"Is this where the last Cornish King drowned?" A walk from Siblyback Lake to Golitha Falls, Cornwall

Please note that we have had to cut our intro at the beginning of the video due to a change in the copyright status of the music used. Apologies for the clumsy edit! Unfortunately, you may notice this on several of our videos.
In this video we shine a torch on the dark ages of Cornwall and discover a wonderful story about the last King of Cornwall.
Cornwall was once a separate realm with it's own lineage of kings but, very little is known of the details. One King is the exception, King Doniert who died in 872 AD. You will find his memorial stone near Liskeard in Cornwall. He is thought to have drowned in Golitha Falls nearby, but was it an accident or foul play?
This walk is ideal for wetter weather or out of season walking because it follows roads for the most part. Please be aware that one of these roads is quite busy, but only makes up a short stretch of walking. It is advisable to keep young children and dogs closely supervised.
To join us on Patreon, please copy and paste the link: / cornishwalkingtrails
Note about “The Parochial History of Cornwall’, by Davies Gilbert and King Doniert’s Stone
The pages in this video were screenshots taken from Google Books. We do not own a copy of the book and have not had the joy of studying it properly. From our understanding, it brings together several accounts and manuscripts in a somewhat haphazard manner, making it difficult to attribute each text to a specific writer without being fully conversant with the book.
Whilst the story we relay in this video is in inverted commas, implying it is a quote, we had insufficient time to establish by whom, and it was easier for the context of this video to say it was Gilbert’s own account. Please accept this as acknowledgement that we know we are not 100% accurate on this point, and as an answer to any comments that correct our context.
Music Credit: ‘Blue Dream’ by Cheel. Available from KZbin Audio Library.
The standard description bit…
We are Sarah and Andrew and we film our walks around Cornwall and publish on KZbin, usually weekly. Sometimes we stay in accommodation in Cornwall and upload our vlog. Sarah is fascinated by sea glass and likes to collect it so there may be the occasional sea glass video too. The channel is a hobby and we both have normal day jobs!
Frequently asked questions:
What camera do we use?
Since December 2018 we have used: Canon Powershot G7x MkII
How do I find the books you use?
Most are still in print although some we pick up in charity shops and may be available on Amazon secondhand. Please refer to the video for the book titles. Every video shows the book three times. Sorry but we can’t put a link in every description.
Best time of year to visit Cornwall?
We love May, June for flora and fauna, July and September for spectacular scenery.
What is your dog’s name?
Sorry but we do not release the name of our dog, perhaps you can make up your own name for him.
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[@carolann963]

Thank you. Sarah and Andrew. Lovely Spring day walk.

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

Glad you enjoyed it, Sarah :)

[@lindajackson5480]

Absolutely beautiful from start to finish. Thank you.

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

Thank you! Cheers! Sarah :)

[@waynelowe6409]

Another fascinating and interesting video. Thank you both so much Sarah and Andrew.

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

Glad you enjoyed it, Sarah :)

[@lindacourtemanche5550]

This was a gorgeous walk. Love the lake and the woodlands and the Impressive dam. The story of this king is very interesting. Love the brisk spring day. Have a wonderful Easter weekend. 🐕👟🍒🌷🌹🌻

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

It was definitely a brisk spring day! I spent most of it hiding in my hood!! Sarah :)

[@dpmurray9795]

Thanks for the free history lesson in an area i walk myself.

[@rivergladesgardenrailroad8834]

just lovely, thanks guys....

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

Glad you enjoyed it, Sarah :)

[@susanbarganier2282]

Great walk! Thanks!

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

Our pleasure! Sarah :)

[@robertchugg6249]

Great walk . Thanks.

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

Thank you too! Sarah :)

[@donnagraham787]

Love this book you are using. Our first walk with this book 2003 and still using it

[@SuperJules57]

What a lovely walk! Andrew you are a naughty boy wink wink lol ❤️ I’m so missing Cornwall 😢 Happy Easter weekend guys ✝️

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

You too!! Sarah :)

[@esthermorrissey1454]

Another interesting, professional & entertaining video Andrew and Sarah. As a proud Cornish lady - I didn’t even know that we had a King in Cornwall but I do know that we can be a feisty bunch ha ha!! Happy Easter guys.

