Happy Christmas from Tregongeeves

Happy Christmas to you all from Tregongeeves Farm Cottages, we hope where ever you are spending Christmas you have a restful and happy time and wish you well for 2015.

walk along Pentewan Beach

The cottages are full of Christmas cheer with trees and decorations up.  Within the farmhouse where Judith lives there is a whirl of excitement as she prepares to host Christmas lunch for us all - it will be quite a busy day with a two year and two 8 month year olds, but one we all are very much looking forward to.  Having watched Paul and Mary's Christmas Bake Off special last night I have promised a ginger and white chocolate cheesecake - lets hope that goes ok.

This time of year the donkeys seem to fit in perfectly to the festive spirit.  Although they are a bit grumpy at the moment as they are in two separate fields as two of them are a bit fiesty and stopping the older girls getting as much food as they need.  As Judith has more time on her hands in the quieter months Tom the horse is getting lots of lovely rides, which I think Judith is enjoying as much as him.  Alice the Shetland Pony does a good job of looking disheveled a lot at this time of year, mainly due to long hair always looking a mess.  Do give her a comb if you see her.

Hot chocolate at Watergate Bay Beach Cafe

We have been making the most of how quiet the roads are down here at this time of year and have been on plenty of adventures.  We have discovered The Beach Cafe at Watergate Bay.  The dog and child friendly cafe is a real treat for breakfast and serves the most amazing hot chocolates - well worth a visit.  We have also taken several trips to Lanhydrock.  There is a new, huge play area along with miles of cycle tracks.  Right next to the new play area is a fantastic cafe which again does amazing hot chocolates are great food too.

Living so close to the beach of course we have been making very regular trips to the beach.  Just last week we took a wonderful stroll down to Pentewan - I could count on one hand the number of people on the beach, it was magical having it to ourselves.

Once again we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happ

y New Year

Best Wishes,
Judith & John, Richard, Heidi & The Girls, Alison, Patrick and William,

We made it through our stay

Our friends at Heligan

Jessica making friends with Diggory

Last time I told you I was in charge of the animals whilst Judith and John had a well deserved holiday.  I am pleased to report, all animals made it through my custody period - albeit a bit fatter than normal as I may have given them one or two scoops too many of food and got my wires crossed and fed Tom the horse each morning, even though someone else was feeding him!  All in all we very much enjoyed our time at Tregongeeves.  Jessica, our two year old loved feeding the animals each morning with the guests.  Luckily last week I had some brilliant helpers collecting the eggs and making sure I gave the pig enough food and Alice got her special breakfast each morning.  The hard part was getting Jessica to come back from feeding the animals without a go on the 'bouncy bouncy' (trampoline).  We took advance of the facilities on site though and took Bethany, who is 5 months for her first dip in the swimming pool and went on some lovely walks around Tregongeeves.

With the temperatures on the rise again this week it is hard to believe we are in autumn, but September is whizzing by.  We enjoyed a spot of blackberry picking last week to make a delicious apple and blackberry crumble and we have been crunching through the leaves.  Cornwall is fantastic at this time of year.  Not only is it a lot quieter but the seas start to get a bit rough making for some fantastic sights.  One of my favorite things to do through the autumn is to enjoy a lunch whilst watching the waves crashing and you really are spoilt for choice as where to go.

Our own pig - Ronnie

Locally you could pop down to the Driftwood Beach Bar, which is part of Pentewan Sands Campsite but open to non residents.  The small beach hut offers stunning views from the warmth of the recently refurbished bar.  The food is good and with a selection of hot and cold drinks you could sit back and watch the waves roll in.  My favourite cliff top location to enjoy breakfast from is Lenwinnick Lodge.  The Lenwinnick Lodge offers a great blend of relaxing dining with breathtaking views - even on a rainy day it is worth a visit.  The waffles for breakfast are my all time favourite.  Or slightly further along the coast why not try out the Watergate Bay Beach Cafe.  The stunning views are complimented by great food in a very family friendly environment.

If the great outdoors is more your thing then why not undertake a lovely walk - to be honest there are far too many to list - from local circular walks to long coastal walks - so ask us when you see us for recommendations.  A great circular walk is the Fowey Hall Walk - the views back over to Fowey are stunning and you can be rewarded with a great big slice of cake from one of the many cafes in Fowey!

