We spent two days exploring the area around Bissoe last week. There is an excellent cycle/walking trail from Portreath through Bissoe to Devoran along an old mineral tram line. It passes through a nature reserve at Bissoe and is a beautiful gentle walk.We also found our 100th geocache along this route, so it will sit in our memory for a long time. It's hard to believe that we've done so many in such a short time..
Back to Bissoe...One of the most notable things here is the colour of the rivers. They run red with the traces of nearby copper mining evident.
That's only part of the mineral story here. At Bissoe is the site of an arsenic works. Arsenic was processed here until the second world war. It is a little alarming that there are many signs advising you to stay out of the water and away from the river banks 65 years after production ceased.
This is all that remains of the arsenic refinery.
It was a lovely walk, relaxing after the hard walking of recent days.
We are still amazing at Sean's stamina, walking 7.5 miles over some really rough terrain and then running along the track.This is my favourite photo along this trail, looking back towards where we have walked over the previous couple of days.
In the foreground , behind the lake, is the arsenic works, just visible at the top on the far right is one of the many engine houses we explored whilst in the area.
We haven't walked much of the trail and will be back sometime in the summer. This is a wonderful area with a very varied landscape. Another incentive to come back are the wonderful bacon rolls from Bissoe Bike Hire- the best we've ever had!Until next time
Gillian
It's such a beautiful part of the world (my favourite). Thanks for some great pictures. Even thought this is a tin and copper area, I think the colouration is in fact from deposits of iron, not copper. I do hope you manage to find more time to explore the area, further up the Carnon and Poldice Valleys. The history alone is fascinating.
ReplyDeleteHello Alfred the Ordinary,
ReplyDeleteWe too love this area and feel quite blessed to live nearby. You may well be right about the iron causing the colouration- but it is so amazing how much it colours all the water ways.
We will be looking at other nearby walks next summer so thanks for the suggestion to look at the Carnon and Poldice Valleys- we too become quite immersed in the history as John is a history teacher who likes to incorporate local history into what he teaches...
Thanks for looking at our blog- we are not doing too much walking during the winter months but will resume our adventures in full by the spring when we will be visiting more of our beautiful county.