The Mysterious Creatures Guarding Helman Tor, Cornwall

The granite dinosaur casts his eye over Bodmin Moor. He has a good vantage point as he silently observes from the top of Helman Tor. The views stretch for miles. On a clear day it is said that Cornwall's south and north coastlines can be seen.

As well as the dinosaur there is a giant turtle or maybe a tortoise.

Okay, okay, a stretch of imagination perhaps, but there are many strange shapes created by the natural granite boulders on Helman Tor. It's fun to see where your imagination takes you.

The shapes and scenery have been viewed by man since Neolithic times - some 4000 years ago. A settlement was created here and homes erected from stones and rocks. Some of the later boundary walls can still be seen - they are there to be touched.

The prominence of the Tor in the landscape may have given the settlement a strategic position for ceremonial and economic functions - a place to meet, worship and trade.

Over the years the granite boulders and rocks have created such strange shapes and patterns on the landscape.

The weather can change quickly on the moors, as perhaps the photos illustrate - from bright blue to drab skies as the wind directions change.

The photo below shows the Helman Tor Logan Stone or Men Omborth in the Cornish language,

Logan stones are balance stones - they can sometimes be moved by hand despite their great weight. It is believed that Druids used these for their rites and rituals. Uneducated people would believe that the priests had magical powers as they moved such huge granite boulders without any effort.

Helman Tor is away from the main Cornish tourist trail and is reached by driving or walking along very narrow roads - which are often single track. So, if driving you have to keep fingers crossed that nothing is coming in the opposite direction - as one of you will have to be good at reversing!

When visiting the Tor I have rarely seen any other people. Though on one occasion I did see many wild ponies at the top - which was quite magical.

The Cave On Charlestown Beach, Cornwall

Cave on Charlestown Beach

Yesterday's Post was about a walk along Charlestown beach in Cornwall, What I didn't mention was that there is a small cave in the cliffs - as per the photo above.

Inside Cave

On Sunday the floor of the cave - above photo - was running with water but still possible to go inside. inside.

Looking Upwards

This is the strange bit. If you look upwards there is a hole right through to the top of the cliffs. Now what is that for? There is an explanation - but it could well be a load of baloney! But here it is.

We go back to the days of smuggling. The smugglers would beach their boat and rush their contraband to the cave. There would be a rope dangling through the hole and this would be used by the smugglers associates to heave the goods to the top. They could then transfer the smuggled goods to a safe house - and the boat would  sail away before the customs men could take any action.

A bit fanciful perhaps!

The rocks and stones below are just because I quite like rocks and stones.

Rocks & Stones, Charlestown Beach

Walking The Beach At Charlestown, Cornwall

Charlestown

It was such a lovely morning on Sunday: cold, but mostly blue sky. We had a stroll around Charlestown harbour and then onto the stony beach via the tunnel.

Tunnel and steps to Charlestown Beach

The tide was out and the cliffs looked at their best.

The cliffs at the end of Charlestown beach

We walked the full length of the beach - no great achievement as it's only a short distance - and reached the final rocks and stones, where we sat to enjoy the sunshine for a few moments.

Rocks and stones at the end of Charlestown beach

We then did an about turn and meandered back to the harbour, while looking for interesting pebbles and stones. There were lots of rock pools as the tide was still fully out.

Returning to Charlestown Harbour

Lerryn Bridge, Cornwall and How It Looked In 1890

How Lerryn Bridge Looks Today

For those who know me through Google+ the above photo may be familiar as this is on my home page. As readers may know Google+, in the company's words, is going away on 2 April 2019 - in other words it is closing.

Anyway, no matter, the photo above is of Lerryn Bridge in Cornwall and surprise, surprise the vintage photo below is how the same scene would have looked in 1890. Not too different really - other than the children may well have moved on since then!

How Lerryn Bridge Looked in 1890

Lerryn is a beautiful spot by the river and there is a lovely walk starting by the bridge. No doubt, when the weather improves, I'll snap a few photos of the walk for this blog.

In the 1500s and 1600s smuggling was a way of life in the village. One of the lanes is called Brandy Lane, named after the smugglers favourite tipple. In the nearby Ethy woods there is an entrance to a tunnel which is said to lead to Ethy House - where the contraband was stashed and hidden from the Excise Men.

There's usually a story in Cornwall!

The Coincidence Meeting At Boscastle, Cornwall

Boscastle, Cornwall

My wife and I had been away on a long weekend break. On the journey home we decided to take a longer, scenic route which took in the north coast of Cornwall. It got to about 11 o'clock and I saw the sign to the coastal village of Boscastle.

I asked my wife if she'd like to visit there, so we could have a tea or coffee while overlooking the sea. She couldn't make up her mind, but I took the turning anyway. When we reached Boscastle I drove into the only car park.

As it was out of the summer season the very large car park was virtually empty, so we found a spot to the middle of one side. As we parked another car stopped directly behind us about four rows back.

My wife went to the back of our car to make some tea - we had a flask of hot water, milk and tea bags with us. I glanced in my mirror and remarked to my wife that the man in the car behind us looked like Mick, a friend of some 30+ years.

To cut a long story short it was our friend and his wife.

Now they live some 150 miles from where we live and they too, unbeknown to us, had also been on a weekend break. They were also on their way home, some 180 miles away.

So a strange coincidence because:

(1) They arrived at the car park a couple of minutes after us.
(2) They parked directly behind us, when they could have gone anywhere in the car park. If they had we may well have missed them.
(3) Neither of us knew the other would be anywhere near Boscastle.
(4) As Mick and his wife drove into the car park they were talking about coincidences!

So, are such coincidences purely by chance - or a meaningful coincidence or synchronicity? Guess it depends on what you believe  - but, whatever, we spent a pleasant unexpected time together,

It's a funny old world!

Snow In Cornwall

Cornwall had some snow! Not a frequent event other than perhaps on the moors - so I felt I had to snap a few photos while walking the lanes. Nice to see the snow, as long as it doesn't linger too long.

Newquay Harbour, Cornwall In 1875 and 2019

Newquay Harbour, Cornwall 2019

I snapped the above photo of Newquay Harbour looking down from the balcony of the Fort Inn. This must have one of the best views in Cornwall as, in the  opposite direction, is Towan Beach and a long stretch of coastline..

However, I used this photo today to compare with how the same scene looked way back in 1875. The main difference being the railway lines stretching onto the middle pier. For a period Newquay was used to export china clay.. The trains enabled workers to load the sailing ships direct from the railway - now only the pier remains.

Today Newquay is a busy holiday resort, known for its surfing and numerous sandy beaches.

Newquay Harbour, Cornwall 1875