I have to say with the piglets at Heligan I am there a few times a week to keep the children happy - we have a local pass which means we can go as much as we like.  The piglets are adorable, I know I mention Heligan a lot but it really is worth a visit right now the gardens are looking stunning.

animal antics expected

I don't want to count my chickens too soon but I expect some animal antics over the next ten days as Richard and I have moved into Tregongeeves whilst Judith and John take a well deserved holiday to Ireland.  Usually there is some sort of animal antics  - I moved the children and me in at about 10am, we went and did our animal inspection, and by 11am I have noticed that a chicken has managed to escape their paddock and is currently down by the house.  This is not good.  Chicken catching is one of my least favorite activities, especially with a two year old as a helpful helper and a five month attached to me!    Other than escaping chickens everyone else looked good; Alice is much better after recovering from a sore eye, the pigs were in good voice grunting for a carrot and the sheep looked a bit disgruntled about the slightly damp weather.

I was every excited to spy a healthy helping of blackberries waiting for us to pick and the elder bushes full of berries - I am hoping to make elderberry juice.  Jessica on the other hand was every excited to spy the trampoline, swings and slide; luckily I managed to distract her long enough to get past them without too much of a fuss.  If you are staying over the next couple of weeks we look forward to meeting you and showing you around the animals.

Last week we had a great train adventure.  We went for lunch at Lanhydrock - a beautiful national trust property.  The House is one of the finest examples of upstairs downstairs living - it is really lovely.  We went to the new cafe at the huge bike centre and had lunch there.  We enjoyed one of nicest hot chocolates I have had in a long time - it was HUGE.  If you do go make sure you read the menu board just inside the door - we missed that and missed the seasonal soup.  We ended up having homemade burgers which were delicious.  After lunch we hopped in the car and drove a mile down the road to Respryn and walked the path up to Bodmin Parkway Station.  With a train obsessed child this was brilliant - we got to see two normal trains and the steam train part of the Bodmin and Wenford Railway - a real treat.  It was spotting with rain but this didn't matter as the walk is tree lined so we were well protected.  This will be a brilliant walk over the autumn and winter months and is buggy friendly.

Last week we had not one but two trips to The Lost Gardens of
Heligan.  Mainly because of the piglets.  They are adorable - there are two litters there and the mothers are working very hard to keep all the hungry mouths full! It really is worth a visit.  Obviously we had to sample the cake just to make sure the cake was up to the usual standard.  It was!

Sunday adventures

Working in this trade it is sometimes a struggle to make time to enjoy Cornwall during the summer, but this year we have been having adventures every other Sunday.  Judith has been having adventure days with us as Richard, my husband works so the girls and I go on a magical mystery tour with her.  Without fail they involve very small roads and an element of reversing, a cake stop and somewhere to enjoy lunch.  Yesterday we had our latest day out - off we went with the car loaded with a picnic, pushchair and baby carrier, with me hoping I would not have to do too much 'skinny road driving' or even worse too much reversing.

As it happened we stuck to good roads yesterday and took the main road out of St Austell towards Lostweithel - once through the lovely village famed for it's antiques we turned off towards Bodmin - here it was revealed to the car of excited travellers that we were going on a Bodmin Moor Adevnture.  First stop was Golitha Falls.  Just follow the brown signs to a free car park and head into the woods following the river.  With a two year old in tow the first thing that sprung to mind was the Gruffalo Woods.  The stunning wooded valley is a magical mystical place with the tree canopy providing shelter from the odd spot of rain. The path is an adventure itself littered with tree roots for little people to explore - thankfully we took the four month old in the baby carrier as it was not pushchair friendly.  As the river crawls through the woods the anticipation to the falls grows.  The river falls a spectacular 90 metres in altitude and provides a peaceful setting to enjoy a Cornish valley at it's best.  I am very much looking forward to an autumn walk through the trees taking a flask of soup with us in a few weeks time as I am pretty certain it will be spectacular.

