Tamar Valley Walk: 21st February 2013

An 8 mile walk with friends yesterday in ideal conditions in the Tamar Valley.  With no rain and cool temperatures, it was a pleasure to be out and about.  Lots of daffodils and snowdrops in the hedgerows all the way around.  The route, not without the odd incline or two, was as follows:
*  Local train from Gunnislake to Bere Alston (no charge!).
*  Up the Devon side of the river taking in Gawton Arsenic mine, a protracted scramble along the steep sides above the river, the abandoned village at Newquay, the Charlotte and George Copper mine, Morwellham Copper Quay, Morwellham Woods and Chimney Rock.
*  Down the Cornwall side of the river taking in the Gunnislake Weir and the old Bude Manure Canal.

A great day out and perhaps a sign that the weather has changed?

Just a few of the hedgerow daffodils - standing out against the leafless background

The stack at the top of the arsenic flue at Gawton mine.  Local mythology has that there were two teams of bricklayers involved in building the stack and that they worked at different rates - hence the curve.

Looking back towards Calstock Viaduct over the River Tamar. Kit Hill in the sunshine in the far distance, the tower of the folly at Cotehele directly ahead and the tower of Cotehele itself in the woods to the left.

I liked the pattern of the bark on this young tree.