River Camel

The River Camel (Cornish: Dowr Camel) is a river in Cornwall, UK. It rises on the edge of Bodmin Moor and together with its tributaries drains a considerable part of North Cornwall. The river issues into the Celtic Sea area of the Atlantic Ocean between Stepper Point and Pentire Point having covered a distance of approximately 30 miles. The river is tidal as far upstream as Egloshayle and is popular for sailing, birdwatching and fishing. The name Camel derives from the Cornish language for 'the crooked one', a reference to its winding course.^[1]

Geology and hydrology

The River Camel rises on Hendraburnick Down (UK Grid Reference SX135875) on the edge of Bodmin Moor, an area which forms part of the granite spine of Cornwall. The river's course is then through upper and middle Devonian rocks, predominantly slates such as Upper Delabole Slates, Trevose Slates and Polzeath Slates. These stretch right to the coast, although Pentire head is composed mainly of pillow lavas.^[2] The only active quarry in the River Camel catchment area is Delabole Quarry^[3] although there has been mining for lead and antimony on Pentire Head, as well as building stone at various locations. Further inland mines surrounding the Camel and its tributaries produced lead, copper and iron, while Mulberry Mine near Ruthernbridge also produced tin.

The source of the River Camel is at an altitide of 218 metres (715 ft) above sea level^[4] and has an average incline of 7m/km.^[4] The upper reaches of the Camel and its tributaries are mainly moorland giving way to woodland and farmland, predominantly livestock.^[4] This means that 64.8% of the catchment is grassland, with a further 14.8% arable land and 12.9% woodland. Of the remaining 7.4%, 4.5% is urban or built-up areas, 2.7% is mountain, heath and bog and the remainder is inland waters.^[5]

The catchment area of the River Camel covers a total of 413 km²^[4] on the western side of Bodmin Moor, and is mainly Devonian slates and granite,^[6] with some shales and sandstones.^[4] Water volumes are affected by the reservoir at Crowdy Marsh, by abstraction of water for public supply, and by effluent from the sewage system around Bodmin. Data collected by the National Water Archive shows that water flow in the River Camel for 2006 was considerably below average. This correlates with reduced rainfall, particularly between the months of June and September.^[7]

Estuary

The River Camel's estuary stretches from Wadebridge downstream to the open sea at Padstow Bay. The quays at Wadebridge are now developed with apartments and retail space on the west bank. North of the quays, the river passes under a new concrete bridge carrying the A39 bypass and past the disused Vitriol Quay. Downstream of Burniere Point the valley widens on the right with acres of salt marsh where the River Amble flows in. Here the Cornwall Birdwatching and Preservation Society have hides on both sides of the river; those on the Camel Trail being open to the public. The main river follows the western side of the valley, while on the eastern side a barrage prevents the rising tide from entering the River Amble.

Downstream from the Amble. a small test bore into Dinham Hill is only accessible from the foreshore at low tide. Cant Cove lies on the east bank below Cant Hill and the rotting ribs of a ship project from the mud. Almost opposite Cant Hill on the west bank is Camel Quarry, the piles of waste rock clearly visible above the river with the remains of a quay visible at low water. From here the mud gives way to sand and Gentle Jane, named after a legendary lady who treated the ills of all comers.^[9]

From Porthilly Cove on the east bank, the estuary widens and swings to the north. On the east bank, the Camel Trail crosses the triple-span “Iron Bridge” over Little Petherick Creek then passes below Dennis Hill with its obelisk.

The fishing port of Padstow stands on the west bank. At this point, the Black Tor Ferry (officially owned by the Duchy of Cornwall) carries people across the river to Rock.

