Four seasons in a day walk from Crow's Nest

Waking up to drizzle was not a particularly inspiring start to the day, but it was forecast to be reasonable for the morning, deteriorating in the early afternoon. However as we drove up the lanes towards our starting point just off Bodmin Moor, the clouds and mist descended and we passed through a very heavy downpour of hail. But, despite that, it was not cold and to my surprise, seventeen of us turned up for the walk, all well clad with waterproofs and walking sticks. And a good walk it turned out to be, even if we did experience four seasons on the way around - sunshine and blue skies, rain, hail, sleet and thunder and lightning. It was one of those walks where you feel very virtuous for getting out there and doing it.

The walk involved a climb up onto Bodmin Moor from the Crows Nest Pub which was the former Counting House for the huge Caradon Mine system that we'd be going through. We did around 5.5 miles, with a lot less mud than we had anticipated.

The transmission mast on the top of Caradon Hill loomed over us as we set off. An unusual angle for us as we normally see it from the other side. We've got a good view of it from our garden.

Jope’s Shaft, Clymo’s Shaft, Rules' Shaft, New Engine Shaft and Kittow’s Shaft - all part of the Caradon Mine complex in the Gonamena Valley, our route leading up to the moor. This whole area was given World Heritage Status for its mining remains in 2006 and is a place we never tire of walking through.

A new addition - a safety grill over an old shaft. Previously it was open and this, and others, always gave a frisson of excitement when walking around this area. Will we lose someone into a hole or not? Better do a headcount. Where's Mary?

On one side of the Gonamena Valley you are flanked by fascinating mine relics and engine houses, on the other a desolate moonscape of spoil heaps. The route is right through the middle of all this in a lush wooded stream valley. A stream that later becomes the River Seaton, notorious for its lack of fish and sparse invertebrate life due to contamination from the minerals still leaching out of the spoil heaps. 

This might look like a stream, and for all intents and purposes it is, but it's actually one of the tracks down the valley. Luckily our route brought us onto the track through the stile on the left and a delicate balancing act on the bank kept our feet dry.

We've passed this house many times and have invariably muttered something along the lines of "this would be great if someone would do it up". Perhaps the solitary ladder is a sign of someone doing just that? The house itself is at the top of the steepest part of the inclined trackway and has stables around the back of it for the horses that worked the ropeway for the trucks.

The last few hundred yards of the inclined trackway are relatively flat and the old sleeper beds are convenient stepping stones.

Just outside of the village of Minions, the engine house of the South Phoenix Mine now contains an exhibition of local history. It's also a convenient spot to stop for lunch as it offers some cover and warmth.

Poor proof reading on one of the posters in the exhibition. It would have been corrected if I'd had a marker pen with me. Perhaps I ought to carry one in my rucksack for future transgressions?

"Ellen Louise Ashton. 1971-2010. Live your life". I do, Ellen, I do. And I hope you lived yours.

Starlings on a telegraph wire. No doubt wondering where the rain had gone. They didn't have to wonder too long as it was soon back.

Looking roughly northwards, the granite quarry of Minions is clearly visible, with the iconic Cheesewring to the top left. The last time we were up there Mrs P was blown off her feet and broke her wrist.

Almost at the end of the walk and a convenient arch under which to shelter from the rain.

As seems to be typical of our walks recently, we get a downpour just as we get back to the cars. I missed the bolt of lightning that whizzed across the sky in front of us but certainly didn't miss the loud clap of thunder that followed.