Polbrock Bridge

Rich and Lush

The Camel River matures through various phases. Rock grinding down to pebbles and then coarse sand, silt coming off the agricultural hinterland.

This part of the river is deeper in places and more sophisiticated. The surrounding woodland gradually gives way to an area of wetland, not quite marsh but something close to it. The river meets different influences and matures gradually.

The wetland is perpetuated by floods at times. At Polbrock but noticeably at Pendavey Bridge the river level can be swelled by big tides pushing up from the open sea at Padstow.

Anneka's Bridge approaching Wadebridge

The closer to Wadebridge the more open the land and the broader the Camel River becomes.

Life for the river now encompasses much more than it ever did before. It is a source of leisure but also entering an aspect where, it was a major part of commercial life for this area, long before the railway and very much before the time of the Trail which bears its name.

Wadebridge was historically a port which served a hinterland which had no river transport.

If you started your experience of the Camel at its source this is where you will see the most noticeable changes develop.

Mullet and Sea Bass can be seen in the river here as they move upriver with the salt water on a rising tide. The sea trout and salmon will continue further upstream.