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

Holiday - Gardens and Walks in West Cornwall

We had taken advantage of a special deal in the local paper and booked three nights at Mullion Holiday Park for a bargain price of £67.  All we needed was good weather, and we got that!  We were able to visit 3 National Trust gardens and other gardens (Trevarno and the Eden Project) and several walks around the South West Coast Path.

Trelissick Gardens

On Friday (8 April) we drove down as far as Trelisick (NT). First we walked around the gardens - such a beautiful spring garden, with lots of daffodils as well as camelias, rhododendrums, and azelias and other spring blossom.  

I was particularly looking to see if any bluebells were out and there were an odd one or two.

The view from one edge of the garden is beautiful.

After walking around the garden we did the North Wood walk around the estate.  First we walked down to the beach then along the estuary to King Harry's Ferry then up the road and back into Trelissick.

Lizard Point





We then drove on to the Lizard, right to the Point.  The first thing I noticed that whereas at Trelissick bluebells were only out singularly, here they were in flower in clumps.

First  we walked first towards the west to Portreath Beach.











We then walked back  and stopped for an ice cream at Lizard Point.  As we ate this we saw 2 choughs fly around and a kestrel hovering and then swooping down to catch something.


    

We then walked on to Housel Bay.

On route to Housel Bay.

After our evening meal we drove down to Mullion Cove, but we were not over impressed with this harbour.

To be continued

Antony

Antony Woodland Gardens are only free to NT members when Antony House is open.  The house is not open until April and then for only 3 days a week, so this was the first opportunity this year to visit the  Woodland Gardens.

We walked through Antony House grounds, admiring the cherry trees, but knew that the Woodland Garden would have a lot more to see.

There were masses of primroses and violets on the sides as we walked down and along the River Lynher.

There were occasional bluebells amongst the other spring flowers.

As we walked along the river we could see across to Ince Castle.

Usually when we visit the Antony Woodland Garden at this time of year we make our way to the top of the garden where there are lots of rhododendrums.  This part of the garden had been closed off, probably because of plant disease.  There were, however, some rhododendrums in the gardens.

Because the walk around the gardens was shorter than usual we decided to do the walk on the other side of the road.  This followed the River Lynher and there were views to Port Eliot and the Tamar Bridges.

Cadover Bridge to Shaugh Bridge

Cadover Bridge

The river at Cadover Bridge was shallow and wide.

To begin with  walked along the river but gradually the path went uphill into woods.  Initially we could see the river below but then we lost sight of it, but we could still hear it as it roared down past rocks.  The woods were very green, there were not many flowers out except some delicate white flowers that were growing on the mossy rocks.  They looked liked white spots in the distant.

 

After passing the Dewerstone on the other side of the river, we started to go downhill and eventually we came to Shaugh Bridge.

The view as we ate our lunch

The River Plym at Shaugh Bridge

Mount Edgecombe Country Park

It was a sunny day although there was a cold wind, so we decided to go to see the camellias in Mount Edgecombe Country Park.  The ferry over from Admirals Hard to Cremyll was rougher than I have experienced before.  It was disappointing that none of the cafes or restaurants were open until Easter, the small shop by the entrance did not even have any chocolate bars for sale!

At the bottom of the park, by the sea, the camellias were newer plants and were spotted around in a rather formal way.  When we reached the top of the park there were many more camellias and they were mature plants and made a lovely display.

Again I saw a two tone pink/white camellia which I would like to purchase but it had no label. This specimen seemed to have some plain pink flowers as well as the two tone ones.

There were many other signs that spring has well and truly arrrived.  The swans were sitting on eggs by the ferry quay, the geese on the pond were making a terrible noise during their mating rituals, ferns were unfurling, and there were lots of primroses, rhododendrums and other spring flowers.