Photograph Gallery Stage 74 St Breward to Indian Queens : Walking Englishman's 1000 Mile Walk

Photograph Gallery Stage 74 St Breward to Indian Queens

Posted by Mike on Saturday, October 8, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Photograph Gallery Stage 74 St Breward to Indian Queens, Saturday 6th August 2011

The Story:

After the excellent days walking across Bodmin Moor today was always going to be struggling to deliver such joy but we were to be pleasantly surprised by the joys it had to offer, especially the first half of the day which was dominated by a great five miles following the Camel Trail. The day was a long one, twenty miles long and the final few miles were a pain but altogether there were many delights to be had. Strolling Steve and I started by following a remarkable short track cut out between fields from Churchtown to St Breward which for a good section was cut six feet below the level of the fields to either side. At St Breward we stocked up for the day in the local shop and spoke to the locals who wished us well on our way before we set off along the road south from St Breward to Higher Lank. Along the way we were surprised to pass Mick Jagger hiding in the trees in a garden (see picture) before continuing on along the road and then further to Lower Lank before leaving the tarmac to follow a path over fields to Penport and then to Wenford Dries where we took a short break for drinks before resuming the walk by joining the Camel Trail. Cornwall Council claim “The Camel Trail is arguably the most successful recreational multi use trail in the UK, providing access to the beautiful Cornish countryside along a disused railway line between Wenfordbridge, Bodmin, Wadebridge and Padstow” A bold claim but our section of five miles through delightful woodland was indeed a highlight of the day. Some woodland walking can be boring, as were a good few plantations I walked through in Scotland but this was anything but with interest along the way including sections beside the River Camel, sections through cuttings and otherws in canopied avenues. It was truly a passage to remember and sooner than we though we were reaching its end at Boscarne Junction near Bodmin.

From Boscarne Junction we followed five miles of roads to Nanstallon, Threewaters, Mulberry, Trewmorebridge, Inchs and Demelza which we simply walked briskly along. The lanes were quiet, traffic very light but with high hedges for the most part it wasn’t inspiring. Alas there was no other way but we made the ground quickly and thankfully at demelza we left the road to track across fields to Lower Kernick and Higher Kernick and then over more fields to Tregonetha. On reaching Tregonetha we had completed fifteen miles and then walked a further half mile to Tregonetha Downs to follow a permissive path over the downs to Castle Farm and Providence. The path took some finding but eventually we found it and I made a start to follow it only to give up after less than 50 yards. The downs were all scrub, overgrown and the path disappeared. After 15 and a half miles and a detour which would add two miles to the journey I lost it. Today had been 18 miles in planning and now we were facing 20 plus. I raged. Strolling Steve did well in keeping me going at this stage for I threw my poles, kicked out and blasphemed at the path over regonetha Downs being in such a state. He kept walking just ahead of me, calming me and then just at the right moment near Saddle Rock took himself from the road, sat down and asked me to join him for a rest. I didn’t need asking twice. On relaxing, taking off my steaming boots and socks and then applying Deep Freeze spray I revived my determination. While resting we noticed a sign nearby, the path had been sacrificed for the needs of the Marsh Fritillary Butterfly. Oh well, at least in a good cause! After our break we resaumed on a steady climb up the road to Belowda Beacon and passed an ugly derelict concrete building which we couldn’t work out why it was there. I later investigated it to be a disused China Clay Works. From Belowda Beacon we left the road and descended along a path to Belowda before following a quiet road to Providence before leaving it to follow a green lane running parallel to the A30. On this section it was my turn to be calm as Strolling Steve lost his head when the path became overgrown with thorns constantly ripping against us. We tried to continue on it for some while but it eventually became impossible so I cut off into a wheat field which we edged along until its end where we cut back onto the overgrown nightmare which thankfully was at an end. We sat at the end of the track next to the road we would follow into Indian queens, caught our breath at the doubled effort of making our way along the last quarter mile then resumed to the finish of the walk by following the Goss Moor Trail into Indian Queens. The trail was infact a boring walk on a roadside path and in Indian Queens we were both thankful it was over. The first half of the day had been excellent, the second half dire.

Tomorrow we’re joined by brother Dave and friends from Harrogate. I hope its a better experience for them than our last few miles….

The Photographs: