Newlyn is located beside Penzance in South West Cornwall. It’s a town formed on a fishing fleet that used to be one of the country’s major players. There is atill a heathy fishing industry here with a thriving fish market. I understand that the harbor is about 40 acres in size holding a fleet of crabbers, long liners and beam trawlers.

Enjoying views over mounts bay the towns of Newly and Penzance were once separated by open country side. The area is steeped in history and walking the streets of the town you can feel the history and imagine the olden days with sailors returning with their catch carrying kit bags through the streets.

The town now has art gallery’s, shops and a good range of places to eat. The food provide in the town is mainly fare from the sea, but other types of cuisine can be found.

Self catering accommodation is plenty ioin this town with options to suite everyone from the family group to the romantics amongst you.

Well in Cornwall really, but many people think it in Devon for some reason.

A Victorian holiday maker destination, Bude is a traditional seaside resort with all you require for a beach / surfing holiday.

There are fine sandy beaches which enjoy some great Atlantic swells making for great surfing conditions. There are also shops for new fins and wet suites as well as a school for learning to surf. There is a beach life guard service in the Holiday season.

The South West Coastal path runs across this  seaside resort and to feed the hungry traveller there is a super market or if you require to be waited on there are eateries to suite most tastes.

The Bude Canal can also be enjoyed. A 19 th century feat of engineering and design.

There is holiday accommodation to match your requirements, from B&B to Hotels as well as the ever popular Self catering cottages where you can be in charge of your holiday every step of the way.

Enjoy Bude, it has plenty to offer making for a great holiday destination.

We now have 55 cottages for rent in Cornwall.

There is accommodation from all the corners of the county and to suite all pockets and most requirements.

We have 2 cottages which are located very close to the Eden Project, in the St Austell area. The Eden Project as I am sure everyone knows by now is a Garden, part covered which is home to many species of plant from all around the world.

One of our most recent cottages is in the Lizard, located about 6 miles south of Helston and is famed for being the most southerly tip of UK mainland. The area has a diverse natural history, many Cornish villages close by to visit as well as general visitor attractions like Flambards.

Padstow accommodation currently compromises of 2 cottages. Renowned for it quaint streets and brought to the media by Rick Stein, Padstow is a delight and a place not to be missed if you are considering a visit to the county of Cornwall.

I will post part 2 in the next few days.

I know its almost Christmas, but Mousehole in Cornwall has put on another great light display this year.

This summertime holiday destination with its traditional Cornish cottages comes to life again over the festive period.

The process of putting the lights up starts in late September and this delightful Cornish fishing village goes to town like no other.

There are lights in the harbour at Mousehole that reflect across the sea towards Penzance, it is a sight to behold and I would recommend you visiting the village.

I understand that you can see the lights from Helicopter, catching one from the heli pad at Eastern Green, Penzance.

Porthleven is a small fishing town located in the South west of Cornwall. Almost on the Lizard, Porthleven has a delightful harbour with working fishing boats, pubs, restaurants and gisft shops. The town offers a beach and a reef break for those keen on the surf. For the outdoors type Penrose House has lovely walks and is just a 5 min drive from the harbour not to mention the coastal paths.

I fish regularly from the harbour arm in Porthleven and it’s a successful spot. Many anglers prefer the renowned Loe Bar, just 20 mins walk away. There is a bait shop in town.

The Cornish town of Porthleven is a great holiday destination. There are many Cornish holiday cottages in the town available for rent, married with the resources the town offers its an ideal holiday destination for the whole family.

It is only a few miles from Helston, about 14 miles from Penzance and 16 miles from Falmouth.

St Ives is a delightful seaside town and in the Penwith district of Cornwall. The town lies north of Panzance and west of Camborne in Carbis bay. In the early days the town was funded by a commercial fishing fleet, using the harbor to land the catch. The town is now primarily a holiday resort and has a range of shops and attractions for the tourist.

