The Cornwall Blog

I love local pottery, there is something quite wonderful about driving around Cornwall and discovering a maker's sign beside the road. It doesn't have to be pottery, I am intrigued by anything home or hand made. I just love the happenstance of it, I'm naturally nosey I guess, I want to peer in.   There is such a wealth of ceramics in Cornwall, our historic ties go way back. After all we have produced tonnes of China Clay for the world, a key ingredient in porcelain (you can find out more at the Wheal Martyn Museum). Perhaps the best known name in Cornwall might be Leach Pottery, associated with St Ives and that famous light, starting in the 1920s. Then of course there is Cornish Ware - not actually made in Cornwall - but associated with our sea and sky with its bold and bright blue brush strokes. I prefer, however, pottery that has the maker's marks more visible. I like pieces that feel like they could have been forged from the very ground. With glazes that are somewher...

Summer is in full swing and the weather is cooperating, hooray! Cornwall really does look its finest when the sun smiles down on us.  There are of course some really great places to stay when coming to Cornwall from quaint cottages and hotels to rustic fields where you can pitch your tent, but I think with so much on offer it can be nice to have the freedom to roam around.  I thought I would highlight today the wonderful 'Pip', a vintage T2 VW van, lovingly restored and available for holiday hiring. Wild and Free Cornish Campers really know how to make a memorable holiday, I mean there is just something about sea, sun, waves and camper vans! This year saw the return of the much loved Run to the Sun Festival in Newquay which featured a plethora of camper vans all in one place. The love for these classics is still very much alive. With our Pip you can find those retro vibes a plenty, (but with a few mod cons) creating a truly memorable experience, the perfect travelling holida...

One of my closest beaches is the postcard-perfect Readymoney Cove at Fowey. A favourite of mine for its charm, to me this beach is the perfect family spot with a tiny but well stocked shop selling delicious ice creams and crafty keepsakes. There is a handy loo too and a quirky structure that provides shelter when the weather is less obliging, with a grassy roof complete with turrets giving a sandcastle feel. An idyllic spot to sit and gaze at the sea.  Up until recently I had mainly been here on winter days (see my photos above), where a mug of hot chocolate was gratefully purchased. We sheltered under the covered terrace and watched the brave swimmers charge fearlessly into the freezing sea. However my most recent trip was a spontaneous thing, I had an hour spare and the sun was warm and my mum keen, so we headed to Fowey in search of ice cream with a perfect view. Parking in the carpark up the hill we walked down the little path flanked by wild flowers and swaying grass. When you...

It totally feels like summer is here! Something I love doing in the summer months is enjoying one of the outdoor events available across the county. We have amphitheatres and beaches offering outdoor theatre and cinema, as well as county houses and gardens serving up fab live entertainment in the most beautiful surrounds.  I really like the events Pencarrow House and Garden host, between Bodmin and Wadebridge their events calendar is always immense fun, and in the most tranquil of surroundings. This summer there is plenty to see, the Summer Craft Fair 20th - 21st July is shaping up to be a really beautiful selection of stalls and sellers.  With the backdrop of the Italian gardens you can also enjoy Beauty and the Beast (31st July), The Upbeat Beatles (8th August) and Live Queen Experience (9th August) followed by From Penzance to Broadway on the 21st Aug.  These events are always great enjoyable - with something for everyone. You can bring your own picnic and dr...

View from our apartment to Flushing After just having a lovely weekend away in Falmouth with my mum, I thought I would share some photos and thoughts with you here today. Returning to a place you have once lived is rather strange. There’s that sense of home, like something of this place is yours and always will be, but also the reminder that time moves on, that others have come and claimed and left their mark. It was about 18 years ago I was an art student here, so returning as a full grown-up was a lovely but strange thing to do.  Of course I have had many a day trip over the years and visited friends but our lovely long weekend helped me more readily soak up the new atmosphere. My main impression of how Falmouth has changed is that it has become a bit more cool and a bit more foodie-focusesed. There was of course the arty air before, creativity and independence proudly worn on its sleeve, but as with a lot of Cornwall (my neighbouring Fowey for instance) there are restaurants gal...

What we refer to as 'clay country' in Cornwall is the rugged landscapes that sits above St Austell. A landscape that has been mined and carved since the early 18th century. The richness of this landscape was discovered by William Cookworthy, and the fine white china clay is still mined today. There's a hotchpotch of villages with tight-nit communities where rugged hills provide far-reaching views and dug out valleys provide pools of turquoise waters.  After a stunning drive through these villages on a sunny day I wanted to delve a little deeper into the history, and what you can do here. When we first moved to Cornwall over 20 years ago, my dad joked that the little clay mound seen from many vantage point was my mum's 'mountain'. She had always wanted to live near mountains, and it seemed finally she would be! This relatively little mound is part of the legacy of an industrial past, but it's the glistening water-filled pits that really catch the eye on a sun...

Cornwall is a county famed for its coasts, on its highest points you can see the waters stretch from both north and south, as far as the eye can see. But I thought this month I would consider a different kind of water, as well as the salty waves that crash our shores, Cornwall is also home to some beautiful lakes. Still, serene but if you want it, fabulous active fun. One I often frequent, mainly because of the very tasty cafe on site, is Siblyback lake on Bodmin Moor. As you drive down the little road to enter this tranquil spot you are treated with a great view of the lake, actually a man-made reservoir. The sun hits the waters and shines silver bright, often in the fields surrounding you can find those fabulous hairy cows I am so fond of.  Truth be told this is a popular spot, at least at the entrance, so you are sure to find plenty of families making the most of the fresh air, play park and those afore mentioned fabulous cafe treats.  Olive & Co have a refreshing menu...