Surf’s Up Bude North Cornwall

Posted on 13th March 2018 by Jacqueline Bolt

Surfing the waves in Bude North Cornwall along the wonderful coastline near our luxury Cornish cottages with Luxury Cornwall Holiday Cottages

Great Surfing in Bude North Cornwall on beaches close to our luxury Cornish cottages

Bude, North Cornwall is home to two of the top 7 surfers to look out for in 2018; Reubyn Ash and Jobe Harris.

Reubyn Ash is recognised as one of the best surfers in the UK right now. Often seen surfing alongside his brother Joss, won the Men’s Open last year (2017).

Jobe Harriss was Men’s Open winner in 2016, but narrowly missed out on the title in 2017. Jobe is the highest placed British surfer at the Boardmasters WSl QS1000 for the last 2 years.

The other 5 top surfers are listed as Patrick Langdon-Dark from Swansea, Wales, Sam Hearn based in Exeter, Alys Barton, Lucy Campbell based in Woolacombe, and Lukas Skinner from St Agnes, North Cornwall. All 7 are now competing on the World Surf League Qualifying Series. For more information visit UKProSurf.com

Bude North Cornwall

Bude North Cornwall attracts surfers worldwide due to its 5 west facing beaches that provide challenging surf from the Atlantic swell. These best surfing beaches cater for surfers from beginner to experienced, with surf lessons available from qualified and experienced surfers.

The Beaches:

This holiday cottage, The Cottage, is one of Two 5 star GOLD Luxury Cottages Cornwall near Bude Natural Sea Pool. The Cottage a luxury cottage Cornwall and Meadowview Cottage a luxury cottage Cornwall both availble from Luxury Cornwall Holiday Cottages, keyholder to two 5 star Gold luxury cottages Cornwall

Summerleaze Beach, Bude North Cornwall also has a fabulous natural sea swimming pool

SUMMERLEAZE BEACH is suitable for both experienced surfers and beginners. Lifeguards are on the beach throughout the summer months and there are several nearby surf schools offering courses for complete novices or intermediates wanting to brush up on their skills. These include: Big Blue Surf School, Bude Surfing Experience, and Raven Surf.

CROOKLETS BEACH Crooklets is a short drive north along the coast from Bude, Great for experienced surfers, however watch out for submerged rocks at high tide and occasional rip tides. This beach has excellent facilities, with a large car park, a children’s play area, a skate park, a beach cafe and showers, and has lifeguards on duty every day between 6 May and 27 September. You can see what the waves are like via the Crooklets webcam, and surf hire is available from the nearby Big Blue Surf School.

Looking across Widemouth Bay to Morwenstow, Bude North Cornwall minutes from our dog friendly and family friendly Luxury Holiday Cottages Cornwall

WIDEMOUTH BAY stretches over one and a half miles is probably the most popular surfing beach as it is perfect for learners with experienced surfers taking advantage of the high tide. Check out the surf on the Widemouth Bay webcam. For surf hire and lessons, choose from Outdoor Adventure or Freewave Surf Academy. The beach is patrolled by lifeguards every day between 30 April and 25 September.

SANDYMOUTH BEACH is not for beginners due to its dangerous rips, currents and larger waves. RNLI lifeguards are present at the beach patrolling every day between 21 May and 25 September. Dogs are welcome on the beach all year round. However, with a fairly steep ravine leading down to the beach from the carpark, plus some steps, access to the beach is particularly difficult for the less mobile and for families with pushchairs. For surf hire, visit Sandymouth Surf School, and for the surf report, check the Sandymouth Surf Report and Forecast.

NORTHCOTT MOUTH. Northcott Mouth is a gem of a bay suitable for beginners when the surf is low, however when the surf gets bigger rip tides make it suitable only for experienced surfers. A word of warning, during spring high tides and sometimes at normal high tides, the rocks at the base of the cliffs can be submerged by the sea, creating danger for surfers. However, at low tide be watchful for the wreck of the SS Belem which comes into view.

A lifeguarded is usually on duty every day between 4 July and 6 September. Northcott Mouth is a National Trust beach with a small car park above. Bring your own picnic and surf board as there are very limited facilities if any.

