Bluebells at Lanhydrock

As we drove up to Lanhydrock we saw bluebells in the hedges.  There were even more as we walked from the car park to the Reception.  The woods on the right are called Bluebell Woods and this is an appropriate name - they were carpetted with bluebells.

We walked down the hill, and noticed bluebells in the fields on either side.  We started by going into the gardens that surround Lanhydrock House.  The formal gardens at the front were beautiful, even though the tulips were fading.

The gardens were looking magnificent with the vibrant colours of rhododendrons and azaleas, often with bluebells underneath them.

We climbed up to the Higher Garden then left the gardens to walk through woods down to the River Fowey.  There were bluebells bordering the paths and bluebells in the woods.

We walked down to Respryn Bridge then turned back and made our way back to Lanhydrock through the Great Wood.  Again there were bluebells everywhere.

Bluebells in Hardwick Woods

We decided to follow part of the walk http://www.walkingbritain.co.uk/walks/walks/walk_b/2018/ that went around Hardwick Woods.  We parked in Saltram Estate and walked to Stag Lodge then along the road to Hardwick Wood.  The walk instructions gave the impression this was a short stretch but it was quite long.  The road was very busy and the grass verge was narrow.  Not pleasant.

Once we were in the woods it was full of bluebells and wild garlic and very beautiful.  Wild garlic lined the path to begin with.  In places there was a carpet of bluebells under the trees, then we came to a path lined with bluebells.  It was unfortunate that there was no marking on the paths so we were not sure which way to go.

We walked back to the entrance of Saltram Estate.  The grass verge was wider this way but it was still not a short or pleasant walk.  If we visit again we will park at a layby at the entrance of the wood and not at Saltram.

Bluebells in Plym Bridge Woods

We parked at Wood Park, on the right off Plymbridge Road, (from Estover) just after the road narrows and before the car park at the bottom.  We walked across the footbridge over Plymbridge Road and into Plym Bridge Woods.  There were lots of bluebells in this part of the woods high above the river.

We followed the signed red route, that took us on a fairly flat path until we dropped down to the cycle path which took us to the viaduct.  People were watching the peregrin falcons from there, but we didn't stop but walked down the steps to the river side and walked along to Plym Bridge.  We then walked across the meadow and crossed the Plym on a foot bridge before climbing up to woods that took us back to our car.

Saltram

It was a beautiful sunny day so we went to see what new delights there were in Saltram Gardens.  The bluebells were now in flower and the rhododendrums were still spectacular.

Along one path were some very dark tulips.  They had quite small heads and there were not many of them, it looked as if there had been a bed of them in the past and these were all that were left.

After walking around the gardens we decided to walk further in Saltram Park.  We headed up towards Stage Gate, but then turned off to a path that led through woodland.  Here there were many more bluebells, mixed in with wild garlic and the occasional pink campion.

As we walked further along we came to a beautiful display of bluebells in the wood.

Bicton Gardens and Parke

Using Tesco vouchers we obtained tickets for Bicton Gardens cheaply.  As we entered the Gardens we first went to the Italian Gardens, which were beautiful - formal beds, lawns and a small lake with fountain and swans.  Wisteria was growing round doors to the Orangerie, and glass house.

We then walked around the rest of the gardens and ended it by sitting by the lake to eat our lunch.  Here we saw a family of ducks and ducklings.

On our way home we stopped at Parke (NT).  We walked down to the river and walked along the path following the river upstream for sometime - a very pleasant walk, which will be beautiful when the bluebells are out.

Yelverton to Clearbrook, Dartmoor

We parked the car just outside Yelverton at the Rock, crossed over the main road and walked along the cycle path to just above Clearbrook.

View of  Dartmoor from our walk

 We then followed a footpath down to the village of Clearbrook.  There were several Dartmoor ponies grazing in this area.

We went down the road to Hoo Meavy then walked along the river until we climbed back to the cycle path that lead back to Yelverton.  There were lots of bluebell plants at the side of the river and in the surrounding woodland and this should be a very beautiful walk when the bluebells are all out.

