| River Menalhyl | |
|---|---|
 River Menalhyl at St Columb Major | |
 | |
| Native name | Dowr Melynheyl (Cornish) |
| Location | |
| Country | England |
| Region | Cornwall |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Nine Maidens |
| • coordinates | 50°28′15″N4°54′36″W / 50.47083°N 4.91000°W /50.47083; -4.91000 |
| • elevation | 150 m (490 ft) |
| Mouth | |
• location | Mawgan Porth,Celtic Sea |
• coordinates | 50°28′0″N5°2′0″W / 50.46667°N 5.03333°W /50.46667; -5.03333 |
| Length | 19 km (12 mi) |
TheRiver Menalhyl (Cornish:Dowr Melynheyl, meaningriver of the estuary mill) is ariver inCornwall, England, that flows through the civil parishes ofSt Columb Major andMawgan-in-Pydar. Its length is about 12 miles and it flows in a generally north-west direction.[1] The name comes from the Cornish wordsmelyn meaning mill andheyl meaning estuary -estuary mills.[2] The name was recorded asMellynheyl in the 19th century, but it had been known asGlyvion.[3]
The source of the river's longest branch is nearNine Maidens, about 2 miles to the north of St Columb,50°26′49″N4°56′35″W / 50.447°N 4.943°W /50.447; -4.943, at a height of approximately 490 feet above mean sea level. The Menalhyl enters the sea atMawgan Porth on the north coast of the county,50°27′54″N5°01′37″W / 50.465°N 5.027°W /50.465; -5.027.
Tributaries to the river include one that rises between the village of Tregonetha andCastle an Dinas, and one whose source is south-east ofTregatillian. A smaller river, fromTalskiddy, 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 asBridge),St Mawgan and Mawgan Porth. Its valley, from St Columb downstream, is called theVale of Lanherne; it is wooded for much of its length and is popular with walkers.[4]
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. Lawry's Mill was a tourist attraction in Victorian times and many postcards were produced featuring the Mill.
The river is fished by anglers, especially in its lower course, and fish species such asbrown trout, sea trout, lamprey, eel and minnow have been recorded.[1]
The bedrock of the catchment area largely consists ofDevonian calcareous slates, grits and limestone.[1]
Media related toRiver Menalhyl at Wikimedia Commons
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