Central Park is right on our doorstep so I frequently walk around it. Although plenty of trees there are not many flowers there. In early spring there are a few snowdrops, some crocuses and some daffodils. Then the bluebells bring splashes of blue and the cherry trees in Pounds Park make a colourful arch.
The most spectacular display is from the rhododendrons and azaleas that are in or near Pounds House.
We caught the train to Bodmin Parkway and walked from there along an old carriage way parallel to the River Fowey. It was a pretty walk with woodland both sides and after the initial slope down nice and flat. At Rospryn Bridge, after walking through the car park and over the bridge we continued along the river path. There is an accessible path further away from the river, but we chose the rougher path so we were beside the the water. It was still a reasonable path to walk on, although may not be good after wet weather.
Soon we were seeing daffodils at the side of the path. After a while there was a large area of them. After crossing the bridge we saw many more daffodils on this side of the river. I would have liked to have explored these woods further but we had a train to catch so returned to the station. If we had more time we could have walked up to Lanhydrock House or further along the river to Lostwithiel.
However this had been a very pleasant hour walk.
I only wanted a short walk today so thought we would take the yellow route around Buckland Abbey estate and a wander around the gardens. Part of the yellow route was closed off. Thankfully other walkers told us about it so we did not have to walk down the hill and then up again, as there were no signs about the closure. There was nothing of interest on the yellow walk, and the butterfly maze on the way there was also very disappointing. However the gardens were looking lovely. There was lots of colour in the Cider house border and the wild flowers outside the Abbey were a picture.
Walking around Mount Edgecumbe is always good, and an ideal place to go on Bank Holidays when the roads are busy. We made an early start so we could get an car parking space near Admirals Hard and drank our coffee in Mount Edgecumbe Park watching a very large ship coming down the Tamar and out to sea.
There were a number of hydrangeas in the park, varying in colour to bright blue to pink.
After walking around the Park we decided to try a new walk and go to Milbrook. From the entrance to Mount Edgecumbe House we crossed the road and followed a path through woods. This was a well defined earth path that initially ran parallel to the road but gradually went down hill. Occasionally we had glimpses through the trees out to the river, even as far as the Tamar Bridge.
The path became steeper towards the end and eventually it came down to the waters edge at Higher Anderton. We then walked along the lakeside road towards Milbrook. It was high tide so the Lake was pretty. We crossed over the causeway and around the pond to the bus stop in the village. As a bus was due I could not stop to take any pictures of pond, where there were geese and swans.
The bus took us back to Cremyll and we sat again in the Park eating our lunch. I always enjoy discovering new walks and this is one I will definitely be doing again. I have heard there are lots of bluebells in Clarick Woods so I aim to come back next May.
I have just realised I have not posted any blogs on walks I have done since the beginning of June. There have not been many as I have spent time with grandchildren and details of the long weekend away in Padstow are in my holiday blog. However there have been a couple of walks that I should record.
In the middle of June I drove to Cadover intending to walk to Shaugh Bridge. This is a repeat of a walk I did when I first moved to Plymouth. I started walking through the woods following a broken pipe line. The path was rough with lots of tree roots and stones sticking up. I took the upper path as I hoped it would be better than the one nearer the river. At one point the path became smooth and so I was not watching my feet so carefully and tripped over a tree root. I went flying! Fortunately there was not real damage but I was shaken up. I continued walking for a while and saw the Dewstone on the other side of the river, but when it came to a muddy slippery patch I did not feel confident to jump from one stone to another so turned back.
On the way back I took the lower path and there was some lovely views of the river. It looks so different to when it flows over flatter ground near Cadover Bridge.
It was a pity not to have made it to Shaugh Bridge, but having had many months not able to walk because of an injured knee I did not want to damage it again. I am conscious I need to walk on easy paths these days.
Another sunny day so I made an early start and drove to Burrator. As I approached the reservoir I was met with some highland cattle wandering along the road. They did not seem to mind the cars, even though they had a young one with them.
I walked from the dam to Norsworthy Bridge, taking the inside path that goes along the shore of the reservoir. Often there are beaches beside the water but today the reservoir was very full and came right up to the trees. There were some purple rhododendrons and yellow azaleas that added to the beauty of the scene. There were also patches of bluebells all the way along.
The path was flat but rough in places with tree roots and stones, so I had to be careful how I walked. There was a lot of water flowing into the reservoir but only one stream had overflowed across the path. As I approached Norseworthy Bridge the river was flowing fast over the stones.
Being out early there was no icecream van at Norseworthy so I had to return without any refreshment. There wasn't even one at the dam when I returned to my car. It was a very pleasant walk, with very few people walking along the inside path, although there were a lot of cars at the dam and people walking along the road. I think the inside path is a secret that few have discovered.
It was a hot sunny bank holiday Monday, I knew the roads would be busy and car parks full so I decided to stay local and walk along the South West Coast path from Cremyll to Cawsand. I was out early enough to park in the overflow car park at Admiral's Hard and caught the 9.15 ferry to Cremyll. There were a few other people on the ferry but not so crowded we couldn't social distance.
I started by walking through Mount Edgecumbe Park. The flower beds outside the Orangery had been planted for the summer but were not yet making a show. Further along the coastal path there were the camelias from the National Camelia collection, but these were past their best and only a few flowers remained. Most of the bluebells had also finished flowering, although there were some in the woodlands. There were however rhododendrons giving bright splashes of colour and I saw the first foxgloves of the season.
After we had climbed the long flight of steps which is the worse part of this walk, we expected a gentle downhill walk into Kingsand. However, there was a fallen tree and the South West Coast path was diverted up through the deer park and then down a steep path through trees. The ground was very dry with loose earth and stones so this was not easy walking and I was glad when we returned to the normal path.
It was high tide so Kingsand and Cawsand were busy with people who could not sit on the beach. I thought about returning to Cremyll immediately by bus and arrived at the bus stop just when the bus was due. After waiting for 20 minutes I realised the bus must have been early and I had missed it. So I walked back into Cawsand and found a seat on the terrace of The Bay restaurant and had a fish and chip lunch. I then returned to the bus stop some time before the bus was due to make sure I did not miss it again. The bus was late so I thought I would miss the ferry, but there were so many people wanting to return to Plymouth that they had put on an extra, large, boat and I was able to catch that one.
The section of the South West Coast Path from Cremyll to Cawsand is one of my favourite and I have done it many times. It never ceases to delight with the wonderful sea views. Hopefully the fallen tree will soon be dealt with and it will be the easy walk that it has been in the past.
