AT this time of year the village of Golant, nestling quietly by the River Fowey and an ideal place for messing around in boats, is approached through a green archway of overhanging trees.

There is only one road into Golant for vehicles, which serves to add to its sense of attractive isolation - somewhere with a wonderful community spirit which remains a waterside 'jewel' for those who happily live there, and those who have been let in on the secret of its existence. Of course there are other ways of approaching the village - both on foot, and by boat. Visitors hiring boats from Fowey in the height of the season are able, at high tide, to reach the moorings at Golant, before having to turn around to return to the estuary.

Golant was open to tourists via the steam engine at one time, the riverside railway being laid in l863. Although originally carrying goods trains only, mainly iron from the Restormel mine, later passenger trains were introduced to the line, with a station built in l896. However, the line reverted again to goods only, mainly china clay from Imerys, in l965 - although the occasional passenger train sometimes runs there on a few special occasions.

Boats dominate Golant. They are moored right up to the road running alongside the river, which is flooded at high tide, and small industries based around them are an essential part of village life. Martin 'Mick' Morgan runs Morgan Marine Engineering on the riverside, which began in l960 and deals with outboard motors, diesels, and repair work - in fact almost anything to do with boats. Mick has been in Golant since l950 when he married a local girl, Pat, and settled down.

Children

A member of the local Marine Watch, which patrols the area regularly to deter boat thieves, he highlighted the success of the scheme.

For 24 years Mick also ran local children to school from Golant to Fowey, and Polkerris to Tywardreath - until he needed heart bypass surgery. By the end of the 24 years he was taking children of the youngsters who had started with him.

'Ike' Fuge runs Fuge Boatbuilders and Repairers, which has been based in its current shed for over ten years, Ike moving there from another workshop. He has been in Golant for 44 years, having also married a local girl - Anita Jane who runs the Foye hairdressing salon in Fowey. At one time he worked for Fowey's Brazen Island shipyard, and was also employed by Daphne du Maurier's husband, General Browning, for two to three years. Later he started carrying passengers at Fowey in the summer, and boat building in the winter. Eventually, when boat building work eclipsed the rest, he dropped anchor working at Golant.

Ike, who is full of praise for wooden craft, has successfully built Troy boats, Falmouth working boats, and a steam boat, as well as a host of other yachts, dinghies, launches etc. He has also restored a large array of boats, including Lord St Levan's royal barge in l992. The barge was initially built in l740, but was left on concrete at St Michael's Mount and required a new bottom and keel.

Also dominating the foreshore at Golant are craft of the Castle Dore rowing club, based in the village. Found near the riverside, as well, is the village pub, The Fisherman's Arms - the building dated 1826. The pub, part of Inspired Pubs Ltd, has been run for three years this July, by Mike and Lesley Moran. They moved there after Mike was made redundant following 25 years in the transport industry, and they decided to turn their hand at doing what had always appealed to them - running an inn.

Since moving to Golant they have been more than impressed by its community spirit, and have happily become involved in all its annual events, such as the village carnival due to be held this year on August 12, and the dilly race, pram race, fireworks display in November and amateur dramatic society.

Golant's pantomime, Ali Baba and the four and a half thieves, played to appreciative houses in the village Reading Room, after Easter. Mike was Nostril the snake charmer, while Lesley was Saffron the slave girl.

The large garden, overlooking the river, at the Fisherman's Arms is an ideal venue for barbecues or live entertainment for regular village events and other evenings, and its cosy bar is a selected meeting place for many of those organising projects, such as the Millennium project - a human sundial on the green, at the opposite end to a children's play area. Mike explained that customer, Phil Reardon, is the fount of many ideas which many others then contribute to. Other plans which have been mooted include a hovercraft and camera obscura.

Fireworks

Mike explained that a group called The Fisherman's Friends, are great organisers, arranging fund-raising events for the traditionally excellent fireworks display. Fun also plays a great part in such events as the dilly race with prams which takes place along the road at high tide, with competitors up to their knees in water, and the raft race with its flour bombs and fancy dress. There is a great deal of local enthusiasm for such regular contests, input coming from people such as Chris Lundy, who is involved in the world of music. Live music and a ram roast will soon be held at the Fisherman's to mark the 21st birthday of Mike and Lesley's daughter, Heather, a flight attendant with GB Airways.

