Doc Martin, King Arthur, Faeries and Piskies

Our first morning in Boscastle resulted in a somewhat late start, mostly because we finally have a queen sized bed and both slept better than we have for a week!

We also had washing to do and therefore it was lunchtime before we headed out to firstly find a riding stable and book another ride and then set Pamela to find Port Isaac for us.

We seriously need to look at Pamela's settings – she had us on several 'goat tracks' once again but eventually safely delivered us to Port Isaac in time for afternoon tea. Port Isaac is apparently the home of “Doc Martin,” a popular British TV program which I have never watched 🙂

Port Isaac

 

 

 

It is also a working fishing village and we spent the afternoon having cream tea and perusing the shops.

 

The path to the parking lot was stunning in itself and once again there were numerous photo stops en route back to Murray.

Arriving home in time for dinner we were unpleasantly surprised on the walk to the pub by a baby adder sunning itself on the road – it seems this is the summer that I have to face my snake phobia in both hemispheres!

Dinner at the Riverside Restaurant ( again) was lovely and we had a comparatively early evening.

Monday morning we were on a mission to supplement Russell's wardrobe with a pair of jodhpurs as he had left his home and Cornwall Farmers fit the bill nicely – and so much cheaper than home!

We decided to tackle Tintagel on the way home as the weather was still behaving nicely and we hoped Monday might be a quieter day.

For those that aren't familiar with Tintagel, it is the 'legendary' birthplace of King Arthur.

The castle has a long association with Arthurian legend.This began in the 12th century when Geoffrey of Monmouth in his mythical account of British history, described Tintagel as the place of Arthur's conception. Geoffrey told the story that Arthur's father, King Uther Pendragon, was disguised by Merlin's sorcery to look like Gorlois, Duke of Cornwall, the husband of Ygerna, Arthur's mother.

Castle ruins still in evidence date back to the 12th century but Roman artefacts indicate a much older function as a trading port of some description.It is now one of the most visited sites in England but luckily for us, not too crazy today.

Stairs over to Tintagel Castle

Looking down to the Haven

 

 

 

I'm sure our calves are going to be protesting big time tonight but we both thought our £6.10 admission fee was well worth it and I was very proud of myself for resisting the land rover ride back instead walking up the very steep return path!

 

 

 

 

 

Great Hall ruins

Exhausted but well pleased with ourselves we turned Murray for home intending to stop off for a 'gentle walk' in St. Nectan's Glen.

This walk is a pleasant woodland walk along the River Trevillet which ultimately leads to a sixty foot waterfall in a glen said to have 'mystical' properties and perhaps even be inhabited by 'fairies and Piskies.' People purchase ribbons at the tearooms to tie to the trees in the glen and make wishes as well as leaving small candles, mementos and messages to loved ones etc. It was all a bit New Age for Russell but the setting was very beautiful and we rewarded ourselves with another cream tea after climbing back up from the waterfall!

On the way to St Nectan's Glen

Waterfall at St Nectan's Glen

One gentleman thought the healing properties too good to pass up and stripped to his shorts for a quick dip but I couldn't convince Russell 🙂

Wishes on the tree

All in all a very strenuous today (for us anyway) so now we are contemplating where to go for dinner and will then ready ourselves for our pub ride on Bodmin Moor tomorrow….

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*