When being told I was going on holiday to Charlestown in Cornwall, I decided to use it as an opportunity to visit some caves I found and wasn’t allowed to enter in 2012. However it turns out these caves were deeper than I thought and I had no light with me(explains the quality of the first few pics) then I came back and noticed wooden supports that made me believe it was a mine. But after some research it turns out these tunnels were constructed to supply water to Charlestown harbour during the 19th century and were known as “leats“. The water came from Luhey are believed to be 4-7 miles long depending on your sources and I didn’t even get that far.
The first tunnel
There were three entrances to the leats, one too flooded and the other 2 were the ones I visited. I started with the middle one and took my shoes off to walk through the small floodings and eventually passing under quite a bit of water streaming from the ceiling. Once past this stream, you reach the mine-like supports and follow the tunnel, past a bricked off section, and carry on until there’s a collapse. However, you can pass the collapsed supports and carry on, even once the floor turns into mud. There are less flooded bits but when there are they’re brown and deeper. Plus the tunnel is tighter, the floor is muddier, and it doesn’t seem to end. After going through here for ages I decided to turn back when I realised someone else with a light was back down the bit I already done. I considered carrying on but couldn’t bother. I then climbed back over the collapse and spoke to some kids who were holding the light and saw me come in. We then proceeded to explore the other tunnel.
The Muddier tunnel
So after making our way back to the beach and entering the other tunnel, we walked down the seemingly less flooded place that, instead of rock, had what appeared to be mud walls. But this tunnel comes to a sudden pause next to a step with the small amount of flooding water pouring down it into a deeper flooded section. To the right of the steps is a brick wall; I believe this is connected to the brick wall in the other tunnel I mentioned. Once down the steps, the flooded tunnel soon became briefly lined with more wooden supports and wooden walls before the tunnel carried on. We soon reached what appeared to be the end of the journey; a collision blocking the rest of this tunnel. There were ways through this but there was another collision last that one and we did not what to risk it. However there was a small set of steps to the right which came to a doorway blocked by a wooden panel. Looking through the slits between the wood and the doorway, you can see tourists and people walking on the harbour. I couldn’t get any decent pictures of it but it was still pretty fun to trace the entrance from outside.
The first tunnel
There were three entrances to the leats, one too flooded and the other 2 were the ones I visited. I started with the middle one and took my shoes off to walk through the small floodings and eventually passing under quite a bit of water streaming from the ceiling. Once past this stream, you reach the mine-like supports and follow the tunnel, past a bricked off section, and carry on until there’s a collapse. However, you can pass the collapsed supports and carry on, even once the floor turns into mud. There are less flooded bits but when there are they’re brown and deeper. Plus the tunnel is tighter, the floor is muddier, and it doesn’t seem to end. After going through here for ages I decided to turn back when I realised someone else with a light was back down the bit I already done. I considered carrying on but couldn’t bother. I then climbed back over the collapse and spoke to some kids who were holding the light and saw me come in. We then proceeded to explore the other tunnel.
The Muddier tunnel
So after making our way back to the beach and entering the other tunnel, we walked down the seemingly less flooded place that, instead of rock, had what appeared to be mud walls. But this tunnel comes to a sudden pause next to a step with the small amount of flooding water pouring down it into a deeper flooded section. To the right of the steps is a brick wall; I believe this is connected to the brick wall in the other tunnel I mentioned. Once down the steps, the flooded tunnel soon became briefly lined with more wooden supports and wooden walls before the tunnel carried on. We soon reached what appeared to be the end of the journey; a collision blocking the rest of this tunnel. There were ways through this but there was another collision last that one and we did not what to risk it. However there was a small set of steps to the right which came to a doorway blocked by a wooden panel. Looking through the slits between the wood and the doorway, you can see tourists and people walking on the harbour. I couldn’t get any decent pictures of it but it was still pretty fun to trace the entrance from outside.
. Luckily I managed to get the pics to upload this time though
