Another shot from April 2019 to remind us of what we were doing exactly a year ago, and where we would far prefer to be right now.

The charming village of Polruan sits on a steep headland which overlooks the wide sunken valley of the River Fowey, and the town of Fowey itself. At this point, where the river is about to enter the sea, it is extremely narrow. In medieval times a heavy chain would be placed across the river to prevent enemy ships from sailing in to attack shipping at anchor. This chain ran from Polruan Castle, the remains of which can be seen in the centre of the picture, to a similar building in Fowey on the other side of the river. It was last used in the wars against the Dutch in the 1660s.

Tags:   Cornwall Polruan villages River Fowey Fowey small boats rivers harbours

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This was taken from the Bodinnick Ferry, which crosses the River Fowey at the northern end of the town and connects Bodinnick with Fowey. There are beautiful old houses all alongside the river at Fowey, and I wish I could afford one! Fowey is a historic town set on the western side of a sunken river valley which provides a natural harbour for ships displacing many thousands of tons. A headland which is home to the village of Polruan protects the harbour and also helps to form a narrow entrance. In medieval times a stout chain would be drawn across the river at that point to prevent enemy ships from sailing into the harbour and attacking the town.

Tags:   Cornwall Fowey River Fowey houses riverside

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There is said to have been a ferry crossing the River Fowey at this spot since at least the 13th century. The ferry, which is motor -driven rather than chain-operated, links the small village of Bodinnick with Fowey in south-east Cornwall, and provides a valuable short-cut between coastal towns in this area. It is the only vehicular crossing of the River Fowey in between Lostwithiel and the coast. The house on water's edge on the far right is where Daphne du Maurier wrote her first novel.

Tags:   Cornwall Fowey Bodinnick Ferry Daphne du Maurier's house River Fowey ferries

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This is the old narrow road that runs parallel to the river from the car park by Bodinnick Ferry along to the town centre of Fowey. This is the old part of Fowey and there are numerous old houses along here, including the Grade II-listed 17th century cottage (pictured) now known as White Walls.

Tags:   Cornwall Fowey North Street, Fowey street scenes small towns Grade II-listed buildings old houses cottages

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Polruan is a very attractive little village that sits on a promontory at the mouth of the River Fowey and protects Fowey harbour from the gales. There is the remains of a fortified medieval tower at the water's edge (seen in the centre of the picture), and in the days of sailing ships a strong chain would be stretched across the river from here to a similar building on the opposite bank to prevent enemy warships from sailing up the river to attack Polruan itself but more especially the town of Fowey. A small pedestrian ferryboat links Polruan to the town of Fowey on this side of the River Fowey. Polruan has a history of ship-building and it still has a small ship repair yard that can be seen towards the left of the picture.

Tags:   Cornwall Polruan villages headlands coast

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