The post A Trip to Prussia Cove appeared first on Explore Cornwall.
]]>Down a long and narrow farming lane in Rosudgeon is a set of discrete little coves known as Prussia Cove.
Prussia Cove is actually the collective term for four smaller coves: Piskies, Bessie’s, King’s and Coules’. The name came from John Carter, a smuggler working out of the coves in the 18th century and was named ‘The King of Prussia’, a name he acquired from a childhood game.
Carter was the most successful smuggler in the Penzance area during his time and grew up nearby. He utilised the cove regularly for his business, particularly Bessie’s and eventually the area was named after him, having been called Porthleah previously. There are several small caves dotted along the coast, with rumours that some were connected by secret passages to the houses above.
Piskies is the sandiest of the bunch, Bessie’s is more sheltered and has more shingle which King’s and Coules’ area a mix of sand and rocks. Bessie’s Cove was named after a local lady called Bessie Burrow (or Bussow) who ran a beer house (known as a Kiddlywink) which may have sold smuggled liquors along with its legal fare.
Around the corner from Bessie’s Cove and past Coules’ is the long stretch of sand which makes up Kenneggy Beach. In the past visitors would have been able to access the beach via a set of steps on the far side, but this has since fallen foul of erosion. Now access is across the rocks at low tide.
Further up the cliff on the left side of the path are the scant remains of Wheal Speedwell. Just path the coastguard cottages (built to try and deter some of the smuggling) is another footpath which leads to an ivy covered brick building. I couldn’t find any information on whether this building is actually associated with the mine, but its in roughly the right spot.
The whole area is accessed by public and permissive footpaths, with the beaches being just a short walk from the car park.
There are no facilities anywhere nearby and access to Kenneggy is determinant on the tide and gets cut off.
There is a very very small carpark at the top of the cliff at the end of a long narrow lane.
iWalkCornwall (2021) Perranuthnoe to Prussia Cove. Available at: https://www.iwalkcornwall.co.uk/walk/perranuthnoe_to_prussia_cove (Accessed: 13 February 2021).
Taylor, C. (2021) The smugglers of Prussia Cove. Available at: https://ednoveanfarm.co.uk/explore-west-cornwall/the-smugglers-of-prussia-cove/ (Accessed: 13 February 2021).
The post A Trip to Prussia Cove appeared first on Explore Cornwall.
]]>The post Roche Rock appeared first on Explore Cornwall.
]]>Cornwall has its fair share of old chapels and churches, but in Roche is a particularly unique example. Perched on a 66-foot granite rock is the remains of a medieval castle. Dedicated to St Michael, this is the most recognisable of its kind in the county, posing a striking figure in the centre of the town.
The lower floor would have been accommodation of a chaplain, while the chapel was in another room above, accessed via stairs built into the rock itself.
First built in 1409, this chapel is surrounded by plenty of mystery. Folklore says that it was once inhabited by a wide range of individuals, including a hermit and his daughter, a family plagued by leprosy, a sinner trying to escape the devil and by medieval legends Tristan and Isolde.
Access is free to anyone. It is possible to climb the rock into the chapel remains, but this is very a small metal ladder, so be careful.
There is no official parking, although there is some permissive parking in the football club (just check this is still in place during your visit).
Altasobscura (2021) Roche Rock Hermitage. Available at: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/roche-rock-hermitage (Accessed: 2 April 2021).
Historic England (2021) Medieval chapel of St Michael’s on Roche Rock. Available at: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1006664 (Accessed: 2 April 2021).
The post Roche Rock appeared first on Explore Cornwall.
]]>The post A Walk Around Trevose Head appeared first on Explore Cornwall.
]]>On the north coast of Cornwall jutting into the Atlantic is the wonderful Trevose Head.
This rugged coastline is a grand lookout for the whole coast, giving views down to Pendeen on a clear day. This walk starts at the main carpark on Trevose Head. From here you can head directly west and explore Dinas Head, an ancient promontory headland, or head down the path past the round hole towards Constantine Bay.
