The Cornwall Blog

I don’t think we quite realise how many there are in Cornwall. Up and down the county, our wild and rugged scenery, as well as our elegant old houses and gardens, have played an important role in entertaining us for decades. The unsung supporting cast to A-listers, costume dramas and more than a few National Treasures. Where to start? How about the quintessential ‘if walls could talk’ setting of Charlestown. Charlestown Famed for its tall ship harbour, Charlestown near St Austell has long been a favourite with both the small and big screen. The popular series Poldark filmed many scenes here, as did the BAFTA-winning Cornish film Bait (2019). If you cast your mind back a little further, then Doctor Who , The Three Musketeers , Hornblower and The Eagle Has Landed have all made use of this wonderfully atmospheric location too. It is one of those places that barely seems to need a set designer. Bodmin Moor Head up onto the moors and the mood turns a little darker and more mysterious. O...

One of the best things about being in Cornwall is Spring, the flowers tend to open here first and the stunning gardens we have dotted around are full of rhododendrons and magnolia. A sight to behold!  It really is lovely after the destruction of the recent storms seeing these beautiful gardens recover. Pencarrow House and Gardens , just outside Wadebridge, lost a massive 50 mature trees in storm Eunice, so tragic as the gardens are wrapped in ancient woodland and a joy to explore. With a slightly delayed opening, 21st March, the team at Pencarrow are busily getting the gardens ready again for the public to enjoy. Pencarrow really is a Cornish gem, still family-owned the estate is full of ancient history and worthy of an explore. The gardens are a wonderful mix of woodland (where you can just make out an Iron Age fort), the Italian formal gardens which are so peaceful and there's even a secret grotto thought to be a romantic meeting spot! There is a garden trail for the kids and chi...

Trerice  December has got off to a cracking start here in Cornwall, with stunning pink sunrises and burning gold sunsets. There is a different feel to the county in the Winter season, a combination of bracing walks with family and friends, empty beaches and very happy dogs (so many beaches become available to dogs out of season) coupled with the cosiness of traditional pubs and the plentiful craft markets. The Longstore, Charlestown Last weekend I headed to Trerice, a National Trust house near Newquay. Despite being mainly closed for the winter you can go on a guided tour of the house with the conservationists. This is quite fascinating, seeing a different side to the grand operation and hearing the more recent history of this ancient home that inspired the writer of Poldark. learning about the centuries-year-old-clocks and precious paintings was a lovely way to spend a grey day. Most of the National Trust houses have events going on through the winter, the private h...

September is here and its your last chance to make the most of a visit to  Pencarrow House and Gardens . This stunning Cornish Georgian house is open for tours until the 27th of September 2018, the gardens are a little longer, until the end of October. If you haven't visited Pencarrow yet you are in for a treat. It was only recently I took the guided house tour and it really is worth it. This is an ancient family home, still lived in and maintained by the  Molesworth-St Aubyns family and it is full of quirky objects and interesting tales. The guides are great, packing lots of history into a fresh and funny tour. You get to find out about where the Monkey Puzzle tree got its name, scout out secrets doors and see the oil paintings that watch you back! The house has been used for film locations as well over the years, and you can understand why. Every room feels rich with life and layered with stories. Of course Pencarrow is not only about the hou...