The Magical Hall Walk at Fowey Cornwall - With Lots of Photos

Today one of my favourite Cornwall walks. There is something about this area which resonates with me. I find it quite magical. I'd better add that the photos are prior the coronavirus

There is a story about King Charles I and the English Civil War relevant to the area: On the 17th of August 1644 King Charles narrowly escaped death when a shot killed a poor fisherman who was standing where the King had stood but a short while before.

This is generally known as the Hall Walk. We usually park the car and then walk down the Esplanade towards the town ...

… until we reach what was once Sir Arthur Quiller Couch's home - as below. It is said he would look at the river and the beautiful view as inspiration for his poems and writing.

From here we catch the small ferry across the River Fowey to Polruan. Note that, to confuse things a little, the ferry sometimes runs from Fowey Harbour - usually in winter.

It's only a short ferry trip but it adds novelty to the walk - especially as there is also another ferry trip at the end of the walk, but more on that later.

The Lugger Inn is on the Polruan quay. It's possible to explore the small village from here. See my blog Polruan, Cornwall : Coastal Views, Chapel Ruins And A Castle.

To continue the Hall Walk head along the road and left for the hills by the River Fowey. From here their are lovely views across the river.

We make our way along the wooded path looking down at the river. We encountered a cockerel! Goodness knows where he came from but he didn't bother us so we didn't bother him.

Continuing along the path we are now alongside a tributary of the river Fowey with the catchy name of Pont Pill.

It was a shame that the tide was out in Pont Pill as it didn't look its best - was a little muddy looking. But it's still pleasant countryside and we were up high looking down on the river. The fields we walked along here often have cows and other animals roaming free.

Through the trees we could now look down on Ponts Pill itself - so walking downhill for a while now.

Here we are able to cross the Pont Pill as there is a bridge across the water. It's also here that we often make a short detour to the lovely church at Lanteglos-by-Fowey.

Daphne du Maurier was married at the church and there is also a legend about the patron saint who carried his head after being decapitated. See my post: The Decapitated Saint Chose Where He Wanted His Cornish Church To Be Built

It is believed that Pont Pill was also the inspiration for Kenneth Grahame's Mole, Ratty, Toad and Badger's adventures in his book The Wind in the Willows

There is a notice board from 1894 showing 'discharging dues'.

Right, lets carry on walking - it's uphill along the opposite side of Pont Pill.

The path climbs higher and there are views of the river through the trees.

The path goes into a farmer's field via a very old cattle grid.

There is a right of way along the side of the field. Be aware that there are sometimes farm animals in the field.

Once out of the field we are now looking down on the river. If the weather is right the views open up before us. 

Unfortunately when I snapped this photo it was a little hazy but in the distance you can see the entrance to the River Fowey. 

On the hill to the right of the photo it's possible to just make out the Gribbin Tower on Gribbin Head. This is where much of Daphne Du Maurier's book Rebecca is based and also the house Manderley. The Gribbin farmland is the location of the murderous avian attacks in the classic film and Du Maurier's book, The Birds.

As we continue along the path we can now see the town of Fowey on the opposite side of the river.

We now leave the coastal path and head down to Bodinnick and the Bodinnick Ferry to cross the Fowey River. 

We pass the Old Ferry Inn

The Bodinnick Ferry is arriving to take us across the river to Fowey.

But, before we board the ferry, a sneaky look into the garden at Ferryside. This is the house where the author Daphne du Maurier lived when she published her very first novel. The garden is rarely seen as there is usually a big gate stopping any view.

I snapped a quick photo prior to boarding the ferry.

Once on the ferry we can look back at Ferryside.

The ferry takes us back to Fowey. From here we have to retrace our steps, first through the narrow town, and then back to where we parked the car.

A few quick photos of the walk through Fowey.

To see 24 more photos of Fowey itself - though on a dull day - see my post: A Flavour Of the Old Town of Fowey, Cornwall With 24 Photo

MAP SHOWING HALL WALK, FOWEY

Kindly note photos were taken prior to the coronavirus. Stay safe.

A Lockdown Cornwall Walk Plus Dogs and Bude

A safe landing above prior to having our daily walk from home.

Quite a dull morning but nice to get out of the house. "Shoulders back and swing your arms," as my dear old dad would say when I was a lolloping teenager - gosh, that was a long time ago. Anyway, the river is still flowing and bubbling along nicely.

