Today, as per usual, it rained during our breakfast time… but then cleared up and was sunny all day long!
We drove through some tiny back lanes to get to St. Erth Station, as we were catching the train to St. Ives on the coast. As there are so many tourists there and the streets are NOT really meant to handle the traffic they get, taking the train was a brilliant way of getting there. 12 minutes of scenic bliss on the train versus 1/2 hour of hell in traffic!
All aboard!!!
One of the beaches near St. Ives.
We’re in St. Ives and ready to go!
Disembarking from the train dropped us into what looks like a tropical seaside town in the Mediterranean.
While in St. Ives, we visited the studio of the world famous artist, Barbara Hepworth, who spent the latter part of her life and work at St. Ives.
The tourist crowded seawall walk in downtown St. Ives.
The St. Ives harbour at low tide.
The sea wall.
One of the churches by the harbour.
You can find all sorts in St. Ives during special events!
I’m enjoying a Cornish pastie with another bottle of Cornish Rattler!
Elaine is standing with one of Barbara Hepworth’s statues, overlooking the beach.
Here comes our train to take us back to St. Erth Station… right on time!
We’re now going to drive about 5 miles over to Godolphin House.
Leaving the car park for Godolphin House, somebody is all ‘wellied’ up!
Godolphin House is the 15th century mansion of the Godolphin family who had made their money in the tin mining industry in Cornwall.
It is believed to have the oldest formal gardens in England, although they are just now being rebuilt by the National Trust.
The inner courtyard of the house.
One of the many aisles between the formal gardens.
While the grounds are still in the beginning stages of reclaimation, these wild flower beds were magnificent.
Elaine finally found the hidden entrance into the King’s Garden.
One of many bee hives in the King’s Garden.
This wing of the house overlooks the King’s Garden.
The beautiful path leading to the path (known as the Slips) from the manor home up to the top of Godolphin Hill.
Musing about the advantages of woodland walks over hill walks.
Taking a much needed break on a National Trust stone on the way up!
The 360 degrees view from the top of Godolphin Hill were spectacular!
We could see from St. Michael’s Mount (which we visited yesterday) on the South Coast and facing the English Channel…
… to St. Ives (which we visited today) on the North coast and facing the Atlantic Ocean.
A fellow walker took our picture at the summit of Godolphin Hill… we did it, we did it!
I’m the King of the Castle and you’re the dirty rascal!
We could have taken another path to the neighbouring hill… but we didn’t! 🙂
We took frequent breaks on the way back down the hill just to admire the view!
At the end of our day, we went down another very, very small lane to Prussia Cove where there is a start to a nice walk along the coast.
We had a great dinner at the Falmouth Packet Inn and collapsed back at our B&B.
Tomorrow is our last full day in Cornwall, so we’re hoping the great weather continues! Cheers!