Lynher walk 3

in the green cathedral

Addicroft

Addicroft is a little hamlet in the Lynher valley between Kerney bridge at Golberdon, and Rilla Mill, just above Plushabridge. This is one of the quietest and prettiest places in the valley. There is nothing to say what this old ruin was, and it is not marked on the OS map. Maybe it is the site of the old mill even though it is well above the river.

Cadsonbury Hill 2

to get to Cadsonbury one can walk along the bank of the Lynher. This is a smaller, narrower river than the Tamar and the flowing water has a distinctly different sound. It has been very cold recently but the trees are full of birds, including one of my favourites, the long tailed tit making its characteristic 'si si' call. These are sociable birds which fly around in small flocks and chatter away incessantly to each other. (also see this previous page from the blog).
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Cadsonbury Hill

Cadsonbury Hill is an iron age hill fort and compound that stands over the Lynher river just southwest of New bridge (so called when it was built in the fifteenth century) over the Lynher, on the road from Callington to Liskeard (see link). This is the view looking up the Lynher valley towards Kit Hill. The rampart and ditch are still very well preserved. Like Silbury, the hill on which the fort stands looks very odd in the surrounding landscape and is clearly man made to some degree. The slopes are very steep. Spot and Harriet are pleased to demonstrate.



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and a swim in the Lynher

the light shining through the trees along the banks often creates these beautiful dappled scenes

white tailed bee

what would we do without knapweed. This handsome chap-ess is the white tailed bumblebee, bombus lucorum. It is common, but we have never noticed white tailed bumblebees before.

8 August:- now that we have had a closer look, most of the bees around here have white tails, which shows how unobservant we are. The bee above is particularly striking.

blue butterflies at last

these are the first blue butterflies we have seen this year. Both are common blues, the top is the female. The sun has brought them out, but the heavy constant rain of the last 6 weeks seems to have had a very bad effect on numbers locally.

lynher valley white water surfing

here we are shooting down the Lynher, which is usually quite a quiet river. Even Harriet had a go, and then tried drowning


and had to be rescued by her heroic brother (me, Spot that is).



Afterwards the girls posed for a photo; mum is wearing her swimming costume, and Hari is just quivering in the background.

North Hill Cornwall

the village of North Hill on the edge of Bodmin moor, in the Lynher valley. There is very little information available about North Hill but the church looks very like our own. And the local pub, the Race Horse Inn is very welcoming and has its own proper dog (labrador).

pink mayflowers

a very pretty pink mayflower (or cuckoo flower, or lady's smock). This is one of the natural variations of this pretty flower. We found it in this field of mayflowers near the Lynher river at Golberdon (but no signs of any pastoral smocking)

wood sorrel 08

the soft and beautiful wood sorrel

slugs and all

At least something is enjoying the wet weather. The red and black fringe reminds me of the skirt of a hovercraft; perhaps that should be hoover all my plants craft. In fairness this slug and about ten others were all on this specimen of hogweed. Maybe it was a slug slugfest.

brooklime

and this very pretty speedwell (brooklime) is in flower again.

Lynher river again

the banks of the Lynher are covered in ramsons, the wild garlic.

mayflower meadows

meadow in the Lynher valley, full of buttercups and mayflowers (cardamine pratensis).

more grey wagtail

a chance close encounter with the grey wagtail on a little stream running into the Lynher.

orange tip feeding

an orange tip butterfly feeding on May (April?) flowers. For the first time I noticed the dainty brown tips to the orange.

watery species

watery psathyrella, found in dense tufts on stumps of deciduous trees. The only thing of any interest on this cold damp day, it is very small and inconspicuous.

reflections

late summer, the Lynher in deep green, like a giant cathedral in wood and water. 

Lynher river

Lynher river below Golberdon. I know this is the Tamar valley blog but we occasionally go for walks along the much more gentle Lynher.