Another day - another County. Today we are off to Cornwall for a couple of days. The weather is still brilliant - sunny and warm, as we head off down the A30. First stop of the day is at Marazion for a quick look over the RSPB reserve, a Kingfisher being the highlight. Next of course is the compulsary stop in Newlyn for a cheese and veg pasty from Aunty Mays !
First stones of the day are just past Drift. There's a convenient lay by to park, and just over the field gate are a nice pair of stones. They stand at 2.3m & 2.7m respectively and 5.5m apart and are aligned NE-SW. When excavated by William Copeland Borlase in 1871, he found a pit 1.8 m long x 0.9 m wide and 1.5 m deep. This was between the stones but at right angles to them. The earth in the pit had been disturbed, which led him to believe that it was an empty grave.
About three quarters of a mile further on down the A30, but on the Right hand side of the road, just visible over the hedge sits The Blind Fiddler standing stone. Again, there is a convenient layby to park. Cross the road and look for the style - though on this occasion it was too overgrown to use. There is a field gate if the style is unusable.
I've visited this stone on many occasions, and it never fails to impress. Standing at around 3.3 metres and speckled with quartz.
One more stop on the A30 and it's another old favourite - Boscawen Un stone circle and it's associated standing stones.
The small layby, suitable for a couple of cars is right next to the gate and track down to the circle. It can be be quite overgrown at certain times of the year, but is easy to follow, and you soon arrive at the enclosure which contains the circle. There is the choice of some steep granite steps built into the hedge to the right, or follow the track to the gate. Either way a wonderful sight awaits you.
The circle consists of nineteen stones, and is slightly elliptical - with diameters of 24.4m and 21.7m respectively. One stone is pure quartz, the rest are granite.There is a central stone (just off centre), 2.4m in height, which leans heavily to the NE.
I head off back through the gate and follow the track towards Boscawen Un Farm. A little way along, in the undergrowth at the side of the track. lays a large long stone. Whether it is significant or not, I don't know.
The track veers left when you reach the farm and just along on the left you will see the large triangular stone known as the hedge stone - (for obvious reasons !). It stands at around 2.3 metres.
Carrying on down the lane, about two fields further on, on the left, a field gate leads into a large rectangular field. The next standing stone, is through this field and just through the gate into the next one. You should, if possible ask permission at the farm first of course.
Luckily, there are no cattle in the field today, so it's a straightforward stroll up to the Field stone - as it's know (again - for obvious reasons !)
It's a fine stone, just a yard or two from the field boundary and about 2.6 metres tall. The circle is just three fields (including this one) to the South West. Another possible stone has been incorporated into the field wall, which at this time of year is quite overgrown and not easy to find. It is thought, that together, they may have formed a stone pair.
I head back to the circle for one final look before heading off.
Next stop - Treverven Menhir. This will be a new stone for me, so hopefully I will be able to find it. To get there, take the B road from St Buryan to Treen, turning off half way at Sparnon. The road goes through the collection of houses at Treverven and there is a good spot to park the car at the side of the road here.
A footpath heads off North, through a small wooded area and out into a field. Follow through the first field and into the second where you will see the stone. It's around 1.9 metres high and sits in the middle of the field.
One more stop today - before heading off to the B&B in St Just. Carrying on along the road brings us to Boskenna Cross, where there is room to park. Follow the footpath South East to the second field and here you will see Boscawen Ros standing stone. Originally, there were two stones here, the second now stands in the hedge to the West, but is not easy to find.
Well that's it for today. Hopefully the weather will hold out for tomorrow.
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