Outside of Bude North Cornwall

Just a short drive from The Cottage are two further surfing beaches, loved by the local surf dudes:

A luxury cottage Cornwall favourite beach, Trebarwith Strand. Both a child friendly beach and dog friendly beach just 20 mins from our two 5 star gold luxury cottages Cornwall, available from Luxury Cornwall Holiday Cottages

Trebarwith Strand, North Cornwall

TREBARWITH STRAND. Trebarwith is a great family favourite where lifeguards are on duty throughout the summer. A lovely sandy beach with the Port William Inn on the cliff above and cafes, and a surf board shop are close to the beach. The surf can get really high, great for the experienced surfers, but beginners can take advantage of low surf on balmy days. Car park a short walk from the beach. Trebarwith Strand beach is dog friendly all year round. Check out the Trebarwith Strand Surf Report and Forecast

A luxury cottage Cornwall favourite where Children body surf at Crackington Haven beach, Bude North Cornwall, just 10 min from our luxury cottages Cornwall. Child friendly beach and dog friendly beach 20 mins from our two 5 star gold premier self catering holiday cottages available from Luxury Cornwall Holiday Cottages. Luxury cottages Cornwall at their best

Children body surfing at Crackington Haven Beach, Bude, North Cornwall

CRACKINGTON HAVEN. Another favourite for surfers of all levels and a favourite for families with young children as great facilities are within a short walk from the beach, including the car park, shops and the Coombe Barton Inn which overlooks the beach and is dog friendly. Check out the Crackington Haven Surf Report and Forecast

For more information including postcodes for the above beaches and more, take a look at the North Cornwall beaches page on this website.

Spring has Arrived 3 Weeks Early in Cornwall

Posted on 27th February 2018 by Jacqueline Bolt

Cornwall Champion Magnolias herald the start of Spring

Cornwall Champion Magnolias herald the start of Spring, despite the ‘Beast from the East’ bringing the UK some of the coldest weather in a long time, The Great Gardens of Cornwall have officially announced that Spring arrived yesterday, 26th February 2018.

Traditionally, flowering Champion Magnolias signal the start of spring, and this week the six Champion Magnolias campbellii trees have each flowered with over 50 blooms, signifying the start of Spring. These magnificent trees are spread between Caerhays Castle Gardens, Trebah Garden, Tregothnan, Trewidden, Trewithen and The Lost Gardens of Heligan.

This announcement means that spring has arrived in Cornwall up to three weeks earlier than the rest of the UK.

Amazingly this year’s start of Spring is far later than that of 2015, when the 6 Champion Magnolias flowered on January 21^st. Nevertheless, Cornwall’s mild climate means that it usually enjoys a very early spring – nearly a month ahead of the rest of the UK.

The concept of Cornish flowering Champion Magnolias heralding the arrival of spring, was founded by Toby Ashworth of The Nare Hotel, in partnership with The Great Gardens of Cornwall. It was in response to the fact that, by waiting until May, many garden lovers were missing the most splendid sight of all – the flowering of the magnolias, which occurred in February and March each year, partly due to the warmth of the Gulf Stream.

Although the Great Gardens of Cornwall are stunning at any time of year, one of the very best times to visit Cornish spring gardens is when Cornish Magnolias are in full bloom during the early part of the season. Cornwall is home to some of the most exciting, rare and beautiful plants and trees in the British Isles and, for those who enjoy seeing gardens in full bloom, they are a sight not to be missed

The Cottage at a Glance

Posted on 1st October 2017 by Jacqueline Bolt

Take a peek at one of North Cornwalls’ most popular holiday cottages. All 5 star reviews for a 5-star cottage near Bude, Boscastle, Port Isaac

Cornwall Strikes Gold Again

Posted on 30th September 2017 by Jacqueline Bolt

Port Isaac, North Cornwall

This time with an award winning fish restaurant just a 30 mins drive from our luxury Cornwall holiday cottages in Trelash.

In our little corner of Cornwall on the North Cornwall coast is a Cornish fish restaurant that has been named best in the UK, toppling the previous winner’s five year reign of the Good Food Guide’s Best Restaurant List!

Port Isaac’s Restaurant Nathan Outlaw, named after its owner, is now The Good Food Guide’s No 1 restaurant ending Cumbria’s L’Enclume, winning run. Traditional favourites such as Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck and The Ritz have been beaten into 5^th and 28^th respectively in the Good Food Guide’s top 50 list.

Nathan Outlaw, a 39-year-old chef who founded the two Michelin star restaurant in 2007 and first made it on the list in 2009 at number 11, described the news as “phenomenal” and attributed the success to the “hard work of the team”.

The Good Food Guide, which is published by Waitrose, started ranking the UK’s restaurants way back in 1951. The guide restaurant list is assembled using thousands of recommendations sent in by the public. Inspectors are then sent to each of the chosen restaurants, incognito, before reporting back on their experience.

