Bodmin Team area

This week we had to walk on Saturday, rather than Sunday, which gave us the opportunity to tackle a slightly longer route - about 14 miles in the end. We began at the start of the Camel Trail in Bodmin and followed the river to Boscarne Junction where we headed to the village of Nanstallon.



This is a small daughter church which is linked with Lanivet, although equally close to Bodmin. From there we walked along narrow lanes evntually arriving in Lanivet, now a substantial village, albeit with a main A road through the centre. The church is set just away from the traffic. Time for lunch!



Further narrow lanes followed, crossing the main A30 Bodmin bypass at one stage. The sight of Lanhydrock estate (National Trust) was especially welcome as we anticipated tea and cake of cookie outside the Stable Tea Room.



The church is alongside the main Lanhydrock house and was effectively the chapel for the house! After enjoying our mugs of tea, it was quite a struggle to start off agian, but the wonderful, if unseasonable, sunshine encouraged us. We followed several woodland paths, first through the outlying parts of the Lanhydrock estate and then down to Cardinham woods. We emerged - not quite where we intended after one of the steepest paths we have encountered - in fields close to Callywith. From here it was downhill all the way into Bodmin and the large parish church where singers and audience were gathering for an evening performance of Rossini.

Lerryn Area

Today we started our walk at Lostwithiel, parking alongside the river. It is hard to imagine today, with the river so shallow, that in the past, sea-going boats were able to come up-river from Fowey to collect tin from this once-important Stannary Town.

Our route took us to St Winnow, arriving along the river side walk to see a number of yachts being prepared for the summer. This is a beautiful church in a beautiful setting. Inside there are some interesting old carved pew ends as well as a board over the door that lists some ancient benefactors, in the days when 'the poor' depended on the luck of which parish they lived in.

The footpath along the river contines down the River Fowey to St Winnow Point where it turn left to follow the River Lerryn up to the village that bears its name. The tide was coming in but there was just enough time to cross over the stepping stones as the water lapped at the top!

Across the other side we walked back down the other bank of the River Lerryn to the hamlet of Cliff where we took to lanes and footpaths steeply uphill to St Veep, typically on a hilltop location.

With the prospect of a cup of tea we opted for the direct route back to Lerryn - in about a third of the time! Sitting alongside the river was relaxing and it was not a little difficult to stir ourselves for the final stage, back to Lostwithiel.

We retraced out route back along the Lerryn bank to find a valley path which eventually brought us back to the ridge road into Lostwithiel. before crossing the railway and the ancient river bridge, there was time to look at St Saviours Church Centre. Although now part of the town of Lostwithiel, it was originally in the parish of St Winnow.