Sun shining, birds singing and blue water beckoning. We drove down to Helford Passage and took a short ferry ride across to Helford Village. 
Small boats and buoys float on the Helford River.
A narrow lane lined with hedgerows of a ghostly white mist (the delicate blossom of the blackthorn) leads from the ferry point into the village. Finches flit from one side of the lane to the other, others sing merrily in the bushes and all the while the warmth of the sun intensifies the coconut fragrance of the deep yellow gorse flowers.
A pretty white-washed, thatched cottages, cute welcoming pub, type of Cornish village greets you, with even a General Stores! If only all Cornwall’s villages were this pretty.
Walking around the village only takes a few minutes – it isn’t big. But you can stroll through woodland, at this time of year delightfully sunny, wild primroses, violets, wild angelica and early ransomes with their light garlic fragrance, line the banks. Periwinkle in shades from white through palest lavender to deepest purple clamber over the dry stone walls, and red and white campion, yellow celandine and the common daisy are raising their heads to the sun.
A circular walk takes you to Kestle Barton which has a cultural centre (closed on a Monday) and on towards Frenchman’s Creek. Now anyone who is a fan of Daphne du Maurier will have heard of this place and I had to have a closer look, despite it involving a steep walk down (and naturally back up) a rather steep track.
Finding the creek though was magic. Especially as there were several white egrets feeding there. Of course as soon as I appeared with camera in hand, they flew away. But I enjoyed a short walk alongside the water with its tantalisingly flashes of blue and green appearing to me between the trees. I could have continued around the headland back to Helford, but as I had left the OH on a particularly lovely granite bench at the top of the track I had to head back the way I had come.
Back to the other side of the river we spent a pleasant hour or two at the Ferryboat Inn, supping ginger beer with ice and lime slices and watching hardy children play in the water and the fog rolling in from the south. An agreeable way to spend the afternoon.
If you enjoy a walk, long or short, then have a look at Jo’s site where you are welcome to join in. And I am sure she will forgive me using a boat on part of this walk as I know Jo is extremely partial to boats and water 🙂
TRAVEL WORDS 
Frenchman’s Creek looks idyllic. Despite many visits to Cornwall, I never got there.
In that weather, it could be somewhere other than England.
Regards as always, Pete. x
It’s been pretty good so far – bit foggy on coast yesterday, but we just went inland!
what a wonderful walk- thank you for sharing, so beautiful
Glad you could come along 🙂
“Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”
Shall we take Ratty and Mole with us next time? This place looks gorgeous in all that sunshine. 🙂
If they will do the rowing I am happy to have them along!
I think Ratty and I would have that covered. You and Mole can relax and hold the picnic basket.
Oh, yes. I can do that! As long as you trust me not to nibble the strawberries…
Wonderful!
It’s gorgeous! Love that boathouse thingy but I bet it’s freezing in winter 🙂
It doesn’t get that cold down here, mostly damp! And I suspect they’ll have a lovely woodburning stove 🙂
Ohhh, Jude! These are awesome little nests you’ve captured here! My personal favourite is the steps with a gate pic. But, I do have a question….the pic right above the mermaid pic (Shipwrights Arms), there is a little white house/building that has an opening like where a garage door might go, but there is no door. Since this is on the water, am I to assume they keep a boat in there, or is there some other purpose?
Boatshed most likely. Everyone here seems to have a boat of some kind 🙂
I figured that’s what it was! Hope you’re having a good time!
Oh, yes! Busy exploring new and old haunts 🙂
Absolutely gorgeous!
It’s one of my favourite parts of Cornwall. So quiet and unspoilt.
Oh what nostalgia that was for me. As children we stayed at the Ferryboat Inn – we were those hardy children. I was captivated with Frenchman’s Creek – it was the first Daphne du Maurier I ever read. Your pics are stunning, Jude. What a wonderful time of year to go, and how fortunate the weather!
It’s a perfect place Jenny, when the sun is shining 🙂
As though you have taken us straight into a storybook Jude. Loving those new flowers and the perfect postcard town.
Oh, the wildflowers were just so beautiful Sue. I have never seen so many as there are this year. The hedgerows are bursting with colour – I find it hard to walk by without stopping for another photo!
I love the description of it Jude! I am sitting outside on my deck having a coffee after a little walk. No green here yet but it is warm, well relatively. 🙂
You can share my green… and warmth 🙂
Thank you I will take off my down jacket. 🙂
Such a pretty place, unlike a lot of Cornish villages as you point out Jude. Lovely photographs. What smashing weather you’re having! 🙂
Keeping my fingers crossed Adrian 😀