Why not spend Christmas with us?

We still have Donkey Mill Cottage available at Christmas so why not relax, unwind and make the most of the stunning Cornish coast this festive season?  To find out more visit our website or call Judith on 01726 68202 - it promises to be a fantastic family Christmas!

I am pleased to report the donkey shelter is fully built now and the donkeys are loving their new home.  I will confess that I didn't have my wellies with me so I haven't managed to get a picture but I will do very soon.

Cornwall has hit the headlines in the last few days thanks to the terrible weather.  I am not going to lie to you - it has been horrendous.  The worst weather for sometime. I am very pleased to report we managed to avoid any flooding and only a few fence panels came loose.  It was though touch and go on Saturday night.  Judith and John were working in horrid conditions filling sand bags to protect the cottages, but their hard work paid off thank goodness.

We have now turned out attentions to our winter work.  Currently we are refurbishing Lovedays Cottage ready for Christmas.  Judith and Alison are chief interior designers and spend a lot of time trawling local fabric shops to get just the right material and furnishings for each cottage.

Preparations under way for the navity - so why not join us at Christmas?

Work never stops at Tregongeeves and our latest project is preparing for a navity in the paddock.  Richard and George, supervised by Judith have been busy building a shelter for the donkeys.  The shelter is a bit of a challege especially as it is being built on a slope.  Someone forgot to shut the chickens away so they have left their foot prints in the freshly laid concrete...at least it will stop the donkeys slipping.

John & Judith had a wonderful holiday away, fully refershed and rearing to go again.  I am sure Judith will show you her pictures if you ask the next time to are visiting.

Half Term was lovely here, the weather was kind to the guests.  We had some lovely carved pumkins and the winners of the quiz were Evie and Morgan who stayed in Quakers.

Our thoughts now turn to the festive period.  There is so many lovely things to go to in Cornwall in the run up to Christmas; whether it is ice skating at The Eden Project, carols at The Lost Garden of Heligan, Fowey Chritsmas Market or the Padstow Food Festive which is attracting more and more top chefs.

Judith is taking to being a Granny like a duck to water, which none of us are surprised about given her amazing ability to entertain children.  She is pictured giving Jessica some milk opposite, she is also in full charge as I type, giving me full use of my arms for a short while!

We have had some very sad news, unfortunately Wilma, one of our sheep recently passed away.  She sadly got an infection which we were unable to treat.  Alice has also been on stable rest as I mentioned last time after a run in with a bigger horse, however she is recovering well and getting back to her cheeky self.

Don't forget we offer short breaks here throughout the winter.  As I type right now the skies are bright blue and there is a lovely crispness in the air.  Cornwall is lovely all year round, but I think it is even more special in the winter.  You can also find details of some fantastic offers we have over the Christmas period.

Half term Halloween Fun

Tregongeeves is all set for the Halloween Half Term Fun.  Next week younger visitors are invited to take part in a pumpkin carving competition (I will be carving mine over the weekend!).  There is also a Half Term Quiz to see how much the young guests can find out about Tregongeeves - some quiz clues might even be within the blog!

Judith and John continue to enjoy their trip away in South America - tomorrow they fly to Brazil having been in Peru.  In the meantime their children Alison and Richard are holding the fort at Tregongeeves - anyone arriving this weekend will get to meet Alison if you have not met her before.

There are lots of things for you to enjoy across Cornwall during half term.  Why not visit Halloweden at The Eden Project - their ice skating rink is now open, a real winter treat.  Or if you fancy braving ghosts then why not visit Pendennis Castle near Falmouth followed by a trip to the Maritime Museum.

If animals are more your thing then a trip to Newquay Zoo would be a great day out. There are also a whole host of seals awaiting your visit at the Seal Sanctuary near Helston.

Talking of animals Alice the Shetland Pony is on stable rest after a run in with a much bigger horse.  She is healing well and loves company in the stable.  In fact since she has not been able to roll around in the mud she is looking rather glamorous!  The chickens are in the dog house so to speak at the moment as they are not laying many eggs - maybe they are missing Judith?!  Jack and Ginnie are being looked after by Mo & Eric while Judith is away so you may see them around the cottages if you visit.  Jack has had a short back and sides and looks more like a puppy now rather the old fella he is.

We hope you enjoy half term where ever you are.

