_{Looking up the Helford River}

---

THE WALK

Easter Sunday the sun was forecast to shine and the Helford River walk in Pathfinder’s Cornwall Outstanding Circular Walks just sounded really appealing. We had been walking a lot on Bodmin Moor recently so this was going to be a nice contrast.

---

MAP

ORDNANCE SURVEY – Route planner map of today’s walk

We use the Ordnance Survey route planner app for iPhone/iPad to create all our walks these days ….. the GPS accuracy is amazing ….. especially useful when the paths just disappear!

---

PHOTOS

---

SUMMARY

I was right, this walk was very ‘nice’ and the total opposite of the type of walk we would usually choose. Our favourite walks tend to be a lot more ‘rugged’, either on the Granite Tors of Bodmin Moor or on Cornwall’s North Coast.

Photography is also a big part of a walk for me and this sort of walk has nothing to inspire me I’m afraid ….. again it’s just far too ‘nice’.

However, even after those negative comments, I think it’s still fantastic that Cornwall can offer such a huge variety of walks to suit all moods or tastes.

And it really was a ‘nice’ day out!

---

STATISTICS

GARMIN FENIX 5X – Activity tracker data of today’s walk

It’s interesting, and quite comical at times, to compare the Garmin data with the Ordnance Survey route and time predictions. Quite often we stop to take photo’s, admire the views, get sidetracked or even get lost…..yes occasionally even GPS loses the signal and can temporarily point us in the wrong direction….so the route is usually quite different and quite a bit longer at the end of the day!

---

PHOTO EQUIPMENT

IPHONE 11 PRO MAX: With it’s new three lens system and now waterproof the iPhone Pro Max is a perfect companion on our walks for selfies, panoramas, videos and to view our Ordnance Survey route planner maps.

For all the ‘serious’ photographs my all time favourite walkabout camera combination is the Sony A7R and Sony’s super lightweight 28mm lens.

SONY A7R – Fantastically specified and so small and light

SONY 28MM – Perfect walkabout lens – uncomplicated and also amazingly light

---

PHOTO TIP

I don’t want to have to think too much about camera settings on these walks so I have configured the Sony A7R’s Custom 1 option as follows: Manual Focus / Aperture f11 / Auto ISO / Continuous Bracket 5 Images 0.7 stop. I set the lens to a Hyperfocal Distance of around 2.35M then fix it with some surgical tape along the bottom of the lens. Now I have everything in focus from 1.35M to Infinity.

The resulting 5 images can either be used for Auto Aligned HDR or I can use a single image, usually the one with the best exposed highlights ….. clouds are normally the trickiest to get right. I like gritty images so when the ISO creeps up I don’t really have an issue with the results ….. it can often add to the atmosphere of a Black & White image …. the ease of use those settings give me far outweighs any image downside!

---

REFERENCES

ORDNANCE SURVEY – We always use their iPhone/iPad route planner app to create our walks and to check out any car journey routes. Can’t go walking without GPS these days ….. love it!

MET OFFICE – Used on every walk for weather information. An invaluable tool in planning what gear to take.

---

LINKS

For Information on the Helford River click here: INFO: HELFORD RIVER

For Information on Manaccan click here: INFO: MANACCAN

To view the full Blog list click here: PIKTOUR: BLOG

To go to the Home Page click here: PIKTOUR: HOME

---

CATEGORIES & TAGS