Gonamena, Caradon Hill, Stowe's Pound Circular

 After being kept indoors over the festive period, it always good to get outside to get some fresh air and to have a good blow through. And that's exactly what we got for this walk on the Thursday following Xmas. Just five of us could manage to do this one but all five enjoyed it. The weather forecast was not particularly encouraging with showers featuring prominently. In the event, the showers when they came were infrequent and short lived - we did have some hail right at the start. The photographs below are mainly landscapes and the variable appearance of the sky gives a good idea of how the weather changed. 

And as this is the last post of 2022, all the very best for 2023 to you all.

The circular route was comprised of stretches we'd done before but stitched together as a novel whole. It came out at 6.5 miles and took us from Minions, down the Gonamena Valley, around Caradon Hill, up the Marke Valley and then around Stowe's Pound to finish. Lots of sky and distant views.

Looking down into the Gonamena Valley with its moonscape of spoil heaps from the various mines which operated here. It's hard to imagine what this scene would have looked like when all the mines were working and the valley echoing with industrial activity.

Known locally as the 'Donkey Pond' which was a reservoir that fed a number of waterwheels driving various mining processes, such as the ore stamps and winding gear for shafts. I counted four fairly obvious sluice points that would allowed water to flow out. As far as the replenishment of the pond was concerned, this must have been done by the entrapment of rainwater through a series of reservoirs and leats.

The engine house and stacks associated with Jope's Shaft of the West Caradon Mine. A timely stop for 11's.

Looking due west, with St Cleer in the distance. A blue sky with rain clouds coming in from the left.

A rather soggy stretch of the footpath up the Marke Valley.

A less soggy but steeper part of the same footpath. In bygone days, this would have been used by miners as they made their way up to the mines around Minions.

Looking towards Caradon Hill on the right and, in the distance on the left, is Kit Hill. On a clear day, our house is just about visible. But it's not a clear day, so it isn't.

Looking up the old Mineral Railway towards Sharpitor. It all looks wet - because it was.

Rain clouds drifting away from us after one last downpour. A rather dramatic landscape.

The granite sleeper bases of the old Mineral Railway look like convenient stepping stones but, for leg length, there are just too far apart to make for comfortable walking. Rock hopping would be a more accurate description.

The final stretch back to the car park. Open moorland, Caradon Hill in front, the Hurler's Stone Circle on the right and the ruin of Houseman's Engine House on the left. A nice mix of nature and history.

And now, deep breaths and relax. Just listen to the running water and empty your minds of the daily clutter.