Spring days are almost behind us now so I thought now was a good time to look back over my impressions of springtime in Cornwall this year. The heady days of spring as the Cornish lanes fill with wild flowers and the hedgerows are full of blossom; at the Cornish cliffs decked with sea thrift, with the fabulous vanilla scent of the gorse drifting through the air laced with the tang of sea salt; to remember the ancient stone circles, revealed again this spring, ever enigmatic. within clouds of blue bells and lastly the old engine houses lovingly preserved relics of the Cornish mine industry shrouded now by verdant green, as nature reclaim its own once more from the industrial landscape of the past.
Sea pinks and sea shores
The Cornish cliffs are never more beautiful than when the rugged granite is gently softened by the tumble of spring flowers. Each year it is a lasting impression of spring to walk to the coastal footpath under scented tunnels of Hawthorn and May trees and find the subtly beautiful sea pinks dancing in the breeze once more and hint of the peaceful days of summer to come.
The South West Coastal footpath
Explore the wonderful costal on the South West Coastal path to discover the real joy of the coast and slowly soak up the atmosphere of the landscape. The coastal footpath stretches for 630 miles from Minehead in Somerset through Devon and Cornwall and back to pool in DorsetRead more about the South West Coastal Footpath: – https://www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk/
Stone circles in the spring
Oh how impressions of the Cornish countryside change with the seasons and this spring I visited Boscawen-un once more and found the path across the moors lined with bluebells and the stones almost appearing to dance in a fairy glade wild flowers – quite a contrast to my last visit on a mellow autumn day. https://ednoveanfarm.co.uk/blog/a-visit-to-boscawen-un-stone-circle/
Cornish mines and Engine houses
Sometimes as you drive or walk around the lanes and paths of Cornwall a mellow old building may catch your eye haunting the landscape with a half remembered occupation.
All that can be seen now (above the ground at least) of the tin and copper Mines that brought prosperity to Cornwall is the last of the Engine Houses often lovingly preserved and half hidden by a veil of trees or stark reminders along the Cornish cliffs. The Crowns Engine houses at are particularly beautiful to visit.
Mines to visit
Geevor
Visit Geevor Formally North Levant Mine, one of the last working tin Mines in Cornwall to close with UNESCO World Heritage site status set high on the Cornish cliffs.
Address: – Geevor Tin Mine, Pendeen. Nr Penzance, Cornwall. TR19 7EW
Opening times: – Sunday – Friday 9.00 am – 5.00pm
Website: – https://geevor.com/
Levant Beam engine
This is the last steam driven Beam engine in working condition in the world set in an evocative post industrial landscape.
The historic Beam Engine remained in situate until rediscovered and restored by enthusiasts who called themselves “The greasy rag gang” before being given to the National trust.
Address: – Levant Road, Pendeen nr Penzance Cornwall TR19 7SX
Opening Times: – Open daily 10.30 – 5.00 pm
Website: – https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/levant-mine-and-beam-engine
Poldark Mine
Visit the underground tunnels of an
Address: – Poldark Mine, Trenear, Wendron, Helston, Cornwall TR13 0ES
Opening Times: – Slightly more complex as the tours are escorted – check here for times http://www.poldarkmine.org.uk/opening-times-and-prices.php
Website: – http://www.poldarkmine.org.uk/index.php
Springtime in the Cornish lanes
The Cornish lanes have been beautiful this year decked with primroses and bluebells in the early spring until subtly enfolded with foxgloves and Campion as the season progressed.
This year after our mild winter, the bright dark pink flashes of the “Whistling Jacks” Gladiolus communis subsp. Byzantium that need a frost free winter to thrive, have fascinated our garden loving visitors. They have spread from the sheltered flower fields that used to send blooms to London long ago and now they have escaped to colonise the frost free far west of Cornwall and the Isle of Scilly.
A final goodbye to spring as summer is here – probably!
As June arrives along with the debate about between the meteorological and astronomical date for the first day of summer, I can only say we either have a few languid last days of spring to relish or have slid happily into the first days of summer ….I’ll leave you to decide!
