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.