Bude Cliff Edge by lick.a.witch
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Description
During early spring, I took my daughter to meet an old uni friend in Bude. To say the day was a real Cornish rough weather day is akin to saying the sun is a tad warm! Gales were up to 70mph - (you'll find no kilometres from me. I'm Welsh! ^=^) - rain was falling, (most of it on me!), and even at the best of times, the walk along the cliff edge from Bude is a treacherous undertaking. So I thought I'd give it a shot, and this despite it being my first walk since coming out of hibernation! Candidly, I needed to prove I could do it. So off I set on a 7 mile jaunt, (there and back, that is), much of it up very steep inclines!
I will explain the terrain at this juncture. Cliffs = granite; top soil = sandstone; Atlantic sea = some of the roughest waves in the south west!
The path is set very close to the cliff edge, and frankly, it is getting closer all the time. The sandstone slips, the path slips with it. Suddenly, a path trodden 2 years ago now lies in dust on top of the sand, ready to be washed away at high tide. The added danger is that often there will be a sudden drop in the terrain surrounding you, the sea undermining the granite far inside the cliff. I circumnavigated a very large area on my walk that looked as though the ground had been hit by a meteor. A complete circle of grass and underlying sandstone had sunk down at least 3 metres! It did make for a rather interesting walk though, I must say! ^=^
All the granite jutting seaward atop the sand in this image was once part of the cliff. Cornwall is actually shrinking. The Cornish still have a wonderful sense of humour though! Read their ads sent to encourage visitors, and you notice at once the big deal made of the spring flowers growing all along the cliffs - and make no mistake - they really are a wonderful sight - floating as they are, far out to sea on rafts made of grass, which last year was stuck to the cliff tops! Actually I exaggerate - a little! ^=^
There are no fences along the cliff edge, so vigilence is paramount. One person who won't be doing that particular walk is Barney!
Having said all that, it is one of the most spectacular sights in Cornwall. 3 plus miles of beautiful sands, blue sea - and spring flowers in profusion, albeit very precariously placed! If you zoom in you will just about be able to make out 3 people and 2 dogs in the image, one dog in the distance on top of the cliff playing chase the ball and frankly giving me palpatations, along with some of the flora I mentioned atop the cliff edge way over to the left.
Just as a matter or interest, Cornwall is built on Granite. Wherever you go, you will find granite boulders, many studded with the most beautiful crystal shards and weighing tons, which were thrown up during the last ice age. In Luxulyan valley there are meadows full of them and over time trees have grown on top of them, pushing deep into the crevices and down into the rich soil made from the thousands of trees which grew and fell before them. Because of this granite base, any houses now built in Cornwall now have to have Radon extraction fans built into their base to take away any radon gas build up.
Thank you for taking the time to look. ^=^
Comments (7)
alanwilliams
I think id better book my Cornish holiday now before it dissapears completely. I know what Cornwall can be like in rough weather, spectacular doesnt come into it.I remember walk last summer down by Godrevy lighthouse when you could lie in the wind, a cauldron of seething sea. I love the finges of granite in your picture it gives great depth.
jayfar
A beautiful panoramic shot and great to have the few people dotted around to add to the perspective. Nice to see the coast during the 'bad' times.
durleybeachbum
What a great view, Carpathia! your description is wonderfully enjoyable, and takes me there without a long drive!!
jmb007
beau paysage!
alida
as you say it is a spectacular view:)
NitraLing
~Marvelous and inspiring capture~ 5++
FriedaFelicia
What a great view and lovely shot.