The Cornwall Blog

For this month's blog story I wanted to share some of the great places in Cornwall where you can meet animals. From sanctuaries and farms to wildlife parks, they all have education and conservation at their heart. These are just a few of the places we love to visit in Cornwall... Paradise Park, Hayle Located in Hayle in West Cornwall, Paradise Park is a firm family favourite. It's great for kids, with a little train, soft play and a lovely array of colourful birds and small animals to see. All in all, a fun family day out. Newquay Zoo This little zoo has a real passion for conservation and you can really see how much the team love their animals. Zebras, sloths, penguins, red pandas and brown hyenas are just a few of the animals you can see. Cornish Seal Sanctuary, Gweek A firm favourite, the seals are such characters! It's best for a dry day as most of the sanctuary is outside, and it's more than just s...

Despite the rather undulating nature of Cornwall, discovering our county by bike is a really great way to explore. Whether you fancy mountain biking through the forest trails at Cardinham Woods or a gentler pace, stopping to enjoy the estuary views towards Padstow on the Camel Trail, there is something for everyone. Here are a few of our favourites. Cornwall’s cycle routes can be enjoyed throughout the year. Autumn is particularly lovely, with quieter trails, crisp mornings and changing colours, while spring and summer bring longer days. Whatever the season, it is worth checking the weather and trail conditions before setting out. Lanhydrock and Cardinham Woods The Lanhydrock estate, just outside Bodmin, has some lovely trails specifically reserved for bikes. They are suitable for different abilities and can be great for all the family. You can find current information about outdoor activities and cycling at Lanhydrock on the National Trust website. ...

There are few things better than taking to the sea on a stunning Cornish sunny day. It won't surprise you to hear that up and down the county we have a multitude of ways that you can enjoy the vast waters that wrap around Cornwall. From spotting dolphins to picnics at sea, or perhaps something for those who have a need for speed or for those who simply want to mess about on the river, catching fish. Let's start tranquil, what could be more beautiful then a picnic on the River Fowey . This area is my neck of the woods and it truly is lovely. You decide where you might like to go with 'Sunbeam', a 1930s 20 foot classic wooden motor boat. Bring your own picnic or they can provide one for you. An afternoon tea amongst the kingfishers - glorious.  So how about wildlife-spotting, here we really are spoilt for choice, at Padstow perhaps book Padstow Sea Safaris , an experienced team doing there very best to show you the likes of dolphins, puffins and seals.   In Looe harbour ...

Things to Do in Padstow: A Local Guide If you mention places to visit in Cornwall, Padstow is never far from the conversation. This little harbour town attracts plenty of visitors, particularly in summer, but there is a good reason for that. With the Camel Estuary on one side and the north Cornish coast on the other, you have food, beaches, walking, cycling and boat trips all within easy reach. Of course, Padstow has become famous for its food too. Rick Stein helped put the town firmly on the foodie map, but these days there is a whole collection of places to eat and drink, from fish and chips by the harbour to rather special dinners. So, if you are planning a day or a few days in Padstow, here are some of our favourite things to do. Explore Padstow Harbour The harbour is really the heart of Padstow and probably the best place to start. Fishing boats still work from here alongside yachts, pleasure boats and the little ferry crossing the estuary to Rock. Grab a coffee, wande...

Rick and Jill Stein announce an exciting new grill menu at St Petroc’s Bistro in Padstow. Rick Stein’s Mediterranean-style bistro is now expanding its menu to incorporate three new grill dishes, including an 8oz sirloin steak with pommes coq d’or, 12oz rump steak with tomato, mushrooms and thin cut chips and a special 16oz Chateau-briand for two to share. St Petroc’s Bistro has always served simple, classic bistro dishes, offering a mixture of both seafood and meat options. In addition to the new grill menu, signature dishes such as the Parmigiana di melanzana, whole grilled lemon sole with mushrooms and brown shrimps, and escalopes of salmon with sorrel sauce will still be available. Head chef at St Petroc’s Bistro, Paul Harwood, comments: “We’re really happy with the new steak dishes. We’ve sourced a really high quality Aberdeen-Angus with Charolais cross for the new grill menu, well-known for being tender, succulent and full of flavour. “Our rib-eye steak proved so popular...

Visitors from far and wide winter in and around the estuary that stretches from Wadebridge to Padstow. They can be seen all along the well known Camel Trail, and if you want a close, clear, colourful view of these valued visitors, the best time is at low tide with the mid-afternoon sun at your back. They of course are waders, wildfowl, gulls and an array of other exotic species that we are privileged to have an acquaintance with at this time of year. Above you can see a shot of a Little Egret that I took on a journey to the waterside last Winter. My last visit was rewarded with a spectacular view of a kingfisher. It flew diagonally across the estuary, straight towards me and my wife, and suddenly stopped mid-air and hovered, like a Kestrel at the side of a motorway. We've often seen this little wonder but usually as it flashed by. This time with the sun behind us and in a hovering position he/she lit up like a rainbow. What a wonderful moment! There are many rewarding moments along...

In October 2008, Padstow Contemporary Art Gallery opened its Autumn Exhibition, featuring work by Gareth Edwards, Simon Gaiger and resident artist and curator John O'Carroll. The gallery was tucked away in an atmospheric alleyway in the centre of Padstow. A few days after the exhibition opened, all the design team from Pickle Design went along to the private viewing, eager to see John O'Carroll's new work alongside the gallery's regular exhibitors. There was a warm atmosphere within the small exhibition space, welcoming as we stepped in from the crisp autumn darkness. The image above is Damascus by Gareth Edwards, which was hung upstairs. His work in the lower gallery evoked the Camel Estuary, and the choice of media gave it the impression that it had formed wonderfully from the boatyards and sands. Simon Gaiger's sculpture drew on nautical mythology. Especially memorable was Charybdis , based on the spokes of a carriage wheel an...