Looe to Mildenreath

We caught the train to Looe, a very pleasant train ride with beautiful views out of the carriage all the way. As we approached Looe there were many birds in the river - herons, egrets, curlews as well as gulls and ducks.

After walking around Looe and having some lunch we followed the South West Coast Path towards Mildenreath.  There was a long steep climb up from Looe town, but the view from the top of the cliff over the beach to Hannafore Point was worth the effort.

We continued walking around the coast.  There was a proper path all the way, and we were often on quiet roads between attractive houses.  After we had gone down to Plaidy Beach we had to go up another hill and then down a long hill with steps to Mildrendeath.

We then turned around and walked back to Looe.  It had been an ideal walk for a winter's day when other paths would have been muddy.

Parke and Bovey Tracey

We parked the car at the National Trust car park outside Parke.  We walked down to the river Bovey, crossed the bridge and then walked up the river.  It was flowing fast and at times had burst its banks.

At the end of the path we climbed up a small slope to the old railway line which quickly led on to the road.  We followed the road up a long hill.  Half way up there was a gate signposted to Parke, but the walk description told us to continue up the hill and take a later path.  We followed this instruction, but the climb was punishing and having looked at the map back at the car park we wished we had taken the first path.  When we left the road we walked through some woodlands.  It wasn't a particularly interesting walk, although there were some views to the distance.  Perhaps it would have been better when the leaves were on the trees.  At the end of the woods we had to go across a field and then through some more woodland and back to the car park at Parke.

We wanted a longer walk so continued on back to the river, but this time turned right and walked down the river towards Bovey Tracey.  After walking around the town and having lunch we then walked back.

Although it was January it has been so mild that there were primroses out at Parke.

Cothele

There had been frequent heavy showers all day so we did not want to walk far from the car, but wanted to get out into the countryside after over a week of wet miserable weather.  As we drove down to Cothele we saw primroses in the hedges.  We parked by the river and started to walk on the path towards Calstock.

After the Calstock lookout that gave us a wonderful view down to Calstock and the bend in the river, we took the path up to Cothele House.  When we got to the House we discovered it was closed so we followed the road back down to the river and our car.

Saltram Gardens

The mild winter has brought the snowdrops and primroses out even though it is only December.  This was twice as unusual as summer flowers such as cranesbill and hydrengeas were also in bloom!

Saltram at Christmas

We went to Saltram planning to have a short walk around the gardens between showers.  At the reception we were told that a tour of the House was just about to start, so we joined this.  The theme of the tour was "Saltram at Christmas".  Some of the rooms were decorated for Christmas and as we walked around the guide explained how Christmas was celebrated through the ages at Saltram.

After looking around the house we did get our short walk around the gardens.  We were surprised to see the first snowdrop.

There were also some other flowers still out, such as white hydrengeas and another flower I did not recognise. that looked like it was related to orchids.  Some of the camelias were also showing colour.

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Eden Project

Eden is a great place to visit during the winter when it could rain at any time. We particularly went to visit the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, which did not disappoint.  There were some stunning photos.

As we walked into the biodomes we saw daffodils flowering - only a couple of months early!

As usual there were lots of bright unusual plants to see in the tropical rainforest.



The new Bakery Shop situated between the two domes looked very enticing but in the Mediterranean Dome there were lovely smells of cooking and we chose to eat the Breton Fish Stew and Hungarian Bean Goulash there instead.  Delicious!

As we walked back to the Visitors Centre and Exit we noticed this shrub covered by berries, just as bright as the tropical flowers in the domes.

Saltram in Autumn

As we approached Saltram we could not help notice the berries on the bush by the gate.

As we walked through the gardens we saw a pheasant, the first time we had seen one there.  It was a pity it moved as I photographed it!

Some of the trees looked spectacular with their autumn colour.

In contrast there was a wonderful white hydrengra