We were staying the night in Sidmouth and on the way stopped at Bicton Gardens. The sun was shining and it was really beautiful. As you walked into the gardens the formal beds leading down to the lake were full of colour
There were a few bluebells out but the blossom on trees were spectacular. The acers near the far lake gave a wonderful contrast.
Snowdrops are one of my favourite flowers, so I am always keen to see them growing naturally. A walk by the River Yealm between Yealmpton and Puslinch Bridge is aways a good spot to see them. This year there seemed to be more on the left bank of the river, and the other side of the bridge was so overgrown we did not see any.
Saltram always has a good display of snowdrops. They have planted many in the gardens, but around the reception area they look a bit false at the moment. No doubt they will be better when they have spread naturally rather than in the clumps. The area between the river and Snowdrop Woods always has a good showing and they did not disappoint again this year.
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.
