Day One of the dig on the beach at Burton Bradstock, starts cloudy but dry and the NT working holiday gang arrive ready to go and full of beans. The day was spent de- turfing the marked out trench and the face of the small cliff, and then cleaning back (towelling off an inch or so of topsoil) the first layer.
Cape Cornwall provided the backdrop to a stunning day out on the Coast Path last Friday. The Queen was visiting St Ives and there were hardly any people about, save for a producer of German TV documentaries Manfred Schuchmann and his camera crew.
Sitting atop the Cape, the only one in England, waiting for the Palace security helicopter to pass, we caught sight of a kestrel hovering just metres away from us, before diving down to the base of the cliffs for its prey.
The offshore rocks of The Brisons still look like Napolean in the bath with his Roman nose and double barrelled chest rising above the surface of the water. Priest’s Cove sparkled as the sun reflected off the sea and the path leading down to it was lit up by golden gorse.
Wondering how the chimney on top of the Cape came to be there, we had different theories. Manfred thought it was a monument donated by the Heinz company as a tribute to the Cornish Mining industry that was revolutionary in its heyday. The commemorative plaque would lead to this assumption. However, it is in fact a relic from an engine house that once sat at the base of the Cape.
Heinz company bought the Headland in 1987 to commemorate its centenary and donated it to the National Trust who now maintain and manage the site. Recently, a new route was installed on the seaward side linking the Cape to the National Coastwatch Institution, whereas previously walkers were guided around it.
A cape is generally defined as a headland dividing two seas, and Cape Cornwall was thought to mark the division between St George’s Channel and the Irish Sea on the one side and the English Channel leading to the North Sea on the other. At the same time it was thought to be the country’s western extremity, rather than Land’s End.
This led to yet another query – surely the Scilly Isles, which can be seen off the coast on a very clear day, are the most south westerly point of England? Well yes, although most people would consider it to be Land’s End, which is the most westerly point of mainland England. It certainly felt way out west and will make a great advert for Cornwall when the travel programme is broadcast in September. Watch this space…
Here’s a great walk taking in this mining district – A Twirl of the Cape
The sun came out for our section of the South West Coast Path association walk yesterday and the "ruby boot" was transported from Falmouth to Helford Passage. One boot is being carried along the south coast and will meet its partner, travelling along the north coast, at Lands End.
It was a lovely day and perfect for seeing lots of spring wildflowers and fantastic views of Falmouth Bay and the Helford River.
This weekend is the 25th anniversary of the Great Dorset Beach Clean and truly not an 
anniversary to be celebrating. The fact that Dorset Countryside Ranger Service still coordinates this event reflects directly on the need for people and business’ to become more aware of the impact that rubbish has on our economy and our wildlife.
This year, Coast Path ranger and beach clean organiser Jenny Penney is hoping to attract more volunteers than ever to help clean Dorset’s beaches in the run up to the summer.
She said:
“We hope that our sparkling beaches will welcome the returning visitors who cheered on the Olympic Sailing events last year and that the clean beaches will make a lasting impression on tourists who have been encouraged to visit Dorset for the first time.”
The Great Dorset Beach Clean attracts people of all ages and cultures to help to clean up our beaches. The rubbish that is found on our beaches is not only a health and safety issue to ourselves but also to animals and birds that live along this coastline as well as sea mammals, and the fish that we consume at our table.
By helping out on the 21st April you are also improving your own environment and spreading the word to look after our fabulous World Heritage Coast for the future. In 2008 an incredible 1000 volunteers helped by picking up litter on our Dorset beaches. This year, Jenny hopes to break this record by attracting a wider group of volunteers from sports clubs and companies to give up a couple of hours on just one day of the year.
For more info about the various locations where you can help out this Sunday visit http://www.dorsetforyou.com/greatdorsetbeachclean
For thousands of years, the South West coastline has been a deeply spiritual place.
Mount’s Bay by David Chapman
Cornwall in particular is notable for its spiritual heritage and is awash with Saints, mostly Celtic, reflected in the many places named after them from St Agnes to St Ives.
Today the county celebrated its patron Saint, St Piran, thought to have come from Ireland in the 5th or 6th Century on his Mill stone who landed at Perranporth where he set up a church.
It’s a common feature along the Coast Path to find a parish church built on a promontory. As well as serving the spiritual needs of the parish, they would also offer places of refuge. The tall towers could be seen by incoming trade and fishing fleets.
