Thanks to a certain newspaper offering £9.50 holidays we can take a break each year, none more pleasant than the time we spend in Cornwall. At less than £100 for a family of 5, including insurance and fuel, and with sun, sea and sand beckoning I'm not sure I will ever make it abroad!
**It's a snip!** Each time we have visited we have taken one more child with us, perhaps now it's time to stop going, to prevent the family growing!! Although now, thanks to the wonders of medical science, a pair of scissors, a little anaesthesia, we should face that worry no more, fingers crossed. And to be honest, I think I leave a little of my heart there each time I leave, I could never not return.
Almost an island, Cornwall is 85% surrounded by water - and they're working (digging!) on the other 15%! It has over 200 miles of the most beautiful coastline in Britain - with the wild Atlantic to the west and the English Channel and lively old ports like Fowey to the south, it feels like we left the country along with the worries of living for a few days. I have never seen views quite so scenic, water so blue, and beaches so golden as I have once we've braved the six hour drive.
**What makes Cornwall so special?** I don't exactly live in the city, more a small town. We are less than 45 minutes away from Skegness with it's beaches, funfairs and seaside appeal. It is quite the strangest feeling to yearn for hills when I hate the feeling of riding them, love the greenery when I'm surrounded by it, and reside in a cramped caravan for 4 nights with three kids. The best holiday we had in Cornwall was in May 2004, we all played on Looe beach for 2 days, something which both DH (Darling Hubby) and I said we would never do. Shaded by towering cliffs, with golden sand beneath our toes and the sun shimmering
on the clear blue sea with only a handful of people around, it felt like a mini paradise.
**So, does it rain?** Does it….? Oh my, on our first visit to Crantock Beach in Newquay it was when the "floods" started, I'm thinking at least four years ago. And if I remember correctly it rained solidly from midnight the night we left, until two days after we came home. We were on a cliff top overlooking the sea, and the storms shook the caravan. A little of a nightmare with two young girls in tow!! Still, this is where I gained my second tattoo, at the Atlantic CoastTattoo Studio, right in the heart of Newquay, and also the moment I giggled as I watched a grown man cry at having his ass tattooed. (Which is what I went in for, lol!!)
As the rain hit drizzle occasionally I remember DH wrapping up our eldest daughter, around five then I think, and taking her for a walk to the beach, while I gleefully watched Teletubbies (??!) with our, then, little one. I have it on video still, and she still remembers the two lovely elderly couples being dragged along by their singular kite!!!
We left Newquay two days early, and forever grateful we did. On the way too and from the site you drive down a single lane valley, with few passing places. Either side of the car were moss covered walls, greenery only inches from the mirrors. On the day we left, the water had risen to high ankle height, any longer we would have had to stay!
**Shopping?** The shopping in Newquay bears all the usual high street stores, and a few small shops. It's not until you venture off the beaten track where the real diamond stores appear, where tourism hasn't quite turned this beautiful place into a goldmine. Where you can find hand made treasures and trinkets, watch as fudge is made, glass being blown, and learn the history that surrounds Cornwall itself. We have been away with £50 in our pocket, and with £500. Neither holiday is the most special as each visit holds it's own sparkle.
**Family fun** The fun in and around Cornwall isn't all based on families, there are cider making days, tin mines, museums, historical interest areas, and other adult orientated places. I'm focussing on what we have done, and loved, as 2.4 kids and two very immature adults!!
It was quite by chance we found The Milky Way, and although not strictly in Cornwall, just outside it to be honest, it deserves a little mention. Founded by the Stanbury Family in 1984, there's a truly unique mix of sheer fun, education and live shows which we all enjoyed so much we have been twice so far. I recommended it to friends, who actually went twice in the same year, mainly because He wanted to beat Her at the archery the second time around!!! No-one could resist feeding the livestock, watching the owl or ferret shows, and the indoor adventure playground is a must. This one is ace for overcast or wet days, and reasonably priced too. Less than £30, and you can spend a full day in the alien invasion if you felt the need.
Newquay zoo. Amongst the exotic lakeside gardens live hundreds of animals from all around the world ranging from small rare monkeys to shy red pandas. Look out for meerkats on sentry duty, penguins playing in their pool and glimpse the strange and endangered lemurs and fossa. Explore the rainforest in the zoo's tropical house where you can discover birds, sloth, reptiles, mini beasts and many other fascinating animals in the steamy jungle. The girls enjoyed feeding time talks and the animal encounters where they met keepers and some of the animals.
