Yelverton to Tavistock

We have been so busy this summer looking after our grandchildren and the Christians Against Poverty ministry that we have not been out walking except when on holiday.  (See my holiday blog for details of our holiday)  today,   When we have had a few hours free we have visited gardens, which I have posted photos of in Tumblr. or short favourite walks in or near Plymouth, such as around Saltram, Wembury or Mount Batten.

Today, however we had a whole day free so decided to walk from Yelverton to Tavistock.  We caught the bus to Yelverton then followed the Cycle Network Route 27 all the way to Tavistock.  It was a very easy walk of about 5 miles.  It was flat or downhill most of the way, with only one slight incline.  The path was tarmaced all the way and most of the way it was in countryside away from roads.  There were lots of wonderful views over Dartmoor and the Walkham valley.

After an hour we walked across the spectacular Gem Bridge and just a bit further on we came to the Grenofen Tunnel.  As we approached this we felt the temperature drop.  You could see the light at the end of the tunnel but it was very dark in the middle of the tunnel, with water dripping down from the ceiling.

It took us about 1.5 hour  to reach the edge of Tavistock.  We walked into the town to buy our lunch and then ate it by the River Tavy.

We then walked back the way we had come along the canal, but instead of keeping to the cycle path we stayed on the canal path and walked to Crowndale Farm, the birthplace of Sir Francis Drake and then on to Shillamill Viaduct.

West Pentire Headland

I had heard that there was a beautiful wild flower meadow on West Pentire headland so as it was a lovely day and we had all day to walk we drove there and walked around the headland and continued on the south west coast path to the other end of Holywell before returning on an  inland path.

We hoped to find the National Trust car park, but could not see where to go for that so ended up in a car park at West Pentire.  Although we had to pay it was very reasonable (£2 for 4 hours) and the view over Crantock beach towards Newquay was stunning.

As we started to walk around the West Pentire headland we saw the field of wild flowers to our left.  It was a bit disappointing.  Photos we had seen from last year showed many more poppies.  I am not sure if we were too early in the year or it was not such a good display this year.

The walk on the South West Coast path was beautiful.  The sea was a lovely blue and beaches we passed very sandy and enticing.  On the headland there was masses of sea thrift that added to the colour.

We stopped for our lunch overlooking Holywell beach - a magnificent view!

Generally it was an easy section of the coast path with gentle hills and no steep climbs.  However once we had reached Holywell we had to walk through the sand dunes to reach the other side of the beach.  This is never easy, but it was not too bad.  We had some problem finding the inland path to take us back to the car park, but a helpful attendant at the NT car park gave us directions.  We were following the walk we had downloaded from the NT website,http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/article-1356405233898/ but it needed more detail at this point.  Further on in the walk we were unsure which path to take, but decided in the end to make our way down to Polly Joke and then take the path across the headland.  This was not the route on the walk and involved a steep climb up from Polly Joke, but by taking it we saw more wild flowers and walked through the wild flower meadow at West Pentire to get another view of it.

After a rest  in the car admiring the view across Crantock Beach, we headed home.  At one point we missed our road and ended up going down a lane, that got narrower and narrower, with grss in the middle of the road.  This is never good, but it was made worse by being met by a lorry coming in the opposite direction!  I had to reverse a long way - not easy with a lorry bearing down on you!

To give me a break after this experience we stopped at the National Trust property, Treice. Although the gardens are only small there was some lovely plants, particularly different roses.

Wild flowers at Burrator

Saturday morning was showery so we did not head out until the afternoon.  We wanted somewhere nearby and sheltered if the rain came back.  We therefore decided to go to Burrator and walk around the reservoir.  It was lovely to see the rhododendrons.  There bright purple complemented the blue of the water and green of the surrounding moor.

There were still some bluebells out.  I was surprised how many bluebell plants were in the woodland around the reservoir.  Generally the flowers were dying but we found one patch still looking good.  I must remember to return next year when all the bluebells are out as it should be a good display.





The foxgloves were just coming into flower and near the water we saw yellow irises.  At times the path was very muddy but the flowers and beauty of the reservoir and surrounding moor made the walk very worthwhile.

Lanhydrock - Cycle track and Bluebells

It is bluebell season so a lovely time for a walk in the woods around Lanhydrock House in Cornwall.  But before we set off to explore the woodlands we wanted to see the cycle trails that have just been put in near the car park. We obtained a map from the cycle hire centre and followed the signs to the cycle trails.  The first part of the path is for cycles and walkers, but as the paths separated  we decided to follow the green trail, the easiest, which promised 1.5 miles of wide, firm track.  It was an easy walk, mainly through conifer woods, but not much of interest to see.  Many trees had been cut down to make space for the path, and some had obviously been blown down in the storms in the winder.