The mouth of the River Camel lies between Stepper Point on the west and Pentire Point on the east, and each headland shelters sandy beaches. On the west side of the eastuary, Tregirls beach is protected by Stepper Point. At the northern end of Tregirls beach is Harbour Cove and between here and Hawker's Cove evidence has been found of occupation during the Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman periods, and use of Harbour Cove for trading vessels.^[10]

In 1827, Padstow Harbour Association chose Hawker's Cove as the location for the Padstow lifeboat. Operations were taken over by the RNLI in 1856. A new lifeboat station and slipway were built in 1931 and a second lifeboat stationed at Hawker's Cove. The station closed in 1962^[11] because silting rendered the channel too shallow. The building is now converted to residential use.

Beyond Hawkers Cove, the Doom Bar extends across the estuary. This notorious sandbank has been the graveyard of many ships over the years. As with many things in Cornwall, there is a legend as to how the Doom Bar came about; a local fisherman is reputed to have shot a mermaid with an arrow, with the result that she cursed Padstow by putting this sandbar between the harbour and the sea.^[12]

On the east side of the estuary, the village of Rock is popular centre for sailing, dinghy racing and marine leisure. From Rock, dunes and intertidal sands extend north as far as Brea Hill. Beyond Brea Hill is Daymer Bay with a popular beach north of which is the settlement of Trebetherick. A stretch of rocky foreshore swings east to the bay and beach at Polzeath, a populart location for surfing. North of Polzeath, Pentire Point marks the northeast extremity of the estuary.

Recreation

The Camel Estuary has been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). This covers the area between Padstow/Rock and Wadebridge.^[13]

Beaches and bathing

There are several sandy beaches located on the River Camel. On the western bank Tregirls beach and St Georges Well lie between Stepper Point and Padstow, while on the eastern bank moving upstream from Pentire Point there is Polzeath beach, Daymer Bay and Rock. Water quality is monitored at the latter three locations, results from 2007 being either "good" or "excellent".^[14]

The Camel Trail

The Camel Trail, used by walkers and cyclists, follows the trackbed of the old Bodmin and Wadebridge Railway from Wenfordbridge, past the outskirts of Bodmin at Dunmere, and through Wadebridge to end in Padstow.

Long distance footpaths

The South West Coast Path follows the River Camel from Pentire Point to Rock, and from Padstow to Stepper Point. It crosses the river using the Black Tor Ferry.

The Saints' Way footpath links Padstow with Fowey. It follows first the River Camel, and then Little Petherick Creek from Padstow to Little Petherick, before striking inland and crossing the county to the River Fowey. This route is a very ancient one used by travellers from Ireland and Wales making for Brittany and wishing to avoid the dangerous seas around Lands End.^[9]

Water sports

The section of the River Camel between and Tuckingmill Bridge and Penrose Bridge near Blisland is graded as Grade 2 for kayaking.^[15]

Wildlife and conservation

There are 5 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) along the length of the River Camel. Four small SSSIs at Harbour Cove, Rock Dunes, Trebetherick Point and Pentire Peninsula are on the estuary, while the River Camel Valley and Tributaries SSSI covers much of the Camel Valley between Egloshayle and Blisland, and then extends in several further sections of varying size right up to its source. This SSSI also covers much of the River Allen, a tributary which flows into the river immediately upstream of Egloshayle, and also some smaller unnamed tributaries. In addition there is also an SSSI at Amble Marshes on the River Amble which flows into the Camel Estuary between Wadebridge and Rock.

The River Camel has been designated by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee as a Special Area of Conservation^[16] as being of European importance for the Otter and the Bullhead.

There are two nature reserves on Camel and its tributaries. The Walmsley sanctuary of the Cornwall Birdwatching and Preservation Society is situated on the Amble marshes on the River Amble above Trewornan Bridge. Hawke's Wood reserve is owned by the Cornwall Wildlife Trust and is situated on the south side of the Camel Valley between Wadebridge and Dunmere. Here there is an abandoned quarry in a mature woodland of predominantly Sessile Oak.^[17]

Animals

Although very few British animals rely largely on rivers for their habitat, one of the few that do, the otter, can be found on the Camel.

