The Cornwall Blog

North Cornwall has a great variety of accommodation types which mean that it meets the needs of visitors from all over the world and country. A burgeoning form is the boutique bed and breakfast, offering luxuriously appointed rooms in spectacular locations. The region around Padstow lends itself very well to this form of tourism, especially along the banks of the Camel Estuary. The many inlets and coves are full of beautiful scenery and mystery. Heading towards the estuary from St. Issey, halfway between Padstow and Wadebridge, the road ames many turns through the tightly packed hills and little woods. In this farmland you will come across the recently restored Tredore House, a farmhouse bed and breakfast dating back past the middle ages, with a striking Victorian wing. All of their guest rooms have been refurbished to a high standard giving a modern and contemporary feel. Their breakfast room is spacious and well furnished, a great place to eat the delicious food served. ...

The National Maritime Museum Falmouth has been shortlisted for the Telegraph Family Friendly Museum Award – by far the biggest museum award in Britain and the only one judged by families. The winner is picked by undercover family judges visiting the museum anonymously and reporting back on what they find. Kids In Museums are now recruiting families who would like to be judges. All a family needs to do is email award@kidsinmuseums.org.uk and they will be supported through the judging process. It’s free and fun, and gives another reason to spend time at a fabulous local museum! You are, of course, welcome to visit more than one venue too if it coincides with family holidays etc. We will pay reasonable travel costs for any judging families as well as covering your entry fees, if applicable. A few days after your visit, a volunteer would contact you to discuss how things went. It’s great The National Maritime Museum has got this far – and hopefully will get further! The winner...

Everyone at Electric Beach HQ are super excited to announce the return of Electric Beach Festival at Watergate Bay this summer on 31st August. Last year’s sell out festival will again be gracing the sands of the North Cornish coast at Watergate Bay near Newquay. They have an amazing line up of world class acts and local artists playing the one day music event. Iconic R’n’B and dance act SOUL II SOUL are this year’s headliner, bringing their effortlessly fresh beats to the beach. Soul II Soul are a household name in the UK scene, with their hits “Keep On Moving” and “Back to Life” toping the UK and US charts. “Back To Life” has sold over 1 million copies worldwide and featured in the Opening Ceremony for the London 2012 Olympics. One of the founding members Jazzie B, has had international success winning 2 Grammy’s and an Ivor Novello award. He has not only been a part of chart topping Soul II Soul, but has remixed and produced songs for James Brown, Nas and Destiny’s Child to name...

Three days of great bands, tasty food and real ales from all over the South West. This will be the first of hopefully many yearly events that we will be putting together in aid of the Macmillan Cancer trust. At least 18 guest beers and six guest ciders will be on offer, as well as the usual range of award-winning St Austell draughts and a hearty hog roast. Ten bands will perform over the three day festival and there be an opportunity for budding musicians to get on stage in between acts for open mic sessions. Music will start at 12pm and go through until 10pm on the Friday and Saturday and 8pm on the Sunday. The lineup is as follows, with more acts set to be announced: Friday 21st June Johanna Graham Ensemble – Jazz
 Ten Bob Notes – Ska
 The Dirty Living Rhythm Band – Rock
 Adam Parfitt – Acoustic
 Walkabout's open mic night head honcho! Saturday 22nd June Sinpusher – Rock
 Four Minds Combined – Hip Hop Fusion Sunday 23rd June Out of Context – Acoustic
 Tayl...

Argentina’s finest and award-winning tango vocalist, Martín Alvarado, will be performing in Cornwall for the first time as part of his 25th international tour in June. His performance, at Carnglaze Caverns, near Liskeard, on Sunday, June 9, at 6pm, will see the award-winning singer accompanying himself on acoustic guitar in true tango troubadour style in his show “Así es mi tango” (So this is my tango). Alvarado has been touring internationally almost constantly for the past ten years, performing at major venues and festivals – but this will be the first time he has ever performed in a cave! “It will certainly be a different venue for me,” he said, joking. “I am wondering if I may need to wear gloves and a scarf!” The old slate mine caverns at Carnglaze, which have a constant year-round temperature of 10C (the audience is advised to bring warm clothes), were chosen by his promoter, L Tango Promotions, because of their superb natural acoustics. Alvarado’s UK and Europe mana...

Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose will be holding its Air Day on Wednesday 24 July 2013, after a one year break following the Olympics and a new runway. The event is back on the Cornish Event Calendar after a gap in 2012. It will be an opportunity for the general public to experience the sights, sounds and smells of one of Europe’s largest helicopter bases. The public will be able to meet those who have served on frontline Squadrons, supporting the Royal Navy all over the world. The organisers of this year’s event are already working hard to make it a day to remember and The Red Arrows’ have confirmed their attendance, underpinning what should prove to be a spectacular Air Show plus all the other events occurring around the Air Station. As well as an exciting, action-packed flying display, there will also be lots of things to see, touch and try on the ground. Visitors can climb onboard aircraft, be “scrambled” on a search and rescue mission, be winched high int...

I was not aware that framing a picture is an artform all of its own, but take a look at any badly framed photo or painting, and you will see what I mean...  Stable Art in Bodmin, Cornwall, provides an excellent framing service which I can recommend from experience, they have framed some beautiful prints for me with the end result looking very professional and chic. They have also framed some artwork that my husbands graphic design studio produced which really compliments the piece and is now proudly displayed on their walls. Stable Art are not just picture framing, they also have an extensive range of art supplies. The shot above shows a corner of their stock which includes Unison, Daler Rowney, Conte, Derwent and Voltaire along with pencils, pastels, graphite, charcoals and drawing pads... The list really could go on! When you visit Stable Art you will see their beautiful extension which has enabled them to expand their art material selection, above you can see some of thei...