This is a wonderful facility for families with bikes, but not the most interesting walking routes.  However, we might try some more of the paths another time, in case there is more to see on them.

After lunch we headed down to Lanhydrock House.  As we approached the reception centre we could see bluebells on either side of the path.  The wood on the right was particularly spectacular.

When we entered the gardens at Lanhydrock House  the tulips in the formal beds quickly caught our attention.

The rhoodendrons and azelias brightened the gardens, although some of the rhododendrons were not fully in flower.

From the gardens we walked down through the woods to the River Fowey.  There were bluebells throughout the woods, but some of them were not out as far as those by the Reception Centre.  This meant the looked more like a blue mist in the woods, that was not so spectacular close up but looked lovely in the distance.

Tasvistock

As a break from driving we decided to take the bus from Plymouth to Tavistock.  We had been wanting to do this for a few weeks since we learnt there is a duo ticket that meant both us of could travel there and back for £8, which we thought was good value.  We caught the double decker bus by Plymouth Railway Station and enjoyed the view from the top deck during the journey.

After coffee in the Wharf coffee shop we started by walking along the river to the centre of Tavistock.  There was a lot of water coming down the weir.

We spent a pleasant hour looking around the pannier market, the stalls outside and other shops before a fish and chip lunch.The market is certainly a very interesting place to visit.

We then walked up to the viaduct and onto the old railway line that is now a cycle and foot path.  From here we had an elevated view of Tavistock.  After going under several bridges we came to a road which we followed downhill until we came back to the main road by Drakes statue.  Another time we will walk up the canal from here but today we made our way back to the centre of Tavistock.  We had intended to walk along the canal but we noticed some purple by the river and so went to investigate.  It was masses of crocuses that had been planted at the end of  Meadowlands.  A lovely cheerful site.

Tavistock is definitely a good destination for a day out from Plymouth, and with buses every half an hour it is easy to use public transport.

Saltram and Bovisand

On 20th February we went to see the spring flowers in Saltram Gardens.  Most of the snowdrops were past their best, but the crocuses made a lovely display.




























As there were black clouds gathering we did not want to walk around Saltram Park, so instead drove on to Bovisand where we sheltered in the cafe until the rain had past.  We had heard that the recent storms had washed the sand away from Sandy Palour so when the rain stopped I walked down the steps to see for myself.  I hardly recognised the beach where I had spent may happy hours building sandcastles and dams to try to stop the water coming in.  Now it is a rocky beach, with only one small patch of sand.  Where will all the sunbathers lie you?  I came away feeling quite sad.

At the bottom of the steps where you walk across rocks I noticed that the rocks were showing interesting copper colours.  Also there were a number of cracks in the rocks and some had already been damaged.  I had never seen this before.

River Erme at Ivybridge Woods

After weeks of heavy rain we anticipated the river Erme at Ivybridge would be looking spectacular.  And we were not disappointed.  The water was rushing down over boulders at speed.  There was definitely white water!  There was a lot of water running off the land either side of the valley making streams and waterfalls as it ran into the river.

One of the stream running down to the river

Storm damage at Mount Batten

We have weeks of storms and heavy seas, including last night.  Today it was dry so we thought we would go for a walk around Mount Batten.  As we walked along by the river we were surprised to see the damage that has been caused by the sea.  Stones had been flung from the river onto the path.  Paving stones on the path beside the water had been taken up and flung across the grass.

The wall around the seating area of the Mount Batten Inn had been damaged and men were making it safe.  The gangway to the ferry pontoon had also been damaged and the ferry was docking further up the river.

It was amazing that there was so much damage in what is a relatively sheltered spot, in the lee of  Mount Batten  and within in the breakwater.

Saltram snowdrops

For once it wasn't raining so we went for a quick walk at Saltram.  I particularly wanted to see the snowdrops that I anticipated would be out by now.  And I was not disappointed.  As soon as we entered the gardens we saw the snowdrops that had been planted in the first flower bed during the last year.

There were also snowdrops around several of the trees and at the side of the Lime Walk and other beds in the gardens.

There were also other  flowers out showing that Spring was on the way.  An occasional daffodil was in flower, although most were still in bud and and there were some primroses peeping through.  Crocuses  were showing their colour but not fully out.  Amongst some of the beds of snowdrops there were aconites.

There were also shrubs and trees in blossom adding to the colour in the garden that brightened the day.

Azelia

Camelia

Witch Hazel

 Having walked around the gardens we decided to walk down to Snowdrop Wood in the grounds on the Boundary Walk towards Marsh Mills.  On the way we saw a new signpost which was a very interesting design.

 There were a lot of wild snowdrops in the area of Snowdrop Wood.