Forrabury Circular Walk


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19th April 2021

Distance	Time	Elevation in meters
Km	Elapsed Hrs-Mins	Gain	Loss	Min	Max
5.88	2H24	166	166	36	183

The start point.... Forrabury Church

This wheel head cross has holes in where it has been used as a gate post.

Willapark

This area of coastal land is easy to spot as it has a white-washed lookout tower on its summit, a useful landmark to sailors looking for the entrance to the harbour. The history of the lookout tower is uncertain, being shown as 'Pleasure House', 'prospect house' and 'observatory' on old maps and in early guide books. However, for 100 years it's thought to have served as a coast guard lookout. The site of an Iron Age cliff castle is evidence that Willapark was used as a defensive site and tells us that humans have occupied the area since 200BC.

Forrabury Stitches

Sitting just inland from Willapark is the high ground of Forrabury Stitches. The Stitches are evidence of a medieval way of farming. This series of fields is divided into 42 stitchmeal plots of farmland. A method of crop rotation that dates back to Celtic times still exists and is one of the best three surviving examples of stitches being farmed in Britain today.

Courtesy of www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Looking across the Stitches towards Beeny Cliff in the distance

Heading away from the church towards Trevalga

Judging from the way the trees grow, it looks as though they have strong winds around here!

Wonderful patterns in the slate walls

Unusual stile

Approaching Trevalga

Road away from the coast towards Trevalga

This is what you call a slate roof. Proper job!

St Petroc's Church, Trevalga

The Trevalga hamlet was mentioned in the Doomsday Book of 1086 and was owned by the Crown. It has passed through several hands since, and finally to the Stephens family. In 1870 Richard Stephens built the Manor House, which is now held in Trust ensuring that Tevalga remains untouched by development.

St Petroc's dates from the Norman period and the first record of a rector comes in 1173. The tower is 13th century, rebuilt in the 15th century. It was restored by J. P. St Aubyn in 1875 and much of the medieval roof was replaced.

St Petroc was a 6th century Welsh prince who became a missionary in Cornwall.

(Courtesy of www.britainexpress.com)