While on St Mary's we failed to spot any of the rare birds that had been reported, but whilst looking for an elusive Golden Oriole, we ended up in Carreg Dhu Gardens ...
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| Bulb field. |
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| The damp interior... |
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| Royal Fern. |
With realistically, only a three hour window between arrival and departure, it was indeed a flying visit and a quick walk around St Mary's to get a feel of the place. First off to Peninnis Head and some spectacular rocks.
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| The coast from the Scillonian. |
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| Old Town, where I stayed on holiday, as a child. |
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| Peninnis Headland. |
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| Keeping an eye out for rare lichens.... |
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| Looking back over Old Town. |
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| More rocks ..and below. |
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| What gorgeous forms! |
With the forecast set fair we made a last minute decision to take a day trip to St Mary's on the Scillonian III. Calm crossings with lots of Manx Shearwaters and good views....
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| Waiting onboard for the 9:15 sailing... |
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| Mousehole. |
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| Land's End. |
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| Porthcurno and the Minnack Theatre. |
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| Wolf Rock Lighthouse. |
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| First views... |
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| Closer... |
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| Hugh Town ..and below. |
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| Heading back... |
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| Looking back as we passed Land's End. |
A few more pics from the walk ...
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| Spring Squill. |
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| Lousewort. |
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| Serpenting rocks at Kynance - and below... |
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| My first Early-purple Orchids of the year. |
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| Orange-tip and Speckled-wood Butterflies. |
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| Cliff top Thrift and Three-cornered Leek. |
As always a long and rewarding walk - from Lizard Point round to Kynance Cove, across Lizard Downs and to Cadgwith before returning to the start.
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| Towards Kynance and below.... |
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| Sheets of Spring Squill... |
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| Kynance and time for a large pasty. |
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| Across Lizard Downs - thankfully dry underfoot! |
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| Cadgwith - pretty as ever - shame about the telegraph poles and power lines. |
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| The harbour - note the collapsed wall in the background... |
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| Looking back ... |
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| ...and returning to Lizard Point. |
After going to Men an Tol, we headed down to Newlyn (huge crab claws for £17 a kilo - cracking (no pun intended!)) meal for us! Back home and a brief walk out onto Gurnard's Head.
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| It's so nice to see the blossom out when it is dry, rather than when it's soggy and wind blown! |
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| Harbour wall... |
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| Gurnard's Head. |
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| Kestrel. |
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| One of many Wheatears. |
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| Looking back at Guurnard's Head. |
