Walking in Cornwall's China Clay Country

Here I am in Cornwall's china clay country, well away from the normal tourist trails. It's a different world and even has its own pyramids!

First though I have to walk under this bridge as a train thunders above.

My walk from here is uphill along a narrow road. Fortunately very few vehicles come this way.

The house below is one I quite fancy, with large grounds. Would be perfect if situated somewhere else in Cornwall.

Moving on, some distant views across the countryside, which doesn't look too much like china clay country at the moment.

The road narrows and there's a wind turbine ahead.

On the right of the road is an entrance to a farm.

Oh, and another wind turbine.

A Cornish flag is flying high. 

Not everyone though is so welcoming, but on the opposite side of the road ...

...  everything looks quite friendly!

Beginning to look more like china clay territory now. There are sightings of the white china clay - though it does look like snow!

Another wind turbine next to china clay.

Now we have a quarry: Goonavean Aggregates.

There's a lorry waiting to be filled with aggregate. Fortunately any big vehicles, like this, have to go the opposite way to where I have walked.

The general surroundings aren't, perhaps, quite so appealing now.

Yet another wind turbine with the spoils of the china clay in the background.

The white of the china clay but nature is fighting back.

I decided now to retrace my steps, homeward bound, by the Greensplat Quarry.

It's downhill on the return trip, the road is narrow as can be seen by the 6 feet, 6 inches warning sign below. 

A few views across the countryside. 

Going downhill what do I see? The sea in the distance!

High hedges along the road spoil some of the views.

Even the fence is going downhill now.

The end of my walk. After going under the bridge I'm back where I started. On the wall are the details of the bridge.

Now, what way do I go home - oh, yes I remember.

To finish the post, below is a photo I took a while back. The scene is known locally as the White Pyramid.

As for the china clay industry in Cornwall please see my post: The China Clay Industry in Cornwall.

Plus there is much more info at the Wheal Martyn Museum

Thanks for visiting my Cornwall blog. Have a great weekend and week ahead ~ Mike.

The Village of Polgooth, Cornwall

Our feet led us to Polgooth, once a Cornish mining village. To do so we followed a public footpath but found it was nearly blocked by corn - sweet corn - which was as high as an elephant's eye.

We fought our way through the corn, okay a slight exageration, and was soon walking down one of the country lanes.

We reached Polgooth village and some of the old cottages.

But not all of the village houses are old, look at the one below for example. I wonder what the old 18th century tin miners would have made of such a design.

We followed the churns!

The antiques shop was closed but some bits and pieces were in the window.

We noticed the teapot with the motto: Be like a sundial. Count only sunny hours.

We then followed the route to the Polgooth Inn. We've had a few pleasant meals here over the years. Polgooth, by the way, means Goose Pond in the Cornish language.

Some old agricultural machinary languishing  on the grassy bank ...

... and cattle trotting up the green hill.

Pleasant to see poppies and other flowers still on the roadside banks.

The sign post could do with a clean but it details a few nearby places.

There are some interesting trees in the village.

Most of the roads haven't any pavements. So just as well there aren't too many cars about.

A typical road. It can be a bit sticky if two cars approach each other from different directions.

Look out, horses about!

A few horses enjoying the freedom of the green fields.

We are now approaching the main A390 road and the end of Polgooth. In the far distance are buildings used by the china clay industry.

Another corn field alongside the A390.

As we walked along the grass we spotted this lonely little toy dog. Perhaps lost by a child from the school on the opposite side of the road. I placed him somewhere he might be seen. 

This is the old St. Mewan school, there are newer buildings behind.

Next to the Old School is, of course, the Old School House, but no longer used by the school.

And finally a Post Box tucked away at the side of the road. Our car was parked nearby, so it was homeward bound for a pot of tea.

Many thanks for visiting my blog, all good wishes for the weekend and week ahead~ Mike.

A Lovely walk Along Cornwall's Coastal Path From Menabilly - Plus a Few Extras

The sun was out, the sky was blue so we headed for the sea - to Menabilly to be precise. As I have mentioned previously this is Daphne du Maurier country. The house at Menabilly was Du Maurier's Manderley in her book, Rebecca.

The Car Park (a farmer's field) is down a very narrow road, so you have to breathe in deeply if a car comes from the opposite direction.

After depositing fifty pence in the milk churn, as requested, we set off walking towards the sea.

For one instance the sky appeared to be extra blue, so all was well with the world.

There were still a few flowers remaining in the hedgerows.

Ah-ha, there's Gribbin Head and the tower in the distance. The water is for the farm animals, not that there were any of them about.

The Gribbin Tower seemed to get larger as we walked. It was built in 1832 and is a daymark to enable ships and other craft to pinpoint the approach to Fowey harbour.

To visit the Gribbin Head it is a right turn at the wooden walkway - and keep on walking uphill.

We walked the opposite way to Polridmouth Beach. The tide was out.

We then followed the coastal path going east. This is part of the private estate where Daphne du Maurier once lived. The tide was a long way out.

I wandered across the damp sand, which seemed quite a distance, when looking back at the house.

I had time for a paddle!

This is the lake on the estate ...

... and the lake's overflow. From here we carried on our walk along the coastal path towards Fowey. When we'd had enough we turned around and meandered back to our car. A lovely day out!

MOVING ON... One evening during the week we had a walk  in Mevagissey. Hardly anyone about, so all was quiet and peaceful.

The sea wasn't too choppy.

The Mevagissey lighthouse was doing its duty and was sending out its light.

A few fishing boats were resting quietly.

Not too sure of the quality of the fish they are catching - judging by the selection of fish on display below.

A final photo before making our way home.

MOVING ON ... The next day I had to go into St Austell for an eye test. The church tower dominates over the newer style shops.

I noticed this new artwork at the back of the shops. The theme is about Illegal money lenders who, it seems, can cost people more than an arm and a leg!

MOVING ON AGAIN ... A couple of flower photos. The first is of 0ur spider plant, such small, delicate flowers.

And this beauty has just flowered in our garden.

Many thanks for visiting my blog, hope you have an interesting week ahead. 

All good wishes ~ Mike.