fal estuary

wednesday, 30th september 2015

I have a fifth day of beautiful weather ahead of me today but it might be a bit on the blustery side.

Falmouth low tide 14:10

Falmouth high tide 19:49

My plan is to catch the ferry over to Flushing from Falmouth. On arriving on Prince of Wales pier it seems that the ferry is on a long lunch break and then, due to low tides, won't be running for another hour and a half after that. Which means that the next ferry isn't until 15:15. Bugger!

Flustered but undeterred I head off on the long walk around the estuary instead, to get to Flushing. I head out of Falmouth along the estuary and through the town of Penryn which is just outside of Falmouth.

I pass the parish church of St Gluvias with Penryn and then head back down the other side of the estuary.

I have lovely views out across the estuary and all of its boats.

I pass the Falmouth Boat Company boat yard and I'm finally at my starting point for today's walk, Flushing. It must have been something like a four mile detour.

I pass the Royal Standard and The Seven Stars pubs and arrive at the quayside where I'll catch the ferry back to Falmouth later on today. That's assuming they aren't on an extended long lunch break!

I continue along Trefusis Road and pass large houses looking over towards Falmouth.

I walk along the coast road and enter Kilnquay Woods, part of the estate of the former manor, Trefusis House. Pneumatic drills are making an awful racket and seem to be being used to renovate a house.

I drop down onto the beach where copper was mined for a short while but extracting the copper proved to be economically unviable. I continue around Trefusis Point, clambering over the rocks until I can't get round any further when I have to retrace my steps slightly to find a whole in the hedge to clamber back on to the low cliff.

I continue along a footpath through open ground. Many buzzards are enjoying the thermals over the woods slightly inland.

I round Penarrow Point and reach Restronguet Sailing Club and suddenly there are yachts everywhere. It's blowing a gale making all the yachts and flags rattle in the wind.

Next up is Mylor Yacht Club and there are even more yachts.

I briefly visit St Mylor Church next door to the yacht club, a Norman church built in the 12th century.

I follow the road out of Mylor Churchtown and turn down a footpath opposite the upper entrance to the church. I now have views out across Mylor Creek.

I walk along the road with houses either side of me to reach Trelew Creek where I come across some curlews. A signpost points me to the left and I head along the path through woods.

It doesn't feel like the right path but I continue anyway and the path ascends through the woods past sweet chestnuts and finally joins up with the main road.

I turn left at the main road and head straight across at the crossroads to re-enter Trefusis Estate. A signpost points me right into a field where a tractor is flailing the hedgerows and is making an almighty racket.

I head through fields and to the right of a row of houses and I'm now back in Flushing. A short walk takes me back past the Royal Standard and The Seven Stars and I'm now back at the quay where I can catch the ferry back to Falmouth.

I catch the 17:00 ferry back to Falmouth and it's an uneventful 10 minutes journey but then all hell breaks loose!

My fellow passenger on the ferry has two dogs with her and as she alights from the ferry one of the dogs falls into the harbour water and slips from his lead. The ferrymen try to manoeuvre the ferry so that it doesn't crush the dog against the harbour wall, allowing the dog to swim back to the steps. Fortunately, the dog is reunited with his owner and is none the worse for his misadventures.

I alight the ferry and climb up the steps onto Prince of Wales Pier.

FLORA AND FAUNA

Flora and fauna encountered on the walk today includes :-

buzzards
cows
curlews
robins
sweet chestnuts

PODCAST

The podcast of today's walk is now available. You can subscribe via the iTunes store or listen using the player below.

MARKS OUT OF TEN?

According to my phone I've walked 5.95 miles this afternoon (which excludes the diversion from Falmouth) which amounts to 11181 steps. It has been a nice diversion from the usual coast path walking even if the scenery hasn't been up to the usual magnificence and it hasn't exactly been a peaceful walk. Seven out of ten!