Spring 2021 - Dorset and Cornwall

Staycationing isn't bad at all

Cornwall in the Spring

We were lucky enough to get two trips to Cornwall, a week in May and a week in June. The weather was rubbish on both visits but that did not detract too much from our enjoyment. It would have been nice if it was warmer and the damp weather has certainly stirred up the hay fever monster. Sneezing fits are not too welcome in the COVID era and likely to generate some dirty looks.

Porthkidney Beach with rain threatening

Lanhydrock - how green is my valley
Armed with our National Trust Memberships we took the the short hop from our digs in Columb Major to Lanhydrock. It was a very wet day again. No wonder everything looked so green and lush. The gardens are pretty special. The Azaleas were at the end of their flowering but still plenty of colour.

More of a furnace than a barbie. It needed a blast wall to stop the cooks getting frazzled in the kitchen
BBQ Lanhydrock Style

Trying to keep the rain away


Bluebells and Azaleas

A Secret Garden at Lanhydrock

St Mawes
St Mawes is a bit of trendy town, lots of wealthies from up country staying at expensive hotels and rentals. Not a bad spot to sit with a beer and people watch.
St Mawes - A taste of normality

We chose the Watch House Restaurant in St Mawes for my birthday lunch. It was not good!
Sitting inside and eating is a new experience for us but would have liked better service and food. Its not supposed to rain on my Birthday.
St Mawes - the Pubs are open

Mevagissey

Mevagissey is  still a working fishing port and is a good place for a wander.
Mevagissey

Glendurgan NT

Glendurgan is just South of Falmouth near the awkwardly named village of Mawnan Smith. The Gardens slope down to the Helford River so its also a convenient spot to park the car and then take a walk alongside the river. Quite a lot of Japanese knot weed on our route sadly. We found a pub for Lunch overlooking the River, the Ferry Boat Inn. Oh, its nice to have the simple pleasure of a pub lunch again.
Glendurgan Garden Maze


Pizza in box at the Ferry Boat Inn

Crab in a box
On the way home

We took a detour on the way home and parked up near Trevose for a bit of a bike ride. Had my only dip of the first week at Constantine Bay.
Trevose Head - the Lighthouse

North Cornwall



Back to Dorset 

A bike ride to Swanage. Nice and quiet on the beach in the Dorset sunshine.
Swanage Beach

Kingston to Kimmeridge
Jurassic Coast Dorset

TW on one of our favourite seats on the walk from Sheep Pen towards Kimmeridge

Great views to Kimmeridge and Portland

Hengistbury Head

All quite on this part of the front

Portscatho

Another day, Another Birthday

The Roseland



Towans Beach





Portloe

A good pedal along the coast to Portloe

Trelisk NT
Just after the King Harry there are some lovely Gardens. Not our first visit but we covered a lot of ground.
Trelisk Gardens

Trelisk





Cycling from our shed near Portscatho



St Anthony Lighthouse

Good living in the Roseland

 A friendly Robin on the Roseland


Bloomin' Honeysuckle

Our digs for second week

Lost Gardens of Heligan

We stopped off on the way home at the Lost Gardens.
Bit touristy and quite expensive but an interesting wander.
Lost Gardens

The Thunderbox - didn't try it, no loo roll or door!






Thelma or Louise at Heligan

Sunshine in Marlow

Swan with 9 cygnets, apparently a single parent family as Mum not around anymore



The old Potting Shed at Kingston Lacy NT

Japanese Garden at Compton Acres Poole


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