.Gentle walk round Loe Bar, Cornwall's biggest lake

This lovely walk starts in Porthleven, Cornwall and took me to the sea and back on a circuit of Loe Pool, Cornwall's biggest lake. You can find the route here

Starting from the car park by the boating lake, the path followed the River Cober (more of a brook).

Turning away from the river, the route became more of a tarmac path

Passing a gatehouse to the National Trust land of the Penrose Estate...

... I peered through the trees to get my first sight of Loe Pool, 

...a large freshwater lake.

There's a National Trust cafe, but we had only been walking for just over a mile, so hadn't really deserved a snack!

We continued along the side of the lake, 

...with lovely views through the trees

And then, the first sight of Loe Bar - a strip of sand separating Loe Pool from the sea

The Bar was caused by silt and debris from various upstream mining operations.

It's a surreal place where not much grows, apart from sea holly.

Loe Pool behind me.

The walk continues round the far bank.

We carried on, looking back to Loe Bar as we went (it's on the skyline here)

Towards the end of the walk were remains of the mining industry, Wheal Pool - once a lead and silver mine.

And then we were back in the car park.

Today's walk:  The walk is 6.25 miles, and fairly flat. Parking at the start is free - which is always a bonus! (Porthleven carpark opposite the boating lake)You can download the walk details by clicking here. We followed them, and didn't take a map. Plus there was lots of local information. Give it a go if you're in the area. 
The route to the coast would be suitable for pushchairs - but the rest of the circuit was field paths, and was a lot rougher. (Could do an out and back route though)
It would also be good in winter, when there were no leaves on the trees. Don't think of swimming off Loe Bar though, as there are dangerous currents.