Crafthole Reservoir

Lake, Pool, Pond, Freshwater Marsh in Cornwall

England

Crafthole Reservoir

On SW Coast Path heading towards Portwrinkle Credit: Colin Park

Crafthole Reservoir is a freshwater lake located in Cornwall, England. It covers an area of approximately 30 acres and is situated near the village of Crafthole. The reservoir was created in the mid-20th century for the purpose of providing a reliable water supply to the surrounding area.

The lake is surrounded by picturesque rolling hills, offering a scenic and tranquil setting for visitors. It is primarily used for recreational activities such as fishing and boating. Fishing enthusiasts are attracted to Crafthole Reservoir for its abundant stocks of various fish species, including perch, roach, bream, and pike. Anglers can enjoy a peaceful day by the water, trying their luck and taking in the beautiful natural surroundings.

In addition to fishing, the lake also serves as a popular spot for boating and canoeing. The calm and clear waters provide an ideal environment for these activities. Visitors can rent boats or bring their own and explore the lake at their leisure.

Crafthole Reservoir is also home to a diverse range of wildlife. Its shores and surrounding areas support a variety of plant species, creating a freshwater marsh habitat. This marshland provides a vital habitat for numerous bird species, including herons, kingfishers, and ducks. Birdwatchers often visit the reservoir to observe and photograph these fascinating creatures.

Overall, Crafthole Reservoir offers a peaceful and natural retreat for outdoor enthusiasts, providing a range of recreational activities and opportunities to appreciate the local wildlife.

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Crafthole Reservoir Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 50.366589/-4.2928713 or Grid Reference SX3754. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

On SW Coast Path heading towards Portwrinkle

Colin Park

View W to Portwrinkle from SW Coast Path

Colin Park

On SW Coast Path - view W above Trethill Cliffs

Colin Park

Tregantle Fort near Antony

Tregantle Fort is one of several forts surrounding Plymouth that were built as a result of a decision in Lord Palmerston's premiership to deter the French from attacking naval bases on the Channel coast. The fort was originally designed by Captain William Crossman, with later modifications by Captain (later Maj General) Edmund Frederick Du Cane. Construction commenced in 1859 and was completed in 1865. When originally designed it had provision for 35 large guns. By 1893 the guns consisted of five RBL 7 inch Armstrong guns and nineteen RML 64-pounders, together with a number of 32 Pounder Smooth Bore Breech Loading guns. Early in the 1900s it became an infantry battalion headquarters with 14 officers and 423 other ranks, and from 1903 was used for rifle training. Tregantle is infamous within the armed forces because many of the rifle ranges located there slope steeply down towards the sea. These ranges are still in use, primarily by personnel located at HMS Raleigh. Tregantle was vacated after World War I until 1938, when it was used as the Territorial Army Passive Air Defence School. During World War II it was used first as the Army Gas School and from 1942 as US Army accommodation. (source Wikipedia)

Colin Park

Finneygook Beach, Portwrinkle

Looking Seaward (South) from the rockpools.

Martyn Pattison

Portwrinkle

This photograph of the small coastal village of Portwrinkle was taken from the hillside adjacent to Finnygook lane. The photograph shows the 20th century development of the village including a large hotel. The area of Portwrinkle which formed the original fishing village is at the western end of the village, just out of sight on this shot.

Tony Atkin

Crafthole Village

Crafthole is a village on the hilltop above Portwrinkle. The picture shows part of the old village centre although there are many more 20th century houses in the village.

Tony Atkin

Valley to the north of Trewrickle Farm.

Tony Atkin

Old farm buildings at Tredrossel

Conversions are taking place, the farthest building has been converted into cottages.

Tony Atkin

Sheviock

Looking east towards the village of Sheviock from Horsepool Road. The freshwater lake in the foreground has been artificially created.

Tony Atkin

Sheviock

A view of the village from the eastern side. The church spire on the right is the Parish Church of St Mary, Sheviock. While this may look an idyllic scene, Sheviock is one of those unfortunate villages which is split by a fast main road. Although some of the traffic actually obeys the 40mph speed limit, this does not really help to make it either peaceful or safe.

Tony Atkin

The A374 east of Sheviock

This stretch of road between the villages of Antony and Polbathic cuts through the low-lying mainly wooded countryside along the south side of Lynher River estuary. Its open curves and good cambers make it a favourite with motor cyclists.

Tony Atkin

Not the way into Wacker Woods

While the footpath looks inviting, the sign warns that it leads into a military training area and that entry is forbidden.

Tony Atkin

Wacker Quay and Warren Point

Looking over the old quayside and across the entrance to the tidal creek called Wacker Lake to the woodlands at Warren Point. Wacker Quay used to be where ammunition and other goods were brought in for the military fortifications of Scraesdon Fort and Tregantle Fort. They were taken up to the forts on a railway line which started here but has long since disappeared.

Tony Atkin

Houses on the Seafront Road

This is at the western end of Portwrinkle, the site of the old village. The white house in the foreground called "Smuggler's Cottage" is probably the oldest house in the village. It has a date mark of 1795 on the front. In the 17th and early 18th century it is likely that almost all male residents of the village took part in smuggling from time to time as it was one way to supplement the meagre income from the pilchard fishery.

Tony Atkin

The old fish cellars, Portwrinkle

This derelict building in Portwrinkle used to be the Pilchard processing plant. Pilchards are the reason that Portwrinkle exists. The village was set up by the local landowners, the Carew-Pole family in order to take advantage of the pilchard fisheries. The shoals of pilchard would be spotted by a look-out on the hill above the village who would guide the boats into the shoal by semaphore. Pilchards were salted and pressed in the cellar and the oil which drained off was an important by-product. The fish could then be boxed and sent away for sale. In the mid 19th century with the pilchard fisheries beginning to decline, local fisherman bought the fishery from the landowner by forming a co-operative which they called "The Poor Man's Endeavour", quite a provocative name for the time. This continued until the First World War. The last factory producing traditionally processed Cornish pilchards operated in Newlyn and closed in October 2005.

Tony Atkin

The Boathouse, Portwrinkle

This is an old building going back to at least the 19th century. It is situated at the top of the slipway and, when this photograph was taken, was still performing exactly the duties for which it was intended. In the 19th century the fishermen of Portwrinkle bought out the fishery from the local landowner by forming a co-operative called "The Poor Man's Endeavour", quite a radical name for the time. I like to think that they also recognised there was an element of black humour in the name (hint: shorten the last word). They were photographed standing in front of this boathouse in around 1880.

Tony Atkin