There’s little wonder why Cornwall has so many places of worship on the coast since the entire history of its people is inextricably linked to its proximity to the sea.
Some of the most profound churches are often in the most remote and rugged parts of the coastline. St Helen’s Oratory at Cape Cornwall is one such example that has had continuous church occupation since the late Roman period.
A favourite for many is the iconic St Michael’s Mount with its 14th century priory church. Stepping off the train in Penzance, it’s easy to follow in the footsteps of travellers old and new by joining St Michael’s Way, an ancient route that led pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela in North West Spain.
It now forms part of the South West Coast Path, which, alongside the likes of the Camino de Santiago, is considered one of Europe’s great walks and with such stunning views of Mount’s Bay and beyond, it’s easy to see why.
Here’s a short walk from Penzance to Marazion where you can cross the causeway at low tide to visit the Mount.
If you haven’t yet booked your UK break there’s still time to take advantage of some great early bird discounts on walking holidays in the South West, all linked to the ultimate charity challenge to conserve and enhance the South West Coast Path.
Celebrating 40 years of the South West Coast Path Association, The Great South West Walk will be taking place from 3rd April – 7th May 2013 with a series of sponsored walks, done in relay, to cover the entire 630 mile route from Minehead to Poole. The idea is to give the Association a big birthday present by ‘putting 40 years of love back into the Coast Path!’.
All funds raised will go towards much needed improvement projects to provide access to this stunning coastline for people from all walks of life. If you enjoy walking this coastline you’ll appreciate the hard work and effort that goes into looking after it and after the second wettest year on record, it’s become more difficult than ever to maintain. Path rangers are doing a sterling job to make sure the route is in good condition for the event and the start of the walking holiday season, which helps bring in over £300m to the region.
The South West Coast Path is a unique and valuable part of our heritage and it needs your help. By taking part in this event you can really make a difference to the future conservation of this coastline. Visit the website or follow the event on twitter @LoveSWCoastPath and help spread the word with #Love2walk
Calling all bloggers: If you’re passionate about the South West coastline and would like to contribute to this blog while taking part in the Great South West Walk, please contact Alex Green and subscribe to receive future posts written by the people for the people that love the South West coast.
Early-bird discounts: Sign-up to the GSWW by 17th February for discounts on accommodation and holiday deals from event sponsors across Dorset, Devon, Cornwall and Exmoor including Encounter Walking Holidays, West Dorset Leisure Holidays, Contours Walking Holidays, Dart Marina Hotel, Carbis Bay Hotel, Hotel Penzance, West Cornwall Cottage Holidays and the Yarn Market Hotel in Dunster.
Plus there’s a team prize: Sign-up with friends, family or colleagues to be entered into a draw for a picnic hamper of delicious Westcountry produce to enjoy during your walk.
If there’s a particular stretch of coast that you feel passionate about, please leave a comment below to say why it’s so special and deserves to be celebrated.
Happy walking!
The recent snowfall has seen many of us reliving our childhood and heading for the hills with our sledges and excited children in tow. If you loved the outdoors as a child, chances are you want your children to enjoy it too but in our busy, time-constrained lives with modern day distractions from TV to computer games, it’s increasingly rare we actually get to enjoy the great outdoors.
When we do and kids get to wander wild and free, we all have fun don’t we? Help create some special memories with these top five tips for getting our kids and ourselves back to nature this winter.
Treasure Trails
Explore the coast with a Treasure Trail – these are walks with a
difference, helping you experience the natural and built environment in a fun and unique way that kids love. Follow in the footsteps of pirates with a Treasure Trail from Porthcurno along the ancient smuggler’s route on the Coast Path.
Beachcombing
Go beachcombing along the shoreline – this is a great way to introduce kids to the marine environment and the flotsham and jetsam washed up with the tides. Branscombe in East Devon saw more than its fair share of gatherers 6 years ago to the day (almost) in the aftermath of the Napoli disaster. Today, you’re more likely to find starfish or jellyfish than a BMW motorbike. You can still see the ships’ anchor that commemorates the event and the communites’ sterling effort to minimise the damage.
Winter Rockpooling
Winter is a great time to go rockpooling. Wembury beach on the South Devon coast provides the perfect natural playground and its Marine Centre runs a series of guided rockpool rambles throughout the year from April. Follow The Seashore Code from Devon Wildlife Trust for advice on rockpooling without a guide. The National Trust has a rockpool score sheet to record your findings.
