo for today. All looked quite creepy, not sure why there is a green flash in the picture - but I arrived home safely! 

Previous Roche Rock Posts:
Roche Rock Stories
The Mysterious Roche Rock, Cornwall

A Touch of Red In Cornwall

I was flicking through some photos and the colour red caught my eye again and again. Not sure why but I've always liked the colour. Even at junior and senior schools (many years ago!) I played for the red team - and today we have a red front door. So in this post there are photos with a touch of red. 

Red, of course, signifies danger or warnings as per the RNLI craft above and the buoyancy aids seen on some beaches in Cornwall. 

Lots of signs get noticed by having a splash of red - as per the three below.

Next we have the UK's traditional phone and post boxes - coloured red so that they get noticed. 

The following photo was snapped at the Lost Gardens of Heligan and both are still operational.

Some of the old style phone boxes have now been adapted for other uses. The one below, at Bodinnick, is a small village library... 

… and this box houses a defibrillator.

The phone box at the small village of St.Clement is still functioning and can be used for sending emails and texting.

A post box almost hidden at St.Mewan. 

Red Royal Mail vans below collect and deliver post and packages. 

A fire rescue vehicle. 

And finally, if you have some loose change, why not indulge in a red helicopter! I saw this one land in the gardens of the Fowey Hotel.

Oh, I nearly forgot the Cornwall Air Ambulance has a touch of red - what a great job they do. Last year they were called out on 1144 missions.

The Menacuddle Holy Well, Chapel and the White River in Cornwall

Today photos are from the Holy Well and Chapel at Menacuddle near St.Austell, Cornwall. I have previously given details about Menacuddle on my post The Secretive Menacuddle Holy Well and Chapel, Cornwall. 

I visited the chapel again as I suspected that the river would be in full flow because of the recent heavy rain - which it was. The river was also very white from local china clay deposits. This gives the area a quite magical appearance.

The Holy Well is within the small 15th century chapel.

As the area is quite damp and sheltered in a dip it encourages moss to grow, which I feel makes Menacuddle special. As for the river, it was certainly in full flow in both directions.  

A final look at the area as I leave.

It's strange, but on my visits, I rarely see other people about. It's not on the popular Cornwall tourist trails.

To see more details on my previous post about Menacuddle please click here.

Three Days Visiting South Cornwall With German Visitors - 28 Photos

We had two of my wife's German relatives staying with us for a few days. So we showed them some of the local sights, starting at Mevagissey. I snapped a few quick photos of the places we visited.

We moved on to Charlestown. Our two guests below.

We had lunch in the Pier House, Charlestown.

It was a bit of a whistle stop journey as we soon moved on to Fowey! The next two photos are walking in Fowey and looking across the river to Polruan.

DAY TWO
Started out at Lanhydrock House. It appears that Rosamunde Pilcher, the Cornish writer, is well known in Germany as many of her books have been adapted for German television. These include Im Zweifel fur die Liebo (Question of Love) and Klippen der Liebe (Cliffs of Love). Lanhydrock House is featured in both of these, thus the interest to pay a visit. Three photos follow.

Time to move on to Polperro. Some of the fishermens' cottages were supposedly featured on German television.

In all honesty we didn't find the cottages, not that I was sure what we were actually looking for. Never mind, we had lunch in the Three Pilchards pub, said to be the oldest in Polperro.

DAY THREE
We headed for St. Just-in-Roseland and the wonderful church and gardens. I have mentioned this previously, link at end of this post.

A few more photos follow of the church and grounds, unfortunately it was a dull, damp day.

There is a story that Jesus visited this area of Cornwall when young. There is a poem within the church that mentions this:

Jesus as a boy came here
With Joseph of Arimathea
To trade for tin

Merchant ships plied to and fro
Where the great waters ebb and flow
Their wealth to win

They built a church atop the sand
And called It St Just in Roseland
Do go within

There is tranquillity and Peace
Gulls Cry and Bird Song Never Cease
Far from the Din

Step Ey Awhile Along Life's Way
And For A Time Relax and Stay
Forget All Sin

Wonder Amid the Trees and Flowers
And Bide Awhile, Pass by The Hours
New Life Begin

The Tide Laps Up and Down the Shore
Men From Strange Lands Now Come No More
To Trade For Tin

We then moved on to St.Mawes Castle. Still damp unfortunately.

We then made our way to St.Mawes and found a suitable place for refreshments. Quiet this time of year.

All in all a pleasant three days, despite the weather.

You may also be interested in:
Is St Just-in-Roseland The Most Beautiful Churchyard On Earth?  

An Introduction to Mevagissey, Cornwall The Two Saint Village

A Glimpse of Lanhydrock House, Cornwall In 14 Photos 

Did Jesus Visit Cornwall?