Back in the car we then drive a short distance to Siblyback Lake Country Park where we unpack the picnic and enjoy the view over the huge lake.  I forgot the picnic blanket so we are rather squashed on a series of baby blankets!  A great location for a picnic with toilets, play areas, cafe and free parking.  Not a great location to allow a two year old to play with a ball though - I am sure a few people laughed watching me run after it as we get to the top of the hill and she lets it go as it hurtles towards the water (the ball not the child!).  We got to enjoy gig racing on the lake and watch Granny teach Jessica how to roll down a hill - thankfully we all made it back to the car in one piece.

Next stop was a ride out on Bodmin Moor to the Cheese Ring in Minions.  Park in the free car park and wander over the Moor to the Cheese Ring Stones.  Jessica loved this, the soft ground with hills to climb and stones to explore proved a great natural play ground - you could spend hours up here just in one location or go for a circular walk (signposted).  Within the village there is a pub and cafe for food, or on the Moor with views across to Devon you could enjoy a picnic.

Final stop on our tour was Tregongeeves for a well earned coffee and homemade biscuits.  Here at Tregongeeves we have enjoyed a busy summer, with the animals having lots of visitors paying them lots of attention.  Alice the Shetland Pony has been getting some TLC as she has a sore eye, it is on the mend, but she has needed a bit more attention than normal.  The Pigs, who were new this winter, are well and truly settled in, and sometimes seem to think they are the boss of Judith.  As for the chickens, well they are well and as always ever increasing in numbers...or so it seems anyway - Judith always seems to have acquired a new chicken from here or there!

Do have a look at our website for some brilliant autumn offers to entice you down to enjoy the stunning Cornish coast during the winter months.

Regatta Season

It is regatta season here in Cornwall at the moment.  This week sees the fantastic Fowey Regatta - the Red Arrows  will be flying over on Thursday - their display is always awesome.

Next Saturday is Portscatho Regatta - a traditional regatta with an exciting highly visible course. Followed by the Newlyn Fish Festival on the 25th August - the festival celebrates all things fishy and is a real incite into the Cornish fishing trade.

Then the icing on the cake is the Falmouth to Royal Greenwich Tall Ship Regatta.  I am really excited about this as 47 tall ships from around the world - including 12 square rigged tall ships will be in Falmouth for the week culminating in a Parade of Sail on 31st August 11am -2pm.  With a small person obsessed with pirates we will certainly be taking a tour around the boats!

Trains, penguins and beaches with a splash of cyder

Whilst everyone is busy at Tregongeeves Farm Cottages I have been testing out a variety of local attractions so we can give you a first hand account of what they are like.  Along with my weekly trips to Heligan,  I have been off with our two girls (2 years and 14 weeks) testing out Lappa Valley.  Having visited before we had children I knew it was a lovely place, but really appreciated it this visit.  Lappa Valley is a children's delight, with miniature steam trains, electric trains, canoes, a play ground, maze and much more.  Before going check the train times to avoid a wait.  We arrived to catch the 10.30 train, it was nice and quiet.  Jessica loved the 'choo-choo' train up the valley to the park.  Once we had taken the ten minute ride we quickly hopped on to the electric train.  We then treated ourselves to bacon sandwich and a cuppa whilst Jess whizzed around on the peddle tractors.  The whole place is really fantastic for little people and I can not recommend it highly enough for young families.  The ticket price includes everything so there are no hidden extras.

If feathered friends are more your thing then why not check out Paradise Park in Hayle.    I will confess to not being overly excited about visiting a bird park - I am not the biggest bird fan.  However Paradise Park was a pleasant surprise.  The whole park is immaculate and has a nice selection of birds in beautifully maintained enclosures.  Jessica's favourite without any doubt was the penguins.  Especially the feeding time.  Followed closely by the tractor in the farm area where there were animals to pet.  The bird display on the lawn was very impressive and informative.  The day was topped off by a pasty from Phelps which you can get in the way...no Cornish day out is complete without a pasty!

In this weather all Cornish Beaches are pretty stunning.  If Jessica gets even a glimpse of the beach all I hear is 'bbeeeeeeeee'. So as you can imagine we are at the beach a lot.  Last week on Richard's day off we had a lovely day on Charlestown Beach.  We left the grandparents with the children whilst we nipped to Wreckers for a birthday lunch.  We had a delightful meal with the sea in view.  After lunch we headed back to the beach to see how much the tide had come in.  It really is a lovely little beach in a pretty village full of history and heritage.

