Community Walk to "Camborne's Shangri-la"

On Sunday 28th August members of the Treswithian Circular Pathways Community Group headed away from the town, down into the Red River Valley over a route that demonstrates both how easily connections between the town and the Red River could be improved today, as well as the rich cultural and historical connections that underpin why the valley has been called "Camborne's Shangri-la".

The following text summarises a report submitted by the group as part of Connecting the Red River's community consultation process - If you want to submit your stories of the Red River to also inform our project, please do just get in touch:

"This year's August longer group walk started at the Trevithick Inn, Camborne. First we had coffee and poured over maps and books on the history of the Red River; from Frank Turk's 1970's articles, to the Camborne Town Council booklet of walks, a route that was similar to ours. After a historical talk on Treswithian and the Glebe lands of Crane Manor we followed the main road to Weeth Road. We then turned left down Marriot's Road through new housing that leads to a footpath beside the A30, linking to Willow Drive.

Stopping at Reskadinnick Road Playing Field, a nice little park, we spoke of the folklore of kissing-gates before continuing through the A30 underpass (foot) and considered the graffiti, whether it would be possible to have workshops with talented graffiti artists to help make such places feel more safe and attractive, perhaps reflecting the local environment and culture of the area. Moving on along the old Reskadinnick Road, we noted how the A30 divided up the old horticultural experiment fields (now Duchy College) where they tested flowers and vegetables under Cornish weather systems.

We noted the history of Reskedinnick House, the former 19th home and woodland estates of Captain Vivian of Dolcoath Mines. The author Ann Hugh's wrote lovingly of the way of life here and the many friend's they had. Several writers, scientist's and artists have lived in Reskedinnick and felt drawn to the still rural feeling of Puggis Hill lane. Many of our group were intrigued by this name.

Where the footpath joins Puggis Hill lane we continued straight on towards the Red River and Roscroggan, on a corner we admired the view over the marshlands of the River towards Coombe.

We continued along the lane passing the cottage Shangri-la and paid homage to the memory of Frank and Stella Turk, in many ways the inspiration and backbone to the conservation of this area. At the end of the row of cottages was a watermill and here we turned left down a track to a wooden bridge over the Red River itself.

Image: Exploring the Red River Local Nature Reserve

We noted how greenish yellow and pink the water was looking and the accumulation of sediments on the rocks. We also looked at old photographs of the extensive Tin Stream Works here and contrasted it with much regrowth of Willow and Alder there now forming a rich and often flooded habitat of biodiversity. Even I remember the old red slime clay banks that we used to walk over now completely covered in overgrowth, a brilliant sight.

We continued along the Red River towards Coombe on old mining paths of clay still filled with gorse, heather and broom. The Red River Path continues towards Keive Mill passing an outlet into the Red River from the sewage Works on the hill opposite.Coming out onto the lane by Cuttings Hill we turned left again down the green lane, over bridges of the Red River and Tehidy stream where they join and continued down about a mile to the footpath opening to beautiful Bell Lake noting some red fungi! The mill lake used to be a lot bigger and this can be studied on maps.

We continued up the hill towards Grass Valley and stopped for the superb view of the Red River Valley woodlands towards Menadarva and Gwithian to the west and towards Tehidy Woods to the east. Here in an area where the farmer has left an area to grow more naturally we had a picnic. On leaving we discovered a toad had joined us!

Image: Boletes Fungi and Picnic

Coming back by Grass Valley we noted the sites of ancient wells or springs. Here, new ponds or lakes have been created down to marshes by the Red River, large gardens with apple trees and orchards indicative of long term land usage. There is a large site of previous market gardening now grown wild. The wooded area is know =n to overlay medieval field systems and would make an ideal spot for a community project on natural resource use including coppicing, orchards, wetlands and access.

We completed our walk by field footpaths and green lanes to the Treswithian intersection where we started at Trevithick Inn".

Many thanks to the group for allowing this summary to be shared - They hope it inspires more of you to get out and enjoy the delights of Cornwall's Red River.