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 

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.