The Cornwall Blog

Something a little different! If you haven't visited The Lost Gardens of Heligan then you really should. It is a beautiful garden, well its different gardens really - all mesmerising in there way. The Victorian garden full of borders and interesting plants snugly walled gives way to woodland walks with an emerging giant from the ground. Then you wind your way through the orchard towards a tropical paradise that snakes over the water. So many different hauticultral personalities, there is something for everyone. This December, Heligan can be seen in an entirely different light. Internationally renewed light artist Ulf Pedersen will be transforming the gardens by night with his characteristically colourful displays. Ulf said he wanted to:    “ …transform the act of looking into a physical experience - where audiences frequently find themselves immersed in a sensational play of light and colour as the space metamorphoses into something unique and magical.”  ...

Beer is big business, the popularity of local varieties and interesting brews has meant massive increase of choice for the consumer. This November the popular St Austell Brewery hosts their Celtic Beer Festival deep in its ancient cellars. With almost 200 ales, stouts and lagers to try and many award winning beers, its a key event for those who love the craft.  Best of all 100% of the profits go to the St Austell Brewery Charitable Fund, helping causes across the South West (raising £186,000.00 to date). You'll find the familiar Tribute, Proper Job and Korev as well as some new and limited addition beers to tempt. Entry is £10 which gets you your commemorative glass and some starter tokens and a brochure. The 19th festival will run on the 25th of November with 4 bars and music from great bands both day and night. Find out more at the St Austell Brewery website.

As autumn is making its presence know, Whitewater Gallery presents the 'Copper and Bronze' exhibition. This contemporary gallery can be found both in Polzeath and Port Isaac, on the rugged North Cornish coast. For their latest exhibition you can find exquisite copper plate etching and bronze sculpture by three of Cornwall's leading artists; Sally Spens, Sarah Seddon and Chris Buck. Printmaker Sally Spens studied Fine Art and Textiles at Goldsmiths College, and her hand printed fabric designs are included in the Victoria & Albert Museum's prestigious 20th Century Design Collection. Her delicate hand-printed etchings, are inspired by the patterns and forms of nature and have a rhythmic quality. She shows her designer's eye for line and composition. Sarah Seddon studied Fine Art at University College, Falmouth. Her work is highly figurative, etchings and aquatints of people, places, and found objects. She reflects the depth of detail possible in hand ma...

Its that time again, The Great Cornish Food Festival is back at the Lemon Quay in Truro. Starting on Thursday 22nd September 2017 and running for three days. Cornwall does have its fair share of food festivals, so why is this one so special? It really showcases the best of Cornish food, from the little guy to the brands we love. 40,000 people come every year to the 70 stands for a true taste of our fair county. Nathan Outlaw, whose restaurant has been newly named the best in the UK by the Good Food Guide, will be making his 13th appearance. Expect delicious dishes and demonstrations from local business, chefs, mixologists and producers all on the three stages. You can learn to mix the perfect breakfast martini or crimp a pasty - the proper way. There's enough to fill a day with street food, beers and cosy hot drinks. Pick up a new skill or just enjoy wondering the stalls and see the breadth of what Cornwall has to offer. The festival boasts that all the produce on sal...

As the evenings are drawing in and the light is fading, I thought I'd draw to your attention an exhibition soon to be finishing at the Newlyn Art Gallery. 'A Certain Kind of Light' concludes on the 23rd of September 2017 and has been showcasing Cornwall's relationship with light from the 1950s and 60s to the present day. Six decades of light is celebrated in this major exhibition with artists such as Anish Kapoor, Julian Opie, Roger Ackling and Peter Lanyon. The gallery has been looking at how fifteen artists have responded to light with paintings, sculpture, photography and installations all on display. To mark 10 years of The Exchange being open, artist Peter Freeman has reprogrammed his installation 'Lightwave' which wraps the building in light for the occasion. The light in Cornwall has always been a draw, and it is fascinating to see how varied these artists responses are. Find out more at their website here.

Cornwall is becoming well known as a foodie destination, we have fish as fresh as you can get it and great quality meat, veg and scrumptious cakes. To scoop up the best and really get to know the locals, you can't go wrong with a farmers market. Here are a few you can peruse this month: Bodmin, in the heart of Cornwall have a popular market every 3rd Saturday at Bodmin Nursery (who also have a lovely tea room!) Further north at in the dramatic seaside town of Bude you can get your fresh veg every Friday, 10-3pm out on the warfside. Callington, on the edge of Cornwall has a bustling market every Thursday at their Scout Hut selling anything from apple juice to cakes and meat to fresh cut flowers. Towards the Lizard peninsular, at Constantine every second Saturday of every month you'll find the church hall bustling. This month that's the 12th of August, 9.30-12pm. Devoran , between Truro and Falmouth, has its own farmer's market. This little village...

Welcome to a new way to explore the stories of Cornwall. Much loved theatre company, Kneehigh , have just released a free app to accompany you on your journey of discovery of our ancient county. Artist, poet and writer Anne Marie Murphy took the roads less travelled collecting stories and memories from the people she found along the way, welcome to the wonderful word of Wild Cornwall. She says "The stories on the “Walk with Me” app, aren’t ones you will find in the guide or history books. You may find the beginnings of them in an old photograph in a local museum, an over heard conversation in a café, a personal anecdote from one our tale gathering tea-parties. They are the untold, the personal, the sometimes wildly exaggerated, but sometimes not." The app could be enjoyed at home sitting with your feet up (armchair mode) or while walking around towns like Perranporth, Mevagissey and Newquay - the GPS magically triggers a tale as you explore. Soon new walks w...