St Ives is named due to arrival of the Irish Saint Ia, in the 5th Century AD. The parish church in St Ives still bearing the name of this Saint, the name St Ives itself is believed to be a later twist on the name.

St Ives was connected with a railway in 1887, the Bay branch line from St Erth. The early passengers where Victorian seaside holidaymakers. The railway line has become an attraction its self and is enjoyed by hundreds each year.

A celebration of in St Ives is its feast which is a celebration of the founding of St Ives by St Ia and takes place on the Sunday and Monday nearest February 3rd every year. The day itself includes a civic procession to Venton Ia or the well of St Ia and other associated actvities however, it is most notable for being one of the 2 surviving examples of cornish hurling. Another festival is the St Ives May Day which is a modern revival of May Day Customs that were at one time common throughout the west of Cornwall.

St Ives also enjoys a very lively New Years Eve celebration, with people coming from all over the country to take part in the street party and to watch the New Year in with a grand firework display from the harbor wall.

St Ives Attractions

Tate Gallery St. Ives, St Ives Museum and gallery that features a collection of St. Ives paintings and sculpture from 1925-1975.

Barbara Hepworth Museum - Arranged in the house and garden are sculptures by Barbara Hepworth, one of the foremost sculptors of her time. Also on display are photographs, letters and catalogues relating to Hepworth’s art.

St. Ives Museum - A unique collection of art, blacksmiths, Cornish kitchen, farming, fishing, geology, Hain Steamship Company, lifeboat, mining, photography, railway and toys.

Useful contacts

St Ives Tourist Information Centre, The Guildhall, Street-An-Pol, St. Ives, Cornwall, TR26 2DS. Tel: 01736 796297.

Padstow holiday Accommodation

Padstow is located on the North Cornwall coast line and offers easy acess to cliff walks , sandy beaches, smuggelers coves and outstanding countryside. A fishing port focused on its harbour and daily catches of fresh fish are what has made this town. Small fishing cottages on narrow winding lanes creates the charm of Padstow. An ideal center for walking, fishing, family or sight seeing holidyas.

Eating out in Padstow is a delight with a collection of eateries to suite most pockets. Being the home of Rick Steins SEAFOOD RESTAURANT and his other outlets all serving tastey, fresh produce you can expect quality cusine. There are also a selection of quality Cafe’s, Pubs and takeways enjoying far reaching views of the sea.

While looking at the shops you might notice there is a rich history to discover. A small museum follows the long history of the town dating back to 2500 BC and you can explore ancient burial chambers at Harlyn Bay and left overs from settlers from Brittany and the arrival of St Petroc and his effect on the town.

The first of May sees the town come alive with the Obby Oss, celebrating the comming of spring with dancing and decorations of spring blooms. This starts early morning and carries on through the day, with onlookers crowed around to view this traditional event and here the words,

Unite and unite let us all unite,
For summer is acome unto day,
And whither we are going we will all unite,
In the merry morning of May.

Padstow Attractions

Camel trail The Camel Trail, a disused and resurfaced railway line, runs from Padstow to Poleys Bridge via Wadebridge and Bodmin. It follows the route of the river Camel and you can walk, cycle, ride horses or just sit and watch the abundant wild life.

Rick Stein Rick Stein’s restaurant, cafe, deli, hotel and Seafood Cookery School. Information, images and seafood recipes plus his Food Heroes directory.

Useful contacts

Padstow TIC Red Brick Building North Quay 01841 533449 padstowtic@visit.org.uk

Mousehole Holiday accommodation

Mousehole is located in Mount’s Bay to the west of Newlyn in Cornwall. And has one of the most delightful harbours in the area. Destroyed by the Spanish in 1595 with the only surviving building being the Keigwin Arms public house. There is a plaque on the property stating Squire Jenkyn Keigwin was killed here 23RD July 1595 defending this house against the Spaniards.

