Explore the secrets of West Cornwall with twelve of the most unspoilt secluded beaches and coves this week set along the hauntingly beautiful coast. They are almost a secret but not quite if you are armed with a well thumbed ordnance survey map and a pair of walking boots to follow Cornwall’s dramatic cliff top walks and lush valleys to the sound of the sea. So shh don’t tell and I will tell you some of my favourite spots to enjoy an idyllic day away from the tourist spots in unspoilt secret West Cornwall. Continue reading “Secret Cornwall – twelve secluded beaches” »
Christine Taylor
We stole a march on summer this month in the garden, working intensely to prepare the Italian Garden ready for its role in a short period film pilot last weekend and did you spot Ednovean Farm’s House and Gardens as “The Garden House” in Sunday’s Rosamunde Pilcher premier? (details below!) I think the garden stole the show from the house but our German guests said “it was like taking a visit again” and “Fairy tale setting!” Thank you to all of our kind European friends who told us about the film and sent the link so we could watch it too!
So join me this month to see my snaps of a few days of hard labour by ourselves and our gardeners and I think the result was pretty good although I say it myself!
Continue reading “Our February garden, stealing a march on summer” »
Image
Summer memories
Are you thought turning to summer memories now, as the last of the winter days give way to spring? Memories of warm, lush, days of delicious idleness; of summer days spent in Cornwall in an irresistible love affair between sea and countryside…
Summer days when the leafy canopies of the trees cast shadows so deep, you can almost drown in the depths of the lush lucid shade. Summer days bring bright rippling fields of corn to the countryside, stretching to the horizon as an unconscious proof of the bounties of the season. The swathes of faded gold enveloping the old mine buildings left from another era.
Here are some of my favorite memories and hopes for summer days to come in Cornwall!
Continue reading “Summer memories” »
Image
Apricot bedroom facelift
Some people wonder what happens during the winter time in a Bed and Breakfast – well believe me we still keep pretty busy and this week, our pretty Apricot bedroom had a facelift ready for her summer guests.
I spent hours in an agony of indecisions pouring over the Laura Ashley wallpaper charts on line because sadly the old thirties inspired paper had been discontinued and eventually fell for a lovely vintage inspired print with a contemporary twist called Summer Palace.
Continue reading “Apricot bedroom facelift” »
Image
In view of murmurations
Each day now I watch the starlings begin to group and gather in flocks overhead, swooping in their timeless ballet of the air in ever changing patterns. With the change of the season maybe they scent of winter ahead and they have begun to seek the marshes in Marazion each evening for their nightly roost the very best spot to see the fabulous murmurations.
There is a wonderful atmosphere beside the reed beds as regular viewers gather each night to watch the nightly spectacle and as I waited I heard some interesting anecdotes about the starlings behaviour
For and update pictures of the murmuration on Marazion marsh from last night (February 2017) and to see the link to our facebook post please scroll down to the bottom.
Continue reading “In view of murmurations” »
We could almost feel the history simmering in the shadows as we walked down through the sheltered valley of Poltesco to visit Carleon Cove on the Lizard Peninsula at the end of the summer.
The wildlife haven of Poltesco, managed now by the National Trust, conceals a long industrial history in the soft verdant greenery, in a timeless peaceful mantle.
We were charmed as we walked down through the sub tropical depths of Poltesco valley to the sea by occasional art works almost enveloped by the vegetation but artfully places there as a counterpoint to each twist and turn in the path. And yet how different this valley would have been when the Serpentine works was in full production and the cargo was ferried from the cove in flat bottomed barges to schooners waiting in the bay. Continue reading “Shadows of history in Poltesco Valley” »
Image
Memories of Sennen
As the winter days stretch out before us I’ve found myself looking fondly back on our autumn beach adventures and realised I hadn’t shared our memories of Sennen. Sennen was one of the last beaches that we visited before settling down to working life and routines of a winter farm.
The storm crested waves tore across the cove at Sennen that day, trailing plumes of spray that day and yet when we walked up towards the sheltered honeyed granite harbour with sea worn walls the sea lay surprisingly tranquil. What a timeless memory of a visit to sennen Cove to see my photo album
Continue reading “Memories of Sennen” »
Winter brings the white flash of a seagull’s wing against leaden skies and yet in the garden, spring is starting to stir as it comes back to life.
The first bright Soleil d’Or Narcissi have burst into flower at Ednovean Farm in the wild garden with new ranks of Daffodil shoots pushing up through the glossy winter grass each day now encouraged by the mild winter days. This Daffodil or narcissi is grown commercially on the Isles of Scilly and does well in West Cornwall’s sub tropical climate – Cornwall has held a subtropical status since July 2016 encouraging gardeners and growers to select new plants from an ever increasing menu.
For my Garden diary photos for December and January Continue reading “Spring stirs in my winter garden” »
Image
A walk with the sunset
A wonderful way to end the day is a walk along the beach in the sunset and for us it should be an easy thing to plan. Perranuthnoe’s Beach is just at the bottom of the village but somehow we, like everyone I think, are wrapped up in our daily routines and don’t put those minutes to one side for some special “me” time as we go about our daily routine.
So our first new years resolution has been to take five minutes “me” time and enjoy those precious moments of just absorbing the world around us with a little bit of extra post- Christmas exercise walking along the beach. Continue reading “A walk with the sunset” »
Another year has flown by and with it the glorious end of the year that is Christmas with all of its finery and celebrations. now it it onwards towards summer and we’ve been busy taking your reservations for late winter and spring breaks over the last couple of days. The question of the when to take the Christmas decorations down is coming nearer to the surface now as the twelfth night approaches and so I’ve done a little research into the matter and I found that it can vary between the 5th and 6th of January depending upon whether you start counting on Christmas day or the day after times two to the power of religion persuasion and interpretation – incidentally in Russia Christmas day falls on the 7th of January – imagine starting all that Christmas pudding agian but Happy Christmas to our Russian readers!! Continue reading “Happy New Year but when is the 12th Night?!” »