The Meeting With Barrel Jellyfish at Carlyon Bay, Cornwall

There is a long beach at Carlyon Bay St.Austell, Cornwall. 

The photo above was snapped after I had walked to the far end of the sand - so not many people about! Well, none actually! It gets much busier though at the height of the summer season. 

This end of the beach was once a designated for naturists. I'm not sure if this still applies as the beach has confusing plans for redevelopment - mind you this has been promised / threatened for many years, but actual building work has never commenced.

The other end of the beach (photo below), nearest the car park, is quite popular. There are rocks to explore and so on. Some people are even brave enough to plunge into the water.

You have to be a little aware, if close to the cliffs, as there are rock falls occasionally.

When we walked to the far end of the beach all was peaceful, other than a young seagull blowing in the wind.

But then we spotted something in the sea - jellyfish - big ones!

They are Barrel jellyfish (Rhizostoma pulmo) and are said to be the largest in UK waters. I ,have read that they can grow as large as a dustbin lid - and are sometimes, therefore, known as dustbin-lid jellyfish. 

The jellyfish can sting but this is not normally harmful to us humans.

The jellyfish aren't at Carlyon Bay all of the time! They are most likely to be seen in May or June when the waters start to warm. They can get washed ashore if they swim too near the beach.

There always seems to be something interesting on a long beach. I have seen a very large fin whale washed ashore at Carlyon Bay, which was quite upsetting. More on that perhaps another time.

After walking the full length of the beach we retraced our footsteps to the most popular section - and the flags were flying!

As we walked back to our car - up a hill unfortunately - I snapped a final photo looking out to sea.

A Stroll Around Poldark's Charlestown Harbour, Cornwall - 12 Photos

Had a mooch round the harbour at Charlestown, Cornwall yesterday morning (27-June-19). It was a lovely sunny day, though the sea was quite choppy because of a cooling wind - as you can see by some of the photos.

Most of the photos are self explanatory so I won't waffle on too much.

I did get a bit of a soaking when the sea splashed against the harbor wall - hair and shirt got quite wet!

The two gentlemen below were fishing from the sea wall but didn't seem to have much success.

The next photo is looking west from the harbour wall, there is yellowish lichen on the top of the wall.

Still looking west there is a small beach.

The Pier House is convenient for a coffee or a beer. They also do meals - we had a very pleasant family meal there on my wife's birthday.

The cliffs below, and the beach, are to the east of the harbour.

Looking down at the adjoining port there are two tall sailing ship in dock. One was used for Poldark scenes. Charlestown has got considerably busier since the Poldark factor.

And finally a view of the port.

You might like these posts as well:

(1) Stepping Back In Time At Charlestown

(2) Walking The Beach at Charlestown, Cornwall

(3) The Cave On Charlestown Beach, Cornwall

What The Low Tide Reveals at Spit Beach, Cornwall

It had been a moody day weather-wise, but the rain had finally ceased. I decided I wanted to go to Spit Beach, Par. Not an obvious choice - I have said previously the beach isn't everyone's cup of tea.

I wanted to visit Spit, though, at low tide. I checked the tide times and off we went, the tide was exactly what I wanted.

Spit Beach is tucked away next to an old china clay works. So the path is none too pretty!

The path has good views though of the China Clay works - if such things interest anyone.

There is a footbridge to cross to get to the beach. This always brings back memories of my border collie, Toby. For some inexplicable reason he would not walk over this bridge, so I had to carry him! I never knew what his problem was with the bridge as he never refused to walk anywhere else.

After about ten minutes walk we arrived.at Spit Beach. 

I wanted to visit Spit at low tide so I could see the cliffs, caves and rocks not normally visible. I find cliffs and rocks fascinating.

The cliff in the photo below has an opening large enough to walk through.

The rocks and cliffs continue ...

... and it's possible to peek through the cliffs to the sea and beyond.

Looking out to sea shows rock pools and seaweed normally covered by water.

Looking along the beach, and in the far distance, is Gribbin Head - one of my favourite places to walk.

As the tide is out it's possible to walk (scramble!) along the coast to where there are two caves. 

Lots of rocks to view ...

... and there are odds and bods in the rock pools.

Finally we retraced our footsteps along the beach.

And, before leaving for home, I snapped a quick photo of the inlet leading to Par Beach.

See also:
A Short Walk From Spit Beach to Carlyon Bay
Par Sands : Photos of Beach and Surroundings

The Magical, Mysterious Waterfall at St.Nectan's Kieve, Cornwall

My previous post was about St.Piran's Holy Well and St. Piran's Church. From the same area - Trethevey - there is a walk to what is often known as St.Nectan's Waterfall. This is a quite magical and mysterious place to visit. The photo above shows the waterfall.

First though it's a walk alongside a couple of cottages.

And after a short while, the sea on Cornwall's north coast comes into view across the fields.

The path becomes wooded and St.Nectan's Glen, with it's waterfall, is at the top of the valley.

The path through the woods continues ...

... until the waterfall is reached - well, nearly. Unfortunately this is on private ground so there is a charge to continue to the waterfall itself (see current prices here).

At last we are at St.Nectan's waterfall. 

To be correct though we are actually at St.Nectan's Kieve (Kieve being the Cornish word for wash tub!)

It's an idyllic, almost spiritual place, with a touch of magic thrown in. The waterfall cascades about 60 feet. It has been an inspiration for many writers and artists, especially in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Charles Dickens visited the site with his friend the artist, Daniel Maclise. This resulted is the romanticised painting as seen below, which was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1843. 

The woman in the painting is believed to be Georgina Hogarth, Dickens sister-in-law.

All around the Kieve there are ribbons on trees with messages left by visitors.

The area can get a little busy at the height of the tourist season - my photos were snapped when all was reasonably quiet.

As well as all of the ribbons there are stone messages and thoughts left by visitors.

I think it's a lovely spot, the hole in the rock makes the waterfall a bit special.

There is a money tree as well - lots of coins pushed into a tree trunk. The reason for this is as per my blog post The Cornish Piskies and the Money Tree.

To quote the owners about the Kieve: "this is a place where animals and birds play amid a mysticism of fairies, piskies, serenaded by the wonderful sound of bird song". 

To finish the post there is a mystery or perhaps a legend!

It is said that shortly before his death St.Nectan threw his silver chapel bell into the waterfall. On his death his body and other treasures were placed in a chest beneath the rocks in the kieve.

The years passed until a group of miners attempted to blast their way through to the treasure, but this proved unsuccessful. 

As they were leaving they heard the ringing of a bell and then came an invisible voice which said, "The child is not yet born who shall recover the treasure."