Off on another trip in the hope of finally getting to see something at the Minack theatre! On Friday 5 May we set off early for an uneventful trip to the C&CC temporary holiday site in Bradford-on-Avon, hosted by Wilts DA. We completed the journey in one hit, quickly set up in the massive Beehive field before walking to the station to catch a very noisy Great Western bus-on-rails into Bath. We have visited Bath before, but usually on rugby trips to that awful, sodden wreck of a ground, so it was nice to have a bit of a bimble around without the pressures of rugby getting in the way. We stopped for a Sally Lunn bun and, after she realised that half a bun is still massive, dragged our extended bellies up the hill to admire Royal Crescent, stopped for a pint in an old haunt on the way down before heading back to Bradford on Avon for delicious fish and chips.
Sat 6 May was coronation day. It was peeing down so we sat in the van and watched events with the commentary off so we didn't have to listen to the inane waffle from the useless twerps the BBC employs.
On Sunday we wandered into Bradford-on-Avon for lunch in a very quaint tearooms, had a wander around and a pint by the Kennet and Avon canal.
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| Tithe Barn Bradford on Avon |
Monday 8th was meant to be wet all day, so we took to the toad to visit Lacock Abbey and village before stopping at Waitrose in Melksham to reprovision. Lacock was a very pleasant place and the village is delightful (as well as the scene of many shots in the Harry Potter films). That stop at Waitrose was not a pleasant experience as stupid was out in force. It stayed dry most of the day. Well done the Met Office - completely wrong yet again.
Tues 9 - heavy rain most of the night so we were nervous about getting off this massive, soggy field. Once rolling we daren't stop, so just shouted "Bye - thank you" to the the lovely stewards of Wilts DA and made it off site. We headed off down A roads and up and down many steep hills until we finally arrived at the famous Jamaica Inn on Bodmin Moor, where in howling winds and horizontal rain we parked up for the night in this historic tourist trap. After a few pints and a decent meal we settled down for the night, hoping the ghoulies and ghosties didn't get us.
Wed 10 - We enjoyed a splendid breakfast followed by a slow, hilly drive along the A30 to the Sennen Cove Camping and Caravanning Club site near Lands End. It is an exposed site and the cold wind was howling in off the sea. We tried to walk along the footpath to the sea but it was hideously overgrown and soggy so we gave up and drove into Sennen for a look around. There ain't much there.
Thu 11 - We took the open top bus along the narrow twisty roads into St Ives. It was very windy, very twisty and freezing cold and there was a huge risk of being battered by bushes and trees as the bus squeezed through. Why they have a bus route that goes down roads that are 2" narrower than the bus God only knows. We eventually arrived in St Ives and the sun was shining so we bought an extortionately priced cider and sat by the harbour, then wandered about, had a Cream Tea then caught the bus back. That was an adventure. The driver had problems turning around in St Ives as she wouldn't take any notice of the increasingly annoyed banksman who was trying to direct her. We negotiated the narrow lanes only to stop and the driver to come upstairs and tell everybody that we were wedged trying to pass a car and we were going nowhere. As the queues built up, locals travelling on the bus got off, started directing traffic and shunting the bus, and, eventually, freed the jam and we proceeded, only to be held up for another 10 minutes by a massive herd of Cows. Finally we arrived back at the bus stop - only for the driver to go whizzing past! We ran to the front of the bus, insisted she stopped right away and let us off, and we walked back to the site. Only in Cornwall eh?
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| Squeezing through St Just - so close that you could reach through the windows and nick their breakfast! |
Fri 12 and up to Chapel Carn Brea, the westernmost hill in England, for some amazing views across the peninsula. From there we headed the short distance across to Porthcurno and an enjoyable trip around the telegraph museum and a walk up the cliff to the wonderful Minack Theatre to watch the Fisherman's Friends. To round off the day we headed to Lands End, but they wanted £6 to park even for 10 mins, so we stuck two fingers up to those pirates (it's full of tat anyway) and went back home to sit in the awning and drink prosecco.