Birds

With the large areas of salt marsh on the estuary, the River Camel provides an excellent location for birds. Large flocks of waders can be seen in winter, preyed on by local Peregrines, and a migrant Osprey often pauses a few days to fish in Spring and Autumn.^[17] Mute Swans nest at several locations, particularly near to the bridge in Wadebridge where there is often a nest on a small island a few yards downstream of the bridge. Ducks are also found on the river with Shelduck, Shoveller and Mallard on the estuary and Teal further upstream.^[18]

The Camel estuary was one of the first places in England to be colonised by Little Egrets, the birds being particularly seen on mudflats at low tide. Other rarities include an American Belted kingfisher seen in the 1980s for only the second time in England.

Upstream on the River Camel, and on several of its tributaries, Kingfishers can be seen,^[18] while the Cornwall Wildlife Trust reserve at Hawkes Wood is noted for Nuthatches and Tawney Owls.^[19]

There are two birdwatching hides on the River Camel. Tregunna Hide (Grid reference SW 969 738) is owned by Cornwall County Council and is located on the Camel Trail^[20] and is open to the public. Burniere Hide (Grid Reference SW 982 740) is owned by the Cornwall Birdwatching and Preservation Society (CBWPS)^[20] and is only open to members. In addition, the CBWPS own the Walmsley Sanctuary which covers over 20 hectares (49 acres) on the River Amble, a tributary of the River Camel, with a further 2 hides for use by its members. The sanctuary is nationally important for wintering waders and wildfowl.^[18]

Fish

The Camel Estuary is a Sea Bass conservation area and these can be seen by surfers in summer. Flounders can be found in the brackish waters as far upstream as Cant Hill.

Salmon and Sea Trout can both be found in the River.

Occasionally Basking Sharks can be seen in the mouth of the river and very occasionly bottlenose dolphins can be seen^[21]

Flora

By the Atlantic Ocean the flora is distinctly maritime, characterised by Thrift and Bladder campion on exposed clifftops and Spring squill and heather growing in the turf. Stunted Blackthorn and Gorse also tolerate more exposed sites, while the quarry on Stepper Point is home to many species of marsh plants. Above Egloshayle there are beds of Yellow Flag Iris while the wooded slopes of the valley are filled with Bluebells in spring.

The Camel is also home to two particularly invasive non-native species; Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam. Both of these are the subject of manual control on various stretches of the river.^[22]

History and infrastructure

Cornwall is a county of high cliffs and deep valleys, so rivers have been used for transport throughout history. Being one of the few safe havens on the north coast of Cornwall, the Camel Estuary has been used since Roman times, and most likely earlier.^[10] The river has been navigable beyond Wadebridge with the highest quay being at Guineaport, and then beyond that at least as far as Pendavy a mile further upstream.^[23]

The river Camel and its tributaries are crossed by more Listed bridges than any other river in Cornwall.^[24]

Tributaries and their names

The main tributaries of the River Camel are the Allen, the Ruthern, the De Lank and the Stannon. Other tributaries include the River Amble, which joins the Camel near Burniere Point and the Polmorla Brook which joins the Camel immediately above the bridge at Wadebridge.

In terms of its name there is evidence that what is now known as the River Camel has had several names in the past. The name Camel is derived from Middle Cornish "Cam-El", "Crooked one", and seems originally to have referred only to the upper parts.^[25] The lower part of the river was referred to as the River Allen, a common Celtic river name of unknown derivation, however in the 19th Century the name Allen was transferred to the River Layne which flows into the Camel just above Egloshayle. The Camel estuary appears to have been called the River Hayle from Middle Cornish "Hayle", estuary^[25] and while this may have been as much a description as a proper name, the continued use of the name Hayle Bay for the bay containing Polzeath beach supports this. In turn it has been suggested that the River Layne may have previously been called the River Dewi given the number of places along its course which contain the element.^[25]

References

External links

• Birdlife on the River Camel
• Cornwall Birdwatching & Preservation Society
• River Camel page at swuklink.com
• Saints' Way page on Cornwall County Council website
• South West Coast Path website