Autumn walk along the River Teign

I had a lovely walk along the River Teign from Chagford to Fingle Bridge yesterday. The autumn colours are just starting and the weather is still wonderfully warm.

Wild Seas in Cornwall

Yesterday we continued our walk along the rugged cliffs of North Cornwall near Porthcothen, the seas were really wild with huge waves going in all directions, even the seals looked as if they were finding it hard to swim. We saw the lifeboat and helicopter going across and discovered later about the tragic deaths of the three surfers.

Fingle Bridge

We had a long walk after work along the river Teign to see the Salmon lealping, there have been lots this year and it is such a thrill to watch them. The Fallow deer are rutting and the valley was echoing with their roaring calls, earlier on we had seen the white stag chasing three females around someones garden! We finished our walk at the Inn sitting outside beside the river overlooking this beautiful bridge.

Bedruthan Steps

We had a wonderful day on Sunday walking the cliffs from Bedruthan Steps (pictured above) round to Porthcothan. It was really warm but the wind was amazing and it was hard to stand in places and difficult to hold my camera still! The sea was really wild, brilliant to watch!

GRANITE SONG

It is lovely to see the beautiful sculpture Granite Song by Peter Randall-Page back on its island in the middle of the River Teign on the outskirts of Chagford. Last winter it got bowled over and covered in fallen branches that had been swept downstream in all the winter floods and I did miss seeing it there.

Pale Tussock Moth Caterpillar

I found this wonderful caterpillar on the road it had only just escaped the hedge trimmimg machine, so I put it in a safe place away from the road and took its picture. I knew it was a Pale Tussock Moth as way back in 1980 I had done a study of one I found then also in October but later on the 30th which seems quite late for a caterpillar to be about. They look a bit like tooth brushes including the spike for cleaning in between!

Small Copper Butterfly

It is lovely to see so many butterflies still around, this tiny Small Copper flew past me on my walk yesterday and at first I thought it was a windblown leaf until it landed!

Stone Row

This is one of the long Stone Rows on Chagford Common just below Kestor, the light on our evenening walk yesterday was really good casting long shadows.

Fernworthy Reservoir

Fernworthy Reservoir is getting very low and it is possible to walk right around it on the shaw at the moment. This area on my picture is usually all under the water and these ancient hut circles are completely covered!