June is alive with many a festival, the Royal Cornwall Show to name just one. But this month I want to draw your attention to the Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival. Quite a mouthful but a really charming event in our Cornish calendar. Running from 16th to the 18th June 2017 this festival is a real celebration of community where the whole town comes alive with music. I was a student in Falmouth and the Sea Shanty festival was lots of fun. Now it is one of the largest in Europe with loads of free music all over the town. Falmouth is a gem of a destination festival or not, with a thriving high street, an ample sprinkling of pubs and eateries, the harbour, a castle, the beach! The roots of the festival started in 2003 when a group of singers wanted to keep alive the stories of the Tall Ships and the tradition of performing sea shanties and Cornish songs. The music with its rhythmic beat served to keep the sailers working together as they did their chores at sea. The ...

Godolphin's bluebell woods   One of the things I love about Cornwall is the fact that Spring comes here early and does so vibrantly. May is the best time to take a stroll through the bluebells and we have plenty of places you can enjoy the delicate blue haze of wild flowers. Lanhyrock House and Garden , owned by the National Trust has bluebells a plenty on their 1,000 acres of land. Formally Victorian gardens gives way to ancient woodland worthy of a wonder. Enys Gardens filled with bluebells Enys Gardens near Penryn are a popular spot to see floods of blue, the gardens include a meadow called Parc Lye which is a sight to behold. Heading Camborne way you will find Tehidy , 9 miles of paths and 250 acres of idyllic woodland and lakes. A café and picnic area make this an ideal spot to wile away some time. Another National Trust gem is Penrose Estate near Helston. Boasting the largest freshwater lake in Cornwall, the grounds are beautiful and this time of year the bl...

April is a busy month in Cornwall, the weather is usually pretty good (as it is today). The attractions open up and the coast becomes even more inviting. Barely a month goes by when we are not celebrating our great cuisine, and this month is no different! Here are three events you can enjoy in April in Cornwall. Falmouth Folk and Cider Fayre  14-17 April Falmouth is a great place that I love to visit, but this festival sounds great. Come to the festival and find over 70 ciders to try! Some great folk talent including FolkLaw, Alex Hart, Jonah's Lift, The Other Band and Sarah McQuaid. As well as folk and cider there are of course food stalls, arts and crafts and local fare. Portleven Food Festival 21-23 April Near Helston, this foodie event is quite a draw. There are over 90 stalls of food and craft all along the harbour with great music to complement. All ending in dazzling fireworks! Michelin star chefs will be doing demonstrations, there’s plenty to inspire and a real bu...

You may have seen the recent TV commercials for Chanel 4 's reenactment of the famous Mutiny on the Bounty. Head to Falmouth and you can see an exhibition all about the Cornish born Captain Bligh and his impossible voyage. For those who don't know, Lieutenant William Bligh was the commanding officer aboard the HM Bounty in the Pacific and he was cast a float by a mutiny led by Fletcher Christian in April 1789. Bligh and his men were left to die in a 23-foot boat. He managed to sail across 3600 nautical miles of treacherous water from Tonga to Timor in a remarkable survival story. The National Maritime Museum in Falmouth hosts this exhibition, running from the 17 March - 31 December 2017. You can see some original artefacts, like Bligh's coconut bowl, bullet-weight, horn-beaker and magnifying glass used to light fires. There is also a reproduction of the boat the 19 men squeezed into! This story has been passed down, twisted and romanticised, and the exhibition ...

Way down in Penzance we have Penlee House, internationally renowned for its collection of British art, in particular, from the Newlyn School of artists. It was in 1997 that the gallery received a much needed refurbishment and has consequently become a leading regional museum. This month until the 3rd of June the gallery and museum are running an exhibition entitled 'A Casket of Pearls: Celebrating 20 years of collecting' . You can see how their collections have developed over the two decades with a chance to view fine and decorative art, social history, photography and archaeology. There is also free family fun with drop-in workshops every Saturday from 2.30pm-3.30pm, great to get the kids involved! Oh and you can get a locals pass too. Do check out their website to find out about the Newlyn School of art , fascinating to think in 1884 this little fishing village could count 27 skilled artists among its residents!

Cardinham Woods capture that childhood magic. Just outside Bodmin you can find the beautiful tall trees of this Cornish woodland. There are four walking routes of varying challenges, ideal for taking the dogs or exhausting hyper children. Mountain bikers too flock here for the three clearly marked cycle trails of different difficulties, you can even hire bikes on site (though you do need to book in advance). The highlight for me is the Woods café, delicious home made food and tempting cakes are just what you need after being oh so healthy and tiring yourself out in the fresh air. If you would rather sort your own food then by the river you can find picnic areas and static BBQs, ideal for family or group gatherings. One of the trials, Lady Vale, is pushchair friendly and there is a little play area that kids will love too. You do need to pay for parking but we always find a day at the woods puts a smile on everyone's face! You can find out more about Cardinham Woods...