At the bottom of the hill, there is an optional walk down to the right to Booby’s Bay, where you can view the wonderful remains of the SV Carl, a ship that wrecked here 1917. If heading on towards Mother Ivey’s Bay, continue on till you meet the road, safely cross and join the path on the other side. This ends at Long Cove and boasts views down to Cataclew’s Point and up to the wonderfully placed Padstow Lifeboat Station.
Turn left and follow the path up the coast. This crosses over a smaller road, this one leads to the lifeboat station, but keep going up the hill. Lots of the fields around here, including those in which the path runs through are still used by local farmers, so you may come across some locals trimming the grass (and hedges).
The path rounds a corner to the left and soon you’ll be able to see Trevose lighthouse; this was built in 1847 out of granite quarried from the area. Soon the path re-joins up with the carpark, back near Dinas Head.
The whole walk follows public footpaths.
There is a National Trust carpark at Trevose Head.
iwalkcornwall (2021) Trevose Head circular walk. Available at: https://www.iwalkcornwall.co.uk/walk/trevose_head (Accessed: 30 January 2021).
The post A Walk Around Trevose Head appeared first on Explore Cornwall.
]]>The post The Shipwreck of Booby’s Bay appeared first on Explore Cornwall.
]]>Mostly buried under the sand of Booby’s Bay are the wonderful remains of the SV Carl shipwreck.
This ship started out its life before 1914, at which point it was at Cardiff docks. In October 1917 it was being towed to London for scrap when it broke free during a storm; it quickly ran aground on a reef off the coast and despite attempts to refloat her, she broke free again and headed further inland. One more time they tried to tow her out to sea, this time by the Admiralty. Again this failed and the Carl was in turn too badly damaged to move again.
Salvage attempts began that same year, but it was soon covered in a thick layer of sand, preventing their efforts. It remained mostly buried until 2014 when large storms stripped the sand back, reviewing the wonderful carcass of the ship.
The SV Carl was first launched in 1893 from Maryport by Ribson & Co, registering in Hamburg. It was during the outbreak of war in 1914 that she was impounded at Cardiff after being suspected of working for the German’s, laying mines.
Outlines of the ship can clearly be seen on the left side of the small beach, although how much is visible depends on how much sand is covering it.
There is a large carpark at Trevose Head, or you can risk your wingmirrors parking alongside the road outside the golf course.
CARL FULLY RIGGED SHIP 1893-1917 (2021). Available at: https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?129390&fbclid=IwAR18dhVQZ3p7uQXGid0mwrxQV77iV0CpZsAAVS_fqrxrOVjcyis22BAdQ9U (Accessed: 30 January 2021).
iwalkcornwall (2021) Trevose Head circular walk. Available at: https://www.iwalkcornwall.co.uk/walk/trevose_head (Accessed: 30 January 2021).
The Wreck of the SV. Carl at Booby’s Bay (2014) Submerged. Available at: https://www.submerged.co.uk/wreck-sv-carl-boobys-bay/ (Accessed: 30 January 2021).
The post The Shipwreck of Booby’s Bay appeared first on Explore Cornwall.
]]>The post St Agnes to Perranporth Walk appeared first on Explore Cornwall.
]]>The north coast of Cornwall has more beautiful stretches of coast path than you can shake a chough at, and the section between St Agnes and Perranporth is a popular one.
This walk will start off in the thriving village of St Agnes. Littered with quaint little streets, quirky shops and quintessential views, this is a great little visit. The coastpath begins just up from Trevaunance Cove, the main beach and climbs to give fabulous views.
Reaching the top, you’ll pass through the site of Wheal Kitty, with the remains of its later concrete workings on your right. The path winds through some of the waste dumps, and even without the sun out you can see the distinctive red and green colours.
Past the workings you should get your first view of Trevellas Combe. The path here is quite steep, but eventually makes its way down to the bottom of the valley, where you can take a short detour to visit the 60″ pumping engine house of Blue Hills mine. There are more bits and pieces of the mine scattered down by the little beach.