For many years North Cornwall has been ignored by tourists traveling down to the south coast, but with Nathan Outlaw, Doc Martin and Poldark all flying the North Cornwall flag, the message is getting across that we have so much more to offer than just a Cornish cream tea as tourist pass through.

Well done Nathan, a great achievement for North Cornwall, our local fishermen and the tourist industry.

Dark Sky Reserve: Bodmin Moor, North Cornwall

Posted on 9th July 2017 by Jacqueline Bolt

Bodmin Moor, North Cornwall; a Dark Sky Reserve

Dark sky at night, Cornish delight. North Cornwall is home to fabulous night skies, with clear views of the Milky Way stars possible on cloudless nights. The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) has now officially recognised that Bodmin Moor in North Cornwall has some of the darkest skies in the UK by designating it a Dark Sky Reserve.

On the 7^th July, 2017, 80 square miles of Bodmin Moor in North Cornwall, already protected as an area of outstanding natural beauty, became one of very few locations to be designated a Dark Sky Reserve by the International Dark Sky Association. A status comparable to that of a World Heritage Site.

The International Dark-Sky Association designations are for places that have an exceptionally high quality night sky and have made a commitment to avoid light pollution. For example, new light covers have been placed over streetlights and guidance produced for home-owners on how to minimise light pollution.

Other Dark Sky Reserves in the UK with designations include Exmoor, Dartmoor, South Downs, Brecon Beacons, Elan Valley, Snowdonia and parts of Northumberland and Scotland

For an opportunity to view some of these amazing night skies for yourself, contact www.Luxurycornwallholidaycottages.co.uk a family owned business that has two fabulously stylish, country chic, holiday cottages situated on the edge of Bodmin Moor, yet only 10 mins drive to the North Cornwall coast.

North Cornwall also has spectacular sunsets – not seen on the South Coast.

How much more romantic can it be than sitting outside your holiday cottage with a loved one watching ‘sky rockets at night….’ or relaxing watching the sun go down?

A spectacular North Cornwall Sunset

Leopallooza Festival

Posted on 8th July 2017 by Jacqueline Bolt

Leopallooza Festival Rag ‘n’ Bone Man

Who would have thought that within in a 13 minute drive (4.2 miles) from The Cottage in Trelash, you could come across North Cornwall’s Leopallooza Festival. The independently run festival is hosted at Lower Exe Farm, Week St Mary, EX22 6UX. This year will be the 11^th Leopallooza Festival, with over 100 acts performing across 7 stages.

Leopallooza Festival Location North Cornwall

Leopallooza Festival only 13 mins drive from The Cottage in Trelash, North Cornwall

The award-winning festival has built a reputation of hosting emerging new talent, with a strong history of booking artists just before they break into the mainstream. Bastille played low on the bill in 2012, before the release of their debut Bad Blood, and returned as headliners in 2013. Rag’n’Bone Man played on the main stage in 2016, a full six months before releasing his bestselling debut album. Eliza Doolittle appeared at the festival in 2010, and released her platinum-selling album the same summer.

This year’s headliners are the Indie trio,The Cribs, and Maximo Park, with Gabrielle Amber Run, Aplinm, Seafret, Pulled Apart By Horses, The Japanese House and Samm Henshaw plus many more confirmed artists. The festival is known for attracting and hosting new bands and artists in the UK, as well as the cream of the regional music scene, across seven stages. As well as homegrown talent, Leopallooza attracts bands, musicians & DJs from around the world.

This year sees the addition of two new stages in the 7 stage lineup, including the Punkomedy stand-up comedy stage, and a platform for the county’s local musical talent supported by BBC Music Introducing in Cornwall.

The gates will be opening at 10.00am on the 28^th July, with the festivities ending at 11.55pm on the 30^th July. Within 20 minutes of being released the1500 early bird tickets were sold out; an indication of the growing popularity of this North Cornwall event.

Over the 3-day festival, 100+ local, national and international acts will be appearing across the 7 different stages nestled in the little Cornish valley only a few miles from some of the best beaches in the UK.

Camping on site is included in your entry ticket, but if you want to taste a slice of laid-back Glamping during your Leopallooza weekend, then you could opt to book one of the ‘native outdoor’ bell tents costing from £210 for 2-3 people.

Families and those with young children are well catered for, with a dedicated kids’ area and crèche. The 20 food vendors at the festival will serve a wide variety of menus suitable for all tastes and price ranges.

Save £hundreds, Book with Holiday Home Owners Direct

Posted on 30th May 2017 by Jacqueline Bolt

Save money: Book with Holiday Home Owners Direct

Set yourself free and save money by booking with the holiday home owners direct

There has never been a better time to save your hard earned money than when booking your UK holidays. Instead of using online travel agents such as Trip Advisor, HomeAway and AirBnB, consider booking with holiday home owners direct to save what could be hundreds of pounds in booking commission when using these agencies.

