
Our adventures to the South Coast of Cornwall
Earlier this year, a plan was hatched between myself, my sister and her lovely boyfriend; we decided to plan a trip to the South Coast of Cornwall and to stay in a beautiful self-contained cottage, located in the picturesque fishing village of Mousehole, just 10 miles from Lands End.
The beautifully refurbished property was the perfect place for us all to stay; although compact, there was plenty of room, with a kitchen, dining area and living room with the most stunning views across to Mounts Bay. The property also boasts a parking space and a private garden that overlooks the same view.
We planned our holiday much later than most, as we wanted to be clear of school holidays, however we knew this might be a bit of a gamble with the weather. Despite our concerns, we were in for a pleasant surprise; the sun shone and was the perfect weather for exploring the South Coast and enjoying all the delights that Cornwall has to offer.
This was our daughter’s first trip to Cornwall, and the Cornish charm and magic brushed off on her the moment she woke on her first morning there. She instantly ran to the living room window and gazed out, excitedly telling us all what she could see.
Our days were spent exploring stunning beaches…
Sennen Cove is just a short drive through cornish lanes from our holiday cottage. It was the perfect place to visit with our daughter and for the boys who were keen to get into the surf. Sennen Cove is the ideal spot for families and surfing, and with a fabulous beach restaurant overlooking Sennen Cove, it was perfect for my sister and I, to have a glass of wine and watch the world go by.
There is a lovely coastal path that runs along Sennen Cove; ideal for walkers and for those with dogs as it is the perfect place to let your dog roam and take in all the seaside scents. Although Sennen Cove has a ‘no dogs’ policy, the Ben Tunnicliffe beach restaurant allows dogs, as well as other nearby beaches too.
Gwenver Beach, was a beach we discovered and loved. Just along the coast from Sennen Cove, it is the ideal spot for those who want to get away from crowded beaches. We parked all day for only £2 and with the parking run by a really nice local man, we were able to pick his brains on local spots he recommended. We parked up and set off down the steep steps. The beach is located at the base of steep granite cliffs and with its steep access it does stop the beach from ever getting too crowded, which made it the perfect place to visit. Gwenver Beach is dog friendly, so our dog was able to run around and enjoy the waves.
Heading back after a day on the beach was no bad thing when staying in a village as beautiful as Mousehole. There are very few places that can be found in this country that have held onto their ‘old world charm’ and character in the way that Mousehole has. Mousehole (pronounced “Mowzel”) has a small beach located in a sheltered part of the harbour which is popular with families. It is such a beautiful village, one of the most picturesque places I have ever visited. Mousehole’s narrow streets are filled with gift shops, galleries and restaurants with local properties huddled together around the inner edge of the harbour, which is protected from the force of the sea by two sturdy breakwaters.
We all happily strolled along the harbour wall in Mousehole and took in the glorious views out to sea, whilst enjoying the very best Cornish ice cream. There was plenty of opportunity for rock pooling in Mousehole, where my daughter collected some fish and some sea snails.
We visited some incredible places to eat in Mousehole…
2 Fore Street, which is a French bistro-style restaurant right on Mousehole harbour front with views across Mounts Bay as far as Lizard point. The food there was incredible, offering wines from local vineyards, and fresh seafood. 2 Fore Street also had a fabulous children’s menu which my daughter really enjoyed.
The Old Coastguard became a firm favourite during our stay too; with a local, seasonal menu, there was something for everyone and during our stay. While we visited Mousehole, The Old Coastguard also hosted their Real Ale Festival, so we were able to really enjoy our time there. There was faceprinting for my daughter (… and her mummy and auntie!!) in a beautiful belle tent, and the music was absolutely brilliant.
We saw a few bands, but we all especially enjoyed The Odd Folk. I am listening them them on Soundcloud as I type this, desperately clinging onto the magical afternoon watching them perform. The Odd Folk have been described as “Nick Drake meets a gypsy rave” and it couldn’t be a more perfect description for the band. We watched them as the sun went down; faces painted, pints in hand, with my little girl dancing and strumming her imaginary guitar with me and my sister. It really felt as if we were at the very best music festival, in one of those tucked away tents from the main stage, watching a great band just about to make it big… my three year old daughter’s first gig, and it was a truly magical one. Not just the music from The Odd Folk, but the blissfully relaxed environment of The Old Coastguard.
Of course, the weather did change for a few hours one morning, so my sister and her boyfriend took our daughter to a cafe while myself and the OH went back to Sennen Cove, to walk the dog along the coastal path.
It was the perfect day to throw on my boots from The Original Muck Boot Company. The Arctic Sport Mid boot are stylish and functional mid boots, made with the ‘adventurous woman’ in mind and are perfect for everyday wear and outdoor activities. The Arctic Sport Mid boot are perfect for dog walking; these multi-purpose boots are available in a classic black, and the sole is made from a non-slip rubber providing optimal traction and stability. The Arctic Sport Mid boot were just perfect for walking in the long, damp grass as we took in the sea air and breathtaking views of Sennen.
I also chose to wear my beautiful Birnberg Organic Cotton Sweater from Braintree Clothing. This organic cotton sweater was perfect for our walk as it’s relaxed fit was perfect for putting on over layers. The Birnberg Organic Cotton Sweater has a beautiful pattern on it which takes its inspiration from the iconic Fair Isle jumper. From Braintree Clothing AW16 collection, this is an item of clothing I will be wearing a lot over the coming months… and made from the very best quality organic cotton and wool I know it will last for years to come.
As our time in Cornwall drew to an end, my sister and I decided that we wanted to visit the place we had enjoyed our family Summer holidays year after year as children. We made our visit to Gweek on a cold, drizzly morning and as we wound down all the tiny, narrow lanes the excitement really built. Gweek was just as we had left it, many, many years ago, virtually untouched… in fact, the only change we could see, was the newly painted telephone box! We wandered around the village, and walked to the old holiday cottage we stayed in as children, again totally untouched, it was like opening up a box of blissful, childhood memories. It is just so rare to go back somewhere, and see it just as it was.
Of course, no visit to Gweek is complete, without visiting The National Seal Sanctuary Cornwall. The Seal Sanctuary Cornwall is situated in Gweek beside the Helford Estuary. The The National Seal Sanctuary Cornwall is a dog friendly attraction and is an interesting place to visit. The aim is to rescue and release seals back into the wild, but they do have some resident seals who can be seen and the rescued seals can be seen at the various stages of their rehabilitation. As you can imagine, my daughter loved it here, and chatted away to the seals she saw!
Our visit to Cornwall, had so many magical moments, gems of places we visited… most importantly, so many new memories made, places we plan to go back to and lots of much needed rest, relaxation and quality time with our loved ones. We will go back, of that I am sure, but for now, I have the memories (and nearly 500+ photos!?!)
I have selected a few photos to share with you from our time away…
// FEATURED //
Accommodation:
- Contact me for details; genuine interest only.
Places to visit in South Cornwall:
- Mousehole
- Greek
- The National Seal Sanctuary Cornwall
- Sennen Cove
- Gwenver Beach
Places to eat in South Cornwall:
- Ben Tunnicliffe beach restaurant, Sennen
- 2 Fore Street, Mousehole
- The Old Coastguard, Mousehole
Fashion:
- Braintree Clothing – Birnberg Organic Cotton Sweater
- The Original Muck Boot Company – Arctic Sport Mid boot
Both Fashion items above, were given in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.