Are you looking for a surfing or beach holiday where you can relax without the swarms and swarms of tourists buzzing around you making you feel like you're in a panic room. We've all been to beaches like this where one has about 1cm3 of sand to yourself where you can maybe possibly lie down. What if you want to build a sandcastle or something? And that's not to mention the sea. If you wanting to go surfing or bodyboarding in a crowded sea then you may as well forget it, for there is about 100% chance that someone will get in your way. I get that even where are only a few people there, but when there are hundreds and hundreds of people all jampacked like sardines in one confined area. It doesn't even bare thinking about. It's all pointless and is a complete waste of time, more so when there are still a few beaches where there are about 20 people at the most, and hell the beach I surf at doesn't even have a proper car park.
To go alongside your beach holiday do you want somewhere you can stay in a beautiful, unspoilt area where the traffic is down to a bare minimum? Do you also want somewhere where the nearest surfing beach is a 5 minute walk from your cottage (1 minute in a car)? I've found the perfect place for you...
Near Bude, right in the northern reaches of Cornwall is where you want to head. It's a small,
but immensely pretty valley secluded amongst trees where there are 8 cottages all looked after and cared for by the Landmark Trust ( a Trust who rescue and restore old and historic buildings for one to stay in. Visit their website if you're interested). These cottages range from having accomodation for 4 people to 6 people. The cottages are not that far away from each other and in two cases there are cottages joined onto another one. So if you're a vrey private person then maybe it isn't the best choice for you. Each one is carefully furnished and done-up to make it feel as homely and comforting as you could ever want it. They are comfy and cosy, but not luxurious. They will be better than a bog-standard B&B or hotel, but compared to a rich bloke's mansion it is fairly modest. However if you are a bit set back by the interioir then go out and admire the exterior. Not every cottage has it's own garden so-to-speak, but each has some area which it owns - like a terrace or a tiny plot of land where there is usually a outdoors bench so you can eat your meals out in the cool and refreshing air. There are two meadows for communal use for everyone - one has apple trees, so you can have apple crumble (or something like that) every evening in summer.
One of the big attractions of the valley is the smalll stream which runs through it. It can range from a trickling brook to a raging torrent! The one feature of the river which will attract all the kids (and maybe all the parents) is the ropeswing which dangles over the stream, hung from a branch high up. For young children it is great fun, although as you get older it gets more and more painful.
Another great advantage of the valley is the sense of community. As I have said the cottages are all quite close together and so you are all in there together, but certainly from my experience you don't actually see as much of your neighbours as one might think. But anywhere it's a great way of getting to know people and making friends and if you want you can take your whole family down and book up as many cottages as you want!
Well, that's the rough overview of the valley. About 1/4 mile away is a beach called Duckpool which, most of the time, has ideal waves for surfing or bodyboarding and one of the best things about this beach is that apart from on weekends and bank holidays it is really rather empty in beach standards. If you go out of season then it is usually empty. The beach itself isn't big, but it's certainly very picturesque and compared to the beaches up north it is positively heaven-like. If you want a bigger beach with lifeguards then just drive two mile down the coast and you will come to Sandymouth, a much larger expanse of seashore and sand, where one can still surf and bodyboard, the advantage of doing this at Sandymouth is that there are coastguards to help you if you are in any danger or difficulty.
If you are a walker then there are numerous cliff walks to do around the area and it has to be said that the coastal terrain and views around the area are some of the finest in Britain. Indeed about 5 miles down the coast you will come to the highest cliffs in Cornwall. There are three cliff walks I strongly recommend: 1. Duckpool to Morwenstow 2. Duckpool to Bude 3. Hartland to Duckpool - if you're feeling energetic.
If you like shopping (umm, why did you come to Cornwall then) there is a town called Bude which, although not big has a superb collectio of shops and has many shops one would not expect in such a place. It has many good antique shops, bookshops and surf shops as well as a gun shop which sells air rifles! There is also Kilkampton which is closer to home which will stock you up on food if you are running low.
If you're into Church architecture then there are a great amount of churches to look round: 1. Launcells Church 2. Kilkhampton Church 3. Morwenstow Church 4. Week St. Mary's Church .... The list goes on. If you go to Kilkhampton Church look at the bench ends!
If you want a good 'ol Cornish cream tea then look no further than Morwenstow Rectory tea rooms which does a superb cream tea and lunch if you want it. Morwenstow is only 5 minutes away. There is also the Bush Inn right next door to the Tea Rooms which does a very nice evening meal, but if you really wnt to splash out on something big and delicious go to Life's A Beach in Bude - go and see what I mean!
It has to be said that there is almost anything you could wish for around this area in Cornwall. If you're a beach person who is an admirer of beauty and scenery, loves church architecture, cream teas, going out for evening meals, and who loves meeting and making new friends, then heck there's no better place to go. My family have been going to this place every summer since 1990 and we recommend it with the utmost degree.
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I love the way you have portraid Duckpool, one of myy favourite places
. We go there a lot especially out of season, The girls walk the local footpaths and have picnics by the stream, playing on the roap swing.
We have a chalet at Penstowe, so it is our nearest beach. I can recommend Lifes a Beach too, it is fabulous, on cliffs above the sands. The food is brilliant. Very well written, everyone should go there once.! elinor
ldvda 03.08.2006 23:02
i've all wanted to go to cornwall but have never been
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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!
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