The Rambler Returns.

I'm afraid that losing my wonderful companion, Zac, shook me a lot and my blogging mojo just disappeared.  Walks seemed pointless without him by my side so I became quite reclusive, keeping to my home and garden, even ordering groceries online because I couldn't face meeting people.

However, a few weeks after he died, my son, daughter-in-law and grandson came to stay with me for several days; we went out and about and just having their company was the best antidote to my depression and they pulled me up from the doldrums. The best news was that they had decided to move to Cornwall permanently; they love this county and it will be good for us all to live closer together (my youngest son lives just a few miles away too.)

If anyone is still out there to read my blog, I ask forgiveness for my absence and promise to 'try harder' in future, get out there and take photos.

In September, I booked a small apartment in St Agnes parish, on the north coast of Cornwall, in a little hamlet called Skinner's Bottom - Cornwall has some fantastic place names, doesn't it? During my time there, I discovered some lovely beaches that I'd never visited before despite several previous holidays in St Agnes (probably because they didn't allow dogs . . . ) 

The view of rural serenity from my holiday home; just the sound of birds and occasional clip clop of a horse being ridden along the lane. Just what I needed!

This is Portreath, a lovely sandy beach in a steep valley; the granite wall on the right is to protect the little harbour.  In the storms of 2014, the small white pepperpot building was destroyed but has since been rebuilt. 

Looking down from the steep cliffs above the village and car park

I also went to Godrevy beach and lighthouse - made famous by Virginia Woolfe's book "To The Lighthouse" -  another outpost of the north coast that bears the brunt of fierce storms lashing in from the Atlantic.  But on a quiet September afternoon it can seem deceptively peaceful - don't be fooled; the small stretch of low tide sand connecting it to Gwithian beach disappears in a flash when the tide comes back in. 

An old stone gate on the coastal path

 and a beautiful, wildflower-covered stone wall

 Admiring the view

Hope you enjoyed some of the views of my short break - there are more to come, I promise.