It is hoped the pub will have a darts team underway by the winter, and a chess tournament is already organised. A great draw for the locals, the pub is also visited by many tourists, some walkers along the Saints' Way, others arriving via the river, such as on a canoe expedition from Fowey.

George and Estelle Elworthy have run the Cormorant Hotel, which also has fantastic, peaceful, river views, for five years. Estelle's parents used to be at the hotel's helm, but sold the business in l991. However, after George and Estelle acquired it, they were able to entice them out of retirement for a while. The Cormorant has 11 rooms - all overlooking the Fowey - which can accommodate 22 residents. George, who is the cook, said Golant is a wonderful place in which to bring up a family, he and Estelle having three children, five-year-old Jack who was a trader in the local pantomime, Megan aged four and Hugh aged 18 months.

Local food is used in their dishes, fish from Fowey and organic produce from nearby, as well as strawberries, raspberries from the village.

The Cormorant, built in the l920s as a restaurant, with an extension in the l970s, boasts an impressive stock of wine – at least l00 different wines from around the world.

Pamela Rundle has run Golant's shop and Post Office for 16 years, moving there in l984 from Bodmin with her husband, Terence. At that time it was a single block shed with a tin roof, and they have completely renovated it, also building a flat on the premises where they live, previous owners having to commute. She said great support comes from the villagers, but without the shop people would have to travel a long way for supplies. One downside is that many local homes are becoming holiday lets, which does not help the village, or business.

Radio

Pamela has become quite a celebrity recently, because the road in which the Post Office is sited is officially called Cowshit Lane.

There used to be many farms nearby, and it was the route between the fields and the milking parlours. She said that probably, when planning officers came to detail an application regarding the now closed chapel, they asked a local what the lane was called - and were told in no uncertain terms. Since then the name has officially 'stuck', despite some contention that it is in fact Duck Lane. Pamela has been on both radio and television outlining the story behind it.

Other villagers include Belinda Weatherall, who has owned Belinda's Boutique in Lostwithiel Street, Fowey, for 11 years, helped in the shop by Elaine Elliot. Belinda, and her husband David, moved from Buckinghamshire and love life in Golant.

Belinda stressed it was a great environment for their daughter, Melissa, who is just three and has started playgroup in Fowey, to grow up in. Linette Chasteauneuf and her husband, Paul, moved to the village in October l993, after Paul became smitten with Golant while visiting on holiday, and they decided that the price of houses nearer London were escalating too greatly.

One of the more mature residents of Golant is Wilf Dixon, 93, who still bellrings at St Sampson's church. There are some legends which say that King Mark of Castle Dore, the palace of Cornish kings which lies nearby, visited the church with his wife Iseult. Nothing remains of the original church, most of the building now standing thought to have been built in the 50 years preceding l509, although some is believed to date around 1200. Castle Dore is also renowned for being the site of a Civil War battle in l644, when the Parliamentary army under the Earl of Essex and Lord Robartes made a final stand.

Stars

The chairman of the parish council is Mr Barr, while the clerk is Stuart Young. Details of St Sampsons parish council meetings are placed on view at the Reading Room, presented to the parish by G W Mills of Torfrey in l902, and renovated in l968. Other local buildings are well known for differing reasons. Tucked away by the river is the Sawmills Recording Studios, used by a number of famous recording groups and stars, while also on the river is the Georgian house that now serves as the Golant youth hostel, and is run by Mike and Sandra Freemantle.

Bob Acton's booklet of walks in the area describes how Penquite, as in Penquite House, means 'end of the wood'.

This was the home of Colonel Peard who, while there, was visited by his friend, Garibaldi. Local people from miles around rushed to see the Italian hero, and it was recorded that most of St Austell's shops were shut for the occasion, because everyone had gone to Golant.