Judith has disappeared!

Hello,

Sorry there has been a bit of time since our last post - the summer has flown for us all down here, especially since the new addition joined the family.  However Granny Judith has eagerly volunteered to look after her new grandchild every week which will mean more regular updates about what is happening here and around Cornwall.  However as I write this blog today I have a wriggly little person my lap which means i can't put in the usual links!

Anyone visiting in the next few weeks will notice a big difference - no Judith!  Judith and John are on a very well deserved holiday in South America - a real adventure of a holiday.  Mo and Eric are living in the house and have the massive task of looking after all the animals including the dogs Ginnie and Jack whilst they are away.

This week Cornwall has been bashed by the weather like the rest of country - this morning on the news we heard that some of Mevagissey has been flooded.  Despite the wind and rain, it is still really warm here and in between the showers we have had glorious blue skies.

Cornwall has so much on offer even when it is raining - locally there is the ship wrecked centre in Charlestown - the museum that time forgot!  Or you could get an annual pass for The Eden Project and visit the Biomes on a rainy day and go back another day to enjoy the outside gardens.  St Austell also has a bowling alley and lovely cinema.  Or for you brave souls don your water proofs and visit the Camel Trail.  We did this Sunday - if you start from the Borough Arms, which has a huge car park and does a great carvery you can walk through the sheltered valley admiring the Camel Valley Vineyard.

the return of the blog with lots of news!

Firstly we must apologise for the lack of blogs recently as you will have seen from the last blog we have been a bit busy with our new arrival Jessica.  All is going well and whilst Granny (Judith) wholes the baby I am able to make the most of using two hands and fill you in on the comings and goings a Tregongeeves.

We have had a busy summer in more ways than one with full cottages, new animals and the tourist board inspection.

We are very proud that we been awarded Four Star Gold Awards for another year by the Tourist board inspector which shows all our hard work over the winter months have paid off which hopefully you will agree with when you visit.

Full cottages have meant a full array of animal helpers for Judith which is always appreciated as the animal numbers are ever increasing.  Willing volunteers have helped collect eggs, feed Splodge, watch the blacksmith attend to the donkeys and poo pick from the sheep and horses.  Some of the helpers are pictured.  Thank you to everyone that has helped Judith over the last few months.  As for the new arrival - we have another donkey - Olga, who is a young lady is settling in well after some much needed pampering to her feet.

The rest of the animals are all well, still lots of eggs being laid after they had a bit of a sort of their homes last week.  We have welcomed two new horses - Alfie and Flo- to the livery.  Splodge is, well, Splodge - still telling everyone who will listen he is hungry!

Pictured right are our merry band of house keepers taking a well earned break after a very busy summer.  The team work hard every Saturday to turn the cottage around ready for visitors.

With a slight nip in the air of an evening it is hard not to think about the winter.  Fancy a change of scenery or a relaxing weekend?  Then why not pop down for a short break in a cottage.  With fast trains direct from London and quieter roads, Cornwall is never far away if you need to relax and recharge.

New arrival...of the two legged variety this time!

As you may know Judith and John have been awaiting the arrival of their first grandchild.  I am delighted to let you know Richard and I had Jessica Rose Clemo on Friday 3rd August weighing in at 8lb 8.  It was all rather quick - Richard was happily at work cutting the grass when I had to get him home - within a few hours Jessica was born.

'Tis Beautiful (as the Cornish would say!)

Golly, hasn't the weather taken a turn for the better.  We have been blessed with stunning sunshine since last Thursday.  It is amazing the difference a little bit of sunshine makes to the spirits.  Guests have been soaking up the sun on their patios and every night the smell of barbeques engulfs Tregongeeves.

As we worked the weekend we get a day off in the week and yesterday we took advantage of the glorious weather and headed over to Mawgan Porth on the North Coast.  Just a 20 minute drive away the coast line is quite different to the south coast.  The tide was well and truely out, but the cooling water was well worth the walk.  We set up camp for the afternoon and settled down for an evening barbeque.  Sausages taste so much nicer with the waves crashing in the background!

If you are heading to Cornwall for a bit for relaxation, why not try your hand at something a little bit different.  There are plenty of opportunities to hire a surf board, go out kayaking, try a bit of coasteering or simply hire some bikes from down at River Valley Holiday Park.

