What a great week! We’ve had a wonderful five days in Cornwall with Nick, Lucy & Annabelle – wonderful on a variety of scores: we got to spend five days with some of our very favourite people in an idyllic forest setting, we got to visit some places we’ve wanted to see for years as well as rekindling some memories from visits in days gone by and, perhaps best of all, we were in a WiFi and cell phone black spot and so were able to avoid five days’ worth of nonsense in the general election campaign. Win, win, win!
Nick and Lucy had booked a week’s break during the school half term – now that Bubble is a budding scholar, they are restricted to taking their holidays during the school break. They booked a cabin in the midst of Deerpark Forest in Cornwall (just a few files from Looe and Polperro) and very kindly invited us to accompany them.
The place is run by Forest Holidays and this location, in the midst of a wooded area on the edge of an ancient millpond, was idyllic. The cabins are very well appointed and ours was right on the millpond which is inhabited by several thousand Canadian geese, several dozen mallards, a heron and an enormous quantity of carp most of which seemed to be the size of a small whale. I guess it’s all the food they get from the site’s visitors.
On Tuesday we visited the Eden Project which has long been on our “to do” list. Most of you will know the Eden Project – it was started in 1999 in an abandoned china clay pit and opened, in part, in 2001. Now it is very much more mature and absolutely fascinating. The Biomes house plants and artefacts from the Mediterranean and the Rain Forest and the planting is exquisite and the abundance of glorious tropical plants and flowers simply fabulous.
We spent almost all day there and we could have stayed considerably longer. It was absolutely fascinating and even our five-year old was engaged and engrossed throughout. If you get the chance to visit you really must go.
On Wednesday we started the day with a casual stroll through the Deerpark Forest which surrounds the forest cabins and then set off for Looe, a lovely fishing village on the south Cornish coast. We had hired a holiday cottage for a week once upon a very long time ago when the boys were young and we had a great holiday, as I remember. When we arrived at Looe and parked to begin our day’s exploration, Nick reminded us that he, Ben and Adam had gone crabbing from the quay near the bridge. So, naturally we had to acquire a bucket and line so that Bubble could catch some too, which she did! Great fun for all concerned.
After a bite we wanted to find a beach with, hopefully, some rock pools so that Pen could indulge her childhood pleasures again and share them with Bubble. Nick enquired of some locals and we set off and eventually found Talland Cove, a lovely secluded beach with the requisite rock pools. Lucy and I sat and watched (largely) while Pen and Bubble went exploring and Nick flew his drone. A great day out.
On Thursday we set off for the Lost Gardens of Heligan, somewhere we’ve wanted to come since we first heard about it probably about twenty years ago. Again, many of you will know its history but, in brief, it was the estate of the Tremayne family for more than 400 years and, at the end of the 19th century it was at its peak. However, with the onset of the first World War it began to decline as workers left to join the army and gradually the gardens became overgrown and “lost”. The great house was eventually divided into apartments and the gardens were well on their way to being reclaimed by nature. However, in the 1990s the gardens were “rediscovered” by John Willis, a descendent of the Tremayne family and Tim Smit (who later went on to initiate the Eden Project). Over the next twenty-five years the gardens were restored to something approaching their former glory and they are now absolutely fabulous. Again, we spent most of the day here and we could have spent much longer. We’ll have to go back.
As it was the half term break Heligan had a “Wild Week” with lots of activities and adventures aimed at young children. Bubble and Nick daubed their faces with war paint and Bubble spent several happy hours firing a catapult, racing through an assault course, toasting marshmallows over an open camp fire, and leading the way across the Burmese rope bridge across a deep ravine. The vegetable gardens were immaculate and highly productive and the flower gardens were stunning. A lovely, lovely setting and a splendid way to spend a glorious afternoon.
On our last night on holiday we fancied dinner out so, after a bit of an investigation during the fleeting moments when we had cell phone reception somewhere, we found the Plough Inn at Duloe, just down the road from our cabin. Although it was only four miles away, the narrow winding lanes meant that it took some time to get there. Still, it was well worth the effort – this place is an absolute gem. Not surprisingly, there was a lot of sea food, fish and shellfish on the menu so Nick and I were in our element. There was plenty else on the menu as well so everyone had something they fancied, all of which was excellent. The service was outstanding and, after we had placed our orders the waitress asked if Bubble would like to do some colouring or, perhaps, she would like to play with some dominoes. Bubble chose dominoes and so we were able to get a few rounds in while waiting for dinner which was absolutely outstanding. Equally not surprising, the place became increasingly packed as the evening rolled on – they will certainly be receiving a Five Star review on TripAdvisor!
And so, back to the cabin for an excellent sleep and finally, on Friday, the long, long journey home. It was a great break in a beautiful part of the country – no wonder so many people fancy resetting in Cornwall. If only it weren’t so far away!
