Commenting on the first of this week’s Cornwall blog posts, our friend Cathy Alderson had this to say:
“My family are all living down there and our treat is to walk from St Uny church to St Ives, stopping at the Carbis Bay hotel for coffee en route. It’s got us through some horrendous times and should be on the NHS!”
Well, what else could we do in response to such a recommendation but go on Cathy’s walk while we’re still down here.
This morning the sun has returned to St Ives after a couple of grey days.
And we’re off on the 17A to Lelant, to do the walk back to St Ives in the same direction as Cathy and her family would do it.
And here we are, off the bus and with St Uny Church about a mile down the road.
We soon arrive.
It’s a 12th Century original church in the middle there, gradually added to over the centuries.
A recent addition is this stained glass window of their patron saints.
St Uny, with St Anta and St Ia of St Ives.
One of two slate memorials from the 17th century.
And a more recent memorial. Remembering those from here who died in the Great War, and also, nice touch, everyone else who served.
Not seen that done before.
We set off along the Coastal Path.
And are immediately in danger.
Or maybe not.
The path takes us under the coastal railway.
Just before a train crosses.
We step out onto the beach.
Other than set the exposure as I take them I’ve done no processing of these photographs. This is the real colour in the Hayle Estuary around mid-day today.
We rejoin the Coastal Path.
After a while we decide to stop for lunch.
I read.
And take photographs.
Sarah paints.
After an hour or so, we walk on.
As we walk up and down the wooded hillside the trains pass by somewhere above us.
We are walking next to Great Western Railway land.
And here is the railway.
And a train.
As we get closer to Carbis Bay we pass some beautiful houses on the hillside.
Then we spot this little path off the main path.
So need to see where it leads, obviously.
Oh look.
A perfect and sheltered place to sit.
And watch the sea below us.
We work out that the place probably wasn’t built for the likes of us to lounge around in, but is what’s left of a World War II air defence ‘pill box.’ We’re still grateful for it though.
So grateful that Sarah takes a photo of me there.
And another one!
Looking back from where we’re sat Sarah points out where we’ve been.
“The straight line through the trees is the railway. While the wiggly one well below it is us on the Coastal Path”
Round the headland to Carbis Bay.
Sea defence works currently being carried out.
Sarah spots a sea kayaker coming in and is jealous.
Having not managed to fix herself up with any kayaking whilst down here.
Along the path for a while now we’ve had company.
This robin, in and out of the hedgerows alongside of us.
And yes, I know the two photographs are more or less the same. But it’s so rare you get a good photograph of a robin I couldn’t decide between them.
Here’s your hotel Cathy. Looking well and very busy.
We don’t stop though as we’ve had lunch back along the path.
Soon after Carbis Bay the Coastal Path crosses to the other side of the railway.
And after a while we stop and have a sit at this interesting place. Which explains itself…
Never thought I’d live to see a ‘Baulking House’
And before you say ‘Never mind a Huer’s Lookout’ in that tone of voice, it’s ‘Huer’ as in someone who’s job it is to raise a ‘hue and cry’ over – as you can see – shoals of pilchards. So there.
All too soon our path descends into St Ives.
The end of a wonderful walk.
Definitely good for us, and you’re right Cathy, it should be on prescription from the NHS.
Walk over, we sit on a bench by Porthminster Beach and contemplate eternity.
Eternity with a red bin.
So thanks for the recommendation Cathy. Hope you get to walk from St Uny to St Ives with your family some time soon. It’s wonderful.
Our friends Cathy Alderson and Jayne Lawless at The Bakery.
As in Homebaked Liverpool. Big love from Cornwall x
And here are the three watercolours Sarah painted on Cathy’s Walk:
Ooh! Ronnie and Sarah I’m delighted that you did “our” walk!! The pics were amazing and I’m so glad you enjoyed it! A magical place indeed xxxx
Thanks Cathy, couldn’t resist it since we’re here anyway! x
I read both of the St. Ives posts. Good for Sarah to have a crack at surfing!
It’s certainly rare for Great War memorials to list the names of those who served as well as the fallen. I’ve probably seen that once or twice before in different places.
I was very moved, the chances of death being so high, as everyone knew very soon after it started.
Misunderstood, thought you were referring to his first two Cornwall posts. This is lovely.