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

Our pleasure! Sarah :)

[@Wolfgang3418]

Hello! Seeing you in such a real woodland solitude (or forest) is a rare thing in Cornwall, so this really is a special video of yours, thank you!

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

It's because the coastal views and videos are better received! Sarah :)

[@judybee]

I do love a standing stone or a celtic cross or monument and there are plenty in Cornwall to choose from! Fern Britton did the history of this too on national TV when she did her series on Cornwall, but your version is prettier with all the daffs out! The only other King I can think of associated with Cornwall is King Brychan who was born in Ireland & then came over to Wales managed to have 3 wives & countless children who ended up as saints in Cornwall & their churches are scattered all over Cornwall...St. Minver, St. Endellion, St. Mabyn, St. Clether to name a few. They are all equally beautiful and some with Holy Wells. Magical stuff. Golitha Falls are lovely. I bet your lunch was lovely too in that pretty setting! x J x

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

yes, unfortunately, there seems to be a celebrity around every corner in Cornwall at the moment - will there be any room left for our little offering? Sarah :)

[@judybee]

@@CornishWalkingTrails You ARE celebrities Sarah!!!!.....You Tube ones!! And some of your vids are far more informative than some that the TV channels put out for sure!! x J x

[@christopherdakin7094]

Kernow bys vyken! Great video again.

[@sallydingle321]

Really enjoyed this ramble 👌😁... I have done both areas...but didn't know of the walk which connects the two, so one to try now, thanks to you guys 🙏💞. Loving the history of the Cornish King too...despite his awful demise. Would love to know more about him really. Also interesting about the name of Golitha and why it's called that...who would have thought 😋👍💝😘

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

Fascinating to hear about Cornish Kings - I would love to know more too, Sarah :)

[@SpanishEclectic]

Such a delightful spring walk! Thank you! I loved the mossy trees (and Andrew's 'moss porn' -LOL) and the sound of the water. Signs left behind from the mining days are so intriguing. The site of the King's stone is simply beautiful, with the daffodils in bloom. I'll bet they smelled wonderful, despite the stiff wind. I wonder if the kind of scans that are being used to find temple ruins in the jungle could provide images of the chamber underneath. That era in history is fascinating; I've mentioned The Last Kingdom TV series before, which brings to life the conflicts between the Saxons, the Danes, and the native peoples of Britain, including the inhabitants of Wales and Cornwall during the lifetimes of Alfred the Great and his son.

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

I've just looked up the trailer - looks really good! Sarah :)

[@SpanishEclectic]

@@CornishWalkingTrails We are poised to begin Season 5. The photography is amazing, as is the costuming and sets. The actor who plays Alfred is fantastic, but the entire cast is great. Battle scenes are crazy. It is an experience.

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

@@SpanishEclectic I watched the first 3 yesterday, enjoyed it so far! Sarah :)

[@SpanishEclectic]

@@CornishWalkingTrails Oh, that's great! I love how they show the "olde" name of each town, then change to the present day spelling. The first time I saw that wall of Danish round-shields, I got chills. Glad you like it.

[@bernicebest]

What a wonderful Informative walk, the history of Cornwall is so impressive, I learn something new with every one of your walking tours, the walk along the river bank with its beautiful cascading fast running water, reminded me of Scotland for a moment or two, we have much to be grateful for in these magnificent British Isles of ours, as usual Andrew made my day with the little gem he came out with regarding the Hoover Dam! this Dam was more of a Hoover Junior in size! thanks again for a fabulous walk and a Happy Easter 🐣 to the three of you🤗👋

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

Very good! Hoover junior! Sarah :)

[@bernicebest]

@@CornishWalkingTrails Sarah do you think Andrew’s sense of humour is rubbing off! 🤣😂🤣

[@colinbaker3415]

Glad you got to Golitha Falls. I have seen them in other videos but nowhere near as informative as yours ! I too thought of mystical beings flitting about. Andrew must be attracted to the moss stroking because of his own face moss !! Another great video.

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

So nice of you, thank you for your comment! Sarah :)

[@philipparose1995]

Fascinating history about the king of Cornwall! Loved the video you two are so funny!

