There is a wonderful book, Penwith Moods by photographer David Chapman which provides an insight into the flora, fauna and geological oddities of this beautiful lanscape which is inspiring and informative and better than any reductive guide. It resounds with a passion for the place which the best writers have, once captivated with the need to explore and know more about their environment.
I am not going to nick from it but it inspired me to walk to St Just and see the special Cot Valley which is revered for its geological features and its sub-tropical plants. On a crisp November day there was little fauna except ragged looking bracken but rocks is rocks. Porth Nanven is the name of the beach with rounded 'dinosaur eggs'. The difference between the granite rocks on the beach worn smooth by the vicissitudes of the tides and the layers of sedimentary rock with random stomes caught in the sides of the valley wall is a geologist's dream. Our history is in them there stones. This area has been extensively mined although those heady times can only be imagined by the Choughs which apparently inhabit the valley now. I made the King's Arms just in time and got the Saturday papers in to read by a roaring fire. It is hard to make a pub pay these days but this place has done it properly with good food that people will come a long way for and the 'Proper Job' bitter I had made the long walk worthwhile. Last bus to Sennen 5.10pm though which was probably for the best as I was settling in...
Don't know what the alpaca thought but he was decidedly unhappy !
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