We finally got round to visiting Healey's Cyder Farm - it is beautiful very much like time has forgotten it.  There are animals to pet and a great guided tour of the farm and best of all free cyder tasting which has resulted in us purchasing a selection of cyder matured in oak barrels - trust us it tastes good.  We finished this day out with a visit to Chapelporth Beach - what a find.  I read about it in my Wild Cornwall book.  The drive down is a bit hairy - especially when you meet another car but the small cove is quintessentially Cornish.  The life guards keep watch as the crashing
waves break whilst families play - the car park is £3.50 so make sure you make the most of the day.

Fun on the beach

As a farmers wife when her children were growing up and now running Tregongeeves a visit to the beach in good weather is the last thing of Judith's mine, but this week she has been not once but twice!  The glorious weather and now grandchildren to enjoy it with was too much of a lure.  So on Thursday off Judith and Jessica went to Caerhays Beach.  The stunning cove has the Caerhays Castle and Gardens as it backdrop.  There is a car park a few steps from the beach (£3.50 per day) and a cafe.  I wish I had been there to see the Judith wrestling with her 'ladybird' - a sun shelter she had purchased for the day which once let loose from the bag she could not return!  So much was fun we all headed there yesterday and it was indeed glorious.  The shetlered cove is a bit off the beaten track so it is quieter than many of the more popular beaches.  Ask Judith to borrow her ladybird if you head there!

The animals are a story of two halves, the last hatching of chicks have all passed on for no reason we can think of.  But Judith has now got more chicks so hopefully be have more success with these ones.

I am afraid it is just a quick blog today, the weather is calling us to tend to the garden and light the barbecue.

Heavenly scent of summer just around the corner (hopefully!)

I love this time of year when Cornwall really comes alive with the trees in blossom, lambs in the field and everywhere you turn bluebells.  Now I am no gardening expert but I suspect that the winter weather is the driver behind the stunning carpets of blue which seems to be everywhere you turn in Cornwall right now, and the scent of the bluebells is just wonderful and really raises hopes for the glorious summer I am certain is just around the corner.  Luxulyan Valley is a bit of a locals secret,  but worth a visit this time of year.  The old woods are littered with mining history and is a brilliant place for dogs and children alike and must for bluebell lovers right now.

Talking of woods, I was excited to see that Tehidy Woods, about a 30 minute drive away is, hosting the Wild Woodland Summer Ball, by the fantastic Rogue Theatre Company.  The magical woodland experience will have little  people and grown ups too enthralled in the magic of fairies, dragons and mermaids.

Closer to home is the exciting summer of theatre promised at the Lost Gardens of Heligan.  The 20th August sees the grounds play host to The Tempest by The Miracle Theatre Company - a show not to be missed.  We have had the enormous pleasure of seeing two productions by the Miracle Theatre Company and they are without fail brilliant.  So funny and wonderful actors.  If that was not enough we then see the arrival of the Kneehigh Theatre Company with Dead Dog in a Suitcase (and other love songs).  The Kneehigh are a well known theatre company who normally play to sell out crowds so book early to avoid disappointment.

Broody (Grand) Mother Hen

There has been a bumper crop of arrivals at Tregongeeves over the last few weeks.  Firstly Judith and John no longer have one grandchild - in the space of 12 hours that total was taken to three!  Their son Richard and his wife
Heidi welcomed Bethany Eve into their family, a sister for Jessica on the Sunday 6th April, and daughter Alison and her husband Paddy welcomed William John on Monday 7th April.  A very busy time for the family indeed!  Pictured is Richard and family at Heligan.

As if babies were not enough Judith has had chicks hatching left, right and centre too, I lose count of how many there are now, but lets just say a lot! Time will tell as to how many are hens.  Talking of hens they have well and truly started laying again which is fantastic news and will ensure some delicious cakes are being produced.

Talking of delicious food we must recommend a visit to The Lost Gardens of Heligan.  The food has really got very good there, especially anything involving the Dexter Beef.  And the cakes are to die for.  Huge and moreish!   Pictured are the shire horses sowing poppy seeds in the fields at Heligan, it was a spectacular site which made the hairs stand up on the back of your neck - it was like going back in time  Another recommend is the Cafe at the Duchy of Cornwall Nursery.  It gets very busy so go late morning to avoid having to wait for a table.