This award winning zoo is fun for all age groups with plenty of delights for children including the Tarzan trail, a children's play area and the dragon maze. Although it's not a place to find the larger animals, (which is why Colchester holds partial heartstrings), it's certainly a fun day for letting them run riot, and wearing out the little ones. I do think "zoo" is overused nowadays, where maybe "Animal Park" fits more comfortably. Another day
Pictures of Cornwall (England)
Newquay beach
for the overcast weather, don't waste warm days, stay on the beach!!
The Blue ReefAquarium Overlooking the Atlantic this brings to reality the beauty of the oceans. A truly spectacular display for those bored by Newquay beach (How could you????), less than 100 yards off the sand. With the walkthrough tunnel and boardwalks a fish, shark, seahorse, ray or eel is rarely more than 5 feet away. One of the more memorable visits here lays shrine to one of my more embarrassing moments…… Sadly, it was a "you had to be there moment", and I'm sure everyone around me still laughs about me to this day!!
**C is for Cornwall, Cornish pasties, Clotted cream and…. Cider** There are various cider farms around Cornwall, and hopefully we shall one day visit them. With Satan's son in tow I try to relent from the alluring taster days!! Now I love tinned Scrumpy Jack but the fizzy commercial stuff is not a patch on the Cornish farm cider. In bottles of varying sizes, it has a taste of it's own, and is surely a case of "one for now, one for later, one for Tuesday, Wednesday, a couple for Thursday and twenty six for my (ahem!!) work buddies"!!
Cornish pasties are truly the best in their home town, surrounded by the history of the intricate crust designs, and the ample fillings it's hard not to enjoy one straight from the oven. In the days where vegetarians are plenty, most shops even cater to the non meat variety.
Fudge… What's more to be said? Where clotted cream is bountiful, the sweet, crumbly, soft, smooth fudge is just far too good to be left lonely on the shelf. Nothing like the fudges we can buy in this shops, the vanilla strong, not overpoweringly so, all that can be said is "More…. Please!" (Albeit through a mouthful of fudge residue.
**The Royal Cornwall** Prince Charles became Duke of Cornwall at the age of 4 when his mother ascended the throne. At the proclaiming (and 20 years too late!!) ceremony in the 70's he received his feudal dues, which consisted of A pair of white gloves A pair of greyhounds A pound of pepper and of cumin A bow A pair of gilt spurs 100 specially struck silver shillings wood for his fires And a salmon spear (what no partridge in a pear tree??) Who says that the monarchy does not move with the times! ???
**Travelling** It takes time and meticulous planning in our house. We leave around midnight, map in hand, plenty of caffeine, snacks and cigarettes. The kids get wrapped up in duvets, heads on pillows and snore within a few minutes. Map in hand we are on our way, and one of the easiest places to find…. It is really a straight belt down the Motorways - the M5 from Bristol to Exeter Then the A30 which is a fast dual carriageway to Cornwall….
Apart from the first time, DH got lost while I had 45 minutes naptime, and we were suddenly staring at a 12 hour journey, instead of six!!! I only wish I had a clue how he did that!!!?
**I'm told it's sacrilege not to mention the surf?** Newquay…... Home of the British Surfing Association. It has achieved its renown because there are beaches facing in all directions, because there is a good spread of types of surf for all abilities, and because, with the right conditions it has some really excellent breaks . Not that we surf, as immature adults we are a little too rounded, long in the tooth, and petrified to be honest. But it's great to watch, and enjoy. Maybe I should have watched less Jaws movies as a kid??
**Safety in Cornwall** Cornwall has one of the lowest crime rates in the UK. As with all areas though, it's best to avoid temptation, do not leave anything valuable in cars. Keep purses and wallets safe, and children close to you. It's better to be safe than sorry. Being on the Atlantic, the sun can be particularly strong, even on cool and cloudy days, remember the sunscreens, whatever the weather. It was in Cornwall I first discovered I'm susceptible to sun stroke, let alone sun burn!
So the next time you grab your daily paper, and you see these spectacular holiday bargains, remember, there are five people here who just can't wait for our next vacation. Cornwall is only just the wrong side of being abroad and bags of cash less expensive!!
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I'd live in cornwall if there were more jobs. There again commercialisation would ruin it.
Seresecros 01.10.2006 16:16
Excellent review of a beautiful place, background to my favourite-ever holiday last summer.
Risque_Reporter 09.06.2006 18:34
Lovely review. There certainly is something about Cornwall, and I don't just mean the rain. Unfortunately it was stuck in rain mode on the only holiday I had there and it cost us a bit to keep the little ones happy, but when the kids are young, the holidays are the happiest. I imagine it really is heavenly when you get the good weather.
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Advantages: Buses are more frequent than they used to be and new routes have been introduced. Disadvantages: They often break down and aren't waterproof in the rain!
exceptional by (9%):
very helpful by (90%):
helpful by (2%):
