Winter on the River Lynher.

There have been been very very few perfect days this year;

cold, sunny, cloudless, without a breathe of wind.

Early one morning just as the sun was rising,

over the River Lynher, near where it joins the River Tamar.

Looking down across the meadows to the River Lynher

The River Lynher flows into the River Tamar just below the two bridges at Saltash.

 We are looking across the meadows of  

Churchtown Farm Community Nature Reserve, 

in Saltash,just across the River Tamar from Plymouth, on the Cornish bank.

 This beautiful and peaceful former farm is a haven for wildfire and people alike.

Every community should have one.

Beached

This magnificent specimen is on display at Ince Castle, on the bank of the River Lynher;

not far from where it joins the River Tamar at Saltash.

An old seawall

This is a small section of the harbour wall at Anthony Passage, 

a tiny hamlet on the banks of the River Lynher, near where it joins the River Tamar.

The harbour at low tide.

Anthony Passage is a tiny hamlet on the bank of the River Lynher, 

where Forder Creek joins the river.

Forder Creek enters from the left and

the River Lynher flows out, in the distance, into the River Tamar.

The city of Plymouth can be seen in the distance.

The people of Anthony Passage clearly are prepared to repel invaders.

Looking Out - Looking In - Looking Up

Looking out from Forder Creek, through the arches of the railway viaduct, into the River Lynher.

The small naval training vessel is permanently moored there to provide initial, 'hands on' experience for the Royal Navy's newest recruits

Looking back into Forder Creek from the River Lynher, are the first of dozens of small pleasure boats  lining the shore of the creek as it winds in land. It is the ideal, sheltered , winter haven.

Looking up at the substantial pillars which carry the the only rail connection between Cornwall and England.

Father and son

Low tide is the perfect time for checking over the family boat 

on a beautiful January afternoon  in Forder Creek.

Spring cannot be too far away.

Up the Creek

These waterside houses are part of the beautiful creekside village of Forder.

The sheltered community lies at the head of a tidal creek which leads out into the River Lynher.

Just on the outskirts of Saltash, in Cornwall,and no more than a few minutes from the Tamar Bridge, it has remained off the beaten track, for which I imagine the residents are very pleased.

Sheviock Church in the Lynher Valley

Looking across the River Lynher from Saltash to the village of Sheviock 

on a cold and frosty morning.

The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, parts of which date back to 1259.

Click to see the history

Early morning and late afternoon in the Lynher Valley.

The River Lynher flows down from the Cornish hills into the River Tamar,

just opposite the Naval Dockyard.

Crossroads.

It was shortly after dawn on the Churchtown Farm Community Nature Reserve, at Saltash,

as I walked across this meadow on my way down to the misty River Lynher, 

near where it flows into the River Tamar.

A very rare day.

It makes a wonderful change this month to wake up to frost on the fields

 rather than rain beating on the windows.

Bridges over placid waters

The Main Line from Cornwall to Plymouth and onto to London,crosses Forder Creek

a couple of miles before crossing the River Tamar into England, over Brunel's iconic 1859 bridge.

Winter Visitors

I wasn't the only one enjoying the brief period of winter sunshine on Forder Creek.

Man Overboard.

This small Royal Navy ship is moored permanently in the River Lynher,

where it plays an important part in the practical training of all the new recruits

who pass through HMS Raleigh, the nearby shore establishment.

Whilst it was a beautiful winter day it was bitterly cold, and I'm glad it wasn't me going for a dip, 

even though they were in survival suits.

The natives are not very friendly.

The residents of the tiny hamlet of Anthony Passage, on the banks of the River Lynher,

a stone's throw from Plymouth, standby to repel intruders.

Normal service has been resumed.

Our beautiful spell of 'Indian Summer' has come to a very wet and windy end.

Looking down on the River Lynher at Saltash.

Flowing down to the sea.

The River Lynher, in the foreground, joins the River Tamar as it flows past the Naval Dockyard 

and out into Plymouth Sound.

Winter sundown on the River Lynher

This is the tiny harbour in the riverside hamlet of Anthony passage.

The residents are clearly standing by

 to repel intruders.