Views of West Cornwall from Carn Marth
After a dreary few days in terms of both weather and politics, a midday hike was just what I needed.
With evenings closing in around the 4pm mark now, I’ve taken to walking Pepper at lunch time instead. This is just one of the many great things about being fully freelance; I can adjust my schedule to what suits me and keeps me sane (ie. getting out in for a daylight walk each day!).
I had a little scour of Google Maps and decided to try out a new walk that I’d never been on before around Carn Marth, just a 10 minute drive from our house.
Cornwall is covered in various ‘Carns’ (meaning ‘pile of rocks’ in Cornish!); it’s basically our version of moorland. Rocky hills covered in hedges and grazing fields, usually rather exposed to the elements, but always worth it for the views at the top.
Just as we reached the summit, the sun decided to peek out from behind the clouds. A very welcome sight after a week of rain and grizzly-ness.
From the top of Carn Marth, you’re greeted with 360 degree views of West Cornwall; across Redruth and Portreath to the North and Lanner moors to the South. On a bright sunny day I imagine it would be even more fantastic!
Pepper wasn’t too sure about going up to the edge to begin with, but soon decided she was more interested in the camera.
There are two old quarries on the Carn. The top one is permanently flooded as a lake, and apparently people come to fish in it! I have no idea where these fish would have come from… but there you go.
The second one has been turned into an open air amphitheatre, but was closed off when we went as I think it’s been flooded recently. I believe there have been live events there in the past.
^ You can see Carn Brea in the distance there with the monument and castle.
The whole area is part of the Cornish Heritage Mining Trails, which are amazing walks to go on if you’re interested in Celtic history dating back to the Bronze age, or indeed if you enjoy a good hike!
Where’s your favourite place for a hike?
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Used to come here all the time with my school friends when I lived in Redruth. There was a one eyed black dog that lived on the farm which would sometimes chase us off and we’d run for our lives :P
Apparently there’s urban legends that the quarry is filled with an old tractor on the bottom and decades of cow skeletons >.< I know somebody who even got pushed in there once!
The view is wonderful though :) It's really nice to escape there when you're stuck in Redruth as a teenager, they also used to hold plays at the amphitheatre ^_^ xxx
Awh wow so nice to know a bit more about the place :) even if it is urban legend based haha. It was so beautiful, just can’t believe I haven’t been up there before! Xx
There are so many good walks all over Cornwall. We enjoyed the route from St Agnes, round to Chapel Porth, and back over (or round) St Agnes Beacon.
Might be a bit long for Pepper though!
There sure are! We love those walks too! We just chunk them up into separate shorter ones for Pepper’s shorter legs, but the coastline around there is truly stunning x
Beautiful. We have so many great places around us in Devon and Cornwall. I can’t wait to have our puppy to give us the perfect excuse to go out exploring more.
k.
http://www.wonderingthrough.co.uk
Beautiful! I’ve never even heard of Carn Marth but it looks lovely, even on a miserable day! Totally agree with how would the fish get there? Unless someone once brought some fish to the lake themselves and they’ve bred from there? Alice xx
http://www.woodenwindowsills.co.uk
I think that’s how it works. They make a lake, then stock it with fish. All planned, deliberate, official and legal. Not some kind of reverse poaching.
That’s definitely how I imagined it to be – people smuggling in fish in the middle of the night! ;)
I really don’t understand it xD x
How lovely, those pictures are absolutely adorable! And you are so soo lucky that you are freelancing and able to take day walks! <3
xx finja | http://www.effcaa.com
Thank you so much! And yes it really is great, especially in Winter when dog walks after work are dark and cold :) xx
Aww i miss having a dog, you are very lucky!!!!
Aw thank you haha – she’s quite a handful but it definitely encourages me to get out and explore more! x