You’re never too old to learn new things is a mantra of mine. Inside knowledge of a place helps to bring it alive so whenever I’ve been on holiday I’ve signed up to guided tours and walks to learn more about the place.
I recently discovered Lucy Daniel was offering a guiding service just down the road in Fowey so I signed up to a morning walking tour of Fowey with her. Lucy is an avid walker like me so we hit it off immediately sharing experiences on the various paths we had both trodden over the years…
The walk began at Caffa Mill car park at the working end of Fowey where the ferry crosses to Bodinnick, the china clay boat loading takes place and the remains of the old railway station can still be seen. It’s a level walk into town past the old ferry slip and the lifeboat station along a road which changes its name 5 times before you reach the main heart of town!
Fowey has always been an important port and was a gated town guarded by resident archers to protect it. Many of the names have clues to the town’s past such as Toll Bar cafe, T’ Gallants (referring to Privateers named thus) the Shell house ( a reference to the Camino De Santiago symbol. Many pilgrims journeyed across land from Padstow to Fowey then onwards from here to avoid the dangerous seas around Lands End)
We wondered along with Lucy pointing out interesting architectural features, the almshouses, the Norman church with its listed Arts & Crafts railings, the old well and water pump and the wonderful granite towers of Place Manor, home to the Treffry family.
We continued along the Esplanade past the gorgeous Victorian and Edwardian villas which catered for the growing influx of people arriving by train at that time. There are glorious estuary views across to Polruan all along this road as we headed to Readymoney Cove. Just before the cove is Point Neptune, a grand mansion which until recently was Dawn French’s home and apparently was originally built as a beach house by the Rashleigh family who lived at nearby Menabilly.
A short climb up the coast path past St Katherine’s castle showed us the blockhouse at Polruan housing the chain which was hauled up to protect the port from foreign invasion.
Well behaved dogs are welcome on Lucy’s tours so I had taken Stan along and the coast path beckoned us for a run. We retraced our steps, stopped for a warming hot chocolate and then I realised I was nearly out of time at the car park.. I was enjoying it so much that the morning had flown by!
Do check out Lucy’s website lucydanielguide.uk She offers guided country and coastal walks for families, groups and individuals and can also custom make a walk for you.
