Welcome to Cornwall

 My very kind housemate took me to Tintagel today - where we were able to meet her parents and go for a walk. 

I was post night shifts so half in a fug and not going anywhere in a hurry - but the track seemed made for that pace, ambling up and over ridges and gullies with the ocean horizon stretching wide from the GCHQ spy satellite outcrop in the north (Near Bude), past a wee island with puffins on (Lundy), and out to the vastness west from there.  (It was strange knowing that Ireland is somewhere "out there" *Waves arm*). 

It was about an hours drive west from Exeter, a real treat to get out and explore without much brain power required on my part (but lots of careful planning from the master picnickers, Rebecca and her folks).

Tintagel is a lovely wee tourist town that is pretty empty at the moment, awaiting the formal lifting of lockdown that will allow people to wander inside the sweet and craft shops, to buy crystals or pay for a photo of your aura (!).

Tintagel Castle is, in theory (or more accurately; in legend), King Arthurs Castle. Theres an amazing statue of him on the cliff top near the castle ruins that I might come back for, but today we bypassed paying to wander through the ruins and instead focussed on taking the coastal walk.

(For more info on the castle, https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/tintagel-castle/history-and-legend/)

I had made scones and strawberry jam in the days prior, and they made a perfect afternoon tea with clotted cream (nb Devon style, with cream on bottom and jam on top - Cornish is the other way round - which way is right? we'll never know). With pubs closed, Rebecca has mastered the art of carrying the right amount of beer and hot tea, so when we stopped in the gully out of the wind it really was the perfect break.

Gorse is more stunted here, clinging to the sides of the hill and sending their coconut/pineapple scent into the brisk wind. Kestrels were suspended still in the air - held by the stream of wind rising over the cliff edge. I loved watching the joy of the dogs as they ambled ahead of their owners.

When we finished, the light of the day was sinking - too late for ice cream, but just in time to catch the Rugby on the radio on the way home. 

A really great day.  


























Comments

  1. DeliaApril 10, 2021 at 3:47 PM

    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/apr/26/survival-of-cornish-identity-cornwall-separate-place

    ReplyDelete

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