CORNWALL

A few days at the end of April at Treslea, near Bodmin in Cornwall.

An interesting B&B in the country a short distance from Bodmin.

Where pheasants abounded.

Various farm property within walking distance.

Farming was a mix of livestock and cropping seen below.

Neatly ploughed fields...

...sheep.

Distinctive towers with small turrets on each of the four corners.  Usually as part of a church were located in most villages.

The Eden centre, a sustainable living demonstration area. This driveway border is Heather and Gorse.

Interesting rock where mining has previously been carried out in the same location as the Eden centre.

A small historic port built in the 1790's for the export of copper and china clay in the area.  The clay could be loaded directly into ships from the terrace to the left of channel.

National Trust property Cotehele in the Tamar Valley north west Cornwell. Described as a rambling Tudor house.

Entrance way into the building with well kept lawns.

The vegetable garden.

Neatly trimmed Yew trees.

The usual low doorway in some buildings, this one the garden tea room.

We leave the misty valleys of Cornwall at the beginning of May  traveling through Bodmin Moor to Gloucestershire.

Leaving the pheasants to their roaming.  While in the area we did spend some time in the Bodmin Jail as paying guests of the very good restaurant, the prison having been closed some years ago.

The flight from Vancouver overnight to London then by train to Bath where we continue the travels.

The Royal Hotel in Bath is just across the street from the railway station so no need for a taxi to our accommodation.

The whole of the city of Bath is listed as a world heritage site.  Made famous for the warm springs supplying the bathhouse for the Roman occupation of southern England. The spread of the Roman empire was drawn to this area of England due to the source of lead and tin used in the making of pewter.  It was also fortunate that the springs were also handily located.

Now continues as a tourist attraction but no-one permitted to bathe in this one although he seems hopeful.

The fist floor has a balcony overlooking the pool and...

...also gives vistas to surrounding city buildings.

Alcoves at pool level enable intimate meeting places.

Interesting hollow ceramic "bricks" used in part of the construction.

While the Romans may have initiated the development, the focus has continued on the location being within easy reach of London.

Magnificent residential building and open space with well manicured grass.

Close by it appears as an economy measure the pedestrian direction arrows only come in one version. The inscription, both top and bottom, was upside down.  The post, it it is after all a world heritage site, so old is in its place.

The Royal Crescent is truly crescent shaped with motor access restricted to residents. However...(below)

...the rear is not so impressive.

Old and preserved is the theme of the city typified in this street ornament.

Private housing came some time after the bath house,.

Sallies house as it is today, over 500 years later.

The street leading into the city centre from the railway station.

 Some newer building have been constructed, probably before World Heritage Site designation.  The demolition of a block of building and replacement by building such as shown here was much to the disgust of a tour guide on a city bus tour.  He had lived in the city for many years.

The Avon River has its source in the region to the north and flows through the city on its way to sea through Bristol to the east.

A closer view of the bridge visible in the above photograph has shops along each side of it across the river.

It is then quickly out into the countryside leaving this old city and its history behind.