Lots of green about, on the trees and the old walls.

This cottage knows its place in life, judging by its very own signpost: eighteen miles from Newquay and sixteen and a half miles from Truro.

Now it's time to get annoyed! The notice on the pole below clearly states a £500 fine for not cleaning up dog poo. But still some dog walkers don't pick up. Oh, and then there are the dog 'owners' who pick up the poo, put it into a plastic bag, and then leave the bag.

TOBY

How many years do they think that will take to dissolve?

Mustn't let it spoil the walk.

By the way I am very much in favour of dogs. Though we haven't a dog now we previously have had dogs for many years. Especially our border collie, Toby, he was so special.

Some colour to brighten the moment.

And finally for today a photo looking back at pre-coronavirus days. This is Cornwall's north coast at Bude. Looking forward to walking Cornwall's coastal path again. In the meantime stay safe and thanks for visiting my blog.

The Lake on a Sunshine Day - Plus Praise For the NHS

Another day, another day in isolation, other than our daily walk from home. Today we passed what looks like a lake but is the remnants of Cornwall's china clay industry.

The water cannot be used for any activity such as swimming or boating as it is too dangerous.

High on a hill is a wind turbine and a settling tank for china clay.

We wandered back to the lanes and roads leading towards home...

… passing by a country style cottage.

The rushing stream became our companion once more.

Then on an old bridge was a pebble on a bed of moss. But not a usual pebble or stone as it had been decorated in praise of UK's NHS - National Health Service.

There is a hash tag on the pebble #nhspebble. I checked this out but only a few entries so far on Twitter.

I think all of us in the UK, at this time, are in admiration of the courage and kindness of the nurses, doctors and staff of the NHS. 

Many houses have rainbows, such as the one below, in their windows as a symbol of support for the NHS heroes.

Miles and Miles of Smiles at a Cornwall Feast Week

As these are difficult times we are experiencing at the moment I thought I'd travel back to a time to when there seemed to be smiles and joy everywhere - well, at least in Cornwall.

So I travelled back in my time machine to a Feast Week in St.Austell.

Look at all of those smiling faces. Okay the guy below might not look too happy, but he was a contrast to everyone else.

Even the horse was smiling. You can't actually see his full smile but, trust me, his gnashers had a quite a grin.

Of course, some of the more distinguished characters had to hide their smiles - for some people there is a time and a place for everything.

Behind their expressions though there is a build up of smiles waiting to explode.

Now that is some happy hat below! You can see his usual smile in the very first photo of this post.

And the lady below has a lovely smile.

Strewth, even the girl with her leg held high in the air has a wobbly smile.

As for the strong arm of the law there must be at least an occasional chuckle amongst the litigation.

Historically, St Austell had its week of 'feasten' activities surrounding the celebration of the Feast of Saint Austol. Somehow though this fizzled out in 1946. Since then there have been attempts to resurrect the festival.

The photo below is from the Feast in 1910, though most of the participants don't look too happy about the proceedings!

As is apparent the town of St.Austell is named after St. Austol.

The saint had a great friendship with St.Muen (St. Mewan today) of the adjoining parish. St. Muen died on June 21st 627 and St. Austol died seven days later.

Keep smiling, stay safe. As my dear old dad used to say:

Smile awhile
and while you smile 
another smiles
and soon there's miles and miles of smiles.
And life's worth living because you smiled.

Walking and Kitesurfing in Cornwall

The kitesurfing photos, above and the five near the bottom of the post were snapped prior to the coronavirus lockdown.

The next few photos are a 'legal' walk from home. The first part was under the train viaduct I mentioned in my previous post. The train from London to Penzance zoomed overhead while we were there.

The next photo shows some of the brickwork.

A viaduct was first built here in 1858 but had to be replaced in 1899. It's quite a construction as it has ten piers and is 115 feet (35m) high and 720 feet (220m) long.

Below you might be able to make out the original stump of the first viaduct as well as the present version. The newer viaduct has much neater brickwork.

Continuing the walk, some nice old granite pieces in a garden.

An old gate that appears to lead nowhere.

Now back to the kitesurfing. It was a dull, blustery old day.

However, the kitesurfers were having fun.

The kitesurfing pics were taken at Pentewan Beach, Cornwall.

When we returned home from our walk I noticed that one of the geraniums in our porch has started to flower. A sign, perhaps, of better things to come!

Thanks for visiting my blog. Stay healthy.