Fossil Hunting
Follow in the footsteps of Mary Anning along the Jurassic coast, one of the greatest fossil hunters in history. Lyme Regis and Charmouth are the best places for fossil finds and the Lyme Regis Museum hosts regular guided hunts throughout the year. The annual Fossil Festival takes place this year with Curious Coast from 3-5 May.
For more inspiration, check out the National Trust’s 50 things to do before you’re 11¾
What are your special memories of the great outdoors as a child? Any recommendations for locations on the coast that are particularly good for kids?
Please add your ideas in the comments below.
What a difference a day or two makes! Just a couple of days since visiting the North Cornwall coast and being amazed at how spring like it was, it’s now snowing in the South West. On Tuesday, crossing the Tamar Bridge felt like travelling to a foreign land. The welcome sign for ‘Kernow’ only adds to this impression, as does its location at the far western and southerly tip of England. With 80% of the county’s boundary on the coast, it’s almost an island unto itself and on a sunny day, you can’t help feeling excited at the prospect of a day out beside the sea.
Looking out over the sand dunes towards Stepper Point
Cornwall draws you in and for some the pull is so strong they end up staying. It is after all, the land of myths and legends where many settlers have left their mark, from the 5th and 6th Century Celtic saints to more recent evidence that the Romans made it this far, contrary to popular belief. One such outpost is on Brea Hill, a promontory which forms part of this Coast Path walk along the Camel River from Rock. It’s a glorious short walk through sand dunes with views across to Padstow and miles of golden sands either side of the estuary. In between sits the legendary Doom Bar with its tale of a vengeful mermaid who cursed a local sailor for mistaking her for a seal. A loop back links in with the tiny St Enodoc Church where Poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman is buried. He too was caught by Cornwall’s spell and settled in the nearby village of Trebetherick.
St Enodoc Church
His poems of the place were inspired by his favourite walks along this coastline. He describes the natural surroundings, from the tamarisk to the enormous tides, though not without some internal conflict. He was torn between the issues of preserving the environment, (designated part of the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1981), with the promotion of tourism through his work – a dilemma that remains paramount today. Walking is at least one of the most sustainable forms of travel, as long as you tread carefully. There are signs asking you to keep children and dogs out of the dunes so as not to disturb this fragile ecosystem and with such an expansive beach for a natural playground, that’s easily done. Avoiding the busy heights of summer helps too and I can’t help feeling a little smug at being able to avoid the crowds while experiencing a glorious day on the Coast Path.
The Camel Estuary
Returning to the car park it was time for refreshment and the only place open was The Rock Inn with its stunning views of the estuary at low tide. Magic.
Or as Betjeman says in his poem, Cornish Cliffs: ‘And in the shadowless, unclouded glare, Deep blue above us fades to whiteness where, a misty sealine meets the wash of air. ‘
For many of us January is when we start to think about where we would like to go on holiday. What are you dreaming of doing this Year? Spending hot sunny days on a beach maybe? Queuing at an airport for ages, losing your luggage and be hassled by hawkers to buy a time share? Well, it may surprise you, but personally I can think of nothing worse!
If your New Year resolution is to get fit and active, why not do it the easy way – by walking in the great outdoors with some of the most beautiful coastal scenery as a backdrop?
One of the best ways to stick to your new resolution is to set yourself a challenge, especially if it’s realistic and achieveable and even better if it’s for a worthy cause that’s greater than your own personal goals.
The ultimate charity challenge for 2013 has to be the Great South West Walk – putting 40 years of love back into the Coast Path! There are a number of sponsored walks taking place between the 3rd April to 7th May ranging from half day walks to full days in Devon, Cornwall, Dorset and Somerset, all with the aim to raise money for the South West Coast Path Association, which this year celebrates its 40th anniversary.
There are some fantastic special offers and holiday deals available too, for anyone who signs up before the end of January. What better way is there to get fit, challenge yourself and raise money for charity all at the same time? Plus, you can make a holiday out of it too.
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Showcasing the best of the South West coast, from people and places to festivals and events and simply stunning views. For the people and by the people that love the SW coast
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Showcasing the best of the South West coast, from people and places to festivals and events and simply stunning views. For the people and by the people that love the SW coast
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A year of adventures and escapades without using my passport
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