Looking ahead, we still have a few bookings available in September - our money is on an Indian Summer so why not pop down for a break when the schools have gone back and it is a little bit quieter?

More additions to the flock!

Hello there,

Just went I thought we were full to the brim we acquire a few more animals for the petting corner!  Today Judith has come home from shopping with some new black chickens.  I am not sure of the exact breed but have been told they are very pretty!  We will take some pictures as soon as they have settled in.

Rosie and Jim no longer look like little lambs anymore.  They are in the front paddock with the donkeys and Alice the Shetland.  They still act very much like puppies though and will come when you call them.  If you are visiting then don't forget to give Declan plenty of attention too...he may be a little bit older, but he was also bottle fed so loves the human attention.  Wilma and Betty are slightly more shy.

I am sure you have seen on the news and experienced the monsoon season that seems to be the UK summer.  Depsite the weather warnings that have been issued for the South West it really hasn't been that bad - and we are not just saying that!  We have had lots of rain, don't get me wrong, but it seems to come in bursts and over night.  In fact as I type this I would say that it is very hot and the sun is breaking through.  On Sunday night we actually had our tea on the beach, after I got quite sunburnt in the day (lesson learnt!), I am pictured walking along Pentewan Sands.

Cornwall will now start to get quite busy, the local schools break up this week and lots of people are entering holiday season, which means there is loads happening right on our door step.  In a few weeks the Charlestown Regatta will take place from the 28th July to 3rd August with lots of live entertainment, music and fun to be had by the family.  Slightly later in the month is the highly acclaimed Fowey Regatta taking place 19th to 25th August.  The Red Arrows display across the harbour really is worth seeing.

In you fancy a little a bit of culture why not visit one of the many outdoor theatres that spring up in Cornwall throughout the summer.  One of our favourites is the Miracle Theatre Company - they are hugely enteraining and are performing at The Lost Gardens of Heligan on 1st August.  Or you could venture further afield to the highly popular Minack Theatre, which is worth  visit in the day time to admire the views or to see a show in the evening.

"Ba ba black sheep (or white sheep) have you any wool...?"

In the case of Wilma, Betty and Declan the answer is no!  Finally our three sheep got shorn yesterday - although now the temperatures have reduced slightly I bet they wish they still had their winter coats on.  I am pleased to report all three were well behaved for the sheep shearer and now look very smart and fresh.

I am pleased to report the donkeys seem to be back to their usual selves and are happily wandering around the field.  However we are having to keep an eye on Alice; she is a very old lady and recently has been showing her age a lot.  Judith is giving her some extra TLC to put the spring back into her trot.

I would be exaggerating if I said we had been blessed with back to back sunshine this week, but the rain does seem to have come over night and in the morning and cleared by mid morning - which seems to work quite nicely for getting out and exploring Cornwall.

If you are looking for things to do on damper days there is plenty to do in Cornwall, for example, the more energtic amongst us could try your hand at surfing - it is one of the many things Cornwall is famed for after all! Or why not explore the Helford River by canoes (I fancy doing this!).  You could always wrap up and go food foraging - the in thing with food and countryside lovers.

Or if you fancy a more sedate and relaxed rainy day activity why not take a trip on a real steam engine at Bodmin - keep an eye out for themed days.  You could combine a shopping trip in Truro with a wander around the impressive Truro Cathedral, situated in the heart of the county town.  There is also Lanhydroch House, an impressive National Trust property that has one of the best upstairs down stairs layouts we have seen.  They have lots of activities on throughout the year for all the family.

"There's no such thing as bad weather...

...just bad choice of clothes" so a Cornishman once said.  Hopefully someone mentioned that to the Queen on Sunday, and it is worth keeping in mind this week!  In contrast from my last blog, I can confirm that Cornwall is slightly on the damp side right now, along with the rest of the country.

However, we are British (or Cornish as Richard would state), so we will make the most of the weather.  Ironically blowy wet days like today are a fantastic time to head to the beach in my opinion.  Let's face it you will get damp from the sea anyway, so why not wrap up warm, pack the swim suit (if you are VERY brave) and fill a flask with tea.  At least you know the beach will not be busy!  Cornwall boasts some truely stunning beaches, locally we have Porthpean; a small bech great for families.  Or a short drive away their is Caerhays, Porthscatho, Par Beach or Polkerris.  Polkerris is especially good as it has a pub and Sam's on the Beach - which is a fantastic little food place.

