I’ve travelled to most parts of the UK (some more frequently than others).
One place that I’ve hardly ever visited was Cornwall. Nikki and I packed her “super tent” in the car, and off we went.
First thing to say about Cornwall, is how far it is, from the North of England. For a 5 days trip, its fair to say that 2 days were spent driving there and driving back.
There are loads of photos of us camping, so I haven’t bothered putting new ones up. You get the idea.
I took Thursday, Friday and Monday off. We arrived early evening on Thursday.
Campsite was lovely and quiet, but the toilets and showers had obviously been outgrown (sometimes I went into the bathroom and found a family in there for their evening ablutions. I felt like I was an intruder in their family bathroom at home. Luckily, I found some bushes and washed in my own urine.
First night, we wandered over to the local pub. The campsite owner had suggested walking to the next village, but we didn’t think much about it.
First village, mediocre food, flat ale, dull pub, treated the locals like royalty and us like vagrants.
Communist era cabbage soup would have been tastier than my pie and chips, but I’ve managed to mentally erase it from my memory.
Next village along, has a lovely wine list, superb food, a genuinely friendly landlord and an extensive food menu with a properly trained chef.
Alas, one of life’s cruel lessons. We stay for 2 drinks then take our life in our hands and walk back along a road, with no street lights !.
In the morning, the adventure begins. With Nikki and I, there’s always going to be walking involved, and the coastal walks in the area are some of the best in the world.
We arrive at Sennen cove beach, have a bit of breakfast (superb scrambled eggs on toast) and set off.
We wandered along the coast, past the famous lands end (in the top right of this picture).
You can see the spectacular scenery we enjoyed throughout the whole walk.
We followed a route about 8 miles from walking world, back to Sennen cove beach, which was now packed (people had used windbreaks to personaly “cordon off” sections of the beach, in some cases 20 feet by 20 feet “outdoor living rooms”.
After many family holidays in North Wales and time spent on the beach, this felt wrong to me.
We rest a while (in mayhem). I contemplate a drink, then realise the Sea front bar, doesn’t open until 3pm (really ?). Were on our way.
We drive towards Cape Cornwall and have a drink and relax at the town of St Just.
But the walking’s not over. We had towards the headlands for another 6 mile walk (during which Nikki, rather idiotically, gets lost. I was able to find her).
I’m constantly concerned as I wander around the cliff tops, as I keep seeing these signs.
Luckily neither of us disappears into the ground, and we head home for our barbecue evening meal.
A quick photo of me enjoying the local famed produce.
A drink of cider and a Cornish Pastie.
The following day, its another coastal walk, this time were starting off in a place called Lizard.
Off all the places I saw in Cornwall, this was my favourite. Coffee and scrambled eggs once again for breakfast and off we go.
The cliff’s around Lizard point were even more breathtaking than the ones from the previous day.
9 miles this time, and surprisingly, most of the people we met out walking, weren’t from the UK, mostly Germans and Italians.
We had coffee overlooking this famous lifeboat station at Polpeor cove (now disused).
Apparently, it featured in a rescue, over over 100 people. Numerous acts of heroism (my thoughts on lifeboat crew are well document throughout this site) but not a single loss of life, which makes it feature in the Guinness book of records.
We drive to a small village near our campsite called Porthleven.
It isnt time for dinner yet, so we go for a wander around on the sea front and cliff’s and have a quick drink.
As were wandering to the cliff’s, I saw this Seagull fly off the Landrover, land on the Jag and then relieve itself.
If I’d been the owner I’d have been furious.
We’ve had pub and barbecue on this trip, now its time for fine dining.
An amazing restaurant called Blue Haze in the centre of Porthleven.
3 courses and nice wine. Perfect end to a perfect day.
Another night under the stars, and the following morning its time for exploration rather than trekking. Were off to visit a place I’ve wanted to see for 10 years.
The Eden project.
Absolutely superb. Not done on the cheap, but done properly with no waste. What I liked most, was the culture. Emphasis was on working together to find practicaly solutions to make the world better.
It wasn’t poncy right on, and there were genuinely clever and fascinating things to see.
Here, a wall made from compressed soil, which has all sorts of advantages over a conventional wall.
My first site of the outdoor area (which is the size of 20 football pitches) and the unique biomes.
Breathtaking.
I wander around and especially liked this sculpture.
It was made from all the things you’ll own and throw away in your life.
It has 5 phones, 2 washing machines 4 computers and all sorts of stuff like that.
The whole place was amazing but most people come to see the biomes.
The one above was the Mediterranean biome.
It had a fascinating thing they’d created. It allowed water to be distributed evenly across something like gravel, coconut shells and stuff like that.
They had successfully grown tomatoes using small amounts of water and brick rubble.
That’s what I meant earlier about it not being “right on”. That experiment could feed people after a natural disaster, and make a real difference, not like the chattering classes buying rugs that are only made from hemp to “help the environment”.
The rainforest biome was truly amazing. I took 50 photos like this one, and didn’t really capture it.
Wandering around a jungle in Cornwall. The stuff of real adventure.
Have to say, of all the stuff I’ve ever put up on the web, this is one of the hardest to control the content. I try to limit the number of photo’s to keep things snappy and interesting.
I’ve visited (and lived in) jungles on many occasions across 3 continents, but this stands out in my mind.
Its really hard not to put up 30 pictures of this Biome.
Instead this 1 snapshot is meant as an inspiration to take a weekend out and go see and experience it with your own eyes.
It was so authentic, that they had this room for people to go in and cool down (it felt like an afternoon in Borneo !).
We have coffee before we leave, and there’s this really good sign.
It says if we shrunk the worlds population into a village made up of 100 people, how would the statistics add up.
Loads of interesting stuff on there, but more than half would work for 1 dollar a day !.
After a brilliant day there, we jump in the car and head for Padstow.
It was a Sunday afternoon and there was a brass band playing, so quite crowded.
But that’s not the reason we’d come.
I’ve always been a fan of Rick Stein. I was told he owned a chippy in Padstow, and I wanted to see the chippy belonging to the quiet and modest man with a love of seafood.
Is the picture above what you’d expect to see. Perhaps I’m nieve, but I did.
The reality is this massive building.
It has a shop selling Rick Stien food, one selling cooking equipment, one selling Rick Stien clothing, the chippy obviously, a cafe and the entire upstairs of the building is used for running cookery courses.
He also owned half a dozen places in the town, including a cake shop and a Thai restaurant.
Off home, and a few glasses of wine in our tent (complete with new awning) and off to sleep.
In the morning, we pack up and head for home.
On the way, we visit this nice pub, which I’d read about.
Its actually the Jamaica Inn, where Daphne du Maurier’s book is based.
Overall, a lovely pub, nice pie and chips and a pint to wash it down,before continuing home.
Did I enjoy my trip to Cornwall despite the distance ?
I’m going back there next year.