The Cornwall Blog

Travelling to the Lizard is like experiencing the old Cornwall, you feel your troubles melt away and the beauty of this coast really hits you. A favourite beach of mine, and many others, is Kynance Cove. There's stacks of stones and silky sand, with a hidden beach revealed at low tide -  and a tasty cafe all making this a must visit. The walk down from the carpark (National Trust) allows you to really appreciate the ancient coastline. Such a dramatic vista, it is stunning whatever the season. Of course this stretch of Cornwall is more than just one beach. Hidden coves frequented by smugglers and pirates are a plenty, and quaint fishing villages too. Coverack is just such a place, so steeped in history. If you are looking for perfectly restored Cornish cottages to while away some vacation time then Lizard Holiday Cottages are a real gem. In Coverack they have four self-catering cottages all with sea views and right in the heart of the village. It's just what you...

A recent trip to Marsh Villa Gardens in Par made me think I should highlight the beauties of this part of Cornwall. Although right on my doorstep, I hadn't properly visited Marsh Villa gardens until the recent Bank Holiday. It worked out really well, its such a peaceful garden owned by a lovely family. They took over the three acre plot in the Eighties and have transformed the over grown valley into a tranquil paradise. I went with my dad and we meandered around the paths before the sun got too hot. This was the creek mentioned by Daphne du Maurier in 'House on the Strand'. You can help yourself to home made cake for a couple of pounds but we went just further along the road to the popular Yummy Scrummy Bakery. They do marvellous pancakes and as the name suggests, yummy cakes. I often meet friends here for breakfast but today it was a smoothie and cake. Par has a wide and windswept beach that I think is often over looked. Granted, at one end you have ...

Originally published in April 2018. This article records plans for Stable Art’s move from Bodmin town centre at that time. In 2018, Stable Art announced plans to leave its premises in the centre of Bodmin and move into a former chapel just outside the town. The building was undergoing a substantial renovation, creating new premises for the business’s bespoke picture framing and expanding collection of art materials. Stable Art had become known locally for framing pieces of many different shapes and sizes, alongside a wide selection of ready-made frames and artists’ supplies. The plans for the new premises also included exhibition space and room for art and craft workshops. The chapel’s peaceful setting and distinctive arched windows promised a very different home from the original town-centre shop.

Today is a particularly stunning Spring day in Cornwall. Birds are singing, the sun is shining and the air is perfectly crisp. If I wasn't sitting here typing away I think I would like to be on my bike heading down the Pentewan Cycle Trail. We have a few of these in Cornwall and it really is a great way to see the countryside and coast. The Pentewan Cycle Trail takes in the wonderfully varied south Cornwall with shorter flat routes through the valley to more challenging routes to some of Cornwall's most famous sites. Pentewan village is lovely with a beach, pub, cafe. Its quiet and charming and there you will find Pentewan Valley Cycle Hire. They offer bikes to rent for or for sale at reasonable rates for adults and children, with hybrids and accessories available. One of the most popular routes on from Pentewan is to the fishing village of Mevagissey. Quintessential Cornwall with fish and chips and olde worlde pubs! Watch the fishing boats bob around in the harbo...

Originally published when Bromleighs was based in Cornwall. The company has since moved to Wales. Most of what catches my eye as I peruse the internet involves interiors. There is something about creating a home that I find inspiring. In Cornwall, many of our beautiful houses boast more than just great interiors. They also have stunning views. The standard seaside cliché is not the only option when it comes to interior design. The bones of a house may be an old fisherman’s cottage, a ramshackle barn, a 1930s Art Deco dream by the sea or an uncompromising modern minimalist box. Step inside, however, and a completely different narrative can be revealed. I always value interiors with integrity, especially when every detail has been thought through. From the light switch you turn off at night to the plug socket you use to charge your phone. At the time this article was written, Bromlei...

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.”  ...

Archive note: This article was first published in November 2017. The event details, prices and fundraising figures below relate to that year. Beer had become big business, with the popularity of local varieties and more unusual brews giving drinkers an enormous amount of choice. In November 2017, St Austell Brewery hosted its popular Celtic Beer Festival deep within the brewery’s historic cellars. With almost 200 ales, stouts and lagers available, including many award-winning beers, it promised to be quite an event for anyone who enjoyed discovering something new. Visitors could expect familiar favourites such as Tribute, Proper Job and Korev, alongside new and limited-edition beers created especially for the occasion. Best of all, the profits went to the St Austell Brewery Charitable Trust, supporting causes across the South West. At the time of the festival, the event had helped to raise £186,000. Entry t...