Primarly a tourist area now Mousehole enjoys a range of festivals and is renowned for its Christmas lights, raising money for charities with donations towards the lights. Since the Penlee lifeboat disaster the lights have been turned on on 19th December in the memory of the brave crew who lost their lifes on a rescue attempt, god bless them. The dish “stary gazey pie” with the heads of the fish sticking out of the crust was created from the celebration of Tom Bawdocks Eve held on the 23rd of December, marking the end of a famine in the 16th Century.

The village of Mousehole is built on a hillside, with narrow winding roads and traditional cottages lining the streets, facing out towards Mounts Bay and the Lizard beyond. The harbour is full of small craft and is the hub of the village. There are some lovely places to eat, from high quality dining to cafes over looking the sea.

Mousehole attractions

Mousehole bird hospital Founded 1928, there is a bird hospital as well as a sanctuary. The site is open daily to visitors

Hayle is located in the west of Cornwall on the north coast near St Ives in the same bay nested around the Hayle Estuary. The town is relativly young dating back to the 18th century. Bronze age people lived in the area using the estuary as a source of food and finding shelter. At Carnsew pool there is evidence of an Iron age fort on the hill. Hayle was built on the exportation of tin with the early travelers of the world. it is als thought that St Uny church at lelant, on the edge of Hayle was built over a Roman fort.

Hayle Estuary is a haven for bird spotters, with a wide range of species being seen on the flats of the estuary and shore line. There is a range of flora and fauna to be seen in the area including a great deal of marine life. I often see seals in the area while walking the beaches. Fishing is good in the Hayle area with a range of species to be caught including Mullet, Bream, flatties and Bass. There are some great walks around the coast line and estuary side.

The coast line at Hayle is good for water sports but care must be taken as the water on a falling tide creates some very strong currents. The beaches are golden sand and at low water the beaches are huge, creating safe areas for land boarding and buggying. It is also a popular destination for surfers in the right conditions and Kite surfing, as the water is shallow.

Hayle Attractions

Paradise Park Collection of rare and endangered parrots plus miniature railway, gardens and house. Includes conservation, news, history, adoptions and visitor

Useful contacts

Hayle TIC Lethlean Lane Hayle Cornwall TR22 5AW 01736 754399

Are you mad about cycling? Recent studies show that you are not alone. In fact, cycling is becoming increasingly popular in the UK, with Cornwall being named as one of the most idyllic places to experience a cycling holiday. So, why are so many people taking to two wheels?

The most obvious answer that springs to mind is that people are cycling to keep fit and help the environment. A closer look, however, reveals something else: an increase in cycleways and routes. Over the last decade people and charities alike have been working hard to ensure that Britain become a cycle-friendly nation. Not only providing cycle lanes that run alongside roads but also traffic free cycleways. One of the most well-loved cycleways which has come to life in the last few years is the Camel Trail in Cornwall.

The British countryside certainly doesn’t get much more breathtaking than the wonderful Cornish landscape and the Camel Trail presents the perfect place to begin an exploration of the fruits Cornwall has to offer. The Camel Trail is a well-loved cycleway, which spans a wonderful piece of Cornish countryside over a distance of 17 miles from Padstow to Poleys Bridge. With approximately 350,000 users per year the Camel Trail is loved by locals and holidaymakers alike as an idyllic way to appreciate Cornish beauty at its best. Established as a cycleway in 2001, this cycleway follows the path of a disused railway line which was built in 1834 and linked London to the south west part of the country.

Cyclists who are intending to use The Camel Trail will find that they are able to hire their bikes from a variety of cycle shops along the cycleway and throughout the general area; including Padstow, Wadebridge and Bodmin. From this wonderful cycleway you will be able to discover a whole host of wildlife and enjoy the wonderful scenes as they unroll before your eyes. Furthermore, if you choose The Camel Trail for your cycling holiday in Cornwall you will have the time to explore all the little villages and towns along the way.

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