Determined to explore more of unknown Cornwall this year I readily accepted the invitation to explore this valley with a small group of friends. It was indeed an hour and a quarter’s drive from here but it would be a great stop off for guests on their way down to stay at Boscrowan with a few hours to spare whilst we are busy beavering away on preparing the cottages for their visit as it is only a few minutes from the A30.
All I knew before I left home was that it was a beautiful wooded valley where you could walk across a viaduct. Little did I know of the amazing historical remains of industry in Cornwall in the late 1900’s that we were to see.
We parked at the Kings Arms at Luxulyan, studied a map and a guide book over coffee and then headed to the main part of the village and onto a footpath where we entered the woodland. Remains of bridges and sluice gates were an unexpected, unexplicable sight until later on the walk. The viaduct and aqueduct was well hidden in the trees and a sudden sight to behold.
Cut granite pillars and a curved wall at either end and evidence of a tramway, across which we walked, peeping down through the great granite quoins to see where water ran below in days gone by. Then through woodland the tramway continued
We then reached the remains of a mill with a water wheel, abandoned great cogs, more sluice gates and really we needed some information boards at this point to explain. A male in our group might have been useful because they would have just known, or sounded as though they knew, we declared!
Down a gentle incline under a beautiful bridge
Apparently water power – steam I presume pulled the trams up this incline. Down towards Ponts Mill and back along another tramway, past where they used to dry the clay, then alongside the most beautiful river where we spotted dippers on the boulders and then flying short distances upstream ahead of us. Magical!
Back to the viaduct, but this time below and here we came across an information board at last – maybe we hadn’t joined this circular walk at the normal spot?
And we returned to the pretty village of Luxulyan, past the church with some very elaborate crosses indeed
to enjoy a most splendid, beautifully presented lunch at the Kings Arms again. If you are inspired do look up this website www.luxulyanvalley.co.uk and you’ll find out much more about the valley and the industry