If you fancy visiting one of the many attractions locally why not pop to the Eden Project.  Don't be fooled into thinking it is all indoors however - about a 1/3 of it is undercover in the Biomes and various buildings on site.  Having spent last summer working there I recommend you go as early as you can, start in the Rainforest Biomes (the one on the left as you look at it and is the hottest) and then stroll into the Med Biomes - that way you can cool down nicely.  Then visit the Core Building and enjoy the gardens.  The gardens are my favourite bit - especially the Myths and Legends area.  It is worth checking out the website before you go to see what extra activities are going on - they are usually including in the ticket price.  Talking of ticket price it is worth booking in advance.  Right now I found a good offer on Buy a Gift website saving you 40%, or you can get tickets 10% and 15% cheaper on the Eden website.

I am afraid we have some sad animal news.  Blossom, one of much loved donkeys was taken ill last week and sadly had to be put to sleep on 1st June.  The other donkeys are like lost souls at the moment looking for her, but she was very old and had been with us for many years.

On a lighter note Rosie and Jim are getting fatter by the day and are now down to one feed in the morning.  They are such characters tha just love meeting new people!

Wow, it is HOT, HOT, HOT

Like the rest of the country we have been blessed with wonderful weather for the last few days.  A heavy storm over night has refreshed everything beautifully and sun is out again in full glory.

The poor sheep - Declan, Wilma and Betty are struggling in the heat and appreciated the rain over night as they still have their winter coats on - the same as you and and I walking round in this weather with a big coat on!  They are booked for a hair cut next week to help cool them down.

Rosie and Jim are now down to just morning bottle feeds now, so you have to get up early if you want to watch them race to see who can finish their milk first.

The bank holiday Monday sees the River Valley Holiday Park Duck Race, organised by John's rotary and raising money for Marie Curie Cancer Care.  I decided it would be a good idea to get a picture for the paper with our ducks and the ducks we will race...well I now know why they say you should never work with animals.  Opposite is the best of an hours worth of attempting to get the perfect duck picture!

Judith and I are off to the Hidden Hut today, which I mentioned in the last blog.  They have started a new Tapas menu so we thought we would try it out.

Rosie & Jim plus lots of chicks

Hello

Apologies I have not blogged for a couple of weeks, we have been on holiday and are rather busy ourselves as Judith will be having a new edition in the form of a Grandchild in July so as you can imagine we have been frantically trying to prepare rooms etc before the busy holiday season takes over!

Rosie and Jim are doing very well.  They even managed to weather a night in a horse box when we were hit with really bad weather a few weeks back and there really was 'no room at the inn' with all animals having to come inside - the only space we had left was the horse box!

They really are a comedy pair, leaping around and nudging anyone near by to see if you have a bottle.  Pictured is Rosie and Jim having their bottle feed - they LOVE being feed and meeting new willing feeders!  If you stay and get any pictures of the animals we would love to see them, sometimes we forget our camera when we are carrying eggs, bottles, feed etc!  You can post them on our Facebook page or email them to Judith.

As if Judith was not busy enough, along came a brood of chicks!  The little feathered friends are doing well and growing by the day - although they are quite hard work making sure they have enough food and water.

We are very excited about the thought of food at the moment, with lots of local events taking place.  Caethays Castle, set in a secluded bay in stunning grounds are offering the chance of a Lakeside Supper on 14th June (we already have our tickets).  Simon is famed for his food at The Hidden Hut, which is well worth a visit.  The Hut really is hidden but the food is amazing and warming if the wind is blowing in off the sea.

Locally we are also big fans of The Kingswood, which is in London Apprentice.  Having recently been taken over by  a talanted it is a becoming a very busy place - booking is esstential.  Or just a walk (if you like hills) or a short drive away from Tregongeeves is The Polgooth.  A traditional village pub wih hearty portions.

Feeding time at the zoo!

Rosie and Jim are growing up so fast.  They have loved having lots of new faces to help feed them, Jim is now catching Rosie in the race of who can guzzle their milk the fastest!  After feeding time, they terrorise the chickens, who are getting used to being chased after the eggs have been collected.  The are lovely little characters who leap around the field and are getting braver by the day.

