North Cornwall - Porthtowan

Set in a winding valley flanked by granite cliffs, Porthtowan has a great beach and a wealth of mining heritage.

You will find Porthtowan ideally situated for exploring all that Cornwall has to offer.

It is 10 miles from the Cathedral City of Truro, and within easy driving distance of St Ives, whose twinkling lights can be easily seen from Porthtowan’s cliffs as the sun sets into the bay.

Other attractions such as the Eden Project and the Lost Gardens of Heligan, together with the many National Trust properties are all easily accessible from this Cornish gem of a village.

Porthtowan’s Blue Flag Beach is the ideal location for your family ‘bucket and spade’ holiday, with life guards patrolling between 10am and 6pm seven days a week between Easter and October, making this a safe and fun place for your youngsters to while away their holidays.

Children will have hours of fun discovering the beach pool, rock pooling and playing in the sea. For the more adventurous, Porthtowan is renowned for its world class surfing waves.

You will be able to rent boards and wetsuits as well as take advantage of the surf schools, both for beginners and those who are more experienced.

Taking advantage of the après-surf, you would do well to visit the Blue Bar situated at the top of the beach, with its chilled-out atmosphere and interesting menu, all from locally sourced produce.

The village also boasts the family friendly Unicorn Bar, which often showcases local Cornish talent and provides an extensive menu and varied entertainment.

The children will love the safe and secure play area while you relax and watch the sun setting spectacularly into the sea.

A warm welcome awaits you at Ocean Breeze; don’t forget to bring your dog who will delight in the miles of coastal footpath just on your doorstep.
Linda Kemp, Ocean Breeze© Cottage in Cornwall
From an article originally published in Cottage Holidays.

Mousehole Cornwall.
In October 1987 we arrived in Mousehole for a week’s holiday. It was around 6pm and too dark to see much at all. We were just looking for somewhere to escape. No telephone. No deadlines.

The next morning the children woke early and for the first time we saw this beautiful village - bathed in sunshine. We now rent cottages in the village - so others can escape as we did.

In Mousehole most things are on a small scale. Small but beautiful, beaches. Small and interesting shops and cottages. You can arrive in Mousehole and park a car and stay within the village all week - or you can visit a different place every day - The Minack Theatre, Lands End, The Lizard, St Michaels Mount.

You can follow the coastal footpath for miles - ideal for walking off all of those Cornish pasties and cream teas - or sit and hear interesting tales from locals about times gone by.

For the more adventurous, take a helicopter flight from nearby Penzance to the Isles of Scilly, venture out to sea with local fishermen - and even bring home your own freshly caught fish for a tasty and fresh Cornish supper.

Mousehole is a place where you can sit back and read that book that has been sitting at home for months, to wander the winding streets - whatever the weather there is always something to see and somewhere to photograph.

Within the village there is a selection of restaurants, tea shops and pubs - so you do not have to spend your holiday cooking - unless you really want to - Starry Gazey Pie anyone?

Mousehole is a village which caters for tourists Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. At Christmas people come from across the country to see the spectacular display of Christmas lights.

The story of the 'Mousehole Cat' is now part of primary school life - so every school holiday children from around far and wide try to find 'Mouzer'.

We feel Mousehole has something for everyone, young or old, single people, couples or families. Most like us are looking to escape - and come back to our cottages year after year to do this. We hope you will too.
Sue Spry, Mousehole Holiday Cottages ©
Mousehole Holiday Cottages listed in Cottage Holidays June 2009

Welcombe North Devon/Cornwall

Don’t tell a soul!

Welcombe is a little known jewel in Devon, a county renowned for its treasures. The village is a truly rural retreat on the North Coast sitting right on the Devon/ Cornwall border.

It is set in the heart of an area of outstanding natural beauty and the Marsland Valley is an SSSI (site of special scientific interest). When you visit this unspoiled village you will understand why it has achieved these accolades as the scenery and wildlife are exceptional. Over 70 different species of birds have been recorded in a 3km radius of Berry Park, which is the accommodation most people chose when staying in Welcombe.

There is a wealth of footpaths through the wooded valleys and along the cliff tops so there is plenty of opportunity to appreciate the wild flowers which are in such profusion especially in the springtime. The rugged beach has recently been acquired by the National Trust and is a favourite spot for surfing, rock pooling and building sandcastles at low tide.

Despite its rural setting the village has a thatched real ale pub which serves excellent food so there is a choice of places to eat out as Berry Park also has a small restaurant for residents.

There is a well stocked community village shop run by volunteers. Welcombe’s location makes it ideal for exploring both counties and local attractions include the picturesque village of Clovelly, RHS gardens at Rosemoor, the sandy North Cornwall beaches, “The Big Sheep” and “The Milky Way”.

The Eden Project is only an hour and a quarter’s drive away. Trips to the island of Lundy on the Jessica Hettie can also arranged by Mike & Val, your hosts at Berry Park.
Val Jenner, Berry Park©
Listed in Cottage Holidays