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 

Flowers in Cornwall Plus a Church and a Harbour

I'm by no means an expert gardener, but I do enjoy flowers even if I don't necessarily  know their names. The flowers don't seem to be upset by my lack of knowledge. Maybe it's because I chat to them as I tend their needs.

Above is a geranium at the front of my house and below a dahlia from the back garden.

Just realised I have lots of pink colours in the garden. This wasn't planned  but just developed over the years. I seem to have captured a finger in the next photo along with the dahlia.

A fuchsia below. I lifted the flower giving him/her a helping hand as I clicked the photo.

Yes, more pink. Looks like I was on night patrol.

We have lots of passion flowers or Passiflora this year. You probably know the story - it is  said to be symbolic of Jesus on the cross. The flower has spikes protruding from the center symbolising the crown of thorn and the flower has ten petals for the ten faithful apostles.

Hydrangea: we have several bushes - and one of them is, of course, a shade of pink!

A fuchsia plus a mixture of other bits and pieces including the remains of an old tree.

Not sure what the flower below is. I should really know the name as it comes back faithfully every year.

A couple more flower photos.

We took some flowers to the church at St. Stephen-in-Brannel to place on a grave. Always a sad visit.

We then moved on to Charlestown to clear our heads. Made us smile to see the hat on a traffic cone looking at the postbox in the cottage wall

Roses over the door of another cottage.

A pleasant day weatherwise so people about taking photos.

The entrance to Charlestown Harbour with a sailing ship in the distance.

The next day the weather changed  so this dahlia got a bit battered with wind and rain.

Next doors' trailing plant is still tumbling over the fence and is very welcome.

A petunia - pinkish, of course.

Actually the rain didn't effect the dahlia too much.

Finally, this is a whopper of a dahlia. Last year it grew to well over five feet tall.

Thanks for visiting my blog, all good wishes ~ Mike.

Attractive Beaches, views and walks near Goran Haven

We wandered around the Goran Haven area which lies on the Cornwall's section of the South West Coast Path - and stretches over 300 miles.

The path in the Goran Haven area has lovely views plus a few wild flowers to enjoy.

The next photo shows the Goran Haven car park, as seen from the coast path. This is where we parked. It cost us, and everyone else, £5 for the privilege - enough said! 

We also looked down on Goran Haven beach, which has an old stone harbour wall from the days of pilchard fishing in the 19th century.

In the photo below the harbour wall can be seen along with people enjoying the sea and the sunshine.

We found somewhere suitable on the wall to sit and enjoy our packed lunch - along with a cup of tea, of course.

A view from the beach looking out to sea.

On the opposite side of the cove, from the harbour wall, local houses can be seen. You can probably also make out the church tower.

Another view of the houses, some with lovely sea views.

A final view from the stone harbour wall. We are off walking again.

The next beach, just along from Goran Haven, is Little Perhaver, as below.

The snag about Little Perhaver is that there are lots of steps down to reach the sand - thus not many people on the beach.

This house on the cliffs at Little Perhaver has an uninterrupted sea view. No doubt a bit breezy, though, in the winter months.

Oh, and further along from Little Perhaver Beach is Great Perhaver Beach. I didn't take any photos but you can see four photos on my post: The Attractive Perhaver Beach Near Gorran Haven.

Now into Gorran Haven village and a look at the the old Customs House. The sign above the door is a Geological Society of Cornwall plaque stating that Charles W. Peach, the renowned Naturalist and fossil collector, lived here from 1834 to 1845.

It is said that Peach was visited here by Charles Darwin and Alfred Lord Tennyson and they would have boat trips along the coast to Mevagissey.

A final view of the sea. I should have also mentioned Vault Beach, often known as Bow Beach which is just west of Goran Haven - see my blog post: The Lesser Known Vault Beach.  

That's all for now, thanks for visiting my blog - all good wishes ~ Mike.