After days of following David Braine the day
arrived and by some miracle he had got it right, A dry and sunny day!!!
What’s App was busy as one of the group was left behind by the taxi, but fortunately there was a second one to ensure that all 12 walkers were at Liskeard Station for our first trip as a group on a main line train, although it was only a 17 minute ride!
On our arrival in Lostwithiel we crossed the tracks and then the river Fowey to make our way through the town, which is much larger than you would think if you were just passing through by car or rail. Under an old tunnel to cross the main road to climb out of the valley, the only climb of the day which some will say is unusual for this leader’s walks.
Having completed the climb we passed through fields with sheep, back roads with long views, showing the true size of the town, until turning on to a track where a deep quarry on our right was protected by a wall so high we had to lift Brenda up so she could see into it. Crossing more fields and a lane we joined another track with an old open adit on our left, it was then down through more fields for a coffee stop at Restormel Castle. A 12th Century circular castle one of only 2 ever built and the home of the original Duke of Cornwall, although he was said to have only visited it twice and they were 30 years apart. NB we must contact the present Duke to replace the stile onto the site.
Suitably refreshed we then followed an estate road by the River Fowey and the railway line, passing the Water Treatment Works where the builders are in improving the treatment of the water in the Restormel area, into the grounds of Lanhydrock.
Walking now to the open-air cafe in the courtyard at the side of the house.
Lunch over NT members then visited the gardens, it was decided muddy boots wouldn’t be welcome in the house, and then it was down the original driveway to Bodmin Parkway for the return train to Liskeard.
Fortunately, on this occasion our train was late and we were on the platform when the Steam Train on the Bodmin Wenford line arrived enabling Peter C to have a birthday photograph by the train.
What’s App was busy as one of the group was left behind by the taxi, but fortunately there was a second one to ensure that all 12 walkers were at Liskeard Station for our first trip as a group on a main line train, although it was only a 17 minute ride!
On our arrival in Lostwithiel we crossed the tracks and then the river Fowey to make our way through the town, which is much larger than you would think if you were just passing through by car or rail. Under an old tunnel to cross the main road to climb out of the valley, the only climb of the day which some will say is unusual for this leader’s walks.
Having completed the climb we passed through fields with sheep, back roads with long views, showing the true size of the town, until turning on to a track where a deep quarry on our right was protected by a wall so high we had to lift Brenda up so she could see into it. Crossing more fields and a lane we joined another track with an old open adit on our left, it was then down through more fields for a coffee stop at Restormel Castle. A 12th Century circular castle one of only 2 ever built and the home of the original Duke of Cornwall, although he was said to have only visited it twice and they were 30 years apart. NB we must contact the present Duke to replace the stile onto the site.
Suitably refreshed we then followed an estate road by the River Fowey and the railway line, passing the Water Treatment Works where the builders are in improving the treatment of the water in the Restormel area, into the grounds of Lanhydrock.
Walking now to the open-air cafe in the courtyard at the side of the house.
Lunch over NT members then visited the gardens, it was decided muddy boots wouldn’t be welcome in the house, and then it was down the original driveway to Bodmin Parkway for the return train to Liskeard.
Fortunately, on this occasion our train was late and we were on the platform when the Steam Train on the Bodmin Wenford line arrived enabling Peter C to have a birthday photograph by the train.
Peter