The paths goes up the other side of the valley and stretches on through the gorse before reaching the edge of Perranporth Airfield. The path does stray along the edges of the runway, but don’t go too far as planes do regularly use the area.
Past the airfield you’ll start heading into mining country again. The first being Wheal Prudence, of which little remains bar a large clwyd cap; this is a very ancient mine that was actually made up of several smaller ventures. This mine is unique in that it had a shaft sunk on one of the rocky prominences, stretgically named Island Shaft. This would have been reached via a wooden bridge, which must have been a beautiful spot on sunny days, but miserable when pelted with the full might of the Atlantic winter gales.
Next up are the striking red cliffs of Cligga Head, another ancient mine with the older workings taking the form of the pock marked cliff ahead. The concrete structures at the top of mine are from the early 20th century when it was reworked for tungsten.
The coastpath is also a great place to spot the locals. Choughs were reintroduced into Cornwall in 2001 and are a real treat to see. Other birds such as fulmar’s, black backed seagulls and stonechats are also a common site.
The coastpath winds through these concrete remnants and continues on towards Perranporth. The next red section of ground belongs to Perran St George, a very old copper mine. Little remains of this workings, although there are shafts and low stone walls dotted around.
As you get closer to the grand expanse of Perranporth, you’ll begin to see the rock arch and pitted cliffs of Droskyn Mine. Just after the youth hotel, if the tide is out, there’s a set of steps that head down to the beach and you can get a good look at the old adits.
This is the end of the walk, although Perranporth beach makes a good extra emplore, especially with Chapel Rock in the centre.
The whole walk is on public footpaths and open access land. Quite a lot of the paths are rocky and uneven. While much of the mine workings have been stabilised or fenced off, it’s advised to stick to the main path to avoid falling down any holes.
There is an old adit along the footpath – it doesn’t lead anywhere but that doesn’t mean it’s safe to enter.
There is a small pay and display carpark (free in Winter) at Trevaunance Cove, a very small free carpark at Trevellas and ample pay and display parking at Perranporth.
The post St Agnes to Perranporth Walk appeared first on Explore Cornwall.
]]>The post The Nine Maidens Stone Row appeared first on Explore Cornwall.
]]>Not far from Wadebridge is one of Cornwall’s unique stone rows. Originally thought to be the only one in the county, this beauty is made up of nine ‘maidens’ or standing stones spaced evenly apart, with a few stumps alongside them.
Just over 100m in length, legend has it that the stones are the petrified remains of nine young maidens who angered god by dancing on the sabbath. The line may have once been longer, with some of the stones lost, something that has occurred in so many similar Cornish structures.
Someway to the north is another megalith called the Fiddler which could be related, possibly the remains of a musician that played for the dancers. Borlase states that it was once surrounded by a stone circle, remnants of which are long gone.
The petrification myth is a common feature in the history of these stone rows and circles, possibly used by early Christian’s as a way of warding locals from misbehaving on Sundays. This is not unique to this megalith, with Boskednan Stone Circle and the Hurlers supposedly suffering similar fates. It’s original use, dating from 2500-1000 BCE, remains somewhat of a mystery, although historians believe it likely held a ceremonial purpose and may have been linked to the stars.
Access is available via a public footpath that runs from the road to the row. There is a style on the roadside that needs to be crossed (it’s quite high).
The closest parking is in a layby just up the road towards Wadebridge. From here, carefully follow the grassy ridge down to the style – be mindful that this road is national speed limit.
Dale, E. (2020) The Nine Maidens Stone Row & myths of Petrification, The Cornish Bird. Available at: https://cornishbirdblog.com/2020/06/20/the-nine-maidens-stone-row/ (Accessed: 2 April 2021).
Historic England (no date) Monument Number 430506. Available at: https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=430506&resourceID=19191 (Accessed: 2 April 2021).
Megalithic (2002) Nine Maidens Stone Row. Available at: https://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=2066 (Accessed: 2 April 2021).
The post The Nine Maidens Stone Row appeared first on Explore Cornwall.
]]>