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Before I start talking about this walk, I must tell you about
Tehidy Woods. I've mentioned it in the previous page, and I must
say a bit more.
As I remember, and I know that locals out there will tell
me if I'm wrong, Tehidy was owned by the Basset family, who made
their money out of tin mining. The house became a hospital; TB,
mainly, as I remember, and now has been turned into exclusive
apartments for highly paid executives from the south-east.
But the woods of the estate are given over to the local authorities
and are open to everyone - even the locals. They are a wonderful
amenity for all, and well worth a visit.
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So, leaving the car, head towards the right-hand side and
follow the path wherever it goes. Soon you feel a long way from
the busy coast road, even though you know it's not far away.Samphire
Island appears on the left, and after a walk around Porth Cadiack
Cove, there's a nice little waterfall if you look back from the
far left side of the Cove. After Ralphs Cupboard (Don't ask me
why it's called that! - I think it was a smugglers cave), it's
gradually downhill to Portreath.
Enjoy the holiday atmosphere; well, if it's summer! Follow
the main road for a short while, I think that the houses that
have been built alongside the old quay are quite nice - but you
may think differently. But I can remember the way it was in the
60's: Probably little different from the turn of the Century,
and the coal yard that was there made the whole area very dirty
and neglected.
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Take the small road on the left, going up the hill. It's
pretty steep, but the views get better as you go up. Soon you'll
come to the Daymark. Stop here for a while and enjoy...Helen
wrote about this in her memories on the next page, so I'll say
no more about it.
Continuing on past the small car park, you get to some pretty
big cliffs and coves:- And the big fences of Nancekuke: A hangover
from the Cold War and Biological Weapons...it's been admitted
that the evil stuff has been stored here, and has been allowed
to get into the environment in the past. As scenery, it's quite
depressing to contemplate.
Passing on, you get to a rather desolate area of mining activity,
before finally approaching Porthtown past chalets overlooking
the valley. Over the other side you'll see the car, and be quite
glad to get back.
I think you'll find, like me, that it's a walk of extremes:
Fantastic scenery, and at times, fantastic ugliness; but worth
walking, all the same.
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