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| Chapel Carn Brea |
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| Portcurno Beach |
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| Telegraph Museum |
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| Fisherman's Friends |
Sat 13 - The sun was shining - time for a bit of the time on the beach so it was back to Porthcurno for a laze around, then on to Newlyn for Jelbert's Ice Cream, then a bit of shopping in Penzance.
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| First and Last Pub |
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| Jelbert's |
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| Newlyn Harbour |
Sun 14 - A short hop in the car to Cape Cornwall via a pasty stop in St Just. The very jolly lady in the national trust car park gave us a very effusive welcome and we thoroughly enjoyed our walk around the Cape and on to Bottallack.
On Mon 15 we moved up the coast a bit to the BCC Cornwall Temporary Holiday Site in Porth. annoyingly, on the way a massive stone hit the windscreen causing a significant chip. We quickly set up on the site and walked into Newquay, where we found dinner and a few pints in the Fort Pub, overlooking the harbour.
Tues 16 - We put up the awning, had a walk along the SW Coast Path to Watergate bay, stopped off for an ice cream, wandered back to the site and then relaxed.
Wed 17 - Off to Padstein on the bus. Padstow is not my favourite place as it is very touristy and completely taken over by one TV cook. We carefully avoided any of his places and had a wonderful lunch of fish pie and local vegetables in the Golden Lion (the old 'oss stable). The route back was a disaster as we waited ages for an advertised bus which didn't turn up - something about only runs on schooldays (all very confusing). Eventually we got back and decided that using the bus in Cornwall wasn't to be recommended
Thu 18 - Firstly we stocked up with shopping at the Morrisons in Newquay, then back for a spot of lunch then a walk along the coast to Fistral beach, stopping on the way back at Whistlefish for her ladyship to buy a few pictures for the house.
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| Little Fistral Bay |
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| Fistral Bay |
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| Surfers hanging around for a decent wave at Fistral |
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| The Huers hut |
Fri 19 - Finally decided that the sea looked too inviting not to swim, but with the water at 12 degrees, I decided that I am too old to withstand that sort of shock, so a wetsuit was bought at the excellent Anne's Cottage Surf Shop at Fistral. From there we headed to Bedruthan steps for a lovely walk and an excellent lunch in the cafe there.
Sat 20 - Another day of bright sunshine and we sat around and waited for the windscreen man to come and repair the screen. On arrival he said that the crack was too big and a new windscreen was required, which would be fitted at home on the Bank Holiday Monday. Very nice chap though. In the evening we wandered down for a Tapas in the local bar before heading up to the cliffs to watch the sunset, but the clouds obscured the sun at the vital moments.
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| Cracked windscreen |
Sun 21 - Another sunny day and another walk into Newquay, stopping for a pint in the Great Western Hotel.
Mon 22 - We headed off for a lazy day on Lusty Glaze beach before retiring to the splendid bar for pizza and beer.
Tues 23 - We drove to Port Isaac rather than risking the bus again and had a wander around this pleasant enough little town, albeit it too is becoming very touristy and slightly tacky. That said, our hunt for a decent crab sandwich led us to the excellent Cornish Cove cafe - it was delicious! On the way back we stopped off at Tescos in Wadebridge for some provisions.
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| Doc Martin's House |
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| Squeeze Belly Alley |
Wed 24 May - Our last day in Cornwall so it was beach first, then a walk then sundowners at Fistral. Bliss
Thurs 25 - Packed up, said goodbye to our friends at Cornwall BCC who were running the site and headed off to park up for the night at Frombridge Mill near Gloucester. Although sunny, everything seemed so dull compared to Cornwall light. We settled in the corner of the car park then wandered up to the garden centre and Attwools camping shop for a mooch around, before a very nice dinner in the mill.
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| Pineapple cider - delicious apparently |
Fri 26 - We finished the journey home and this was one of those trips where we really didn't want to come back as we had had such a great time.
Postscript:
The windscreen was replaced as arranged on Monday 29 May.