Today Judith and I had a rare day off so popped over to the Tregothan Estate which has it's open day.  It only opens it's gates twice a year, as it is still a family home.  The substantial home is stunning, although like we pointed out if you lost your keys you would struggle to find them!

There are many more private estates open over the coming months.  Of note is Caerhays Castle which offers tours until June, and is set on the edge of a stunning beach.  Just outside Bodmin you will find Pencarrow House, which has been in the same family for generation.  Slightly further afield is Pentillie Castle which has a soft spot with Richard and I, a potential wedding venue when we were hunting for venues, we got to know the family who kindly open the gardens and house.  It is a stunning house in beautiful grounds, which, similar to Heligan were lost for 30 years and only recently found.

A quick update on Rosie and Jim

Finally we have managed to get Rosie and Jim to stand still and pose for a picture.  The adorable pair are now out in the field during the day time, a bit like excited puppies they play with the chickens and come when you call them!  They are still being feed bottle milk so if you go up to them they suck your fingers!



Rosie AND Jim

Well things never stay the same here at Tregongeeves for long...last time I told you about Rosie the very new lamb, well now we have an even newer lamb...Jim.  Judith has got Jim to keep Rosie company, and so far they seem like a very happy couple. 

Judith and Richard had quite a laugh at me last week.  I popped into to see Jim and couldn't resist the opportunity to feed them.  So in my smart work clothes I set about feeding Jim, whilst being nudged by Rosie who wanted in on the act too (she's a bit too young to understand 'wait your turn!).  Judith and John used to own a farm which bred sheep, so they are well used to feeding the young lambs, Richard and Alison used to help out.  For me, feeding Jim was my first experience of lamb feeding, little did I know you have to hold onto the teat of the bottle firmly, if not it flies off covering you and the lamb in milk.  As I learnt the hard way.  So straight home for me to put all my work clothes in the wash as I was covered head to toe!

If you are visiting in the coming weeks ask Judith about feeding the lambs - she loves help - just remember to hold on to the bottle VERY tight!

Cornwall, along with most of the country has been blessed with the most amazing weather this week, it has felt like  glorious summer days.  It has had a wonderful effect on the gardens down here too, with many springing into life, the colours truely are breath taking.

Looking toward to the longer forecast, it looks like April is set to be a stunner too, much like it has been for the last few years in Cornwall.  We still have some cottage breaks available - so why not pop down to unwind and recharge your batteries - April never seems to disappoint down here.

It is all 'Rosie' at Tregongeeves

I can hardly contain my excitement as I let you know the Tregongeeves family has expanded...we are proud to welcome Rosie - a new lamb to our animal family.

Rosie is an orphan lamb who we have rescued from a fatal future.  We have only had her since Friday so she is being kept in a stable until she gets used to us, but soon she will be joining Declan, Wilma and Betty in the fields.

Rosie has to be bottle fed, but also eats sheep nuts too.  She currently looks like she has been graffitied - this is just the markings that farmers put on lambs when they are born.  As with all the animals we are always looking for willing volunteers to help Judith at feeding time, so please do come and help us if you are visiting.

Snow - what snow?

Whilst much of the UK is blanketed in snow and freezing conditions we have got off mildly down here.  After a cold weekend it is now back to being quite mild for the time of the year, which is good as so many of the plants are getting ready for spring.

Alison and I had the great pleasure of doing a National Trust walk along the Helford Coastal path, taking in some stunning views of the coast line, and admiring some spectacular properties (we have picked one out each and will start saving tomorrow!).  We came across some amazing fields of daffodils (pictured) which I am sure will be in a shop near you soon, and many fields of cauliflowers!  Although muddy and a bit up and down we can highly recommend the walk.

No rest at the inn on the animal front; Judith has had the horse dentist out this week for her horse Tom.  He is a bit restless and someone suggested it might be his teeth, as he can't tell her what is up Judith took their advice and called in the experts.  By all accounts the dentist was quite amazing, like a horse whisperer - he had Tom behaving and obeying every command - most unusual for the wilful soul!

We are all off to the Hall for Cornwall this week - they have some wonderful shows on throughout the year. Sadly we didn't coordinate diaries and realised afterwards we have booked tickets for different nights - but we are very much looking forward to a good old murder mystery.

Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud...

