GRENOFEN and DOUBLE WATERS

What a beautiful morning we woke to today, one of the best so far this year and ideal for walking with a slight chill in the air, we couldn’t wait to set off. The secluded car park at Grenofen Bridge in the Walkham Valley was our meeting point and I was in an exuberant mood because this is one of my favourite walks, but anywhere with both woods and water gets my vote. Turning our back on the river we are soon struggling up the rocky track towards the wide open spaces at West Down where there are far-reaching views in all directions;

however we knew it wouldn’t be too long before we saw the river again. In the summer months this area of acidic grassland is important for its butterflies, including populations of the High Brown Fritillary and the Pearl Bordered Fritillary, but today there were just a few Violets to admire amongst the grass and a few ewes and lambs either side of us nibbling the grass.

After so much rain over the last month or so, we found that vast amounts of rushing river water had washed away the soil and rocks near the bridge which carries walkers over the Walkham and it proved a bit of an obstacle course just to reach it, but we are a determined bunch and no-one actually fell in although I was there with my camera just in case, waiting to record the exact moment had they done so!!!!!! Once safely across the old timber bridge here at Double Waters, everyone milled about or sat on a rock to enjoy a drink or a snack at the very spot where this river, merges with the .

Like the Tavy, the Walkham is another river whose source is high up on emerging from the ground in a slow trickle somewhere between Roos Tor and Great Mis Tor. From here it flows almost due south for approximately 3 miles until finally leaving the National Park behind. Gaining momentum it surges south-west, passing beneath the 15th century pack- horse bridge in village where there is a pretty picnic spot. Eventually the travels beneath the elegant, single arch of Bedford Bridge/Magpie Bridge and meanders along the gravel and rock-strewn valley to Grenofen Bridge, always changing and always on the move. Then as we could see and hear this morning, it arrived at this picturesque picnic spot at Double Waters. The River Walkham met the River Tavy with an almighty roar, frothing and gurgling with pleasure as the two collided. Several miles further on, after having passed first Buckland Abbey and then poured over the weir at Lopwell Dam, the much enlarged Tavy then courses its way through the land to join the mighty near .

Break over we headed back through a gap in the rocks to join the damp, mossy woodland where the River Walkham was never very far away as the track moved further inland. It was quite fast flowing for most of its journey with its succession of rushing rapids and quiet pools, the latter of which probably indicated deeper water. Here before we followed the path uphill and back to the car park in the dappled sunlight, Ray took a photo of today’s smallish group.