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Image of Tremenhere Menhir by thesweetcheat

This large flat rock (which is probably a natural outcrop) is in the next field to the standing stone. It’s unusual as this isn’t particularly an area for outcrops like this one.

Image credit: A. Brookes (29.6.2023)

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Tremenhere Menhir

Attempted visit 29 June 2023.

After missing this one the previous week due to the excitement of Higher Boden Fogou, we opt to come here and then walk down to lovely Coverack on the coast.

Unfortunately the best laid plans, etc...

We decide to approach from the southwest. The footpath initially runs along the edge of a back garden, the owner of which seems have done their best to pretend there’s no path, then it’s over a stile into a large field.

We’re almost across the field when two horses gallop over. One of them is clearly very unhappy with our presence, rearing and stamping, and dangerously close with its flailing hooves. After passing a very large recumbent slab set into the ground surface (which looks interesting) we make a hasty exit over the next stile, which leads into a short section of an old enclosed lane. We stop here to calm our racing pulses, relieved to have escaped from the horse.

The short section of lane leads to the field with the long stone. A helpful sign board informs us that the whole field has been granted permissive access, which is excellent news. Over the stile, we’re about halfway to the stone when a rumbling noise announces a herd of horned bullocks, thundering towards us in a manner that suggests trouble. We’re forced to retreat back into the enclosed lane.

There are only two exits. The hedges on either side are impenetrable. It’s either Death by Horse, or Death by Bullock. A sense of panic sets in. We conclude that the bullocks are unlikely to intend harm, but could very easily squash us flat anyway. Whereas the unhappy horse is clearly in Attack Mode. We faff about, very uncertain what to do. Eventually we head back to the stile into the horses’ field, and the horses seem to have moved away. By virtue of the layout of the field, it might be possible to sidle over the stile and skirt around the edge of the field without being in their eyeline, but it’s risky as they can clearly run much faster than us. Running out of options, we go for this and get around their field as quickly as we can. Luckily the horses stay out of sight from us and we emerge unscathed but very shaken by the experience.

It’s a shame, because the stone looks excellent. Maybe we’ll try again in the future, but I’m not going to get stuck in the Lane of Dilemma again!

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Tremenhere Menhir

Visited today, and in comparison with Hamish’s photo, the stone is currently surrounded by a three feet wide moat of mud at least ten inches deep! I hope the stone is well bedded in.

It’s obviously being used as a rubbing stone by the horses in the field – their hoof prints were much in evidence in the mud, hence the depth estimation.

Hopefully LAN will be able to do something about this when the drier weather comes. I’ll be raising it with them later this week.

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