A Pleasant Walk at Boscastle, Cornwall

Today it is Boscastle, Cornwall. The photo above shows the hazardous entrance to the harbour. 100 years ago this was the only place a harbour could be built on this stretch of Cornwall's intimidating north coast. 

It was an active port and harbour until the railway reached Cornwall in 1893. Today there are just a few fishing boats and pleasure crafts in the harbour.

Boscastle is now very much a tourist destination. There is a very large car park and from here it is a walk to the old harbour wall. You can't get lost - you just follow the small river, as shown in the photo below.

Along the valley there are a few cottages and buildings ...

... most constructed from local stone.

You'll also find a Witchcraft Museum! It is said to be the oldest and largest collection of items relating to witchcraft and the occult in England.

The river gradually widens. I snapped the photos when the tide was low, okay very low!

There's somewhere to get a cuppa or lunch in Boscastle. Several of the old buildings now cater for tourists needs.

At last we get the first glimpse of the old harbour wall, only a couple of small boats to be seen.

Below is a close up of the stonework of the harbour wall, said to have been built way back in 1584.

Another view of the entrance to Boscastle harbour.

The photo below was taken from the harbour wall looking inland.

There's somewhere to tie up your boat.

On our walk we now had to retrace our steps to a small bridge so we could get to the other side of the valley. The photo shows the main harbour wall from a different angle and also the smaller second wall.

There's a footpath on this side of the river so as to get a higher view from the cliff top.

The photo below is looking inland from the footpath.

After the walk we meandered back to the car, passing The Cobweb Inn ... but then we realised it's possible to also walk along the valley inland, which leads to St. Juliot church.

The church has a significance for any Thomas Hardy followers. He was the architect for the church restoration in 1870 - and it was here that he met his first wife. It is believed that their love affair was his inspiration for his novel A Pair of Blue Eyes. 

All very pleasant!

Thanks for visiting my blog. Sorry that some of the photos are a bit dark ~ Mike.

Also see : My Coincidence Meeting at Boscastle

Cornwall in Duck Egg Blue and Other Colours

We were in St. Austell on the Bank Holiday. A strange choice perhaps, but we wanted to buy some duck egg blue fence paint.

Well, it seemed a good idea at the time. I think my wife must have been under the influence of Alan Titchmarsh! Anyway. we purchased the paint without the help of any loan sharks.

It's strange how, on a Bank Holiday, so many neighbours rev up their noisy grass mowers and strimmers.

On that note we left St. Austell and took the long exit down many steps. The building opposite is the local tax offices.

That's better, a nice touch of colour. I believe there is a Chinese saying: if you have two loaves of bread you should sell one and buy some flowers with the money. Well something like that.

 We made our way back home, and below is part of our patio  fence - that would soon be a duck egg blue colour.

I had a wander around our garden.

There's a bit of colour here and there as can be seen by the next few photos.

Below is a glance of our money tree  (crassula ovata) which is over thirty years old.

Also my wife has a few runner beans in the porch, though they will soon have to go outside.

Opposite our house there are quite a few rhododendrons running wild.

A closer look of the rhododendrons.

Our first hydrangea of the year, a white one.

This is looking across our back garden to our patio.

Ah, and at last, we have the duck egg blue fence my wife wanted, with a dark slate colour at the bottom.

A similar photo. Oh dear, just remembered we now have to paint the outside table and eight chairs.

The dark slate colour.

 I've rambled on enough, so final photos for today.

Thanks for visiting my blog.

P.S. Thought I'd better squeeze in a bit of  Cornwall's coastline ~ Mike

A Walk Along Par Beach, Cornwall

It's Par Beach today, not perhaps one of my favourite beaches but it's pleasant to walk along the sand.  Oh yes,  I nearly forgot, dogs like the beach.

The tide goes out a long way  and, when the tide is high, the water is still shallow unless you walk quite a distance into the sea. Children seem to like this in the summer season.

Backing onto the beach are some sand dunes.  

Below is part of the beach looking from the dunes, with green fields in the distance.

At the far back of Par Beach are caravans and chalets to let in the summer season. This area is now known as Par Sands Holiday Park.

The caravans are all neat and tidy.

Here are a couple of the chalets by a lake.

The lake is deep, so swimming, fishing and boating aren't allowed.

Seagulls, Canadian geese and ducks gather around the lake. Mostly because people like to 'feed the ducks'.

Looking across the lake, with a couple of chalets on view.

The sun got brighter as we walked and more people headed to the beach.

We had parked our car in the bumpy carpark. The cost was £1 per hour - I don't know if this will increase in the main holiday season.

The photo below, of  Par Beach, was snapped last summer.

If you like walking you'll find  Cornwall's coastal path in the Par Beach carpark. Looking towards the sea it's on your left towards the back of the car park. There's a lovely walk to Polkerris  (and beyond) along the path - the photo below was taken in July.

Here's a blog post on Polkerris: 

Photos of the Magical Polkerris Harbour

That's all for today. 

Thanks for visiting my blog ~ Mike.