Plymbridge in Autumn

It was a mild autumn day with the sun ocassionally coming out, so we went to see if the leaves had started to change colour in Plym Bridge Woods.

At Plym Bridge

We parked on the Plympton side of  Plym Bridge and crossed the river to walk up the river. It was a muddy path at times but there was not that much water coming down the river. At one point we had to crawl under and clamber over   a fallen tree!  Some of the trees had begun to change colour  but there was still a lot of green leaves on the trees.

We crossed the river at one point and continued walking up towards Bickleigh.  The path here was better, but before we reached Bickleigh we had a steep climb, which although was a proper path was rough.  At the top of this hill we came to the cycle path that took us back to Plym Bridge. On this path we were high up in the trees and there was some lovely views down into the valley and across Dartmoor as we crossed the 3 viaducts.

Downderry to Portwrinkle

In the past we have walked around Whitsand Bay to Portwrinkle and also from Seaton to Downderry.  We wanted to 'join the dots' and walk from Downderry to Portwrinkle.  We had started to do this once before but realised it was a strenuous walk and we did not fancy having to do it and then walk back.  So today we checked the bus timetable and planned to get the bus from Portwrinkle to Downderry and then walk back.

As we waited for the bus the sun was shining and it was lovely sitting looking out to sea.  The bus ride took just 10 minutes and then the walk back started.  We knew there was was a steep climb to begin with because the cliffs to the east of Downderry are the highest point on the South Cornwall coast.  We had to walk up the road to start with but then took a zig zag footpath.  The path was quite good but there were hedges either side stopping us having a view to stop and admire.  Also there was a lot of ivy which was in flower and attracting wasps.  So we did not fancy stopping too long.  Once we had walked practically to the top of hte cliffs we could look back over Dowderry, but by this time it was cloudy and a mist was coming in from the sea.

Once we had reached the top of the cliffs the path levelled off although there were still some valleys to go down  and up before we finally walked down the hill to Downderry.  It was only as we were on this final stage that we came to a seat.  It would have been good to have somewhere to sit and rest part way!  At one point the path was very near the cliff edge and with the steep drop down this is not a walk to do when the weather is bad

Grenofen to Double Waters

Even though it was now October, the weather forecasters were predicting a scorching hot day.  We thought that most people would head for the coast and it might be too hot to walk far there, so we chose to do one of the walks in "On the beaten track"  The walk in the book started at Buckland Monachorum, but we decided to shorten it slightly and start at the Long Ash Garden Centre.

To begin with we walked across the open moor between Dartmoor ponies, with beautiful views across to tors in the distance.  We gradually started to walk down the hill, and it seemed quite a gentle slope to begin with but as we approached Grenofen it became very steep and the path stony and difficult to walk on.

The river and bridge at Grenofen looked beautiful with the sun shining through trees lighting up parts in contrast to the parts in the shadow.

Bridge at Grenofen

Having crossed the bridge we walked down by the side of the river all the way to Double Waters.  There was quite a lot of water flowing and it was lovely to hear it as it rushed across the granite boulders in rapids.

River Walkham

River Walkham 

Photo taken with auto setting

Photo taken with sport setting

At Double Waters, where the River Tavey meets the River Walkham, which we have just walked along, we  crossed the bridge  and started to walk up the hill.

River Tavy taken from bridge at Double Waters

Bridge at Double Waters

There now followed a section of walking up hill until we reached roads near Buckland Monachorum.  As we had not parked our car there we left the suggested path and followed the road back to Long Ash.  This was fairly flat but there was hedges both sides of the road and no footpaths so not the best walking route.  As promised it was a very hot afternoon and so we were very ready for a sit down and tea and cake at the Garden Centre Cafe at the end of the walk.

Walking by the river had been delightful but the walk back up to the car and the steep section down to Grenofen was not so pleasant.  On a future walk, once the path is open again, I would walk from Magpie Corner to Grenofen and then down to Double Water and return the same way.