Sunday, May 15, 2011

Saturday 14th May 2011 Along the Northern Coast as far as Padstow

We were out early and crossed to the northern shore via the lovely narrow Cornish side roads, stopping first at Porthtowan, which has a very fine beach, and thats about it except for a car park and shops
Like many of the coastal villages, this one is built in a little vallley between two hills, so there is a steep hill and out again.
Next port of all was St Agnes, the fancy sign when entering the village showed a stone harbour, we were surprised that St Agnes is in fact a mile or so away from the sea (uphill) and we wound down the hill to Trevaunance Cover where the mystery of the missing harbour was revealed. Apparently the harbour(s) used to be in Trevaunance Cove, but no less than four of them were lost to the fury of the waves! The last and best one lasted over a hundred and twenty years and lost in 1919, the least successful earliest one only lasted one night!
Here is the road down into the cove with the Post Office and Lifeboat Station on the right
There is a small car park, and an open space with seats,here is the view down onto the excellent beach (though there was a chilly on-shore wind!)
From the same spot this is the view looking back up into the village
Very wisely the local fishermen drag their boats up the concrete ramp and secure them onto ledges well above the level of the waves
This is the view looking back from the beach, shame that the harbour has disappeared!
And to illustrate the wild and rocky nature of the coast round here, this is a distant view from the little seating area
Continuing up the coast we passed through Perranporth, but since they wanted to charge £4 for parking and we only wanted a quick look round we kept going, and the same at Newquay where some comics wanted £5 for parking!
We stopped (for free) at Mawgan Porth and had rather nice pasties and a cuppa at the bakery (a one time petrol station) before continuing to the National Trust car park at Carnewas (Bedruthan Steps) what scenery!
When we were young we used to climb down precipitous steps to reach the beach, not now I'm afraid!
Note how the sea thrift grows right over the edge of the cliff.
We did get as far as Padstow, but by then the car parks were full, so we headed back, diverting into penzance to shop at the Morrisons, it gave me a chance to get another shot of St Michaels Mount in the afternoon sunshine.

No comments: