River Camel

The River Camel (Cornish: Dowr Kammel, meaning crooked river) is a river in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It rises on the edge of Bodmin Moor and with its tributaries its catchment area covers much of North Cornwall.[1] The river flows into the eastern Celtic Sea between Stepper Point and Pentire Point having covered about 30 miles, making it the second longest river wholly in Cornwall. The river is tidal upstream to Egloshayle and is popular for sailing, birdwatching and fishing. The name Camel comes from the Cornish language for 'the crooked one', a reference to its winding course. Historically the river was divided into three named stretches. Heyl (Cornish: Heyl, meaning estuary) was the name for the estuary up to Egloshayle, the River Allen (Cornish: Dowr Alen, meaning shining river) was the stretch between Egloshayle and Trecarne, whilst the Camel was reserved for the stretch of river between its source and Trecarne.[2]

River Camel
The Camel valley in winter. Taken from between Pendavey bridge and Polbrock looking upstream.
Sketch map of the River Camel and its tributaries
Native nameDowr Kammel
Location
CountryUnited Kingdom
RegionCornwall
Physical characteristics
SourceHendraburnick Down
 • locationBodmin Moor
 • coordinates50°39′33″N 4°38′29″W
 • elevation218 m (715 ft)
MouthPadstow Bay
 • location
Padstow, North Cornwall coast
 • coordinates
50°33′02″N 4°53′37″W
Length48 km (30 mi)
Basin size413 km2 (159 sq mi)
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftRiver Ruthern
 • rightDe Lank River, River Allen

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 through sedimentary upper and middle Devonian rocks,[3] predominantly the Upper Delabole Slates, Trevose Slates and Polzeath Slates that stretch to the coast, making a land which has shallow acidic soils.[4] Other than sedimentary rocks, Igneous rocks can be found at Brea Hill[5] and at Pentire Point which is composed mainly of pillow lavas.[6][7][8] Across the mouth of the River Camel Stepper Point is composed of greenstone as is The Rumps, a promontary on the north side of Pentire point facing Port Quin Bay[9][8]>.

Mining slate for building purposes has been carried out at various locations along the river, often with small quarries being created near to where the stone was to be used. Today the only active quarry in the whole River Camel catchment area is at Delabole[10] but there has previously been mining for lead and silver on Pentire Head[11] and around Pinkson Creek[12] and a copper mine at Credis above Little Petherick,[13] Further inland the Camel and its tributaries border the St Austell mining lodes near Lanivet, and mines in this area produced tin,[14][15] lead,[16] silver,[16] and copper.[17] Iron ore in the form of haematite and associated manganese oxides were also mined in the area.[18] Although not considered a great producer,[19] Mulberry Mine near Ruthernbridge produced in the region of 1300 tons of tin between 1859 and 1916.[20][19] Records show that copper ore was shipped from Padstow to Neath for smelting,[21] and it can be assumed that other ores were similarly treated. Several small China Clay pits also operated in the 19th century around Blisland[22][23][24] and St Breward.[5]

The young River Camel at Slaughterbridge upstream of Camelford

The source of the Camel is at 218 metres (715 ft) above sea level[25] and it has an average incline of 7m/km.[25] The upper reaches of the Camel and its tributaries are mainly moorland giving way to woodland and farmland, predominantly livestock.[25] 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 through urban or built-up areas, 2.7% is mountain, heath and bog and the remainder is inland waters.[26]

The Camel's catchment area covers 413 km2[25] on the western side of Bodmin Moor, and is mainly Devonian slates and granite,[27] with some shales and sandstones.[25] 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. Data from 2013 and 2014 also shows below average annual flow but with points of higher than average flow during Winter.[25]

Estuary
Sketch map of the River Camel estuary
The estuary of the River Camel seen from Pentire Point with Trebetherick Point in the foreground.
The estuary of the River Camel looking seaward from Padstow
The Doom Bar sandbank extends across the Camel estuary

The next five and a half miles beside the broadening Camel to Padstow is the most beautiful train journey I know

— John Betjeman, Betjeman's Cornwall[28]

The Camel Estuary (Cornish: Heyl Kammel)[29] 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 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 has hides on both sides of the river; those on the Camel Trail are 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 an adit can be found on the foreshore below Dinham Hill, part of Wheal Sisters copper mine.[17] The adit is only accessible from the foreshore at low tide, and is situated near to the location of a tide mill that is recorded as being in the region of Dinham creek, although no sign of this now remains.[30] Cant Cove lies on the east bank below Cant Hill where the rotting ribs of two ship project from the mud, these being discernable on Google Maps in 2019, and almost opposite Cant Hill on the west bank is Camel Quarry[31] with the piles of waste rock clearly visible above the river and 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.[32]

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

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

The mouth of the 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 estuary, 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.[33]

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 because silting rendered the channel too shallow.[34] The building is now converted to residential use.

Beyond Hawkers Cove a sand bar known as the Doom Bar extends across the estuary. This restricts access to Padstow harbour and has been the graveyard of many ships over the years. In the past there was a proposal to build a pier on the doom bar to funnel the tide and thus scour the main channel and keep it navigable, but nothing was ever constructed.[35] A legend as to how the Doom Bar came about describes how a local fisherman is reputed to have shot a mermaid with an arrow, with the result that she cursed Padstow by putting the sandbar between the harbour and the sea.[36]

On the east side of the estuary, the village of Rock is 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 beach north of which is the settlement of Trebetherick. A stretch of rocky foreshore swings east to the bay and beach at Polzeath, a 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), covering the area between Padstow/Rock and Wadebridge.[37] The estuary comprises part of the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Angling

The River Camel is known for Salmon and Trout, particularly Sea trout with the fishing season running from 1 May to 15 December.[38] Fishing techniques used include spinning, worm bait and Fly fishing.[38] Fishing from the end of August is covered by a voluntary catch-and-release agreement, and the upper reaches are designated as a fish sanctuary and fishing here is prohibited.[39]

For fishing purposes, the River Camel is considered to be tidal from the mouth up to Egloshayle church.[40]

Although not often mentioned when discussing Bass fishing on the River Camel, the whole of the river is a Bass conservation area with a ban on fishing from boats and an increased minimum size for fish caught from the shore.[41][42] Sea fishing for Flounder is also a feature of the River Camel, particularly in the sandy parts between Padstow and Cant Hill[43]

Beaches and bathing

On the western bank Hawker's Cove, Tregirls beach and St Georges Cove lie between Stepper Point and Padstow, while on the eastern bank moving upstream from Pentire Point is Polzeath beach, Daymer Bay and Rock. Water quality is monitored at Polzeath and Daymer Bay with water classification for the years 2012 to 2015 for both locations being "Excellent".[44][45] Water quality was previously monitored at Rock, results from 2007 for all three locations on the eastern bank of the river being either "good" or "excellent".[46]

Mountain biking

The steep-sided parts of the Camel valley are ideal for mountain biking, and several trails are maintained. Particularly accessible are those on land owned by the Forestry Commission at Cardinham Woods[47] and Hustyns Woods.[48]

Walking
The Camel Trail crosses Petherick Creek on this bridge which formerly carried the North Cornwall Railway

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

From Poleys Bridge near Wenfordbridge, the Camelford Way follows the valley of the River Camel further up to the town of Camelford.[49]

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.[50]

Water sports

Canoeing and Kayaking take place on the river Camel with a dedicated access point just above the bridge at Wadebridge. Further up there are stretches that are particularly favoured such as between Tuckingmill to Penrose which has grade 2 rapids.[51]

Water skiing takes place on the estuary based in Rock, with four set courses located between Dennis cove and Pinkson creek.[52]

Rock is also a centre for sailing[53] with the Rock Sailing and Waterski Club being founded in 1938[54]

Wildlife and conservation

The majority of the Camel Estuary, from Padstow/Porthilly upstream to Wadebridge are part of the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty[55] and thus considered worthy of special landscape protection.

There are five Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) along the length of the 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 extends in several further sections of varying size up to its source. This SSSI covers much of the River Allen, a tributary which flows into the river immediately upstream of Egloshayle, and some smaller unnamed tributaries. In addition, there is an SSSI at Amble Marshes on the River Amble which flows into the Camel Estuary between Wadebridge and Rock.

