Goonhilly: a walk through history Linking Countryside Partnership

A 3-mile circular walk from the Dry Tree Menhir A WALK Natural free car park at THROUGH Goonhilly on the A3293 HISTORY (SW728213), taking in Early Exploring the Bronze Age monuments, World rich archaeology War Two buildings, and an old of Goonhilly croft from the Early Bronze Age until World War Two with Charlie Johns, Senior Archaeologist, Goonhilly Council

Old hedge and meadow at Croft Noweth

About Charlie Johns Theme Archaeology

The Charlie Johns, Senior Archaeologist, Cornwall Council expert

What you A menhir and barrows, part of a ceremonial landscape will see dating back to the Early Bronze Age

A derelict croft that was once home to farmers in the early nineteenth century

Charlie is Cornish: he was born on Meneage Street in and attended Abandoned buildings from World War Two that were part of Helston Grammar School, and lived at the radar station at RAF Dry Tree, monitoring the skies for The Lizard for many years. Charlie’s first enemy aircraft dig was on the Lizard (the Romano-British saltworks at Trebarveth near Lowland Point) in 1969, before studying history at the University of Leicester and becoming Grade Fairly flat with clear paths, but wear stout shoes as the paths a professional archaeologist in 1979. can be uneven and muddy Charlie has worked for the Council since 1991, and has spent much time working on the Lizard, both with the Council and Best time This walk can be undertaken at any time of year with the Lizard Ancient Sites Network of year (LAN), an active group of volunteers who protect and maintain archaeological sites on the peninsula. His main current areas of responsibility are projects in the Isles of Scilly and maritime-related projects. Facilities Free car parking is available. No toilets. Part of the route at RAF Dry Tree is accessible to wheelchairs

http://www.the-lizard.org Numbers in square brackets refer to the walk directions 1. MAP AND DIRECTIONS The walk starts in the National Nature Reserve Car Park [A] for Goonhilly Downs (SW728213), signposted off the A3293 about half a mile before Traboe Cross as you head southwards. Take a moment to look north to admire ‘Arthur’, one of the aerial dishes of British Telecom’s now defunct Satellite Earth Station. Arthur is Grade II-listed, and dominates the landscape here.

If you pick up a copy of the Natural England leaflet from the car park dispenser, you will see there are various paths and routes across the Downs. This walk follows the recommended circular route, but there are other paths to explore. It’s hard to get lost with Arthur in view most of the time.

4. 7. Eventually the track turns west, just above Follow the track, bearing to the 2. Croft Pascoe Pool [D]. A wildlife haven for left as you approach a wooded birds in all seasons and for dragonflies in area. Just here to the right you Leave the car park and follow the path the warmer months, this small pool has a will find Cruc Draenoc barrow west until you arrive at a fairly large hushed feel. A ghostly lugger boat is said [G], which dates back to the rectangular building, with steps up to its to sail on Croft Pascoe on dark nights! Early Bronze Age. One of several roof. This is the receiver block [B], one of barrows on Goonhilly, this one is the buildings associated with RAF Dry distinguished by bearing an Tree, a radar station operating on Ordnance Survey ‘trig point’. It is Goonhilly during World War Two. On PDF in fact the highest point of Sheet 1 (Goonhilly: World War Two), Goonhilly Downs – find out more Charlie Johns describes what went on at on PDF Sheet 3 (The Bronze RAF Dry Tree, and what you can still see: Age). a number of buildings and other structures remain dotted around the landscape. Do go up to the roof of the receiver block: the view over the Downs is tremendous, and 8. some interpretation panels point out the A little further along the path, main features. 5. and within sight of Cruc Draenoc, Follow the path as it turns northwards, is the Dry Tree menhir [H], which along a boardwalk and then through a also dates back to the Early gate and onto the track again. When you Bronze Age. Check out PDF 3. come to a track ‘T-junction’, turn west into a Sheet 3 to find out from Charlie From the receiver block, head south wooded area, and watch out on your right how this menhir nearly became towards Croft Pascoe Pool. Along the for the ruined buildings of Croft Noweth part of a road, and the meaning way, you’ll notice some regularly spaced [E]. This smallholding dates back to the of the name ‘Dry Tree’. Downs – mounds [C], covered in heather and other early nineteenth century, and Charlie find out more on PDF Sheet 3 vegetation. These are what remains of an explains more on PDF Sheet 2 (Farming). (The Bronze Age). ingenious idea to stop enemy gliders Feel free to leave the path to explore the landing. Charlie explains more on PDF old buildings and hedges, but do take care: Sheet 1. the site is overgrown in places and uneven, and the buildings are now ruined.

6. As you emerge from the woods and hedges of Croft Noweth, turn northwards again and follow the track as it bends 9. northeast. To the left of the path see if you From here, follow the path back can spot rectangular, slightly raised, to the car park. shapes of a few metres wide in the heath [F]. These are mediaeval turf stacks – find out more on PDF Sheet 2. http://www.the-lizard.org