Cornwall's Atlantic Coast

Today we decided to drive up the 'A' roads to Padstow and then slowly drive down the coast looking at the bays and coves on the way back down to St Ives where we wanted to have a late lunch.

With a combination of Sat Nav, OS maps and IG's geographical knowledge we navigated our way along the lanes to the A30 avoiding Truro, then up to just south of Padstow.

The first port of call was Harlyn Bay, a pretty sandy cove.

Then down past Porthcothan

To Bedruthan where we intended to go down to the beach by the steep steps and have a good walk around. We really like Bedruthan and always go there on our Cornish visits.

This is Bedruthan Steps, we used to think the 'steps' were the steep steps by which you reach the beach. However the big rocks are the steps, used by the mythical giant, Bedruthan to walk along the beach!

We had already checked the tide times so we visited at low tide so we could walk right along the beach passing one of the steps with an arch

to the furthest bay

There is a narrow passage between the cliff and the steps to get this view and is only passable a couple of hours either side of low tide.

Back up to have a coffee and cake at the National Trust cafe

So tired from the walk and climb, but refreshed by the eats we travel past Mawgan Porth

Watergate Bay

and Tolcarne beach, Newquay

to St Ives where we had a nice but late lunch at the Seafood Cafe.

Then we explored the bits of St Ives we did not have the time, of energy to do yesterday.

Porthminster Beach, St Ives

Really odd 'cliff' at edge of sand!

Pedn Olva Hotel and Harbour from Porthminster Beach

Until six months ago this was called the Porthminster Hotel where IB stayed at Easter 1962!

Exploring Lands End Peninsular

The idea today was to drive around the Land's End peninsula stopping and walking at the many bays and coves on the way.

So off towards Penzance in dreary but at least dry weather. First stop was at Porthleven which is a nice village with a fine fishing harbour.

Back on the road and the next short stop was at Praa Sands

On the road again passing through Helston then along the Cornish south coast to Marazion and views to St Michael's Mount which we decided not to visit despite it being National Trust and free to us members.

So off again bypassing Penzance through the busy fishing village of Newlyn to Mousehole, being slightly delayed by a minor RTA between two cars which partially blocked the road.

Decide to recharge here in Mousehole with tea and coffee, delicious lemon cake and a teacake!

£6.90 poorer we head off to Porthcurno and after failing to understand the parking machine have a nice walk on the beach and around the steep path below the Minack Theatre.

Lunch time is looming so we head off to Sennen Cove in the hope of finding a chip shop.

Find one but as it's Monday it's shut, and so is the next one. Eventually find one open in St Just which was very good.

Next stop was at Levant Copper and Tin mine, another National Trust attraction.

Not sure we would have felt it worth the admission price but we had a nice visit and walk around: the best bits were probably those not within the charged area! The mine is 700 feet deep and goes a mile out to sea! We saw the working beam engine and looked down the shafts the miners travelled down to reach the mine.

By now it was mid afternoon but we decided we still had time and energy to see St Ives.

St Ives Harbour

By now the sun was fully out and we thoroughly enjoyed revisiting our honeymoon town!

Porthgwidden Beach

36 years ago we stayed at the Pedn Olva Hotel in St Ives for our honeymoon: the same hotel where IG's Mum and Dad stayed on their honeymoon 57 years ago (IG is 56 and 3 months!)

Pedn Olva Hotel


Pothmeor Beach

It was hot around St Ives so we treated ourselves to ice creams: raspberry pavlova for IB and lemon meringue for IG. yummy!

The last few blogs have been a pain with pictures taking ages to load despite being shrunk. Today I have used Google Chrome browser rather than Internet Explorer and have only taken 20 minutes or so to do this blog! A few pictures refused to go where I wanted but it was far better and pictures loaded almost instantly!

Lanhydrock House and Truro

So today (Sunday) we are actually off to Cornwall! Leave Tewkesbury on a damp drizzly morning to head off down to M5 and then the A30 with Truro our ultimate destination.

Decide to call in at Lanhydrock house (making use of our National Trust membership) for a visit and somewhere to have lunch.

The house was built in 19th century as a posh family house and is well worth the visit.

The Long Gallery inside is particulrily impressive.

The gardens are a blaze of colour

 

 

 

and after three hours in the car it was nice to stretch our legs in the now sunny afternoon.

 

So off to check in at our next Premier Inn just outside Truro. We picked it as we thought it would be a good base to do Cornwall, but were pleasantly surprised that is is well off the road and our room is at the back, on the end of a corridor overlooking fields and a view over the rolling Cornish countryside.

 

 

Quick trip into Truro to see the city, have a nose around the Cathedral, and stock up on buns for breakfast. The Cathedral is imposing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 but we were a little underwhelmed by the shopping area

 

 

 

 and the wharf is decidedly grotty: sorry Truro!

 

 

 

Back to the attached Table Table restaurant for a late Sunday Lunch which was very much better than we had expected!

 

 

 



Malvern, Severn Valley Railway.

Off after breakfast to see IB's brother Nic and sister in law Sue for a ride on the Severn Valley Railway. Sue is a (mega!?) shareholder so can take three guests first class for free as often as she likes. We even parked the car for free. Having seen Malvern Station on Portillo we made a small diversion to have a gander

and were most impressed!

Arrived just in time for the 10 25 departure from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth but had plenty of time as it left 10 minutes late: no problem as we are having a lazy day and were in comfy first class!

 

Nic decided it was time for coffee, tea and a beer so we stroll down the corridors

 

to the buffet car.

Whilst we were waiting for our order we stopped at a station and a large group of walkers got on the train and as there were no seats they decided to occupy the very narrow corridors: it was very hard work to get back to the luxury of our first class compartment.

This was not the end of the problems caused by these passengers. It was wet by now and we failed to get up one of the steeper gradients on the line. So we ran backwards and the engine built up a full head of steam and another run up the gradient which we just made! By now we were half an hour late and we were sure that we travelled at well over the 25mph limit to try to get some time back.

We stayed on the train whilst our disgraced engine, Cheltenham ran around to take us back towards Kidderminster.

We broke our return journey at Highley so we could see the Engine House and have some lunch.

 

Here there is an excellent display of engines,

 

a royal carriage (George VI)

and a Post Office travelling sorting office.

And the only car on display was......

...this Morris Minor!

So back to Kidderminster Station

Back by car to Malvern for an excellent dinner at the Great Malvern Hotel

 

and then back to Tewkesbury in the pouring rain.