The River Camel was designated by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee as a Special Area of Conservation[56] in April 2005 as being of European importance for the otter and the bullhead, and this was reviewed in 2015[57]. However publically available information on the area is unclear as the DEFRA Joint Nature Conservation Committee website shows the area stretching from Pinkson Creek on the Camel estuary up to Polbrock bridge, but incorporating Pinkson Creek, the River Allen to just upstream of Sladesbridge, and the Polmorla Brook almost to the edge of the Wadebridge built-up area, and incorporating all of the intertidal zone.[58] In contrast, both the Marine Conservation Institute and ProtectedPlanet show the area from Wadebridge bridge upstream, including the Ruthern, Allen, De Lank and Stannon, all being shown as covered to their respective sources.,[59][60] the only part of this area considered tidal is between Wadebridge bridge and St Marys church Egloshayle.

There are two nature reserves on Camel and its tributaries. The Walmsley sanctuary of the Cornwall Birdwatching and Preservation Society is on the Amble marshes on the River Amble above Trewornan Bridge. Hawke's Wood reserve, owned by the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, is on the south side of the Camel Valley between Wadebridge and Dunmere. Here is an abandoned quarry in a mature woodland of predominantly sessile oak[61], this latter habitat also being named as contributary to the Special Area of Conservation listing[57].

Fauna

The Camel and its tributaries are home to otters. These were hunted up to the early 20th century[62] but are now one of the species cited in the River Camel and Tributaries SSSI.

Red deer and roe deer can both be seen in the valleys of the River Camel and its tributaries, with roe deer being the more common.[63][64]

Badgers can be found throughout the Camel Valley, but in 2016 DEFRA announced a badger cull zone covering North Cornwall, the boundary of which encompasses the rivers Camel and Allen. The cull, which resulted in over 1500 badgers being killed in North Cornwall in 2016,[65] is intended to reduce instances of Bovine TB but has proved controversial.

Birds

With the large areas of salt marsh on the estuary, the river provides an excellent location for birds. Large flocks of waders can be seen in winter, preyed on by peregrine falcons, and a migrant osprey often pauses a few days to fish in spring and autumn.[61] Mute swans nest at several locations, particularly near to the bridge in Wadebridge. Shelduck, shoveller and mallard are found on the river and teal further upstream.[66]

An American belted kingfisher was seen in the 1980s for only the second time in England and the estuary has been noted for early colonisation by egret species. In the 1980s and 1990s Little egrets were to be seen on mudflats at low tide, and more recently large numbers of Cattle Egrets have been found on the River Amble and near Burniere, and have now become sufficiently common not to require corroborating evidence when reporting sightings.[67]

Upstream and on several of its tributaries, kingfishers can be seen,[66] while the Cornwall Wildlife Trust reserve at Hawkes Wood is noted for nuthatches and tawny owls.[68]

There are three birdwatching hides overlooking the River Camel. Tregunna Hide (Grid reference SW 969 738), owned by Cornwall County Council, is located by the Camel Trail[69] and is open to the public. Burniere Hide (Grid Reference SW 982 740) is owned by the Cornwall Birdwatching and Preservation Society (CBWPS)[69] is open to members. In addition the CBWPS own the Walmsley Sanctuary which covers over 20 hectares (49 acres) on the River Amble, with two further hides for use by its members. The Walmsley sanctuary is nationally important for wintering waders and wildfowl.[66] These hides are located on the estuary below Wadebridge while upstream of Wadebridge there is a hide overlooking Treraven Meadow located 500m from Guineaport towards Bodmin[70]

Sometimes nationally rare bird species have been recorded in the Camel valley or on one of the major tributaries. In 2010 an American bittern was recorded on the River Amble having flown in from the River Camel nearby,[71] and in 2016 a Dalmatian pelican was recorded on the River Camel at various locations between Rock and Dinham[72]

Fish

The estuary is a sea bass conservation area. This was originally designated as being upstream from a line drawn between Stepper Point and Trebetherick Point[41] but this was extended to include all waters upstream of a line between Stepper Point and Pentire Point in 1999.[42] Surfers at Polzeath have recounted seeing bass swimming around their surfboards in summer.

Flounders can be found in the brackish waters around the entrance to Little Petherick Creek,[43] and Daymer Bay is noted as a location for fishing from the rocks.[73]

Salmon and sea trout are found in the River Camel and have been fished since the 12th century[74], and Salmon is named as a contributary species in the designation of the River Camel as a Special Area of Conservation[57]. The Camel had a reputation for good runs of both salmon and sea trout up to the early 2000s,[74] particularly in the area around Bodmin[73] but there was a rapid decline in the late 2010s leading to the Environment Agency placing restrictions on salmon fishing in the river in 2017.[75] There have also been significant reductions in catches of sea trout and while a total of over 900 fish were caught in 2010, this reduced to less than 300 fish in 2016.[40]

Occasionally basking sharks can be seen at the mouth of the river and very occasionally bottlenose dolphins can be seen.[76] The largest and most unusual fish reported to have been found in the river was a sturgeon weighing 432 pounds (196 kg) which was stranded by the outgoing tide in June 1887.[77]

Molluscs

The beaches and cliffs around the mouth of the River Camel are home to a variety of marine molluscs, and on beaches exposed to longshore drift one can also find shells washed up with the tide, particularly after westerly storms.[78] Common limpet, blue mussel and the barnacle (Chthamalus stellatus) are commonly found on rocks that are covered at high tide, with dog whelk and common periwinkle found in tidal rockpools. The banded wedge shell[79] and blunt tellin (Arcopagia crassa)[80] can also be found as far upstream as Padstow.

Flora

By the Atlantic Ocean the flora is distinctly maritime, characterised by thrift and sea campion on exposed clifftops and spring squill and heather in the turf. Stunted blackthorn and gorse 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 home to two invasive non-native species; Japanese knotweed[81] and Himalayan balsam.[82] Both are the subject of manual control on various stretches of the river.[83]

The valley and its immediate environs are, in parts, thickly wooded with managed plantations at Cardinham[84] and Dunmere[85] near Bodmin and Bishop's, Hustyn, and Grogley Woods[86] between Bodmin and Wadebridge all managed by the Forestry Commission with mature Douglas fir[87][88] as well as mixed deciduous trees. Before that the Bodmin and Wadebridge Railway planted avenues of elm Trees along the line of the railway,[89] and there were also elms near the railway between Wadebridge and Padstow,[90] now gone as a result of Dutch elm disease. Another tree that is uncommon, but is found in the Camel valley is the wild service tree,[91][92] an indicator of ancient woodland or hedgrows.[93]

History and infrastructure

Transport and Industry

Cornwall is an undulating county with high cliffs, rough moors 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.[33] The river has been navigable beyond Wadebridge with the highest quays being at Guineaport[94] and Egloshayle,[95] and ships being recorded beyond that at least as far as Pendavy a mile further upstream.[96] The river as far as Wadebridge was considered navigable for vessels up to 150 tons in 1830[97] and Wadebridge was used as the location for loading granite,[98] iron ore and china Clay[99] onto ships for onward transport. Advice from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency published in 2003 indicates that the River is now only navigable for merchant vessels as far as Brea Hill[100].

During the period of canal building in Britain the River Camel was investigated as one end of a canal looking to join the north and south coasts of Cornwall by linking to the River Fowey. The first plan was put forward in the 1790s and engineer John Rennie was engaged to advise on the idea. His advice indicated a tunnel would be required but that little through traffic could be anticipated[101] and no further effort was expended. In the 1820s Marc Brunel, the father of Isambard Kingdom Brunel considered the possibility of a ship canal looking to make a similar connection between the rivers Camel and Fowey but again little return on the investpent was predicted[101].

With boats as one of the main methods of transporting goods until the advent of the railways there were several quays along the river, often at the limit of navigation of the many tributaries and creeks on the estuary. Thus there were quays at Little Petherick [102] and Trevorrick Mills[103] on Little Petherick Creek and before construction of the railway between Wadebridge and Padstow there was a quay at Pinxton Creek.[104] The River Amble was also navigable up to Chapel Amble on high spring tides, with seaweed, sand and coal being taken up to the village and grain brought out again.[105] Construction of the bridge at Trewornan did not prevent access to Chapel Amble, but the tidal barrage which prevents salt water going upstream past Burniere Point has left the River Amble inaccessible from the main river. Nearer to Wadebridge there was a quay at Trevilling on the north bank of the river built in the 19th century for a Vitriol works[106] and thus known as the 'Vitriol Quay', the location downstream from the town near the current A39 Wadebridge Bypass bridge being appropriate for the product.

Despite the many opportunities for transport along the estuary, historically the main traffic on the river above Padstow was to the Quays at Wadebridge where there is evidence of a dock dating back as far as Elizabethan times. Construction of the Bodmin and Wadebridge Railway in 1834 was based on taking sand brought up to Wadebridge by 12 ton barges[107] that were poled under the bridge at Wadebridge with the sand then being transhipped to the railway for onward transport. From a specially built sand dock at Wadebridge the railway took the sand further up the valley, replacing the previous use of pack animals that took the sand from landings at Sladesbridge[108] and a quay at Marsh cottages near Egloshayle church.[95]

In common with much of Cornwall lime was a common commodity for transportation in the 18th and 19th centuries[109] and the Camel was no exception with lime kilns being recorded at Egloshayle[110][111] with a quay adjacent,[112] another at Bishop's Quay below Gonvena Hill,[113] and one on the town side of the river adjacent to the Pomorla brook[114]

On the estuary itself there was no need to transport sand by barge, and 'sanding lanes' were laid from local villages directly onto the foreshore so that carts could be taken down at low tide and loaded with sand. On the southern side of the estuary 'sanding lanes' linked Higher Halwyn to Oldtown Cove, Tregunna to the River at White House, Tregonce to Little Petherick Creek and also St Issey to Benuick near Sea Mills, also on Little Petherick Creek.[115] On the northern side of the estuary the access lane to Daymer Bay has its origins as a sanding lane.[116]

Historic sites

There are several ancient defensive sites along the Camel Valley. Penhargard Castle is an Iron Age defended settlement near Helland situated high on the eastern side of the Camel valley[117] with extant ramparts up to 10 feet,[118] and not far away on the other side of the river is an older hillfort.[119] Rather later in date there is the remains of a Roman fort near Nanstallon overlooking the Camel valley.[120] Once thought to have been the only Roman Fort in Cornwall, the fort was only occupied between 60 and 80AD.[121]

Less certain is the association of a Roman legion with the area around Cant Hill. The evidence in circumstantial, with the name Cant being associated with the Latin canti meaning 'corner' and nearby Carlyon Farm through a spelling from the 13th century of Carleghion being interpreted as car meaning camp and leighion meaning legion.[122]

Crossings

The river and its tributaries are crossed by more Listed bridges than any other river in Cornwall.[123] Most notable is at Wadebridge,[124] the lowest bridge on the river, which was built in the 15th century to replace an earlier ford which was considered so dangerous to use at certain times that a chapel was built on either bank; one to pray for a safe crossing and the other to give thanks.[125] Thomas Loveybond, Vicar of Egloshayle, was the mover of construction while John de Harlan was the actual builder.[126] The bridge was made a county bridge in the reign of James I,[127] and has been widened three times over the years,[123] being granted Grade II listed status in 1969.[128]

Moving upstream from Wadebridge, the other listed bridges are Helland Bridge,[129] Wenfordbridge,[130] Coombe Mill Bridge,[131] Gam Bridge,[132] and Slaughterbridge,[133] this latter so named as it is the location of an historic battle, possibly that of King Arthur's last battle.[134][135][136]

One of the largest structures on the Estuary is the "Iron Bridge", a three span girder bridge of 400 ft (120 m) originally built to carry the North Cornwall Railway between Wadebridge and Padstow over Petherick Creek.[104] Good use was made of the river during construction as the metalwork was brought to Wadebridge by boat and then floated on barges down to where the bridge was being built.[137] Sitting on Dennis Hill overlooking the bridge is an Obelisk erected to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria'. Erected in 1889 the granite obelisk is Grade II listed.[138]

Military

Although the River itself has never been a location for military bases, some parts have been used periodically for military purposes. Other than the Roman forts noted above, one of the earliest military installations was at Gun Point just downstream of Padstow. Henry VIII sited guns here when there was considered a threat of invasion by the Spanish, and Queen Elizabeth expanded these, and guns were also sited here during the Napoleonic wars and World War II.[139]

Water pollution incident
Main article: Camelford water pollution incident

In July 1988, the water supply to Camelford and the surrounding area was contaminated when 20 tons of aluminium sulphate was poured into the wrong tank at Lowermoor Water Treatment Works on Bodmin Moor. An inquiry into the incident (the worst of its kind in British history) started in 2002, and a report was issued in January 2005 but questions remain as to the long-term effects on the health of residents. Michael Meacher, who visited Camelford as environment minister, called the incident and its aftermath, "A most unbelievable scandal."[140]

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 Little Petherick Creek which joins the main estuary through the Iron Bridge on the Camel Trail, the River Amble which joins the Camel though a tidal barrage near Burniere Point, and the Polmorla Brook (historically Treguddick 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.[141] 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[141] 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.[141]

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gollark: Aaargh.
gollark: You may, however, be able to poke at local vars or something to make this work. Maybe?
gollark: ```inspect.getsource(lambda a: a)Traceback (most recent call last): File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module> File "/usr/lib/python3.6/inspect.py", line 973, in getsource lines, lnum = getsourcelines(object) File "/usr/lib/python3.6/inspect.py", line 955, in getsourcelines lines, lnum = findsource(object) File "/usr/lib/python3.6/inspect.py", line 786, in findsource raise OSError('could not get source code')OSError: could not get source code```
gollark: Hmm, seems you can get the bytecode, checking about non-bytecode.

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  30. "DINHAM - Post Medieval tide mill". www.heritagegateway.org.uk. Heritage Gateway. 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2019. Minchinton and Perkins record that Dinham salt water mills were advertised for sale in 1851 (2). The 1st Edition 1:2500 OS c1880 map records a disused tidal bone mill at the site (1). A tidal pond is recorded on the 1963 OS map but this is not apparent on the current 1:10000 edition (3, 4). The CCC 1999-2001 vertical aerial photograph shows no survival of the mill
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  41. "Bass nursery areas and other conservation measures" (PDF). Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Retrieved 27 April 2019. All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn 116 deg true from stepper point to Trebetherick Point
  42. "UK bass legislation: Location of bass nursery areas". UKBass.com. Bass Anglers Sportfishing Society. 1 February 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  43. "Flounder Fishing on the River Camel". Fishing-hotspot.co.uk. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
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  65. Graham Smith (17 December 2016). "More than 1,500 badgers killed in Cornwall during recent anti-TB cull". Cornwall Reports. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  66. "Walmsley Sanctuary". Cornwall Birdwatching & Preservation Society. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  67. "News: January 2019 News Page". Cornwall Birds. Cornwall Bird Watching and Preservation Society. 9 January 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2019. County Bird News: As of 1st Jan, the two expanding egret species in the UK, Cattle and Great White have been taken off the ‘County Description Species’ List. Care over id may still need to be taken, & recorder/committee may request further information for any particular sighting.
  68. "Hawkes Wood". Cornwall Wildlife Trust. Archived from the original on 14 September 2009. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
  69. "Reserves & Hides". Cornwall Birdwatching & Preservation Society. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
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  71. "American Bittern at Walmsley Sanctuary". South West Optics. 2 November 2010. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  72. "First sighting of a Dalmatian pelican in the Camel Estuary". North Cornwall today. Tindle Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  73. "SEA FISHING ALONG THE NORTH CORNWALL COAST". cornwall-online.co.uk. Cornwall Online. 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  74. Evans, Jon (8 December 2008). "The River Camel". Gethooked.co.uk. Diamond Publications. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
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  76. "Marine sightings of Basking Shark 'Cetorhinus maximus' in Cornwall". Cornwall Wildlife Trust. 2008. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
  77. Ingrey, Jack (1984). The Camel Footpath. Cornish Walkabout Books. 2. Padstow: Lodenek Press. p. 12. ISBN 0 946143 06 4.
  78. Pascoe, Ann. Sea-shells on Cornwall's beaches. Tor Mark Press. p. 8.
  79. Pascoe, Ann. Sea-shells on Cornwall's beaches. Tor Mark Press. p. 31.
  80. Pascoe, Ann. Sea-shells on Cornwall's beaches. Tor Mark Press. p. 30.
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  82. "Himalayan balsam". cornwall.gov.uk. Cornwall Council. 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  83. "Invasive weeds on the River Camel". Westcountry Rivers Trust. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
  84. "Cardinham Woods". www.forestryengland.uk. Forestry England. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
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  87. "Hustyn Woods". www.intocornwall.com. AWMP Creative Media. Retrieved 29 September 2019. Hustyn Wood, in the Parish of St Breock, is a Forestry Commission wood, adjoining Bishop's Woods, composed of a variety of trees - areas of broadleaved trees, mature Douglas fir and mixed woodland.
  88. "Bishop's Woods". www.intocornwall.com. AWMP Creative Media. Retrieved 29 September 2019. Bishop's Wood, in the Parish of St Breock, is a Forestry Commission wood, composed of a variety of trees - areas of broadleaved trees, mature Douglas fir and mixed woodland.
  89. Fairclough, Tony; Wills, Alan (1979). Bodmin and Wadebridge 1834-1978. Truro: D Bradford Barton. p. 14. ISBN 0 85153 343 4.
  90. Ingrey, Jack (1984). The Camel Footpath. Cornish Walkabout Books. 2. Padstow: Lodenek Press. p. 21. ISBN 0 946143 06 4.
  91. Roper, P (1993). "The distribution of the Wild Service Tree, Sorbus torminalis in the British Isles" (PDF). bsbi.org. Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
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  93. "Wild service tree". www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk. Cornwall Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 29 September 2019. The wild service tree was once widespread, if seldom abundant, in the forests of England and Wales. But, as these were cleared, it became rarer and is now confined to ancient woodlands and hedges
  94. "GUINEAPORT - Post Medieval quay". www.heritagegateway.org.uk. Heritage Gateway. 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2019. A quay on the south bank of the River Camel, adjacent to the old line of the London and South Western Railway (now the Camel Trail). The quay survives substantially intact, although partly obscured by modern infill to the east. It is constructed of slate stone masonry in alternate vertical and horizontal bedding, with granite capstones (JRS, 2002)