Holiday - Day 4 Godrevy Head, Eden Project, Gribben Head

Monday 11 April started cloudy.  We pack up and started to head home.  We decided to go via St Ives Bay and so drove to the north coast of Cornwall to Godrevy Head (NT).  As we got near it became misty and drizzly and the visibility was poor.  We parked looking out to sea, but we could not see far.  But by the time we had had our coffee the mist lifted and we were able to go for a short walk.

For a while we could see the 6 headlands in one direction and Godrevy Island with its lighthouse.  But after about 20 minutes the cloud descended and all this disappeared.  The coast around here had looked spectacular with sandy beaches so we will have to come back when the weather is better.

We drove on, planning to stop at Perranporth to do more of the South West Coast path, but the visibility was so bad we continued east and instead went to the Eden Project.

The Mediterranean Dome had a wonderful display of bulbs.

On the outside there was a mass of mimosa and lovely display of heather.

By the time we had finished at the Eden Project the sun was shining again so we headed to the south coast to do some more of the South West Coast Path.  We went to Fowey and parked in a National Trust car park at Church Farm on the outskirts of the town.  We walked down to the beach at Polridmouth and then up the hill to Gribben Head.  The views were wonderful in both directions and worth making the climb to the top.

View up the river to Fowey

View over Carlyon Bay

Gribben Head

Holiday - Day 3 Marizion, Trengwainton, Trevarno

Sunday 10 April was another glorious day.  We drove to Marizion and walked along the footpath/cyclepath at the top of the beach first towards Penzance  and then we turned round and walked to the causeway to St Michel's Mount. This must be the easiest section of South West Coast path, with wonderful views all the time.

 It was high tide so we did not go across to the island.  As we walked towards Penzance we came to a free car park (Long Stone?).  When we come back again we must use this car park.

We then drove to the outskirts of Penzance to Trenwainton Gardens (NT).  This was quite a crowded garden, with lots of brightly coloured azelias.

On the way back to Mullion we stopped at Trevarno Gardens.  This was a lovely spacious garden with all sorts of beautiful sights.

Trevarno has the national collection of daffodils and we visited the daffodil trial fields.

 In the restaurant there was a display of all different varieties of daffodils.

Beyond the daffodil field were reindeer and a rail track being restored.

We walked back through woodland where bluebells were just coming out.  This wood will look stunning when the bluebells are all out.

We stopped for a cup of tea in the restaurant and a robin was hopping around everywhere. Apparently it was nesting in the wall of the restaurant.

As we ate our cake a peahen was very interested and hoping for some food.  He would not  leave us alone.

Aenomes in the kitchen garden

Holiday - Day 2 Helford, Seals and Glendurgan

Saturday 9 April started brightly with the sun shining, so we drove down narrow winding lanes to Helford.

We walked along the South West Coast Path from the car park above Helford  following the estuary as far as Ponsence Cove.  There was a perfusion of wild garlic  along the path as well as primroses, violets and other spring flowers.  The primroses even grew on the cliffs! 

There was one field of daffodils that came down to the path.  From the photo you can see there were the occasional daffodil out as well.

From the path we could look across to Helford Passage on the other side of the river and see the boats moored further up the river.

We then drove on to Gweek to the Seal Sanctuary.  This was a bit disappointing.  It seemed small with small  pools.  It was interesting to watch the seals, penguins and otters playing and we particularly enjoyed watching the common seals as we ate our lunch.

Sea lions

Common seals that entertained us while we ate our lunch.

Seal in nursery convalescent pool

From Gweek we moved on to Glendurgan Gardens (NT).

This garden is in 3 valleys each winding their way down to a beach on the River Helford.  It was a tightly pack garden full of rhododendrums, azelias and other spring flowers, like primroses and bluebells.

For our evening meal we bought fish and chips at Lizard and drove down to Kyance Cove to eat them looking out to sea.  Unfortunately it was so windy that we did not walk far along the coast.

To be continued