For those who have never visited Cornwall, I should point out that it is not actually an English county as most people think, it is actually a Duchy who's official head of state is the Duke of Cornwall. Some Cornish people actually go further than that and maintain that it is an independent country in it's own right.
I myself even have locally crafted items for sale in my shop which are labelled "Hand made in Cornwall, near England."
It is also virtually an island.... bounded on 3 sides by sea and by the river Tamar on the fourth side.
Pictured above is the historic gateway into Cornwall showing the two bridges over the River Tamar. The small railway bridge on the left was built 1869 by Isambard Kingdom Brunel when he opened up the west country with his famous Great Western Railway and the one on the right is the Tamar road bridge built in 1961 which opened Cornwall up to huge amounts of tourism. Which is now Cornwall's biggest industry. It has also opened Cornwall up to the second home phenomenon where many of the houses in Cornwall are only occupied for a few months of the year. This also pushes house prices up and takes houses off the market, leaving young Cornish people no chance of ever getting on the house buying ladder.
There are some who believe we should blow the bridges up and declare our independence. Others argue that the Cornish economy wouldn't survive without tourism. The debate rages on and to be fair there are strong arguments on both sides.
I don't think my opinion counts for much though as I have only lived in Cornwall for 15 years and am therefore considered by the locals to be little more than a tourist. :)
However I will say that I have loved Cornwall with a passion since I first visited as child. It is a beautiful, magical, enchanting and enchanted place and I can't think of a single place in the world that I would rather live and work.
Well, after that rousing commentary, I want to pack my bags and cross that bridge for a visit. The evening light as illuminated the structure in a very inviting way.
Cornwall is a very beautiful place and has a very special place in my heart.
FAV!
my daughter is regarded as an interloper in her village
Which mirrors spending 5 years in Dunfermline by the other pair of bridges
xxx