A Gorge-eous Walk

Well this weekend is the last weekend we have our National Trust membership so the question posed - which of the many great properties around Plymouth do we visit. The decision came to Lydford Gorge. My justification is because it is all about rugged nature - there's no elaborate gardens or pompous country house. Vero's reasons - she wanted to see the bunnies that usually live near the gift shop!

It was an overcast and not particularly warm day, and having arrived already tired from a early wake up (damn summer mornings!) and a morning spent overhauling the planting on the balcony, the prospect of a 3 mile walk over undulating terrain would normally be uninviting.

However, Lydford Gorge is not the Grand Canyon or Yosemite Valley but it is spectacular in its own unique way.

The walk starts with a trek through dense woodland overlooking the gorge, where you can only hear the water crashing down the river below (and the occasional shouting tourists). You cross the heads of several small waterfalls before reaching the brook the starts to tumble down and becomes White Lady falls. Once down in the valley you wander alongside a calm and shallow stretch of the river Lyd which betrays what is to come. Usually there's a dipper or two to be seen however too many people around for what is usually a skittish bird.

Then as you come around a corner the falls appear, cascading 30 meters down over black stone. A definite photo op for all.

Then its the walk up through the gorge, alongside the river which varies between calm shallows to plunging mini-cascades and pools, including the spectacular (but too busy today) Devils Cauldron. The walk itself is quite precarious too, especially when holding an expensive camera! There's plenty of wildlife too - trout in the river with dippers and grey wagtails flashing up and downstream. The flora, in particular the large ferns, add an effect - sometimes you think you are in a jungle in central America.

By time we finished we were pooped - even too tired for a cream tea and Vero's normally mandatory hour in the gift shop!All in all a place we would always recommend to visit. We probably won't be back to visit for a while however it will always be fondly remembered.