Date walked: Sunday, April 6th, 2008

Weather: Snow and hail showers with intermittent blue skies.

Time taken: 10.30- 15.15.

Lopwell Dam, dotted path up through Whittacliffe Wood, down the lane to Gnatham Farm and path* to Bere Ferrers. Through the village heading to the station, carry straight on under the railway bridge following the track and footpath over fields to the Tamar. Thorn Point and back following the footpath to Tuckham Bridge Along the road to Weir Quay. Back to Bere Ferrers  along the road past Ormonde House, retracing steps through the village and along the road to Hallodene .Across the ford and along the waterside south of Gnatham Farm and  return** retracing route to Lopwell Dam.

A long and varied walk with wonderful views  across the Tavy and the Tamar. It probably needs wellingtons at any time of the year if one wishes to walk the riverside paths and out to Thorn Point. The path from Liphill Quay is clearly marked and would shorten the route considerably.Wonderful meadows, saltmarsh, woods and the excitment of crossing the Lopwell dam. The extension to Weir Quay was in the hope of chocolate and juice at the chandlers, this time it wasn’t open sp it is probably best to see it as fortuitous and not to be relied upon.

Birds: First chiff chaffs and swallows of the season  over the meadows between Bere Ferrers and Thorn Point. Skylarks

Flowers: Wild strawberries, first bluebells, bright blue evergreen alkanet, yellow archangel, Lady’sSmock

Small joys: The badger set hedgerow of the pasture obliquely to the right (east) of the first field after Thorn Point. It looks like 2 spoil heaps from a distance and is a major work of mining engineering with multiple entrances. Once one has one badger set eye in they can be spotted all over the walk with a particularly impressive one left of the field path before Tuckham Bridge

Navigational error: do not take the path along the river* ( towards  Bere Ferrers), it looks navigable but is 12”++ plodge which smells like an egg sandwich and will be covered at high tide. There is an inland route above the riverside path by the children’s play area.
**The riverside path riverside at Gnatham Farm looks as if it might join the path at the beginning of the walk, it doesn’t but does take you out to an old quay. Very plodgy.