Snowdrops by the River Yealm

As snowdrops were now out we decided to see what the display of these flowers was like by the River Yealm.  We parked the car at Puslinch Bridge and started to walk towards Yealmpton, but it was very muddy.  There were snowdrops out along the river bank but after photographing a few clumps we decided it was too precarious walking so turned back.

 We then crossed the bridge and walked a short way down the other bank of the river, looking at the snowdrops this side of the river and viewing the larger clumps on the other side.  This path soon runs out so we returned to the bridge by the road.

It was interesting to compare the conditions with what we had found last year (5 February 2011).  Today there was a lot more water coming down and there were no stones to be seen in the river.  The river level was also much higher at the bridge.

We then crossed over the road and walked along the river parallel to the old railway line.  We chose to take the lower path next to the river and saw more snowdrops.

Last year when we came the tide was out, but this time it was in so it was a prettier walk.  The path was narrow and there were a lot of tree roots, so it was not particularly easy but it was not too muddy.  Eventually we made our way up a bank to the old railway line and walked along this until we could go no further without scrambling down a steep bank.   We turned back and decided to walk the whole way back on the railway line path.  However as we neared the road it became quite muddy and the lower path had been better.

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