Expedition to the Fern Pit Cafe

 

There is a side to Newquay that few visitors bother to explore: the tidal estuary of the River Gannel. On the northern side, houses and gardens jostle for position down the steep sided slopes all the way to the shoreline, but the southern side is just fields and woods, quiet lanes and wild meadows.

Mum and I set off at low tide to walk the length of the estuary from the muddy banks upriver all the way down to Crantock Beach and the sea. Wild honeysuckle grows abundantly along the shoreline.

A sandy beach with a swing and ropes to swing on...... a place for children to be wild again away from modern technology.

Glasswort covers the muddy banks, and the skeletal branches of bleached trees reach their fingers into the water.

There is wild dog rose and elderflower.

Another secret, hidden place for children to play, and wild meadows full of butterflies and bees.

As we approach Crantock Beach we can see that the tide is still covering the little bridge over to the other side where the Fern Pit Cafe stands squarely at the top of its steeply sloping garden. We shall have to catch the attention of the ferry boatman to take us across.

 

Up till now the rain has just about held off, but as we reach Fern Pit Cafe at the top of the steep flights of steps it starts spitting, so we head indoors for our crab sandwich lunchtime treat.

The misty murky conditions are not the best for showing you the fantastic view back up-river!

The tide is still covering the footbridge so it's back on the ferry to the other side to walk back home again. A fun expedition all in all, I'm sure you'll agree!