Cremyll to Cawsand

We took the ferry from Admirals Hard to Cremyll.  Before starting on the South West Coast Path we followed the Camelia National Collection Trail.  Although some of the camelias were out, most were still to come into flower.

One spectacular rhododendron tree was in flower.

On the South West Coast Path from Cremyll we first passed a bank of daffodils.  Again there were some still to come out, but nevertheless it looked lovely.

The walk gives beautiful views of Plymouth Sound, Drakes Island and the Breakwater.

Due to landslides and dangerous trees there were a couple of diversions on the route and we had to climb up steep steps and slide down muddy paths, but the views were spectacular all the way to Cawsand.

You first come to Kingsand with its narrow lanes and then Cawsand with its beach and rock pools.

Rather than take the muddy paths back to Cremyll and the ferry we caught the bus from Cawsand back to Cremyll and this gave us the opportunity to see Millbrook on the way back.

Hooe Lake to Mountbatten

We parked by the entrance to Radford Park and walked down to Radford Lake.  We turned right as this was the general direction we were going and walked along by the river along the Plym Erme Trail until we reached the other entrance of the Park.  We then walked along the road until we got back to Hooe Lake.  We should have turned right and crossed the causeway and through the arch in Radford Castle!  The way we took was a long way around but being on pavements our shoes stayed cleaned.  On the way back we kept on the South West Coast Path for longer, but  it was very muddy and slippery and so we turned back and made our way through a housing estate back to the main road.

From Hooe Lake we went around the estuary to Turnchapel - a very colourful village. 

We then walked around an MOD area with lots of military vehicles and boats and on to Mountbatten with lovely views over to the Barbican and Plymouth Hoe.  It was so windy it was hard to keep the camera still. 

There is always something to see from Mount Batten and today there was a group of canoeists in the water.

The top of a lighthouse outside one of the yacht clubs in Mount Batten

Saltram

Another grey day, but we felt like some exercise so we went to Saltram Park again.  The snowdrops in the Gardens were past their best, but the daffodils were just coming out.

After walking around the Gardens we walked down to the river and along towards the estuary mouth.  The snowdrops at the end of the Ride were still in flower.

Saltram House Gardens

It was a grey February day, but as we walked around the gardens surrounding Saltram House there were plenty of flowers to see.

The snowdrops were all out - they had been planted around some of the trees and were also scattered along the paths.

There was one bright bed of yellow aconites and cyclamen under a tree really brightened up the grey day.

There was an occasional daffodil out, but most were still to come.  When they do so the gardens will look spectacular.

Dartington Hall Gardens

The rain cleared this afternoon so we took my mother to see the snowdrops in Dartington Hall Gardens.  They were out in the hedges as we drove along and lots in the banks of the gardens.

There were a few crocuses out, but most were still to flower.  We saw one clump of primroses and quite a few hellebores.

The witchhazel trees were at their best and the myrtle smelling lovely.

After tea at the Cider Press we walked a short way along the river.  Snowdrops were there along the bank.  They are supposed to be in perfusion further down the river, but it was too wet and far for my mother to walk.  Another time, or year.

Snowdrops by the River Yealm

I remember as a child, before you were not allowed to pick wild flowers, going to Puslinch Bridge and picking snowdrops.  Yesterday there were lots of snowdrops out under trees in the Gardens around Saltram House, so today I decided to revisit Puslinch to see if there were still snowdrops growing by the river.  I was not disappointed although there were not as many as I remembered.

We parked the car opposite the WI Hall in Yealmpton by the bridge and walked along the river to Kitley Caves.  There were clumps of snowdrops all along the way. and it was a lovely walk with the river gurgling and splashing beside us.

When we reached Puslinch Bridge we walked across the bridge to the other bank where I used to go snowdrop picking.  After a while we turned back and at Puslinch Bridge continued to walk down the river along the old railway line towards the mouth of the Yealm.  The tide was out so not as attractive a view as it might have been, perhaps I will return at high tide another day.

Puslinch Bridge