Those lead mine spoilheaps are of great interest to us botanists. Certain species of flowering plants that are resistant to heavy metal soil pollution thrive in such places though they are rare elsewhere. We have a favourite walk that starts at Pentireglaze farm near Polzeath, passing round the Rumps peninsula and ending up with the long downhill stretch to Polzeath. Before we set off we have a picnic at the nearby Leadmines car park, surrounded by nature-reclaimed spoil heaps and with a glorious view across the Camel estuary and the Doom Bar.