Why not take full advantage of the Easter Holidays and enjoy a break in the stunning South West. Spring comes early here and it’s often our sunniest time of the year, so pack your walking boots or beach towels and head south to one of our fabulous cottages. Fluffy bunnies, cute new born lambs, bulbs bursting into colour and a good excuse to eat chocolate……what more could you want!
Castle Hill Gardens in Filleigh have an Easter Bunny Hunt and Daffodil weekend on Easter Sunday and Monday, perfect for a family day out in a beautiful countryside setting. If you are staying closer to the spectacular North Coast, on Easter Monday at Chambercombe Manor in Ilfracombe you can enjoy a magic Show, balloon modelling, various races including the favourite egg and spoon race, a bouncy castle, face painting and toy stall.
Of course you may just want a relaxing break away from the hustle and bustle with a chance to re-charge your batteries, and we can’t think of a more perfect place than our miles of golden sandy beaches and spectacular countryside….…we look forward to seeing you!
Form its very beginning in 1968 as an 18 hole pitch and putt course, for the use of campers, Holywell Bay Golf has given a massive amount of pleasure to golfers of all ages and skill level. Situated adjacent to the National Trust sand-dunes and overlooking Holywell Bay, it is a stunning location in itself. The course is entertaining as well as a challenging Par 3, so both the novice and experienced player will enjoy a round, especially navigating the cliff-hanging Hole 17. Holywell Bay Golf regard themselves as the best 18 hole pitch & putt course in the South West, so why not enjoy a round or two whilst staying adjacent to the course, in your very own Holywell Bay holiday home.
Holywell Bay Golf Club
Newquay
Cornwall
TR8 5PW
Tel: 01637 832916
http://www.holywellgolf.co.uk
If your nearest and dearest can’t face a holiday without there being some fishing time involved, then choosing a self-catering cottage close to Newquay may be just the answer. Between the villages of Cubert and Crantock on the absolutely stunning North Cornwall coastline is Gwinear Pools Fishery. Set in a beautifully secluded valley and offering 4 different fishing lakes, 3 of which are at competition level, this could be a fisherman’s dream holiday venue. Carp, bream, tench, perch, rudd and roach are all reported as available to catch. The lakes have different water levels and islands, to allow for a variety of habitat. As there are open fishing matches available throughout the season, your family fishing fans may even come home with a well earned award.
Gwinear Pools Coarse Fishery
Gwinear Farm
Cubert
Newquay
Cornwall TR8 5JX
Tel: 01637 830165
http://www.gwinearfarm.co.uk/
Newquay Riding Stables is centrally situated and easy to reach on the main route into Newquay. Just off the A392 and behind Newquay Boating Lake, you can easily find the stables. With the location being so close to some of Cornwall’s finest beaches, as well as scenic coastal trekking options, the whole family can enjoy an equine adventure whilst on holiday. Whether you wish to sample a taster session or join a whole day ride, the Centre will work with you to offer just the right combination for your needs and experience. Treks are offered for the complete beginner and the more competent rider. You could even arrange to join a “own your pony” morning to gain a better understanding of what this entails.
Newquay Riding Stables
Trenance Stables
Trenance Leisure Centre
Newquay
TR7 2HU
Tel: 01637 872699
http://www.newquayridingstables.co.uk
I love birds, full stop. Even the most common garden birds add such a great dimension to life, is it because they are free to fly and flit about, with seemingly not a care in the world? The answer to that I don’t know but I am glad they are around. As Spring is fast approaching, our mornings are now welcomed with the local Blackbirds declaring their territory. They are probably shouting something quite menacing in bird language, but to me its melodic bird song. Living near the coast in Cornwall means I get to enjoy all the wading birds on the shoreline too. Though sometimes you do not even have to go that far, as I often see some cheeky Ring-necked Plovers feeding on sandwich left-overs around the harbour-side.
There has been much excitement in Cornwall over the last few years, now that the native Cornish Chough, is once again happily breeding in the County. The Chough disappeared from Cornwall in 1973, after last successfully breeding here in 1947. Fortunately a small influx began in 2001 and from 2002, a pair have managed to raise some 32 chicks in the Lizard area.
As recently as last month, a beautiful red legged, red billed Cornish Chough was spotted in the garden of our new property Moonstones. If you are keen to try your own birdwatching skills, why not book a break at this beautiful new addition to Marsdens Cornish Cottage holiday homes. The property is ideally situated for any number of holiday options with beach, surf, coastal walking, and golf all directly accessible from the rear garden. I wonder who will be the first to spot Mr Chough again?
The evenings are lighter, the thermometer is rising and I’ve seen my first tulip – yes, its official Spring is here! (well nearly) and what could be better than a long weekend away taking in those crystal blue skies at our wonderful new property Moonstones.
This beautiful 4 bedroom property is situated in a very special part of Cornwall overlooking the stunning Holywell Bay near Newquay. As well as the breathtaking views you’ll have your own access to the lovely bay through your garden and across the dunes.
Perfect for an Easter break, come on, treat yourself and your family. It’s time for somewhere new!
A. A. Milne famously wrote this little poem in honour of spring: ”She wore her yellow sun-bonnet, She wore her greenest gown, She turned to the south wind, And curtsied up and down. She turned to the sunlight, And shook her yellow head, And whispered to her neighbour: ”Winter is dead.”
Even though most of the country has been gripped with icy conditions, we are fortunate here in Cornwall, that Spring really does come early. The daffodils and sols are already being flown to the mainland by helicopter, from the Isles of Scilly, to world-wide destinations. As I travel around the county at the moment, I am greeted with fields full of yellow, looking as if the sun has dipped her golden warmth all across the landscape. This is the fruit of the bulb growers labours, waiting until just the right moment to harvest the crop, where the flowers are a secondary bonus.
If you wish to view some of these early spring delights then why not plan a trip and enjoy a stay in a Cornish Cottage, we have a number of lovely self-catering cottages, throughout Cornwall. Choose your holiday home wisely and you will easily be able to visit Trebah Gardens, near Mawnan Smith. These beautifully secluded gardens, reaching down to the Helford River, are one of the Great Gardens of Cornwall and also one of the top 80 finest, in the world. Our Cornish farmhouse cottages at Colan Barton are only a short drive from the gardens at Trebah and if you book soon, you can snap up a special Spring Offer too!
Had a fab time at Hartland Abbey at the weekend. Although not open all year round, they do open for special occasions and the Snowdrop weekend was pretty special! We borrowed a friend’s dog, doned our walking boots and set off for the mile walk through the woods towards the coast. There were carpets of snowdrops throughout the walk – and photographers were contorting themselves in various shapes to obtain the best camera shot! The Abbey owners are really dog friendly and let well behaved dogs run off their leads – Jasper our four legged friend had a wonderful time. The Abbey is also hosting a Daffodil day on Mothering Sunday and a Bluebell week between 22-29 April. I have a feeling we could be borrowing Jasper for another walk…although I can’t see that he will complain!
Granite Planet is a great facility which offers climbing wall experience for all levels. The Climbing Centre offer over 120 climbs to try, they also offer the opportunity to use a traverse room and for visitors to experience maneuvering through a bouldering cave. There are fully qualified and experienced staff available to help and they will lead on every route, if this is preferred. There are usually about 10 top ropes up at any one time, ensuring the walls are not overcrowded and offering a safe and managed area to explore. Climbs do not extend above 8 metres high. The facilities on site also include a small shop selling some essential equipment such as Edelrid ropes, dmm equipment, harnesses and belay devices for the experienced climbers using the facility. There is also a refreshment area for immediate energy replenishment.
A s part of the Granite Centre, The Wall runs activity clubs on a regular basis for children aged from 8 years and above. The Centre also offers an introduction taster session for families or just a group of friends. These sessions are led by one of the instructors who will work with everyone, taking each one through a set range of routes. This session will usually take about ninety minutes to complete and enables everyone in the group to achieve to the best of their ability, offering a really good taster of indoor climbing. For those visitors wanting to progress further, the Centre offers a full induction course where you can learn how to become a safe indoor climber. There are also further courses to progress through, including becoming an Indoor Leader, or gaining experience in Outdoor Rock or Coastal Climbing.
Granite Planet Climbing Centre
Unit 10
Parkengue
Kernick Industrial Estate
Penryn
Cornwall
TR10 9EP
Tel: 01326 376633
http://gpclimbing.co.uk
If you love trains and steam, then a visit to the Lappa Valley railway is a must for you and your family. The line here was originally built in 1849 as a track to allow the movement of minerals from the East Wheal Rose mine. In 1973, Eric Booth took on the task of re-building the line as a narrow gauge railway that could accommodate a one mile track, to run through the Lappa Valley from Benny Halt to East Wheal Rose. Today car parking and the ticket office can be found at Benny Halt, while the rest of the activities are located at East Wheal Rose halt, at the end of the one mile journey by steam train. Visitors can arrive at Benny Halt and leave their cars in the safe parking area, purchase a ticket and enjoy the scenic ride to East Wheal Rose. The track runs through a conservation area which means it is completely peaceful and allows wildlife to thrive in it’s protected environment. Once visitors have arrived at East Wheal Rose there are regular scheduled services on three miniature rails to choose from, as well as access to the rest of the attractions on offer.
Lappa Valley Steam Railway
St. Newlyn East
Newquay
Cornwall
TR8 5LX
Tel: 01872 510317
http://www.lappavalley.co.uk
