Chapter 39

Out and About

1999 - Boscastle

John & Maria TURNER

This chapter is slightly out of sequence but I ought to cover some of the days out that we have enjoyed with family and friends since we moved to Cornwall.

During the early years following our arrival in Cornwall we explored most of the coast of Cornwall, usually with Annette and Nick and often in very inclement weather.  We found several places that have become firm favourites and been revisited on many occasions.  I suppose that our favourite would be the cliffs around Bedruthan Steps.  The National Trust property is named Carnewas and there is a Car Park, Shop and Cafe and it is not too far from Newquay or, for that matter, Gothers.  These days we normally just like to walk from the car park to just above Mawgan Porth but in the early days we have walked from the car park in a northerly direction to Porthcothan Bay.  We have also been down onto the beach but that has become hard work, at least coming back up, as we advance in years.  Most of the people who have ever come to stay with us are practically forced to accompany us out there for a walk.

A little further afield is Boscastle, shown in the chapter lead photograph, where there was a terrific flood in 2004.  Take a look at www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxweiRNlHbo, which gives some idea of what happened.  Fortunately no-one was killed but over 100 cars ended up in the harbour.  The place has now been completely restored and is somewhere that we like to take visitors.

On the Lizard peninsula is Kynance Cove another of our favourite places and another National Trust site.  After visiting on many occasions I stopped volunteering to go there after I had been working at Culdrose for some time.  I just could not get up enough enthusiasm to drive down the same road that I drove 5 days a week, especially as it was not the best of roads, particularly between Redruth and Helston.

Close to Kynance is the village of Mullion where we have also spent some pleasant hours.  Further to the west is Porthleven and close to that pretty harbour is Loe Pool and Bar where we used to spend hours walking.  Loe Bar is a very dangerous patch of beach and one day whilst we were passing we saw a group of people on the beach running towards the waves and then as a wave came in, turning around and running away.  One of  their number misjudged a wave and was knocked over by it.  Fortunately he was a big young man and he managed to get out, albeit soaking wet.  A lesson learned?  Not on your life, the next minute they were all laughing about it and playing the same dangerous game.  If it had been  one of the children, they might have been lost for good.  To reinforce that thought one of St. Mawgan’s aircrew whom I knew by sight lost his twin daughters, aged 18, whilst they were out walking with their boyfriends; the boys, whilst chatting got in front and didn’t notice that the girls had been swept away.  The Cornish coastline and sea are dangerous places.

1984 - Porthcurno

Annette & Nick TURNER

When we think about it, we could have been one of those families who have suffered a loss as a result of the Cornish sea as shown in the photograph of Annette and Nick taken at Porthcurno, near Lands End.  Guess what they were doing and guess who was encouraging them?!!!!

New Year’s Day 2002 - Lands End

Dot WASTELL, John, Jack & Maria TURNER

 John WASTELL 

Speaking of Lands End, this has been a regular place to take friends.  For some years, our friends Dot and John would always go there on New Year’s Day, whatever the weather.  We went several times with them and took Pop with us one year on which occasion we were blown about a fair bit although the weather was fine with a clear blue sky.

1984 - Sennen Cove

Nick, Annette & Maria TURNER

There are plenty of walks and one that we have enjoyed is to Sennen Cove, mind you, we have been there when the weather has been rather windy as shown in the photograph.    

I could go on and on about the Cornish coast because it has many spectacular views with cute villages too many to mention here.  There is only one city in Cornwall and that is Truro, which is where we do the majority of our shopping.  The only town that we visit on a regular basis is Falmouth.  From here there are many boat trips, some of which we have enjoyed over the years.  Other places worthy of mention are St. Ives, Padstow, famous for Rick Stein’s restaurants, Looe, Polperro, Charleston, Mevagissy and Port Isaac, the latter being famous as the location for the television series ‘Doc Martin’.

2000 - Eden Project

Dot WASTELL & Maria TURNER

One very famous place in Cornwall is ‘The Eden Project’, where we have been on a number of occasions, including once whilst it was still being built.  I have included two photos, one of Maria and Dot, which I love, and one of four generations of the TURNER family, which I also love and which is, whilst not unique, fairly rare.

2000 - Eden Project

Joe, Andrew, John & Jack TURNER

 National Trust Properties 

1999 - St. Michael’s Mount

There are plenty of National Trust properties in the south west and we, as members, have been to see most of the houses and gardens.  Lanhydrock is closest to us now and is always a pleasure to visit on a fair weather day because there are  miles of walks in the grounds in addition to a lovely house and chapel.  St. Michael’s Mount, near Penzance is a great place to visit; once again fair weather is required for the best visit, as well as a stout pair of walking shoes and a good heart to make it to the top.  When the tide is in, the Mount is only reachable by boat, but at other times it is good to walk across the causeway.  Cotehele House is a Tudor house near to Saltash and, because of its location we have only visited twice since we moved to Cornwall.  The house is very dark, to protect the contents, which makes the visit a little eerie.  Closer to Newquay is Trerice House, an Elizabethan Manor which I seem to think has been used for filming television series. 

1999 - Trengwainton

Maria TURNER

There are some stunning National Trust gardens in Cornwall but some care needs to be taken in the choice of months to visit.  In spring is the most colour with Azaleas and Camelias very much to the fore.  Our favourite, probably because it is closest, is Trelissick, between Truro and Falmouth.  We have also visited Glendurgan near Falmouth and Trengwainton near Penzance, the latter only once and memorable for the fact that it was quite damp. 

Further afield, we have made one visit to Castle Drogo in Devon and two visits to Arlington Court.  Both of these properties were visited whilst we were on exchange holidays, using our timeshare points when we were unable to go to Tenerife.  The problem with both of these places is accessibility.  Arlington Court is just a long way on very winding roads but the roads to and from Castle Drogo are a nightmare for anything bigger than a bicycle.