If you have ever found your ideal holiday cottage using one of these online travel agencies and then thought to search for the cottage owner’s independent website, you may have been staggered to see how much you could save by booking with the holiday home owners direct.

As a holiday home owner and a user of these agencies to market my home to you, my potential guest, I do of course expect to pay a commission when a confirmed booking is received via such a website. But what shocked me recently was the quotation I received when I play-acted as a potential guest and asked each of these agencies to quote me for a holiday in my own holiday cottage. I was staggered to find that each one added anything up to nearly £200.00 for the privilege of booking the holiday via their website!

Everyone has to earn a living so I have no qualms about paying a booking commission if someone books a holiday at my cottage via one of these online travel agents, after all they have provided me with a means to an end to renting my cottage. But to find that for guests looking to book accommodation are also charged a significant amount for using their website, it astounds me that more people looking for holiday accommodation do not take a little more time to search the web to find the holiday home owners direct, independent website in order to save themselves what could be as much as £100’s.

If you are looking to book a luxury, self catering cottage in North Cornwall, then start by looking at The Cottage, North Cornwall website and save yourself a substantial booking commission fee that you might otherwise need to pay by using an online travel agency.

South West Coast Path

Posted on 7th May 2017 by Jacqueline Bolt

The South West coast path provides spectacular views along the North Cornwall coast line

May 2017 is National Walking Month so get your walking boots on, stretch your legs and enjoy quality time with family, friends and dog, on the South West Coast Path in North Cornwall.

National Walking Month is all about promoting the benefits of walking, no matter what your fitness level. Walking is easy, free, healthy and good for your soul especially if you can breathe in clean sea air and enjoy stunning coastal views at the same time.

The South West Coast Path stretches along some of the UK’s most beautiful coastline for 630 miles and is the longest National Trail in the country. Coastguards originally created the footpaths as they patrolled the South West peninsula looking for smugglers. Every inlet had to be checked, so their pathways were well trod and created the coats paths we all benefit from today. Over time, the paths were also used by fishermen seeking shoals of fish or to check sea conditions before venturing out. Today walkers seek out cream teas, seal spotting and local history along the paths.

The beautiful South West coast footpath starts at Minehead in Somerset, running along the coastline of Exmoor along the coast of North Devon and into North Cornwall. Joining the footpath here you can walk the entire coastline of Cornwall, across the mouth of the River Tamar and back into Devon. Not that I am suggesting you do this in one go!

But a great way to experience the exhilarating sea air and the stunning cliff top views is to cherry pick your daily coast path walk whilst staying in a luxury holiday cottage, knowing that, even on the most blustery day, you have a cosy, warm cottage to return to where you can enjoy a relaxing bath and a steaming hot chocolate whilst warming your toes in front of the wood burner.

The Cottage, a luxury holiday cottage near Bude, is only a 10 mins drive to the nearest section of the spectacular South West coast path. So each day you can cherry pick which section to walk for a daily dose of WOW factor. You have 39.2miles of South West coast path between Bude and Polzeath to choose from, so every day will be a new experience.

The South West Coast Path is a wonderful national treasure; it’s free to walk and everyone should try it at least once.

Visit my dedicated Walking in North Cornwall website page for full information. http://bit.ly/WalkingHolidaysinCornwall

Loving Spring in Trelash North Cornwall

Posted on 22nd March 2017 by Jacqueline Bolt

Trelash North Cornwall for Spring Lambs, stunning gardens and much more No matter where you live, Spring always evokes a truly heart warming feeling as flowers emerge taking advantage of the first warm rays of sun. The sleepy little hamlet of Trelash North Cornwall, just happens to be surrounded by an abundance of nature’s beauty.

In Trelash North Cornwall my sister and her children breed sheep in fields close to The Cottage. After just a short stroll down a country lane, where daffodils and primroses polka-dot the hedges, your ears are greeted with the smile provoking sounds of lambs crying and their mothers bleating. If you stop at the field gate and remain quiet (sheep instinctively move away from loud noises), hopefully, you will soon be rewarded with the sight of new born lambs bouncing and frolicking, enjoying every minute of their exploration and play.

Sheep of all ages seem to love jumping and will follow their leader (usually the eldest of the flock). One unusual sight can be when sheep are moved from one field to another through an opened gate. As the flock (a minimum of 5 sheep) reach the open space where the gate once blocked their way, they can reward you with an amazing site of synchronised flying sheep! Each one jumping at least a meter high over the place where the gate was, just a moment before….

