Walk 9 - Jericho Valley and Cross Coombe

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Go to Trevellas Porth car park to start your walk A. Return towards the road. Whether you stick to the car-track or walk through the open valley floor, signs of the industrial past are to be seen. The car-park itself is situated amongst the remnants of mine-buildings and further up, amongst more ruins is a well preserved chimney. Not many years ago this entire valley was a hive of tin-producing activity.

On reaching the road turn right to the gate where Blue Hills Tin Streams sign board is situated B. There is also a sign pointing to Barkla Shop. Pass through the gate and enter Jericho Valley.

Immediately on your left is the shell of the Blue Hills Mine engine-house and nearby is its chimney C. These are more reminders of tin production in the past but a little further along the path is evidence that the production of tin continues today at Blue Hill Tin Streams. This is a father and son D business that not only produces tin but smelts it and even casts giftware and jewellery. Currently this is the only tin producing business in Cornwall. Leaving the Tin Streams gate on your right follow the path to the left of their premises. Peep over the fence and, if you are tall enough, you may just be able to see the water-wheel that provides the power for some of their processes.

As you proceed along the path the signs of industry become fewer and the walk becomes more idyllic. The valley sides, clothed in fern, gorse and heather, are now much closer together and with the stream tinkling alongside the path it really does become a private, dreamlike world; especially when the sun is beating down. After passing the lowest part of the path, where it dips towards water level, keep scanning the undergrowth on the left and you may see the bricked up mouth of an adit, a horizontal shaft that provides either drainage or ventilation to mine workings. Follow the path straight past Jericho Cottage E and you will find that the valley starts to open out and become more wooded. Keep on until a bridge is spied crossing the stream at a little pool and mini-waterfall. (Not the log crossing near the cottage.) At this point we turn left, leave the stream behind, and take the path pointing upwards sign-posted Mount May and Buckshead.

It is hard to believe that the area that we are just leaving was also a very busy part of the tin industry where much of the work of extracting the tin from its ore was carried out F.