Branch Lines

We had the occasion to catch a local train from Falmouth to Truro last week while on holiday in Cornwall, we wanted to have a look around the city and visit a couple of recommended eating and drinking establishments. So, we made our way to Falmouth Town station and upon paying the £3.50, that an off-peak return costs (with age related discounts applied), we made our way up the long treelined path to the platform. It was a bit like walking into someone's back garden, the line looks like a disused mine track (see photo), totally overgrown and slightly dishevelled and oily. Luckily the train (an old diesel chugger) was on time and we made our way, pretty much hitting every bush and leafy outcrop on the way (at least that's what it sounded like!) bringing a whole new perspective to the term "Branch Line", anyway, we arrived at Truro station about 25 minutes later and had a pleasant couple of hours walking around before returning to Falmouth. 

While in Truro we stopped off at a relatively new craft beer bar called "Red Elephant", it's right next to the cathedral so provided a welcome watering hole after a stroll around the 19th century Gothic-revival building. The bar was nice and peaceful with comfy chairs and good music, a nice selection of around half a dozen beers on tap and plenty of choice of cans from a wide variety of brewers in large fridges around the periphery of the space, they also knocked out a pretty mean G&T (for the ladies) with a choice of the regular gin brands and some interesting local options. After a quick half in the Red Elephant we all decided that a snack was in order so (on recommendation) we sought out an independent bakery in the centre of town and all had a hot pasty to go (what else!) and delicious they were to, traditional ingredients (none of this pigs trotters and stilton nonsense!)