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February 26, 2005

Cornish treasures

A little while ago I was talking about our adventures while exporing the megalithic treasure of the western Cornish peninsula. I am not sure about the DH who, because of his mobility difficulties, didn't see too much of what was on offer, but I had the most wonderful couple of days - mud puddles excepted.

Lanyon Quoit

After one or two false starts, our first stop was at Lanyon Quoit, not far from Mousehole. After climbing a small stone stile, the quoit was just a short walk across the field. In this case, a quoit is not a game played by children or cruisers, but a stone table. Originally covered by a mound of soil, it is believed that the quoit was a burial chamber. It was blown down in a storm in 1815. When it was re-erected the legs were shortened.

Merry maidens

At the Merry Maidens the DH was able to stand at the fence to see this stone dance which is on the top of a small hill. From the centre of the dance it is just possible to see a standing stone, which is part of the same structure, in the corner of a field across the road. Not seen are the two Pipers, which are in a field behind hedges in the opposite direction. The legend is that the stones are young women who were turned to stone for dancing on a Sunday. The Pipers are the petrified remains of the pipers who provided the music for their sin.

Standing stone in daffodils

Not far away I noticed the top of a standing stone over a high hedge beside the road. I pulled up where I saw a stile through the hedge and, grabbing my camera, dashed off to get another photograph. I ended up with a treasure of my own. Behind the hedge was a field of daffodils in full bloom, thanks to the unseasonably warm weather.

Carn Brae

The most westerly hill on the English mainland has been used by the locals for thousands of years. It is known as Carn Brae. The walk up from the carpark was exhausting but the view from the top was magnificent. I could see all the way up Mounts Bay to the Lizard and out to the rocks beyond Land's End. The site has been a settlement, a fort, a hermitage and a lookout and is the stuff of legends.

Carn Brae

Posted by robynls at February 26, 2005 4:45 PM

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Comments

Don't you just love stone circles, Robyn? We do. One year we rented a cottage near Penrith in the Lake District, and we were a stone's throw from the stone circle called Little Meg and her daughters... we loved having them so close, and we would stroll over to them, hang out there, and loved every minute of it. There are so many around Britain. We also loved the Castlerigg stone circle in Keswick, Cumbria, and spent a nice day there one year. Britain is so full of wonderful mystery.

Posted by: Bex at February 26, 2005 10:02 PM

Robyn, I keep checking out your Cornwall photos and re-living our week there in '99. Have even dragged out our "journal" of the trip - and realised there were all sorts of "bits" I'd forgotten. Thanks for the re-awakening of memories.

Posted by: Jill Campbell at February 27, 2005 9:40 AM

The cathedral pictures were good, but these blow me away. I live in NZ, which is a young country by anyones standards, and the history that you've captured is making me green with envy! Thanks for sharing.

Posted by: Pseudo at February 27, 2005 10:43 AM

Ah! Daffodils! Didn't register the first time I viewed this entry, Robyn. Thanks for reminding me... Lost in Lincolnshire, sans daffodils...:)

Posted by: John Bailey at March 2, 2005 9:37 PM

Even growing up I never saw such a field of daffs. How does one fight the urge to cut a bouquet? :-)

Posted by: Bonnie at March 2, 2005 11:41 PM

I will keep your url and explore your other pictures. Thank you. I am very keen on ancient sites. Since Mexico is closer, therefor a bit more affordable, I have been to a lot more ruins there than in Britian. Still, I have some pretty good Avebury, Stonehenge and Old Sarum pictures. I adore daffodils. The ladies of Nevada City, California, have planted them along the freeway there. Masses of yellow every spring. This is the city (itty bitty city) where the 49er miners were concentrated. They were so homesick for the East coast they imported Sugar Maples. Therefore the fall colors rival any in the world.

Posted by: marty at March 3, 2005 1:45 AM

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