A Cornwall Holiday

After fifteen successive years staying in Port Quin, last year we went to Northumberland instead. This year we were back to Lacombe, an NT cottage overlooking the tiny harbour.

On the Thursday we travelled down, we stopped off to see (brother) Paul and Miranda outside Bristol so we didn't arrive at the cottage until 5pm. We encountered some heavy rain on the journey but it was dry while we unpacked.

Despite both of us having developed a chesty cold and cough, we were able to go for a run down the Camel Trail from Wadebridge towards Padstow. Friday was quite windy but stayed bright so we were able to have lunch at The Granary before heading back for a quiet afternoon.

On Saturday it rained from Dawn until 4pm. I dropped Alison off at Polzeath to walk back to the cottage. I went in to Wadebridge to find some tablets for the cold and we spent the afternoon reading the paper and listening to football reports. In the evening we met (brother) John and Jan at the Pityme Inn and enjoyed a lovely evening.

Unusually, we had not taken a photograph for those first three days. This all changed on Sunday when we set off for our regular walk along the cliffs to Rumps. This time there was a large herd of cows blocking the path below Doyden Castle.

It was a much brighter day with some sun but very windy so the waves were quite spectacular.

We stopped at a deserted Lundy Bay where the tide was out.

By the time we reached Rumps, the wind was really strong and we had to find a sheltered spot to rest.

There were good views from here across Port Isaac Bay towards Tintagel.

On our way back the wind was at it's strongest. Not great for walking, but the waves were now incredible.

Monday and the wind had died down. I took the car to Padstow and ran 5 miles down the Camel Trail while Alison ran from the cottage to Rock and took the ferry across. She had to walk further along the beach at Daymer Bay to catch the ferry than we ever had previously.

Lunchtime, and it was time for lunch at Stein's Fish and Chips. I had hake for a change and Alison had grilled sea bream. In the afternoon we had a tour of the shops and a walk up to the monument where we sat on one of the many benches overlooking the estuary. The Camel Trail runs along the edge of the sea and across the bridge in the distance.

Back at the cottage in the late afternoon, it was warm enough to sit outside. There was a beautiful sunset in the evening.

Tuesday was a lovely sunny day for our trip to Fowey, somewhere we hadn't been for perhaps thirty years? We parked at the main car park high on a hill above the town and walked down the many steps to the harbour. I had no recollection of where we arrived, there was the ferry to Polruan which did not ring a bell. But it was a lovely spot and, amazingly,fairly quiet. We sat on a bench next to the harbour and Alison went off and found two take away coffees. Wonderful.

We walked along the main route at the back of the harbour, lots of shops, all the way along via Albert Quay with views across to the house that belonged to Daphne du Maurier.

However, when we reached the end of the road, there was the Boddinick car ferry which I could remember. We found another bench to have some refreshments.

Back to the main harbour, Alison calling in at the RNLI shop, and the ferry across to Polruan with views back to Fowey.

At Polruan it was a very steep hill to the other side of the small peninsula which faces the sea. A short walk along the cliffs before a rest in the sunshine.

On the ferry back, this was the view to Polruan.

A last bit of shopping and it was time to take the bus back to the car park to save our legs. I was so impressed with Fowey and Polruan. All the houses seemed very smart, there had obviously been a huge influx of money spent on them over the years.

On Wednesday, we headed for the NT car park at Carnewas above Bedruthan Steps. Starting with tea and cake outside the tearoom, we then climbed down the steep steps to the beach.

It was low tide, so we knew we had a long time to explore.

We were there for over two hours and it was 2.30pm before we had our lunch on a bench near the car park. In previous years we would head in the direction of Mawgan Porth but this year we went on the coast path in the opposite direction. Here we had the best views of Bedruthan.

We were amazed to see one of the (now isolated) beaches covered in sea birds.

Again it was warm enough to sit outside at the cottage in the early evening.

Instead of heading straight home on Thursday, the weather was again so good that we parked early in Padstow and ran the Camel Trail for the last time. We again walked up to the monument for a rest on a bench looking towards Rock.

A little further along the cliffs, we had a good view over to Daymer Bay.

We bought a sandwich back in the town, found another bench with a superb view over the harbour on another glorious day.

Leaving Padstow in the afternoon meant it was starting to get dark when we arrived home. Another great week in Cornwall.