Levant mine

Walking from Geevor Mine

past Levant out workings

We woke to a sea view. After breakfast we decided to  drive north on the B3306 to visit Cape Cornwall, Levant Mine or any other interesting feature where we could park Sally-Van. The road was fine but narrowed through St Just.

 “Cape Cornwall and Levant mine that way,” Van-Man said.

over the Martian desert

Past a tall chimney

From the mine wall

“The NT book says Motor Homes and large vehicles should park at Geevor mine,” I replied.
 "We’ll go there then. We can try Cape Cornwall on the way back if there’s time.”
There was plenty of parking at Geevor.

to the Steam beam engine

past more mine buildings

 We checked at the mine shop but parking was free even if we didn’t visit Geevor mine. Van-Man was not keen on visiting Geevor mine as much of it was underground. He hates tunnels even though he tackled many on the canal boat) and of course Lottie would not be allowed in.

looking down on the beam engine

We followed the marked path to the main part of Levant Mine which held the lure of a working steam beam engine. Amazingly Levant Mine covered a vast amount of land with various and part of it looked like a lunar landscape with spoil heaps and various treatment areas.

Bean Engine House

It took about 20 minutes to locate the main mine buildings. Van-Man headed straight for the steam beam engine.

perched on the edge

“It’s in steam,” he said in hushed tones. “I thought they would only run it at the weekends out of season.” We went into the engine house as the beast stopped. The NT man running the engine was still explaining how it worked to several visitors.

more ruins

”I’ll be running it again in about 10 minutes,” the NT man said, seeing Van-Man’s disappointed expression. “It’s important to warm her up slowly. Once she’s up to speed she can run for much longer.”

We looked in the upper beam room and around the engine house while we waited. Lottie was unsure of the engine having had a fright with steam locos a few years back but waited without complaining.

Where the women worked

I was amazed to find that although Levant Mine went out over a mile under the sea it was quite a dry mine due to the rocks on the sea bed at this point. Many women and children worked at the mine. Although they did not go underground they had to work in the damp inclement weather clearing rubble and working in the stamp shop so many of them suffered from chest conditions.

When the engine was started up Van-Man and Lottie were standing next to some of the pistons and controls with the beam above our heads and the wheel to one side.

Bosigran Headland 

For a steam engine it was whisper quiet and made no funny noises. At first Lottie looked intently at the engine listening carefully but after a few minutes she moved to the exit where she could run if a steam dragon appeared. By then the engine room had become quite warm. We watched the engine until it stopped then explored the rest of the site gradually heading back to Geevor mine.

At Bosigran Cliff Castle

Back at Geevor mine we had lunch in Sally-Van which remained alone in our corner of the car park while Lottie lay by the rear of the van on the grass. After lunch we set off to find Trease Mine which was descried on the Levant hand out as a small but complete mine site. Van-Man continues along the B3306 towards St Ives.

“Where’s the road gone?” Van-Man exclaimed as we left Higher Bojewyan. “Have we turned off the B road? This is a single track road.”

“I don’t think so,” I replied looking up from the map. “Oh dear.”The Cornish hedges crowded the single track road so that Sally-Van almost touched them on each side. On closer inspection the hedges were growing out of solid walls so Sally-Van could hardly go over to the side.

Sea from Bosigran Cliff Castle

“There’s a van coming,” I warned seeing the top of its roof over the hedge. Van-Man sneaked Sally-Van round the corner where the commercial van had pulled up before an inadequate passing place. He squeezed into the gap and I pulled the wing mirror in as it brushed the vegetation. As the van passed two more arrived, one even bigger. Somehow it edged past and we set off again.

“I hope we don’t meet anyone else,” I said.

“How far does this narrow bit go?” Van-Man asked.

Trease Mine

“I don’t know.” I replied. “The Motor Home map does not show a width restriction on this road.”

“We turned off then.”

“No,” I replied. “This is Morvah. It’s on the B3306.” We could not turn around so we carried on. The road widened and shrank at regular intervals. We crept through Rosemergy and the road turned into a normal B road again.

Looking back to Sally-Van

A small mine appeared but the small car park was crammed with vehicles. Just past the mine a deep lay-by appeared. Van-Man pulled in and switched off the engine. He studied the map and sighed as pointed out Rosemergy.

“We must be here,” he said pointing. “What is the best way back to the campsite?”

Lottie interrupted. To her stopping somewhere like this always meant a walk. We got our boots on and abandoned Sally-Van.

 St Helen’s Oratory

A track led towards the sea so we followed it instead of going along the road towards the busy mine.
The walk to the headland was across fields and heath land. Even though the views were lovely they did not help to pinpoint where we were as the mine was not marked. We enjoyed the headland though the wind was picking up.

The rear of St Helen’s Oratory

We followed a different path back from the high stony outcrop and found a stone way post which pointed back the way we had come to Bosigran Cliff Castle. I don’t know if the tumble of rocks had been a castle which had been destroyed but it was an imposing position for a fortification. 

on top of Cape Cornwall

Back at Sally-Van Van-Man decided to return by the road we had come along as the way around St Ives was too far and he did not trust the B roads around this part of Cornwall. 
A short distance along the road was a cattle crossing which gave Van-Man room to turn Sally-Van around.

“There’s a coach coming,” I said as we wiggled through one narrow part. We stopped looking across at the coach. Below us the road twisted around a tight corner. The coach flashed us so Van-Man drove down the hill. After two tight turns we emerged to find the coach was opposite a big passing place. Sally-Van met a second coach in one of the villages but there was a wide spot where we could pass. Apart from that we had a good drive back to St Just.

Cape Cornwall Monster

View from Cape Cornwall

I thought Van-Man would head straight for the camp but he turned for Cape Cornwall. It was a single track road but he reached the NT car park intact after doci-doeing with a larger motor home than Sally-Van.
“If you had been five minutes earlier we would have had to send you away,” the NT attendant said. “It’s been sardines all day but a big space has just become available."
We walked across the field stopping to look at St Helen’s Oratory. It must be one of the smallest places of worship ever. You would struggle to get more than a dozen people in the tiny stone building. 
Then we climbed to the top of Cape Cornwall. I don’t know what possessed Van-Man as my legs were aching but he strode on.

Up on the top by the monument we could see Lands End and a light house on the Scilly Isles. Although the sun was shining the wind was so blowing fiercely that I felt in danger of being blown into the sea. I hung onto the monument while admiring the views. Van-Man and Lottie seemed untroubled by the violent gusts.
At last we trudged back down to Sally-Van. We watched the sea for a while from our excellent parking spot for a while before Van-Man drove back to the camp site. No way will I drive on the roads around here. Give me a motorway or a nice dual carriageway any day.

Lottie has been on her best behaviour all day even though she has been a bit snooty with some of the dog lovers.

Back at the camp site we had lovely sunshine so Lottie lay on the grass for ages even though it was quite windy. We watched a lovely sunset over the sea while having dinner in the van.

Several campers queued up in front of us snapping the sunset but Van-Man thought there was too much cloud to try today.

walking back to Sally-Van