  95. "MARSH COTTAGES - Post Medieval quay". www.heritagegateway.org.uk. Heritage Gateway. 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2019. A sand wharf on the Camel at Egloshayle
  96. Fairclough, Anthony; Wills, Alan (1979). Bodmin and Wadebridge 1834 - 1978. Truro: Bradford Barton. p. 21. ISBN 0 85153 343 4.
  97. Pigot's Directory. 1830. p. 135.
  98. Reid, Neil (1996). Map & Guide to Exploring the River Camel & The Camel Trail. Friendly Guide (First ed.). Penzance: Cormorant Design. p. 4. ISBN 0 9520874 1 3.
  99. Ingrey, Jack (1984). The Camel Footpath. Cornish Walkabout Books. 2. Padstow: Lodenek Press. p. 31. ISBN 0 946143 06 4.
  100. MERCHANT SHIPPING NOTICE MSN 1776 (M). Southampton: Maritime and Coastguard Agency. 2003. p. 18. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
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  102. "Little Petherick Conservation Area Character Statement" (PDF). www.cornwall.gov.uk. North Cornwall District Council. 1997. p. 3. Retrieved 5 May 2019. Some of the wharves and quays where goods such as lime and grain were loaded are still clearly visible on the west side of the creek
  103. Ingrey, Jack (1984). The Camel Footpath. Cornish Walkabout Books. 2. Padstow: Lodenek Press. pp. 12–14. ISBN 0 946143 06 4.
  104. Wroe, David (1994). An Illustrated History of the North Cornwall Railway. Caernarfon: Irwell Press. p. 94. ISBN 1-871608-63-5.
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  109. "History Of Lime Pointing In Cornwall". Oak Ridge. 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2019. most of Cornwall’s tiny ports had a lime kiln in the vicinity
  110. "Lime kiln known as 'Trevillian' recorded on Tithe Award". www.heritagegateway.org.uk. Heritage Gateway. 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2019. The Tithe Award for Egloshayle records a lime kiln at the location, owned by Susannah Hawken and worked by Richard Hawken (b1). No remains are now extant (b2)
  111. "Lime kiln known as 'Hellgelders', marked on the Tithe Map". www.heritagegateway.org.uk. Heritage Gateway. 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2019. The Tithe Award for Egloshayle records a lime kiln at the location, owned by Nevell Norway (b1). No remains survive (b2)
  112. "WADEBRIDGE - Post Medieval quay". www.heritagegateway.org.uk. Heritage Gateway. 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2019. Sand quays on the Egloshayle side of Wadebridge are recorded on the Tithe map of 1840. The quay has now been overbuilt by modern housing (h1).
  113. "A lime kiln situated on Bishop's Quay". www.heritagegateway.org.uk. Heritage Gateway. 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2019. Situated on Bishop's Quay, this kiln existed at least as early as 1834, as it appeared then in a 'for sale' notice. Run in its latter days by Messrs Martyn (b1). Marked on the 2nd Edition 1:2500 OS map (b2)
  114. "WADEBRIDGE - Post Medieval lime kiln". www.heritagegateway.org.uk. Heritage Gateway. 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2019. A limekiln at Wadebridge is shown at this location on the Tithe Map of 1840, when its owner was Sir William Molesworth and its occupier was Thomas Trebilcock (b1). It is shown on both the 1st and 2nd Edition 1:2500 OS maps (b2, b3), but is believed to have been derelict well before 1910 (b4).
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  116. Ingrey, Jack (1994). St Minver, It's Bays and Byways. Padstow: Tabb House. pp. 47–48. ISBN 1 873951 07 8.
  117. "Iron Age defended settlement called Penhargard Castle". AncientMonuments.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
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  119. "Slight univallate hillfort in Dunmere Wood 235m WNW of Crabb's Pool". AncientMonuments.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  120. Historic England. "Roman fort called 'Nanstallon Roman fort' 135m south west of Tregear (1007273)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
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  123. Kentley, Eric. Cornwall's bridge & viaduct heritage. Truro: Twelveheads Press. ISBN 0 906294 584.
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  131. Historic England. "ROADBRIDGE 70 METRES TO NORTH EAST OF COOMBE MILLHOUSE (1142355)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  132. Historic England. "GAM BRIDGE (1311392)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  133. Historic England. "SLAUGHTERBRIDGE 500 METRES TO SOUTH EAST OF WORTHY MANOR (1142724)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  134. Gregory, Edward (2016). "King Arthur in Cornwall". www.king-arthur.co.uk. Edward Gregory. Retrieved 28 April 2019. The area has yielded up information that Slaughterbridge, on the River Camel, was undoubtedly, the site of a ferocious battle in ancient times; though, whether this was the Battle of Camlann in 542 is open to speculation
  135. "Slaughter Bridge, Cornwall". legendofkingarthur.co.uk. Retrieved 28 April 2019. Slaughter Bridge still remains a candidate for the Camlann battle site
  136. "The Legend of Arthur". www.bbc.co.uk/cornwall. BBC. 25 July 2008. Retrieved 28 April 2019. Visitors can walk through the fields where King Arthur and Mordred were believed to have met for their last battle.
  137. "Little Petherick Creek bridge". www.forgottonrelics.co.uk. Four by Three. 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  138. Historic England. "OBELISK (1289848)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
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  140. The Independent, 16 April 2006, Poisoned: The Camelford scandal Archived 2008-05-20 at the Wayback Machine
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