The Salt Lodge, St Ives, Cornwall

The beautifully refurbished Salt Lodge is a grade II listed luxury self catering holiday home in the extremely popular Downalong area of St Ives, Cornwall

Sleeping up to 9 people, the house is perfect for two families holidaying together or one large family with uncompromised sleeping arrangements. The large open plan kitchen / dining area gives the property a real home from home feel and perfect for dining when the kids are in bed. St Eia street is one of the quieter streets so makes for easy unloading at any time of the day.

Website: http://www.thesaltlodge-stives.co.uk/

 

 

Self-Catering Holidays in Cornwall, UK

If you’re looking for a UK holiday destination, then why not discover Cornwall? It is brimming with a beautiful countryside and stunning beaches, as well as a wealth of tourist attractions that appeal to the whole family.

This English county, which is located on the far south west tip of England, is ideal for a self-catering holiday, as it has a fantastic selection of properties to rent for the duration of your holiday.

Not surprisingly, Cornwall is rich in history and there are numerous towns and villages to explore during your vacation.

Truro is the only city in Cornwall and is a good place to start your holiday. Not only is there is so much to see and do here, but also Truro is a good base from which to reach other tourist attractions in the county. Truro itself has an amazing cathedral, fantastic shopping opportunities, interesting architecture, the Royal Cornwall Museum, as well as good entertainment, sports facilities and much more! Why not take a wander around this busy city and enjoy what it has to offer.

The Royal Cornwall Museum is worth a visit, as it houses many interesting exhibits, and while you’re in the city, head along to Truro Cathedral, too. If you have the time, you can also take advantage of the city’s other attractions and facilities, including the Hall for Cornwall (theatre) and its cinema, pubs, restaurants and nightclubs. And if you want to find a spot to unwind, you can take a break in either one of the two parks in the city.

If you’ve got children in tow, then Cornwall has no shortage of attractions and activities to keep the kids happy. For example, you can take the youngsters to Cornwall’s Crealy Great Adventure Park or DairyLand Farm World – or why not spend a day at Newquay Zoo? If the sun’s shining, you will no doubt want to head straight to the beach with the children.

You will be spoilt for choice by the number of beaches in this county. In fact, Cornwall boasts 697km of coastline and has numerous beaches to choose from – whether you want to do spot of surfing or simply to sunbathe.

Newquay has some lovely beaches, such as Fistral Beach, Towan Beach, Great Western Beach and Tolcarne Beach, among others. Bude’s beaches (Summerleaze, Crooklets etc) are also worth checking out. There are so many other beaches along Cornwall’s lengthy coastline, some of which you will no doubt want to explore during your holiday.

Other attractions which you might like to visit during your Cornish vacation include The Eden Project, Land’s End, National Maritime Museum Cornwall, World Of Model Railways, Blue Reef Aquarium, National Seal Sanctuary, Trevarno Gardens, St. Michael’s Mount, Tate St Ives, Poldark Mine, Bodmin & Wenford Railway and Geevor Tin Mine – plus more!

To get the most out of your holiday in Cornwall, you will probably want to tour the county. There are many different ways in which you can travel around. You can walk, hire a bicycle or car or take a cruise and enjoy the sights. You can even see Cornwall from the air by taking a helicopter trip from Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly!

Cornwall is also an ideal destination if you’re planning a sporting holiday, too. Whether you’re into golf, fishing, sailing or surfing (Cornwall is a surfer’s paradise), you will also have a fantastic holiday here.

Cornwall has so much to offer its visitors. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing break, a sporting holiday or a fun-filled family vacation, Cornwall has it all.

About the Author
Karen Waller is a destination rep for Self Property Rental, offering a wide selection of holiday rentals Cornwall, UK!

Golfing Holidays in Cornwall

The scenic north coast of Cornwall has long been a favourite for holiday makers, but perhaps the number and quality of golf courses in the area is less well known. Jo Olivey – the owner of Pols Piece apartments in Trevone, near Padstow, has recently put together a package of short break golfing holidays in Cornwall. These give their guests special pricing when playing on a variety of the local courses, in the form of two for one green fees giving half priced golf.

Here follows a review of some of the courses in the area, with a little more information about things to see and do in North Cornwall.

Some local courses close to the Padstow area:

Trevose Golf Course is a short drive from Pols Piece Apartments, and provides a Championship quality course with panoramic views out to sea. As well as the 18 hole Championship course established in 1925, they also have a 9 hole short course as well as the 9 hole full length “Headland” course with a par of 35. This variety of courses provides various levels of difficulty that will appeal to all players from the professional to the high handicapper. The views across Constantine Bay to Trevose head and light house will take your breath away, and if the day is hot you can always go for a dip afterwards!