Here at Tregongeeves there are a few of us who are very excited by the forthcoming Gruffalo activities across the County.  To celebrate the Gruffalo's 15th Birthday there are lots of activities happening from free walks to events at Eden.  Why not follow the Gruffalo Trail around The Eden Project or take part in the Gruffalo's birthday party preparations? Or if you would like to take in the great outdoors and do a free event then visit Cardinham Woods.  Not only is the play area amazing there is a free Gruffalo Trail around the woods.  The cafe there does fantastic cakes too.

Enjoying days outs

I have been lucky enough to go on lots of outings this week as my parents have been down visiting.  As an annual pass holder at Heligan we were back there again.  A short car journey away,  Heligan really is a great day out - I know I rave about it a lot, but right now the flowers are sensational and with it being pretty quiet you can visit without seeing hardly a soul.  We also ventured up to The Eden Project.  We only popped into the shop for lunch and a few sovereigns for my parents to take home - but the gardens were looking beautiful - again the daffodils are a delight right now with so many different and interesting varieties out.  Don't forget though if you are planning a visit to book your tickets online, or search for an offer as it is pretty pricey to get in.  If you are a National Trust Member you can get in half price for example.

We also had our first ever trip to Trebah Gardens.  Over near Falmouth the gardens are well loved by young and old with a stunning selection of plants coupled with a brilliant children's play area.  The walk down to the beach is magical - a real must if in Cornwall.

I was also spoilt on the food front with a lunch out at the Duchy Nursery.  I love the Duchy; the plants are stunning, and I always have to stop myself spending a fortune - and as for the food.  Well it is delicious.  You have to get there early to nab a table but even if you have to wait the food is well worth it.  As you arrive you are greeted by the smell of a roaring log fire and a huge selection of cakes.  The millionaires shortbread (by which I judge most tea rooms) is one of the best I have tasted - worth a visit just for that!

No blog would be complete without a weather update.  It is good news I am pleased to say.  After a very long wet period we have been enjoying wonderful warm days and stunning blue skies.  It is so strange not going out for the day without layers and layers of coats.  It really feels like spring is on the way and with the nights really drawing out there is a real buzz in the air that we can finally start thinking about the summer in front of us.

I also need to mention the animals.  There has been no more escaping pigs for now, I feared for their future at Tregongeeves if they kept terrorising Judith!  We have a chicken decided to sit on her eggs in the donkey house - hopefully we might have some chicks in a few weeks.  Judith is borrowing an incubator to hopefully hatch what she calls 'brown eggs' - ask her about them when you see her, they make lovely chickens and eggs.  As for everyone else, they are all okay, enjoying the new lush grass that is starting to grow and making the most of the lovely weather.

Spring has sprung

The daffodils are out and there is a real spring in our step!  Especially in Ronnie and Ruby's step who have yet again escaped.  They just like company and also like to make Judith work harder than normal!  We have yet more new arrivals.  We have new hens, rescued locally, they are already earning their keep and laying some lovely eggs for us, we have missed fresh eggs so much.

After a pretty hard winter Cornwall really is beginning to flourish with bulbs out, and glorious sun rises and sun sets.  It is in fact our most favourite time of year to go and visit all the gardens that are within easy reach of Tregongeeves.  We were at The Eden Project over half term and had a lovely time searching for seeds and making seed bombs.  Then at Heligan we has great fun with the adorable lambs on show.  More recently Judith had a well deserved day off enjoying a leisurely stroll around Fowey.  The pretty fishing village is home to some delightful tea rooms and restaurants and has a lovely selection of shops, many of which are independent.

Welcome two little piglets

Ronnie and Ruby, the pigs have arrived and  are causing all sorts of fun and games.  The two girls have been rehomed and are interesting little ladies.  Ronnie has already developed a 'relationship' with Judith - in that she wants to be where ever she is.  This has resulted in many successful escape missions.  So far Ronnie has been found in the garden, down the road, in with the chickens, frockling in with the horses and generally having a really good time.  Now I am not sure Judith would agree this is a good time.  As along with each successful escape mission comes a rescue mission, which never seems to go very smoothly as they are quick little things!  Needless to say John has been enlisted to pig proof their paddock and so far so good, Ronnie has not worked out a new route...I give it a few days!  I did venture up to the girls this week in the hope of snapping them in their new home, however by the time I got up there the rain had turned to hail and was pounding me sideways so I retreated back down to the comfort of the Aga soaked and pictureless.

