St Nectans Glen

[Roadkillphil]

Well today the kids and I went off to explore a part of Cornwall we've been thinking of visiting for a while now, St Nectans Glen.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7047/6975728224_53e79e3a98.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/6975728224/)
St Nectans glen (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/6975728224/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

We parked up roadside and headed off down one of the footpaths leading to the glen. It's about a kilometre wander through an ansum valley, following the river upstream.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7243/6975554990_14b2ff1b5e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/6975554990/)
Ansum views (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/6975554990/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7120/6975574560_c382287d17.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/6975574560/)
Tinklin river (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/6975574560/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7266/6975735502_f917810bd6.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/6975735502/)
Goblets (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/6975735502/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7183/6975610678_4e06a55c0e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/6975610678/)
Poo sticks (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/6975610678/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7108/7121704285_caca76d80e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/7121704285/)
Erin... And Obi's stick! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/7121704285/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7197/6975633014_7410696386.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/6975633014/)
Corey (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/6975633014/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

On the way we did some foraging as I'd left me pasty up at the van! So I put together a nice wild salad to compliment the leftover crusts off the kids sandwiches!

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8009/6975588684_041987b07f.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/6975588684/)
Wood sorrel (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/6975588684/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

Once arrived at the glen we found the trees and rock ledges adorned with trinkets, coins, ribbons and all manner of tokens from diaries to small statues. Also there were many small cairns strewn around too.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7213/6975657144_5b833705f5.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/6975657144/)
Cairn (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/6975657144/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7216/6975640812_5b47a38127.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/6975640812/)
Ribbon tree (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/6975640812/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7211/6975664970_669ea04dd9.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/6975664970/)
The waterfall (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/6975664970/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7217/7122009607_5d957d94f2.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/7122009607/)
Tokens (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/7122009607/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8158/7121776933_67ebf0a304.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/7121776933/)
And more (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/7121776933/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr


So after having a good look around we settled down for lunch as they pair were starving!

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8005/6975673440_3f93380b42.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/6975673440/)
Hungry kids! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/6975673440/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7039/7122009515_f37947d453.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/7122009515/)
brew on (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/7122009515/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

I got a brew on with my whitebox stove and optimus terra kettle and tucked into the salad. 'twas ansum, a mix of beech leaves, yellow archangel, woodsorrel, jack by the hedge, gorse flower, primrose flower and scurvy grass, all washed in the water from the glen.

Once fed and watered we got some pics and the kids hung up a token each, Corey put up a camo rubber wrist band and Erin put up a paracord monkeys fist I made her.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8155/7122009501_abd9dfba4f.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/7122009501/)
Erins token (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/7122009501/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7070/7122009447_b27ff3e7f7.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/7122009447/)
monkeys fist (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/7122009447/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7219/7121909521_83e5c7be93.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/7121909521/)
Money tree (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/7121909521/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7253/6975879692_0377aaae8f.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/6975879692/)
Choughed :) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/6975879692/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

I found a piece of boggy wood and carved the bark off one side. Then I used my blue flame lighter to burn our names into it and then put it up on a ledge.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8015/7122009443_39c1fdcb63.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/7122009443/)
carve n burn (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/7122009443/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7082/7121821107_2b3e053f0e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/7121821107/)
Ledged (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/7121821107/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

Hopefully in years to come we'll visit again and find the things we've left.

On the way back we foraged some more and this is what we found.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7278/7121802103_faf43bfd5e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/7121802103/)
Wildfood (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/7121802103/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

From left to right.. top row... Scurvy grass, Jack By the Hedge, Three Cornered Leek and Ramsons. Bottom row... Alexanders, Cleavers/Goosegrass, Wood Sorrel (just under the three cornered leek/ramsons), Yellow Archangel. On the foxbrush.. Primrose flower and Gorse flower.
There was probably more wild edibles to be found, but I still have lots to learn on this subject.

We had a lovely day and I left for home feeling happy and refreshed for spending time with my bubbas out in the woods. They had a great time too, it brings out the best in them, playing in the woods and foraging - they spotted most of the wildfood and they have a sound knowledge of hedgerow plants, edible or no. Theym only 5 n 7, I'm a proud da :D

Anyhows, fun was had and the weather held out nicely too. I'm really looking forward to our next trip out... A special little spot on Dartmoor :D

Thanks for looking

Phil

[cuppa joe]

really nice pics ...life's for living lad and it looks like everyone had great fun thanks for posting.

[Kernowek Scouser]

Looks like you and the family had a great day fella and I'm glad the weather held out for you (it has miserable down here in St Ives, strong winds and mizzle all afternoon).

One of the things I love about Cornwall is there are some many lovely little nooks and crannies just waiting to be explored.

Thanks for sharing the pictures, I have a 'thing' for waterfalls, so I'll definitely be adding St Nectan's Kieve to my list of places to visit.

[FishyFolk]

I envy you the spring. Here it is snowing....

[Fletching]

Ansum Phil!

Looks like the wee ones thoroughly enjoyed it.

:)

[JonnyP]

Nice write up Phil.. Whats with all the money n trinkets left at that place..?

[luresalive]

MAGNIFICENT pictures and what a place,we have a lot of similar places here in Ireland where trinkets are left to grant wishes or answer prayers to the little ones for some sort of healing ,but I've never seen one as grand as that!

[jus_young]

Awesome mate.

[AL...]

Looks like a magical place Phil . The kids fair look as if they had a great day
Thanks for sharing yer day

Cheers
AL

[ian c]

Very nice thanks for sharing.

[Roadkillphil]

Jonny, I think this kind of answers your question bud.
MAGNIFICENT pictures and what a place,we have a lot of similar places here in Ireland where trinkets are left to grant wishes or answer prayers to the little ones for some sort of healing ,but I've never seen one as grand as that!
I assumed it would be something along these lines. I wasn't expecting it and I felt like I should leave something too so had to get creative :)

Thanks all for your kind comments. :)

Cheers

Phil

[GwersyllaCnau]

Great pics and looks a wonderful place. You all looked like you enjoyed the day, especially the kids, which adds the the adults enjoyment... Or is it just me thats a big kid at heart?

[JonnyP]

Jonny, I think this kind of answers your question bud.
I assumed it would be something along these lines. I wasn't expecting it and I felt like I should leave something too so had to get creative :)

Thanks all for your kind comments. :)

Cheers

Phil

Yep, its interesting stuff. I have been looking up about the holy wells and ancient sites around Cornwall. There is a lot of sites out there. I need to get out more for a nosey..

[alvino78]

looks like a great time had by all ,envious much!! great to see the kids enjoying the scenery!!! great post!T^

[nat110732]

Great post mate, I love it when me n the kids do an expedition together

Nat

Sent from my BlackBerry 8520 using Tapatalk

[Ichneumon]

Great pictures Phil and what a lovely looking place. Fine Kids! You have every right to be a proud dad. Who took the picture of you?

Thanks for sharing.

[Roadkillphil]

Great pictures Phil and what a lovely looking place. Fine Kids! You have every right to be a proud dad. Who took the picture of you?

Thanks for sharing.

There was a group of ladies that arrived just before we left... The only other folk there. I offered to get a picture of them all as one was always left out. She offered in return to get a pic of me and the kids. T^

Thanks again to all for the kind words

Cheers

Phil

[JEEP]

Awesome photos T^