Cardinham and Warleggan

A strange day as, not only did the clocks go back, but Christine had to be at Truro for 8 am to take part in a radio phone in on disability and the churches. Despite the early start we were only ready to start our walk near Cardinham shortly before 1 o'clock!





It was still rather wet and miserable as we walked from the downs to the village of Cardinham and the ancient church which boasts one of the oldest Celtic crosses - around 800 AD.

We then took to footpaths, initially across fields but eventually through some especially pretty woodlands. The clouds cleared as forecast and, with the brilliant autumnal colours at their finest, the sunshine made for a most pleasant afternoon.

At one stage we followed a bridle path which began well enouigh but ended very narrow and little more than a stream bed. We were grateful for our boots which yet again proved to be waterproof and helpful when walking over rather stony ground.






At last we arrived at Warleggan - time was pressing and we could not look inside the church as Evensong was still in progress. The walk back to our start point was along narrow country lanes with little traffic. It was as well that we could make good progress as 5 pm is now the latest finishing time.

Otterham, Warbstow and Treneglos

Last Sunday we began at Otterham, parking close to the church.

The footpath from the church was clearly marked with a county council post - except it soon turned out to be the wrong direction! However, we found the right direction and descended through fields to a small stream where a waymark pointed consistently with the map. Alas, the path was not onlt overgrown but the alleged footbridge was no longer. It was with some difficulty that we crossed the stream and found our way to the top of the next field where we emerged, somewhat later than expected, onto agood track!

After a slight mis-map read we opted to change our planned route, taking in Warbstow next, rather than last. A church that has been threatened with closure from time to time is in a tiny community but not far from Warbstow Cross, slightly larger. We sat on the grass outside for our picnic.

Interesting to note that churches (such as Otterham) which are on one cluster, are generally open to visiotrs, whilst those in the next cluster (Warbstow and Treneglos on this walk) are closed. Notices claim that they are obliged to do this because of thefts from next-door churches - even if they remain open!

We had hoped to take in Tremaine but, after most of the way there, we agreed that tje time spent crossing the stream at the outset meant that it was going to be too long - so we returned to the main road and headed for Splatt. Here we took a look at a much-photographed former railway station, with the space between the platforms incorporated into a garden.

An easy walk to Treneglos followed but it too was closed. From there we headed back towards Otterham, the route initially following an unmettaled road but the last part was on country lanes.

Valency Valley

We began our walk at Tresparrett and followed a footpath which, at first, was in excellent condition - hardcore had been put down and the hedges trimmed quite recently. Alas, this was not for long and we soon found ourslelces descending a steep hill, across a field from the previous waymark, to one of the tributaries to the Valency Valley - scene of the notorious Boscastle Floods, well documented on television by Tiger Apsect as well as news crews. After searching left and right we eventually discovered in some undergrowth the footbridge across but then lost the trail altogether.

The weather was poor and visibility much reduced by the very low clouds. After climbing up out of the valley we could, for some time, find no sign of the track we were heading for until we were able to match up the field boundaries with those on the map!

We we emerged onto the country lane near to Lesnewth we found a notice - dating back to the flood - stating that the footpath was closed officially for 21 days (or perhaps a little longer!) A similar noticed was still to be found at the start of a path from Lesnewth churchyard, despite a brand new footbridge across the deep stream bed.





On then to Minster church which was actually flooded and closed for some months for restoration which including removing and replacing all of the pews.





The bridle path down the hill to the Valency Valley itself is most pretty as is the walk up through the valley - despite passing a sign saying that it was only 0.25 m to St Juliot - an estimate at least out by a factor of 2!






From here it was a straitforward walk along country lanes back to Tresparrett - despite the amount of moisture in the air - almost amounting to rain at times - we ended updrier than we had expected.