Despite the weather 'Cornwall is Open for Business' - that is the message from VisitCornwall and one we fully endorse.  In fact Cornwall is a striking place right now.  You can't help but be in ore of the power of mother nature right now and the dramatic way it is changing the Cornish coastline.  And despite the weather there are some amazing places to watch the storms from such as Lewinnick Lodge on the North Coast or on the top of Watergate Bay.  The waves are amazing, but must be viewed safely.

When it is not wet and windy there are signs that Spring is well and truly on it's way.  Yesterday was beautiful and the warmth of the sun was a delight on the skin.  The nights are also noticeably drawing out down here - 5.40 it got dark yesterday and the bulbs are really coming to life too now.  Daffodils are out everywhere so why not come down and enjoy the early Spring in Cornwall.

New arrivals due very soon at Tregongeeves

We are very excited to announce that we are expecting some new arrivals here at Tregongeeves.  As regular visitors will know sadly our beloved Splodge the pig passed away a year or so ago.  Since then we have had River Valley's pigs - Cinnamon and Nutmeg up here as their paddock needed a rest.  Well they went home  a few months ago which left us here at Tregongeeves pigless.  The place is just not the same so Judith is eagerly awaiting the arrival of two new rescue pigs.  As soon as they arrive, which will hopefully be next week I will post a picture.  We are very excited.

On other animal news the chickens are gradually starting to lay again, although it is not the large numbers we enjoy in the summer.  Alice the Shetland looks a mess all the time at the moment as she cannot resist a good roll in mud - and we have qute a lot of that at the moment.  The sheep still look huge with their winter coats on.  Despite a local farmer and friend trying to persuade us to, we will not be taking on any lambs this year, as they are such hard work to bottle feed all the time.  I suspect very soon though as the weather improves we might see some chicks arrive on the farm.

Right now the cottages are shut for our winter works.  We are busy installing new tiles into the swimming pool and we have a stunning two storey playhouse to go up outside - although we do need a little bit of sunshine for this work to happen!  We are also giving the cottage a lick of paint and changing the following in some of them.

We do still have some last minute availability for the February Half Term so why not pop down for an early spring break with us.

Stormy but safe

Happy New Year from all at Tregongeeves Farm Cottages.  We had a lovely Christmas;  Judith and John spent New Year in London taking in the fireworks and enjoying some good food.    John has now headed off for his annual ski trip whilst Judith holds the fought at Tregongeeves (skiing is not her favourite past time!).  The cottages are shut until the February Half Term which means we are in full spring cleaning mode.  The Christmas decorations are stashed away for another year and the paint brushes are out.

The South West has featured heavily in the news over recent days after baring the brunt of some fairly unforgiving storms.  It has been a wet and windy few days; this morning we were awoken at 5am by a fierce thunder storm, which was directly over head - the lightning show was pretty spectacular.  Opposite is the view from Heidi and Richard's road on Friday when the hail came down so hard it was like a flowing river down the road.

As for Tregongeeves we are fairing okay.  The animals have been kept in on the worst of the days and the chickens have finally started laying again - only one a day mind you!  Even Ginny the dog is not that keen to go outside at the moment.  Over than a lot of mud we have thankfully come off rather well considering the terrible weather.

Locally there are reports of isolated flooding - I am sure you will have seen that Looe was flooded on the National News and in Newquay the loss of so much sand has revealed a shipwreck no one knew existed.  Other than that the area was well prepared and we are coping pretty well.  The sun today was a welcome relief to a tough few days.

One of my favourite things about Cornwall is how the mild climate makes the plants come to life earlier after the winter.  Despite the aforementioned weather the bulbs are well and truly sprouting and the first snow drops are about to come into flower.  For some reason this gives me hope that soon we will be in full spring here and then it is not long the stunning Cornish Gardens are a truly wonderful spectacle
.