It seems that enough people are not sure that you can readily look this question up on Google. The main thing to remember about walking to and from Launceston on Day 11 of this walk is it’s very hilly. Even though some of the hills are down a significant number are up and quite steep. The castle is even further up, and has been there for a long time. These days it is reached by a steep flight of steps.
Other streets in town are also steep. One of the other places I visited in town was the free museum. It has a wide range of interesting local exhibits including a facsimile book of hours associated with a local Priory and a six volume Cornish Herbarium.
Charles Causley, the poet, was born in Launceston and apart from when he was serving in the Royal Navy, always lived in the town, where he was also a teacher. He’s a poet whose work I have enjoyed since I was a teenager.
Remembering Charles Causley:
The sun, dancing,
Lights up all the lanes,
From Land’s End to Launceston,
Where I step out and meet you;
An unexpected surprise,
So gently encouraging.
I crossed a number of medieval bridges on the way out of town, and another steep hill up to St Stephen’s Church. From there I made a short detour to find a Holy Well marked on the map. It took a bit of tracking down but I found it a short distance up a footpath.
I stopped for a picnic by another medieval bridge at Yeolmbridge before making the final push, mostly uphill, for the final two miles. Bob picked me up and we returned to the Codfather, a fish and chip van on the north side of Launceston, for a rather late fish supper, as we often do on Fridays.
Prayer at the Well
As the water wells up from the ground,
Our ancestors thought this place was Holy.
Water is life and life giving water a valuable gift.
Tonight we pray for all those who wait for water, who live in need of adequate water supplies;
And for those who have the engineering skill to bring water to where it is needed.
May the resources for life be shared fairly.
JAL 12.04.2019
Day 11 of the End to End, Trebullett to Wilkie Down Farm via Launceston