St Enodoc Golf Course overlooks the Camel River Estuary with Padstow on the far side. It is a natural links course, and caters for the experienced golfer on the James Braid designed Championship course, with the shorter course perfect for those looking for less of a challenge.

Tehidy golf course is the home of the Cornwall county championships, being approximately 40 minutes from Pols Piece, the course is set in picturesque woodland and parkland and is another of Cornwall’s premier courses. A full 18 hole course with a 71 par, Tehidy enjoys a formidable reputation in the South West.

Perranporth is another course with a fantastic sea view. On the slopes overlooking the swathe of Perran sands, a favourite spot for surfers, this sandy challenging course is a delight for golfers of all levels. It is 6296 yards long, and has a Par of 72.

Other courses include Treloy Golf Club, Newquay; Roserrow Golf Club near the Camel Estuary; St Kew and Wadebridge. Slightly further afield but courses to note include: St Mellion and West Cornwall.

When you’ve finished playing golf there are some fascinating places to visit, with Cornwall steeped in a rich history of tin mining, and with newer arts, culture and restaurants springing up. Two of England’s more famous chefs have chosen the area for their flagship restaurants, with Rick Stein’s fish restaurant in Padstow being a long standing favourite, while Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen is a more recent arrival in Watergate Bay.

For Scenery you need go no further than Bedruthan steps, although the short drive to Bodmin Moor (in search of “The Beast of Bodmin”) can be achieved in under an hour. North Cornwall abounds with pretty fishing villages, from Padstow as already mentioned, north to Port Isaac, and Tintagel – legendary birth place of King Arthur. To the south St Ives is at the gateway to the Lands End peninsular. Being a narrow peninsular the south coast of Cornwall is also easily accessible, taking you close to the fabulous Lost Gardens of Heligan, the domes of the Eden Project, and the harbours and river valleys of the Cornish south coast.

About the Author
To see more information about participating golf clubs in the area, as well as accommodation details for Pols Piece Apartments please visit the budget golf breaks in Cornwall page of: http://www.polspieceholidays.co.uk/golf-holiday-cornwall.htm

Hawkers Court – Beachscape Bude Cornwall

Beachscape@Bude is a luxurious two bedroom groundfloor apartment within easy walking distance of Crooklets Beach on the beautiful North Cornish coast.This two bedroomed apartment offers modern comfort and fittings of the highest quality, leaving you simply to decide on the best way to relax and enjoy your holiday. Suitable for a family holiday or a short break at any time of the year. [Read more]

How to survive a rainy week in Cornwall with the family

This year my family and I decided to take our annual holiday in England. When I say ‘my family and I’ I of course mean my wife who typically makes all the decisions in the house. My wife grew up in Cornwall and she has always loved the West Country, although I am sure she has grown fond of the Yorkshire Dales and the great shopping that Leeds offers her heart has always remained in the valleys and beaches of her childhood home.

I was happy to go with the decision as I think that ones home country can often be overlooked when it comes to holidays. There are plenty of gorgeous places to visit around Britain that residents of this country have never laid eyes on, and with cheap flights aplenty it’s not just about lack of cash that persuades people to stay ‘at home’ for the holidays.

Resorts around Britain have had to become increasingly competitive to survive the temptation of cheap flights abroad. 5 star hotels, spas and B&B’s in the English countryside have never looked so good and with the ‘green’ glamorisation of camping even roughing it has become a coveted experience. What with bespoke Cath Kidston tents and ‘eco friendly’ lanterns, camping’s gone chic.

I insisted on not camping because I have a bad back and so we rented a cottage instead. We ended up being very glad of this because from the day we got to Cornwall until the day we left it rained like God was trying to launch another Ark.

Yes reader I can hear you now, telling me what did I expect in dear England in summer but do you know what? I had an amazing time! I didn’t have to endure strap lines and sunburn and those ghastly flip flops that would make my back pain even worse, instead I got to spend some quality time with my family and really appreciate my time off from the daily grind of work.

The cottage we stayed in was lovely with a large fireplace and big windows that amplified the sound of the rain making it seem very cosy. We found lots of indoor activities that were great for the kids on Classic Guide’s website and we had some great nights out in the countryside by the open fire when the kids were in bed. You can’t get more romantic than that in my opinion.

In between showers we took fresh walks in the sand dunes at Gwithian Towans and along the cliffs to take in the sea air. We went out for lovely lunches and Cornish Cream Tea’s and spent the evenings playing cards and board games with the kids, something we rarely have time for at home.

I had the best sleep I have had in a long time and didn’t miss the sticky sandy sheets or the urge to have a shower every couple of hours to cool down. I really want to go back next year but obviously dear reader I’ll have to run that past the Mrs.

Sarah Maple. Tourist Information Cornwall when on Holiday Cornwall see Classic Guide.

