River Menalhyl
Encyclopedia
The River Menalhyl is a river
in Cornwall
, UK, that flows through the parish
es of St Columb Major
and Mawgan-in-Pydar
. Its length is about 12 miles and it flows in a generally north-west direction. The name comes from the Cornish words melyn meaning mill and heyl meaning estuary - estuary mills.
The source of the river's longest branch is near Nine Maidens
, about 2 miles to the north of St Columb,50.447°N 4.943°W, at a height of approximately 490 feet above mean sea level. The Menalhyl enters the sea at Mawgan Porth
on the north coast of the county, 50.465°N 5.027°W.
Tributaries to the river include one that rises between the village of Tregonetha and Castle an Dinas
, and one whose source is south-east of Tregatillian
. A smaller river, from Talskiddy
, joins the Menalhyl a short distance from its mouth.
The river flows through the settlements of St Columb (the north part of the town, known as Bridge), St Mawgan
and Mawgan Porth. Its valley, from St Columb downstream, is called the Vale of Lanherne; it is wooded for much of its length and is popular with walkers.
There are a small number of disused mills along the length of the Menalhyl, and the river feeds some small lakes and ponds. It is also used for agricultural purposes along most of its course.
The river is enjoyed by anglers, especially in its lower course, and fish species such as brown trout, sea trout, lamprey, eel and minnow have been recorded.
The bedrock of the catchment area is comprised, in the main, of Devonian
calcareous slates, grits and limestone.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, UK, that flows through the parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
es of St Columb Major
St Columb Major
St Columb Major is a civil parish and town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. Often referred to locally as St Columb, it is situated approximately seven miles southwest of Wadebridge and six miles east of Newquay...
and Mawgan-in-Pydar
St Mawgan
St Mawgan in Pydar is a civil parish in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The village of St Mawgan is situated four miles northeast of Newquay....
. Its length is about 12 miles and it flows in a generally north-west direction. The name comes from the Cornish words melyn meaning mill and heyl meaning estuary - estuary mills.
The source of the river's longest branch is near Nine Maidens
Nine Maidens stone row
Nine Maidens stone row is an ancient monument in the parish of St Columb Major, Cornwall, United Kingdom.The Nine Maidens are also known in Cornish as Naw-voz, or Naw-whoors meaning The nine sisters ...
, about 2 miles to the north of St Columb,50.447°N 4.943°W, at a height of approximately 490 feet above mean sea level. The Menalhyl enters the sea at Mawgan Porth
Mawgan Porth
Mawgan Porth is a beach and small settlement in north Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated north of Watergate Bay approximately four miles north of Newquay, on the Atlantic Ocean coast....
on the north coast of the county, 50.465°N 5.027°W.
Tributaries to the river include one that rises between the village of Tregonetha and Castle an Dinas
Castle an Dinas, St. Columb Major
Castle an Dinas is an Iron Age hillfort near St. Columb Major in Cornwall, UK and is considered one of the most important hillforts in the southwest of Britain. It dates from around the 3rd to 2nd century BCE and consists of three ditch and rampart concentric rings, 850 feet above sea level....
, and one whose source is south-east of Tregatillian
Tregatillian
Tregatillian is a hamlet immediately east of St. Columb Major in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The area is currently the site of a few traditional Cornish houses and a large residential mobile home site, Tregatillian Homes Park....
. A smaller river, from Talskiddy
Talskiddy
Talskiddy is a small village about two miles north of St Columb Major in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. Originally a manorial settlement belonging to the Earldom of Cornwall, the village prospered in the 19th Century as a centre of the wool-combing industry...
, joins the Menalhyl a short distance from its mouth.
The river flows through the settlements of St Columb (the north part of the town, known as Bridge), St Mawgan
St Mawgan
St Mawgan in Pydar is a civil parish in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The village of St Mawgan is situated four miles northeast of Newquay....
and Mawgan Porth. Its valley, from St Columb downstream, is called the Vale of Lanherne; it is wooded for much of its length and is popular with walkers.
There are a small number of disused mills along the length of the Menalhyl, and the river feeds some small lakes and ponds. It is also used for agricultural purposes along most of its course.
The river is enjoyed by anglers, especially in its lower course, and fish species such as brown trout, sea trout, lamprey, eel and minnow have been recorded.
The bedrock of the catchment area is comprised, in the main, of Devonian
Devonian
The Devonian is a geologic period and system of the Paleozoic Era spanning from the end of the Silurian Period, about 416.0 ± 2.8 Mya , to the beginning of the Carboniferous Period, about 359.2 ± 2.5 Mya...
calcareous slates, grits and limestone.