This exuberance really is infectious and makes one want to experience more wonderful natural Spring scenes whilst staying at The Cottage. Visiting Trelash North Cornwall in the Spring means less crowded roads, being able to stroll along almost deserted beaches and on particularly sunny days being able to enjoy some really beautiful locations.

A Few Recommendations:

The Lost Gardens of Heligan

A visit here in February / March is rewarded with the sight of the first pink flush of magnolia flowers as the Champion Magnolia campelli trees come into bloom. Visit The Lost Gardens of Heligan

Pencarrow House & Gardens, Bodmin, Cornwall

You can benefit from a visit to Pencarrow as early as the Snowdrops peek their heads above ground at the beginning of the year, followed soon after in March when their fabulous display of camellias and rhododendrons are showing off their beautiful blooms. Then again in late spring (May /June) to capture the sight and fragrance of English bluebells and wild garlic; probably one the South-West’s best display. With a variety of walks from woodland to formal gardening, incorporating great features like a genuine Iron age hill fort and an ice-house, there is a wide range of garden experiences – and of course, there’s always the Georgian mansion to explore. Visit Pencarrow House and Gardens

Cotehele House, Gardens and Mill, Saltash, Cornwall

A personal favourite; Cotehele House, mainly built c1485-1627. Today this wonderfully preserved Tudor house with its granite and slate-stone walls and the atmospheric labyrinthine rooms show off intricate tapestries, original furniture and armour. The gardens have been developed since the sixteenth century with 12 different areas to explore including a wild valley garden, orchards and ponds with Spring bulbs including daffodils and crocuses, camellias and magnolia trees are all giving their best performance usually in March. The Gardens are open all year round 10.00am till dusk. Visit Cotehele House and Gardens

Boconnoc Spring Flower Show, Lostwithiel, Cornwall

One of the earliest flower shows in the gardening calendar is Cornwall’s Spring Flower Show at Boconnoc Gardens. The event showcases the very best of Cornish gardens and produce. There are hundreds of trade stands, stalls, gardening experts on hand, and show gardens to explore – it’s even dog-friendly! This year, the dates are Saturday the 1st and Sunday 2nd April. Visit Boconnoc Flower Show

Trelash North Cornwall

All these and many more wonderful sights can be enjoyed within a 40 minute drive from The Cottage in Trelash North Cornwall. For more activities and things to do in North Cornwall throughout the year visit the Out and About page on Luxury Cornwall Holiday Cottages website

The St Piran Flag the symbol of Cornwall and our Parton Saint of Cornwall, St Piran

Patron Saint of Cornwall

Posted on 8th March 2017 by Jacqueline Bolt

Life would be boring if there wasn’t a good yarn to spin and as we say in Cornwall, this one is a ‘goodun’. A little tale about our Patron Saint of Cornwall.

From many accounts it would appear our beloved Patron Saint of Cornwall, formally the Irish saint Ciarán of Saigir, St Piran, liked his drink a little too much and yet could perform the odd miracle. The legend tells that in the 5^th Century, he arrived in Cornwall in a most unceremonious manner; washed up on to our shores at Perran beach, Perranporth tied to a millstone. Having upset his last community (in Ireland) they tied him to a millstone and rolled it over the edge of a cliff in to stormy seas thinking the stone would sink and he would perish. Not so, miraculously the sea immediately became calm allowing the saint to float safely over the water pitching up on Perran Beach. It is said that his first disciples were a badger, a fox and a bear!

Having established himself as a hermit he built his chapel at Penhale Sands where his sanctity and austerity won him respect from all around, and with his apparent gift of miracles, many came to him for charitable aid. Many of his Christian converts joined him and together they founded the Abbey of Lanpiran, with Piran as Abbot.

Tin had been smelted in Cornwall since before the Roman’s arrival but over the years the method and knowledge of tin smelting has been lost. It is said that St Piran ‘rediscovered’ tin-smelting when his black hearthstone, which was a slab of tin-bearing ore, had the tin smelt out of it and rise to the top in the form of a white cross an image which became the Saint Piran’s Flag (a white cross on a black background). An image that has been used as a symbol of Cornwall ever since.

St Piran became the Patron Saint of Tin Miners and is generally regarded as the Patron Saint of Cornwall, although Saint Micheal and Saint Petroc also have claim to this title. Stories for another day….

Living until his death at the ripe old age of 206, Saint Piran is celebrated in Cornwall annually on the 5th March.