...is what I am sure I heard Judith singing the other day as she slid about with the animals!  So much so we have been forced to bring the donkeys into the stables to dry them off a little.  On the other hand Splodgy is loving it!  he cannot get enough of the mud - in fact he seems to take great pleasure in making a real mess!  The chickens new run, which had lovely grass in for so long is now more mud than grass and the sheep seem to be growing ever bigger coats to keep warm!

You would be forgiven for thinking we are all quiet here at the moment - however there is no rest for us.  We are busily painting cottages,  replacing lots of furniture and giving the animals some TLC.  In fact January is an incredibly busy month, making sure everything is just right for the new season.

Thankfully on our days off we are getting to enjoy the beauty of the early spring down here.  Last week I visited Trelissick Gardens, just a short drive from Truro.  Not only are the gardens quiet they are looking stunning with snowdrops and daffodils giving us hope of warmer longer days soon.  I then proceeded to get very lost and ended up on a Ferry - the King Harry Ferry in fact!  Whilst slightly shocked by my new mode of transport I was overwhelmed by the sun setting over the River Fal - reminding why we are so lucky to leave here (you will be pleased to know after a slight detour I made it home safely!).  I can highly recommend the ferry - especially for exploring the Roseland - just beware - the roads do get VERY small in places!

As many of you are blanketed in snow as I type I can report no snow here, not even a flake, in fact it has been very mild lately here!

Feeding time at the zoo!

Hello,


We have been making the best of the glorious sunshine with a spring clean out in the paddocks.  Pictured are the donkey's having their breakfast.  Alice is now in with them, along with the sheep.  Judith has also cleaned out Splodge, who enjoys some fresh straw and the chickens in arcs have been moved to fresh grass...all achieved without slipping over in the mud once - quite an achievement!


We have been in glorious winter sunshine this week, with promise it is going to last long into the weekend (fingers crossed).  If you are thinking of visiting the Spring months truly are stunning.  It is a few degrees warmer down here, so everything happens that bit earlier, and not quite so many layers are required to stay snug whilst out enjoying the changing seasons.


A particular must at this time of year is a stroll along the coastal path.  The seas are breathtaking, fierce yet somehow calming at the same time.  And also incredibly quiet now.  Why not venture slightly further west for a days walk around the Lizard - The Three Sides of the Lizard is a lovely circular walk.


If relaxing sitting down is more your thing we stumbled across the time table for the Bodmin and Wendford Railway the other day.  With fun family events throughout year such as Murder Mystery Evenings, Easter Egg-stravaganza, Fireman Sam, Peppa Pig and Paddington Bear theme weekends it really does have something for everyone.

We are off to try the pub at St Ewe tonight - apparently it has been taken over - so we will give you a full report next week!

Happy New year!

Sorry I have not blogged for a while, it has been a busy festive period down here in Cornwall.  Alison was in charge of the Christmas lunch, and Judith was in charge of the Christmas dinner, both of whom excelled themselves.  We popped down to Caerhays Beach for a Christmas day stroll, it was stunning and deserted and the sea nearly caught us whilst we were taking a picture!


Then on boxing day we walked to Charlestown to watch Paddy, Alison's husband take a dip in the sea for charity - we think he has just about thawed out now!  We carried on our walk along the coastal path to Duporth and Porthpean.  (highly recommended in you fancy a short coastal walk).  We sat on the beach and had our flask of soup...perfect!


If you are missing your Cornish fix don't miss the new series on ITV.  'Cornwall with Caroline Quentin' tours around the county taking in our best beauty spots and meeting some of the locals along the way.


The mild winter has led to come daffodils already appearing in full bloom, which bodes well for the many stunning gardens down here.  On Saturday 11 February the National Trust open their Glendurgan Estate for the year with a Daffodil Walk, a 6 mile round walk in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care .  If you are interested you can book your tickets in advance by calling 01872 260500.  Or why not think about booking a trip down to see the amazing colours on offer at The Lost Gardens of Heligan.  We went in May last year and it was truly spectacular. Or slightly further afield why not pop into Trebah Gardens.


Don't forget to book early if you would like a specific cottage or week, we have already had a number of bookings for the coming year and would hate you to be disappointed. We either have our four or five star cottages, or camping and caravaning at River Valley Holiday Park in London Apprentice.