Sunday Drivers to Cornwall
An offer of an inexpensive week in Carbis Bay was too good to miss. We managed to make it down to Cornwall before the storm hit. We even managed to load up at the local M&S in Hayle on the way. We picked up a good variety of goodies to load into our capacious American Fridge.
It was a wild night with rain beating, waves crashing and wind gusting. Things were much quieter in the morning and a rainbow welcomed us to North Cornwall.
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| Carbis Bay |
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| The beach at Carbis Bay - after the storm |
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| Porthminster Beach |
Monday morning walking
Our first excursion was a traditional wander down to the beach and then along the Coastal Path to St. Ives. Not much has changed since our last visit but a few new buildings have sprung up. We are still getting used to the wooden structures next to the Carbis Bay Hotel. None of the new buildings are very attractive but they are probably practical with optimum glass and flat roofs. The coastal walk to St. Ives is still a pleasure though. We stopped by at Nautique on the way back to make sure the new owners were looking after the place.
Penrose NT on a Tuesday
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| Penrose Footpaths |
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| In the walled garden |
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| Loe Pool |
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| Loe Pool |
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| Loe Bar |
Penrose is a National Trust property near Helston. We had not been there before and were disappointed to find the Car Park was very small and packed full. We opted to drive down towards the coast and found a free car park at Highburrow. We set out on foot back along the road and luckily met up with a Lady walking her dogs. She gave us excellent instructions on where to walk to reach Stables Cafe at Penrose and recommended that we walk back alongside the Lake (Loe Pool). We followed her instructions to the letter and had a great walk. Our guide was obviously doing the walk in the opposite direction and we were able to thank her when we passed her some hours later. There is a large country house on the Penrose Estate but it’s privately leased so we couldn't go there. We had to eat in the Stables! They only serve simple fare but my Bacon Bap and TW’s Cheese Toastie were perfect for us. The walk from Stables alongside Loe Pool was exceedingly pleasant with great views. When we reached the coast we found lovely beaches, it must be a great place in Summer. We joined the Coastal Path and ended up back at Highburrow. We had good fortune today as, the Car Park being full meant, we learned of a lovely circular walk. We will happily do it again in Spring or Summer. One of the conditions of the gift of Loe Pool to the National Trust was that it be kept as a place of great beauty for people to enjoy without distraction. Boating, swimming and fishing are not allowed! It’s the largest natural freshwater Lake in Cornwall.
Wetness on Wednesday
Rain didn’t quite stop play today but it did limit our operations. Not too much of a problem as we have a lovely comfortable place to stay. We did manage a couple of walks on Carbis Bay Beach and also a wander to Porthkidney Beach, TW’s favourite. The Carbis Bay Hotel additions on the seafront are actually quite impressive from the sand. It’s not obvious from behind, on the coastal path, but they look to offer several storeys of impressive accommodation. Bit pricey though at about £6k per night in June. But they do sleep eight!
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| Cliffs at Carbis Bay Beach are leaking water |
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| TW hits the beach |
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| Which way is North |
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| At the going down of the sun |
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| A stream springs up at the South end of the beach |
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| Porthkidney Beach |
Thursday Coving
We took the half hour drive to Sennon Cove today. It hadn’t changed but it was definitely a sleepy old place in January. The pub was open but that was about all. It has a lovely Ocean Beach and is just to the North of Lands End. We wandered to the end of the beach and back and then walked back through the village and a walk towards Lands End.
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| TW on the beach at Sennen Cove |
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| Lands End in the distance |
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| Sennen Cove Harbour |
Friday - fridge and final footingActivities started late today because of the visit of the fridge repairer. We had to wait in for him. And he was very late. He seems to have fixed the American fridge that was leaking onto the floor so it was probably worth waiting. We did have a quick walk on the beach first thing, for us anyway, at about 10:30! After lunch we had a good walk to
Porthmeor Beach, the surf beach in town. It was quite a calm day but we did get some nice gentle rollers hitting the beach. Happily 11St. Ives was nice and quiet, in the season it can be burtsting with tourists. Most of the restaurants looked to be open apart from the
Porthminster Beach Cafe as it’s getting a refurb.
We would normally eat out and have multiple coffees stop on our Cornwall adventures. On this little trip we ate mostly at home. Too many post-christmas bugs in circulation!
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| Rolling in - Porthmeor Beach St. Ives |
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| TW hits the sand, Porthmeor Beach on a calm day |