50 essential items every Cornish girl should have

Reading the paper this weekend I came across a funny little article in one of the magazine supplements. The article was entitles ’50 things that every British girl should have’. Thinking that I may uncover some useful information I began to read the feature. I quickly began to realise that this article was not completely accurate. It may have been better off titled ’50 things nearly every British girl should have’.

You see, I am an English girl living in Cornwall but I would never dream of buying some of the things on the list simply because of where I live. This does not make me less English or less of a ‘girl’, it’s just because we Cornish girls just go by a different set of rules.

Read any information on ‘things to do in Cornwall’ and you will see what I mean. Every Cornwall holiday tourist information website gives you the advice to ‘bring sensible footwear’ and there is a reason for that, believe it or not!

When I read one particular item on the list was ‘brightly coloured stilettos’ I nearly fell from my seat. Brightly coloured stilettos? With all the cobbles and steep hills I would only buy these if I had a death wish or a bunion fetish. What if you get invited to a boat party or a spontaneous cliff-top rave? You won’t want to go in heels if you want to come back in one piece! I own just two pair of heels and they have to go with nearly every dressy outfit I own.

The emphasis in Cornwall is more about having fun than looking polished. It is better to be able to be spontaneous and adventurous than trapped inside your clothes all night. This is why I have devised my own list of 50 things every Cornish girl should own because there is no way we can let ourselves be lumped into one boring category!

A cool waterproof coat with a hood would be first on the list. Sea winds have the power to ruin any hairdo, even if it has been Elnet sprayed and Kirby gripped into oblivion. Number two would be flat or low heeled leather boots. Ankle or knee length you can where them into town, to a garden party, the cinema and even out to dinner. There you are, weatherproof and perfectly on trend.

This would be closely followed by sun glasses. Bright sun in the middle of winter is a common occurrence and there is no way you could survive a Cornish summer without them. They must be made by a well known durable company, fiddly nose bits that get stuck in your surf hair every time you push them off your face whilst driving through shady country lane is a big no thank you.

A car vacuum for sand is also high on my list. Whilst you live in Cornwall your car will never be free of sand. Ever! Even if you don’t set foot on a beach all year.

I have not quite finished the full list yet because there is so much to add. When I do I am going to publish it on my own blog page to be used as a real Cornish girls guide to their 50 essential items.
–
Sarah Maple is interested in Cornwall tourist information and things to do in Cornwall.

Where to go when you already live in a holiday destination

I recently returned from a holiday in Somerset. I have a friend who comes from the area and when he asked me how I found it and what I got up to, I smiled and cut straight to the chase, ‘the caves at Chedder Gorge are fantastic!’ At this point he began to smile. ‘Is it really?’ He replied. ‘I’ve never been, it’s for the tourists really.’

Consequently, this got me thinking. I’ve lived in Cornwall for 6 years now and I really haven’t made the most of the county being the prime holiday destination that it is. Take the Eden Project for example; it wasn’t until 2007 that I ventured the 20 miles to the eighth wonder of the world. And even then I have to admit that the draw for me was less than honourable.

I went for the ice skating.

My reasons for this are hard to pin down. One could presume that I am some kind of tourist-related anthropophobe, who simply can’t bear to mingle with those out-of-towners, all dawdling about, licking our ice-creams, and fuelling our economy with reckless zeal. Of course, this is not true. In fact, I believe the reason for mine – and my Somerset pal’s – inability to view our locality through a tourist’s eyes is due to two factors. One is quite simply to do with association, or familiarity to be precise. We associate the surrounding area with what we know well, and so there is a very little inherent excitement at the thought of playing in our own backyard.

But there are plenty of things to do in Cornwall. I know full well that the differences between a Somerset holiday and a Cornwall holiday are so slight (maybe the air temperature’s a little cooler?) yet I’m still subconsciously drawn to such aspects as the different place-names, the higher population, and the unmistakeable feeling of being a visitor.

Maybe my experiences of family holidays as a child have some bearing on this too? When I was nine I visited Disneyworld and wondered what it would be like to live next door. I could come here everyday, I thought to myself as we drove through Miami spilling pretzel crumbs onto the floor of our rented RV. But of course, once you’ve been on the Jaws ride four times it doesn’t take the novelty does begin to wear off.

Therefore I have decided to rediscover my own county. Even a quick browse of Cornwall tourist information highlights some starting points such as Tate St Ives, the National Maritime Museum at Falmouth and The Lost Gardens of Heligan. Cornwall deserves this old-friend status, like a schoolmate who reminds you of how you were the wittiest in Geography class. After all, what could be better than being surprised by what’s on your very own doorstep?

Sarah Maple is interested in Devon tourist information and things to do in Cornwall.