Photos of Bude Cornwall

While staying in the Bude area, on Cornwall's north coast, the nearest beach to us was Crooklets. Lots of damp sand at low tide and quite a few beach huts all standing neatly to attention.

Not somewhere we lingered for long but the Café did have a tempting rum and raisin ice cream.

From here we often walked across Summerleaze Down, with it's views out to sea. No, that isn't me in shorts and and a pink hat!

SOMETHING DIFFERENT

There is a memorial, photo as above, on the cliff top which might interest USA readers. The wording isn't too clear so I have copied it out in full.

"In grateful and fond memory of the men of the American 2nd Ranger Battalion who were billeted with local families in order to complete their training on the cliffs and beaches of Bude for the D Day mission attacking the German Coastal battery at Pointe du Hoc high on the Normandy cliffs on 6th June, 1944.

They were led by Colonel James Rudder one of America's most decorated soldiers. Although they sustained heavy losses the attack was a complete success".

Rangers lead the Way

We will remember them

Back to walking across Summerleaze Down. Looking from the cliffs the Bude Sea Pool can be seen - as below.

Another  landmark on a high point of the Down is the flagpole in the next photo.

The flagpole is actually a mast of the Bude ketch Elizabeth, which was wrecked on the rocks beneath Summerleaze Point on February 12th, 1912

A few Bude houses

On the sand two RNLI vehicles - The Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

Next two photos of fishing bits and pieces.

A view across to Compass Point.

Now we have the Castle Bude a Grade 2 listed building built in 1830 by Sir Goldsworthy Gurney. It is now a heritage centre with free admission.

This is the 18th century Nanny Moore's Bridge. I wrote a post about the bridge back in 2019 - see here.

And that's it for today - other some artwork on the kitchen wall where we were staying and, yes, it was a Happy Place for us - as the blue artwork suggests.

Thanks for visiting my blog. 

All good wishes ~ Mike.

A walk at Boscastle, Cornwall

Following on from my previous post we were staying in Bude for a week. One of the well known nearby villages is Boscastle, so we headed that way.

Boscastle has an enormous car park (three hours for £3.70) which can get very busy. Fortunately, as it was  starting to drizzle with rain, we found a space quite easily.

We simply walked, following the river, until we reached the very old harbour wall. I snapped the photos as we walked. Fortunately the rain eased.

The harbour is a natural inlet with a very old harbour. The walls were built in 1584 by Sir Richard Grenville.

Grenville served as a Member of Parliament for Cornwall and was also a Sheriff of Cornwall in  in 1591.

Nearing the harbour now, with a few fishing boats in view.

More small boats - and the rain has nearly ceased.

A sighting now of the old harbour wall, also chains from another era.

Steps on the harbour wall. I wonder what tales they could tell.

It's possible to climb higher, even to the very top of the cliffs for some great views. On a previous visit I did manage to climb quite high.

There is also a new harbour wall.

Having sat on the old harbour wall for quite a while - along with a mug of tea, of course - we retraced our steps.

All is quiet in the harbour nowadays but 100 years ago it would have been heaving with activity.  Entrance into the harbour can be difficult and dangerous. In days gone by the old sailing ships had to be towed into the inlet. This was done with the help of hobbler boats, which were powered by eight oarsmen.

Today Boscastle is a busy tourist attraction and the boats to be seen are fishing boats and pleasure craft.

We returned to where we started, but then carried on walking through the Valency valley following the footsteps of the poet and novelist Thomas Hardy. 

As a young man in the 1870's Hardy spent time in the valley while courting his first wife, Emma Gifford.

When I think of Boscastle I always remember the strange coincidence we once had visiting the village see: The Coincidence Meeting At Boscastle, Cornwall.

Oh yes, nearly forgot, there was another coincidence I remember - or maybe it was  magic! Nothing to do with Boscastle though. I wrote a post on this: Magic Brought Us What We Wanted!

I'd better finish this post now before I get too carried away!  Thanks for visiting my blog. All good wishes ~ Mike.

Bude Cornwall 18 Photos

We had an opportunity to stay in Bude on Cornwall's north coast - so we did!

I quite like the area as it has lots of sand. So much so they built a canal to transport the sand - way back in 1825.

The sand, seemingly, is full of minerals and was used by farmers to condition and enhance the soil.

As the sign above states rails were built to transport the sand to the canal. A few of the rails remain today.

The canal is now used for pleasure pursuits.

You never know what you might see on, or in, the canal...

Some of the the canal's machinery is still 0n view.

Below is what would have once been the Bude end of the canal.

Looking across the damp sand, Chapel Rock can just seen. 

A better view of Chapel Rock, which is linked to a breakwater to protect the shoreline. 

Lots more sand below, looking inland from the sea.

A view of the canal wall with houses in the far  background.

Towards the end of the canal there is lovely pink cottage.

If you walk to the back of the cottage there are some pleasant flowers. 

Keep on walking and there is a coastal path leading to the top of the cliffs, with far reaching views.

At the top of the cliffs is Compass Point, a former coastguard lookout built in 1840 and  moved to it's current position in 1880. 

In the far, far distance can be seen some of the (UK) Government Communications Headquarters. I zoomed in with my camera.

There is a much easier way to communicate though, use a Chatty Bench, like the one below. As the sign on the bench says: Sit here if you don't mind people sitting to have a chat.

What a good idea, we saw several of these benches on our walks. There are so many lonely people. Reminded me of the old Carole King song.

There are so many lonely people in the world
So many lonely people who must cry
Just like you and me
They love so carelessly
And let their dreams just pass them by.

On that note I'll finish today's post. There will be more of the Bude area on my next post.

Thanks for visiting my blog ~ Mike.

Mawgan Porth Beach

This is Mawgan Porth beach. A while back the Times Newspaper included the beach in it's Top 10 Holiday Beaches. They wrote: There are better known and busier beaches in Cornwall, but few can match the raw beauty of Mawgan Porth, on the north coast near Newquay.  Shielded on both sides by cliffs, it has acres of soft white sand, rock pools, caves and magical sunsets.

The first five of today's photos were snapped as the tide was going out on a lovely sunny, early morning - so not very many people on the beach - perfect!

The tide goes out a long way, as can be seen by the photo above, but it leaves behind soft squelchy sand with a few clear water pools - oh, and beautiful clean air - breathe deeply - ahhhh!

When the tide is out it's possible to explore caves in the cliffs, which are normally hidden by the sea.

The following three photos were again snapped in the morning, but the sky wasn't so blue and the sea perhaps not so inviting. This is the Atlantic coast so the waves are suitable for surfing.

A small river joins the beach ...

... while the waves start to build.

Mawgan Porth is situated between Newquay and Padstow on Cornwall's north coast.

Thanks for visiting my blog, sorry it's only a quick post today. All good wishes ~ Mike.