WADEBRIDGE — My stay in Truro was over, so it was time to check out of the Donnington Guesthouse. My first choice for accommodation in Truro didn’t reply to my enquiries so it was serendipitous that I found the Donnington with its close proximity to the Cornish Record Office—only a three minute walk away. I’m not sure why they don’t advertise that fact, except perhaps they don’t need to! The car park was full to overflowing every night.

Leaving Truro, I headed to St Austell which was where my 3 x great grandparents, Hugh Hewitt and Sarah Knight, got married in 1815. I found the parish church in the centre of the town, which was smaller than I had been expecting. Once again I followed the signs to the first car park which once again meant a trudge up a hill.

From St Austell I moved on to the port of Charlestown where china clay used to be exported to the world. These days the ships are too big to enter the harbour, but there is a tall ship berthed there that one can have a look over. I didn’t—instead I visited the Shipwreck & Heritage Centre which told the stories of the myriad of ships that have been wrecked off the British coast—with displays of some of the items salvaged from the wrecks.

After having lunch I moved on to Fowey to have a look at St Catherine’s Castle, which isn’t really a castle but a coastal fort built by Henry VIII. Getting there meant locating the car park, walking down to Money Ready Beach, across the beach, and then up a steep path to the fort on St Catherine’s Point. Fowey was very picturesque, but as I’m finding all too often, scenes just crying out to have a photograph taken are in the middle of a no parking zone!

Arrived in Wadebridge on the Egloshayle side of the Camel River but managed to find the bed and breakfast without referring to a map. I received a very warm welcome and am very much looking forward to my time here.