Muddy Rating: Moderate
Kennall Vale is one of my most favourite walks. It's got everything going for it, from waterfalls, rivers, mud and exciting terrain.
Kennall Vale is on the edge of the village of Ponsanooth. Managed by Cornwall Wildlife Trust, the walk takes you past a series of old gunpowder mills where the old leats still channel the water, creating at least half a dozen waterfalls.
The mills were used for a hundred years to create the gunpowder for the Cornish mining industry, but as a more modern blast technology was introduced to mining, the gunpowder mills were no longer required. They've been redundant for over a hundred years now, but the old waterwheels, mill stones, and buildings are still here. It's surprising that the buildings are still standing considering in 1838 there was a massive explosion in which five mills blew up and part of a roof was found a mile away!
Because there's so much water at Kennall Vale I get very excited and usually run a long way ahead to get down to the water. There are a few routes around the vale and I like to think I know where to go. However, on this occasion I totally lost mum and dad. I rushed down to the water, and they followed me. But I thought they had gone a different way, so I ran and ran but couldn't find them. I passed lots of other people with dogs and children but none of them were my mum and dad. After about five minutes of panic, Dad eventually found me. He didn't seem as relieved to see me as I did him, and it was a long walk back to find mum!
Kennall Vale is well worth a visit all year round, but in winter, the water levels serge and its a dramatic place. The abandoned weir is a great place to wade through calmer waters and fetch sticks. Just remember, despite the excitement of all that water, don't loose your mum or dad!
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