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

Thanks so much! Sarah :)

[@JoannaLouise200]

Beautiful fresh Spring walk!...all the varying sounds of water are one of my favourite features of Cornwall. Loving the history of Cornish King Doniert and the inscribed granite crosses ~ what a beautiful (and well-maintained!) setting with the circles of pretty daffodils. I laughed so much at Andrew's dodgy moss-stroking diversion! I definitely vote King Andrew & Queen Sarah as joint rulers of Cornwall 👑👍

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

Very funny! Glad you enjoyed it, Sarah :)

[@amazinggrace4036]

This water walk is beautiful .. simply magnificent waterfalls, dreamy! Then cars! And traffic! but back to greenery again…just stunning! Thank you Sarah and Andrew for the history and sublime walk…feel so jelly, 😉 wish I could take this walk, enchanting …much greetings from California, Ana 🌹all the best to you both🙂

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

Hi Ana, a lovely walk, a bit different to our coastal walks but still as interesting! Sarah :)

[@johnojohno4194]

Another place I feel I have discovered, but it is you guys that have discovered it for us, definitely on our list of to dos, lovely stories and great company, thank you

[@margaretrotherforth2346]

What a great informative walk , been to Cornwall many times but never been to that area. Thank you once again Andrew and Sarah , I wait in anticipation every week for your video's, absolute love them. Don't ever stop making them. XxMargaret 🤗

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

Our pleasure! Sarah :)

[@marieryan2541]

Hi Sarah and Andrew. Really love your woodland walk today. The waterfalls were magnicant and I love the history about Cornish Kings would like to know more about them one day.

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

It would be fascinating to know more, wetted my appetite! Sarah :)

[@martynlejeune5191]

Thanks guys for a really relaxing and truly fascinating video. Keep up all your great walks. 😃

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

Glad you enjoyed it, Sarah :)

[@sandraabshire4923]

For all the non Brits out there who didn’t understand Andrew’s joke about the Hoover Dam and cleaning up, in England we call a vacuum cleaner a Hoover, the most popular/well known brand!!

[@Wolfgang3418]

Thank you, Sandra, that you think of me ;-)

[@dpmurray9795]

Went to Golitha yesterday (Sunday), Have never seen so many cars parked up on the main road. I knew it was a mistake to go a couple days after your video. Was all good, other than dog poo everywhere. ;-)

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

Oh dear! I am sorry to hear that! Well, it is easter weekend and the schools are out, perhaps that had the greater impact!! Sarah :)

[@dpmurray9795]

@@CornishWalkingTrails Naah, it was super busy because of the people who follow your videos, i think its great, You should get sponsored for these walks.

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

@@dpmurray9795 A true fan!! Sarah :)

[@beezig]

Golitha falls was one of our favourite walks, so magical in the spring, but in Autumn is where it comes alive, the trees in Fall are stunning. Great video guys. Also more Moss Porn please!!

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

LOL! Sarah :)

[@TravellingTorunn]

Thank you for the lovely walk 🙂 And I didn't know about the Cornish king. Sorry that he lost the battle. But the stones were beautiful. And so were the waterfalls. I'll have this in mind this summer when we visit our friends in Upton Cross 🙂 Torunn 🤩

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

We were impressed by the woodland and I think there is possibly a longer trail. We turned around with it being only part of the walk but I think it would make a good half day's entertainment! Sarah :)

[@brianmerrien3290]

Moss you do that Andrew.

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

:D Sarah :)

[@75ckh]

Yep - that’s Dartmoor. I live in the next village and can see it from my house 😃

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

Oh cool! I realised that it must be Dartmoor! LOL! Sarah :)

[@75ckh]

@@CornishWalkingTrails it's been lovely that you've been exploring around my local area. I'm hoping you'll be doing some more - especially as there are so many old engine houses and mining history to discover 😊

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

@@75ckh Hi Cecily, we picked up several trails from the museum when we visited this year and hope to cover the viaducts walk, closer to Moorswater in the autumn! Sarah :)

[@75ckh]

@@CornishWalkingTrails looking forward to it!

[@kernow..exp.]

Greetings from Redruth

[@robertwillis9988]

Love andrews 'corny' sense of humour😆😆

[@peteredwards338]

Hoover Junior ?

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

Very good! Sarah :)