The Cornwall Blog

There is so much to see and do in Cornwall this time of year! Many people see Cornwall purely as a Summer holiday destination, but the magic of a Winter in Cornwall is the moments of beauty that you can have all to yourself. The light is just so spectacular - unwind with a stroll through the Wind and the Willow woods in Lerryn, or perhaps explore Bodmin Moor, or have a wind swept beach all to yourself. The peace and stillness is just so beautiful, however, if you prefer a little more bustle every little town is alight with Christmas markets and entertainment at the moment. With late night shopping, mulled wine and mince pies galore communities come alive this merry season. If you are not lucky enough to call this little piece of England your home, there are some beautiful places to stay. Imagine a country cottage with a farmhouse kitchen, chunky stone walls and cosy log fire! If you want fashionable North coast of Cornwall and 5* luxury you can do no better than Rooke Cottages. ...

  From the 28 November 2015 to 16 January 2016 the renowned St Ives ceramic studio Leach Pottery are hosting an exhibition. Douglas Fitch and Hannah McAndrew present A Love Affair with Clay, these established potters have lectured in Japan and the USA and are presenting their new work. Now partners in marriage as well as ceramics, much to the delight of the pottery community, you can see their shared influences of English pottery. They share their time between Hannah’s studio in a quiet corner of rural Galloway, Scotland, and Douglas’s studio in mid Devon. Hannah loves pots that have a purpose and Douglas decorates his with appliqué decoration or sgrafitto, using traditional slips made from local materials. Founded in 1920 by Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada, the Leach Pottery, St Ives, is among the most respected and influential potteries in the world. Over the last hundred years it has forged the shape of Studio Pottery in the UK and beyond. So for somethi...

There are always so many events going on in Cornwall! People come for the slower pace of life, but I find if you want excitement it is within easy reach. If you are looking for a little culture for this Autumnal month how about the Calstock Jazz Festival? Calstock is a beautiful spot, nestled on the river Tamar on the Devon and Cornwall border. A few Saturdays ago me and my family headed to the National Trust property of Cotehele where there is a gorgeous view over Calstock and the vast viaduct. The Jazz and Blues festival uses some great venues around the little village and is host to some real musical gems. Norma Winstone with The Printmakers, Empirical and Femi Temowo are the headliners but there are acts from Plymouth university, choirs and film. There is also delicious food on offer throughout the village. So close to Plymouth this hideaway festival is always popular. So for a musical treat be sure to make it! Running from the 22nd-25th October 2015. Yo...

Poldark filming Aiden Turner with the second series script If you missed the BBC's remake of Winston Graham novels, Poldark then where were you? Not only was that acting and story excellent but also the set was pretty great too! Like the first series the second is to be filmed across our beautiful Cornwall, and rumour has it filming started a couple of days ago. Heida Reid and  Eleanor Tomlinson filming yesterday The Poldark crew filming at Charlestown for the first series For the first series we saw beautifully lit locations like the rugged Bodmin Moor with Poldark's house being located near St Breward, shots of the historic Charlestown harbour with its tall ships and the coastline of Botallack to Levant dotted with tin mines. Our beautiful beaches like Church Cove and Porthgwarra served as stunning backdrops to dramatic scenes of love and loss. Poldark filming for the first series Eleanor Tomlinson Keep your eyes peeled and you might just ...

Tall ship at Charlestown The cycle trail around Pentewan Historic St Austell The Eden Project If you have ever visited Pentewan you would know what a sweet village it is. Delicious ice creams, great pubs and a beautiful sandy beach, what more could you want! Well from Pentewan Cycle Hire you can rent a bike and explore even more of this great county. There are many routes to choose from, cycle to the traditional fishing port of Mevagissey , or to the world famous Eden Project or even see the tall ships at Charlestown . The Lost Gardens of Heligan Around Pentewan Mevagissey Ideal for a one day hire, see Cornwall from a different angle. They provide a large range of quality bikes and accessories for hire and purchase. There are just so many routes all catering to different levels, all from this beautiful corner of Cornwall. Pentewan Cycle Hire The Pentewan Valley

What gorgeous weather England is having at the moment! Granted in Cornwall we are enjoying our sun with a healthy dose of rain but the summer so far doesn't disappoint. Heading to the coast is always appealing in the heat and in Cornwall no place inland is more than 20 miles from the sea. We have 400 miles of beautiful coastline and no less than 150 miles is marked as Heritage Coast. So with that in mind you can gaze at amazing views, walk the rewarding Southwest Coastal Path, sunbathe or get in the water and have some fun. There are many safe sandy beaches that are perfect for surfing, near us we have Polzeath where you can learn surf or paddle board under the watchful eye of a surf school like Wavehunters. Wavehunters is great for both locals and holiday makers as they have fully trained staff that can take groups or individuals out on the waves and also provide the equipment. They are even set up for those less able-bodied and have a growing reputation. This year...

There is so much of this lovely county to explore - but how about seeing it in style? New Cornish business Cornwall Discovery has just been set up by Barry Pengelly, he aims to give bespoke tours of our diverse county in luxury and comfort.  The beauty of Cornwall Discovery is the flexibility, if you fancy a romantic picnic on the North Coast cliffs to watch the sunset, it can all be arranged. If you want to a tour of ancient churches and structures, a trip can be tailored. Or if you would like to be collected from the airport and discover the moors complete with history and folk tales, your wish is their command!   Barry has just launched his new website full of quirky photographs of some the gems that make Cornwall so special, I particularly like the cows who look wonderfully blow-dried! You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook to see some great snaps of this wild, wondrous and bizarre county.  Where would you go? To book your own tour contact Barry...