Today I’d like to share three of our favourite walks with you. Snaps and impressions of wonderful memories that I’ve treasured over the years.
When a fabulously bright and sunny day dawns in wintertime, the Cornish have a special name for it: – “A day lent from summer” and those balmy sun filled days are perfect for walking in Cornwall and of course making wonderful memories along the way.
Three walks in West Cornwall
Over the years we’ve walked the coastal footpath around the peninsular from Perranuthnoe to Land’ End and then around to St Ives in easy stages. They were a powerful tool in making the winter seem shorter then. And now, looking back through our albums, perfect too for storing memories to treasure for a lifetime.
Treen to Logan Rock
It was around Christmas time that we walked over the flat fields from Treen to the cliffs at Logan’s Rock and contemplated (and only contemplated!) climbing the Rock. Then almost as an afterthought we move over to our right to look at the fabulous view to Porthcurno.
This has to be one of my all time favourite photos looking down from the spare winter cliffs of honeyed granite to brilliantly tranquil, blue seas over. The golden rippling sands were only broken by a heart shape, raised in relief, just above the water.
Call me a romantic but I can never resist using this image again and again, in post over the years. Each time I see it, I relive that winter walk that we shared one Christmas, on a day we stepped briefly into summer.
A picnic in the high Cairns
We walked on this day from the famous Men-an-Tol stone and instead of turning on to the moor to walk over to Ding Dong and Boskednan Stone circle we followed the track onward towards the high cairn far to the left. There is a standing stone Men Scryfa on the left hand side along the way with an early inscription.
Over the years we have spent many happy winter days visiting the ancients sites of West Cornwall and always try to find a great view to eat a lunchtime picnic
It was worth the climb up into the honeycomb of rocks to sit and look down over the Land’s End to St Ives coast road. Look carefully across the patchwork of fields spread out below us and you’ll see a bus probably heading towards Zennor and ship churning across the sea beyond our sheltered eerie.
Lelant Saltings to St Ives
This is a fabulous walk suggested by our friends. It follows the expanse of sands from beach to beach towards St Ives. Our fiends guided us across the estuary that day. A walk wonderful beside the RSPB reserve at Lelant to finally join the coast footpath at Carbis bay
The sands appear to stretch forever at low tide, carrying the rippled patterns of the seabed. It was on these beaches above Lelant Saltings, flanked by tangled wooded, that the young Rosamunde Pilcher roamed in her childhood.
The empty beaches that inspired so many of her books are always ingivorating. My Three beach walks to blow the cobwebs away are a perfect antidote to winter days too!
Follow the coastal path in winter
Walking in Cornwall is a never ending story and with six hundred and thirty miles to choose from it could be an adventure that would last a life time.
In winter time it is as though a page of history has been stripped away from the landscape along with the froth of vegetation from the coastal slopes. It is now that the ancient field boundaries are revealed in sharper relief. this is the time to appreciate the early stone bridges that stand proud over streams and the holy wells that lay, half forgotten beside the route. In the seas below, the sea birds will swirl, dancing on the wind and the Dolphins play with their eternal grace gliding across the waters.
Walking in Cornwall is a rich diversion from the winter months. On some days you may find a day lent from summer and on others, the raw power of the winter storms. So take a walk along the Cornish cliffs this winter and discover a rich store of memories yet to be made?
Useful links
Inspired to try a winter walk? These links may be useful.
To learn more about the south west Footpath and download the walking app visit https://www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk/
Explore the bird life on Hayle Estuary https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/hayle-estuary
Ancient sites to visit in West Cornwall https://ednoveanfarm.co.uk/blog/ancient-sites-to-visit-in-west-cornwall/
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