Padstow Cottage Company hires out privately owned, beautifully decorated, self catering holiday accommodation in the historic harbour town of Padstow on the North Cornwall coast.  This year Padstow Tourist Information and Padstow Cottage Company are delighted to announce that Pebbles Cottage, managed exclusively by Padstow Cottage Company, has been recognised for its excellent customer experience by VisitEngland.

“The ROSE Awards celebrate and champion the accommodation businesses across England who go above and beyond in their customer service to guarantee visitors have amazing experiences.”  VisitEngland Advisory Board Member Nadine Thomson

Only 100 holiday properties across England receive the prestigious ROSE Award each year, with only four being in Cornwall in 2023, making Pebbles Cottage an outstanding property for your next holiday.  A family run business, Padstow Cottage Company pride themselves in providing high-quality properties for the best stays in Padstow and they are thrilled to be recognised for the hard work of the team and property owner.

The Cottages are available throughout the year and can be booked by the week. In the winter season 3 and 4 night breaks are available, please check website for availability and prices.

All cottages are assessed and graded by Quality in Tourism every year for Visit England they range from 3 Star to 5 Star Gold Award.

Whilst in Padstow, visiting Prideaux Place is a must do. Here is a great suggestion of a circular walk taking in some spectacular sea and estuary views along the way.

Starting from the Padstow Tourist Information Centre head towards the Ship Wrights Pub on the other side of the harbour.  As the name suggests, this was once a workshop and warehouse supplying timber to the boatyards of the town.  Padstow was at one time an exceptionally busy ship-building port with 5 yards operating here in the 1850s.  Continue past the pub up the slope towards the War Memorial.  From here you will have amazing views of Rock, the Camel Estuary and out to sea.  On your left you will see some benches, walk past these and follow the path until you reach St Saviour’s Lane, take the first right on to Fentonluna Lane.  After a short while you will come across Fentonluna Well, the well’s granite arch is dated 1592 and commemorates the completion of Prideaux House.  The stones came from the original gate house entrance which was demolished in the 1750s.  This is supposedly the original well which served the early Priory.

At the end of Fentonluna Lane turn right and you will see the splendour of Prideaux Place!  This Elizabethan Manor House was built in 1592 on the site of a monastic grange, previously inhabited by the former Barton of the Monks of Bodmin.  Today the house is still owned and lived in by the Prideaux family after 14 unbroken generations.  It is open to the public at times throughout the Summer, check their website for details.  Many big screen productions have been filmed here.

Another great reason to visit Prideaux Place is their 22 acre Deer Park. The herd of fallow deer at Prideaux Place is thought to be one of the oldest park herds in the country. The Park itself has been dated back to its enclosure by the Romans in 435AD though not necessarily in its present form.  Legend has it that if the deer die out, then so does the Prideaux family. In February 1927 the herd was supplemented with a new master buck sent via the Great Western Railway by King George V from the herd at Windsor. Unfortunately the animal did not get the chance to improve the bloodline as was hoped, for the following morning the gamekeeper set out to cull the old master buck and shot the King’s buck instead!

Enjoy the sight of the deer whilst taking a light lunch, a glass of wine or afternoon tea in the licensed Terrace Tearoom overlooking the Deer Park with its views across the Camel Estuary.  Feeding times are very popular with visitors and you can even feed them yourself!  Feeding times vary so if you are planning your visit to include this experience then please check the time beforehand by contacting the Administrator on 01841 532411 or by email office@prideauxplace.co.uk

Don’t forget to book a yourself a tour of the House too!   Monday – Friday 11am – 3pm, it is a truly memorable experience.

For more information please visit  https://padstowlive.com/things-to-do/prideaux-place/  

Rock is a great place to start a walk along the coast path. Not, as many people think, a rock, the village of Rock takes its name from the quarry (now the car park) which provided stone to act as ballast for ships. An earlier name, dating back to 1337, was Black Tor, which is why the passenger ferry, which makes the frequent crossing from Padstow, bears that name.

Setting off from Rock through the sand dunes (or on the beach at low tide) you will reach Bray Hill. Climbing to the top to experience the stunning views (or keeping to the path around the front or back of the hill ) you can catch a glimpse of St Enodoc Church. This wonderful old building, parts of which date back to the 12th century, was once overwhelmed by the surrounding sand dunes, so much so that the priest had to be lowered in through a trapdoor in the roof to conduct a service once a year! (this was required if the church was to remain active.) A beautiful spot, the church is now famous as the burial place of John Betjeman, the Poet laureate, who spent much of his life in this part of Cornwall.

From the church, continue along the coast path between Daymer Bay and Polzeath where you come across the less well-known Greenaway Beach – a quiet place ideal for a picnic and rock pooling, which has a history of shipwrecks, the most recent of which happened in 2013. If you look closely, you can see the remains of one of those shipwrecks.

Carrying on, you will arrive at Polzeath. On the cliffs, over looking the beach is The Cracking Crab -a café and restaurant perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner!

The beach at Polzeath is the only surfing beach in the Camel Estuary and next to it, the smaller, New Polzeath, also known locally as ‘Baby Beach’ is where you will find one of the new ‘Saunas-by-the-sea‘!

To finish your walk, retrace your steps back to Rock or, if you want to continue, head up onto Pentire Point. With stunning views back towards Padstow, this dramatic headland is steeped in history that is not always obvious to the naked eye. Look out for the plaque which marks the spot where, in 1914, Laurence Binyon wrote the famous war poem “For the Fallen” with the famous line that we recall every Remembrance Day – ‘We will remember them’. From this spot you can also see why people might be reminded of a sleeping dragon! The spectacular headland called ‘The Rumps’ is the site of an Iron Age hill fort and the system of ditches and ramparts that protected it can still be seen. There was a mine at Pentireglaze which in the mid 1800’s produced 955 tonnes of lead ore and 19,065 ounces of silver so keep your eyes peeled! The National trust has recently opened a new café nearby – perfect for a coffee stop before heading back to Rock.

Just a 10-15 minute drive from Padstow jutting into the Atlantic is Trevose Head which commands views for miles along the coast.

Arguably the most prominent headland on the north coast of Cornwall, Trevose Head boasts far reaching views to Pendeen Watch in the west to Hartland Point to the east.

The South West Coast Path passes around Trevose Head offering extensive views across Booby’s Bay and Constantine to one side with Mother Ivey’s Bay and across to Pentire Head to the other.

The ruggedness of the coastline extends further out towards Dinas Head at the tip of the headland with sheer cliffs and huge round hole, a dramatic result of a cave top collapse.

There is a tremendous lighthouse and you may be lucky to see a number of species of birds including skylarks and linnets.

If you set out in the morning why not stop by at Lucy’s Barista Coffee & Cornish Grill situated at Higher Harlyn Park?  Open 8am – 1pm Wednesday – Sunday, Lucy serves locally made cakes, homemade beefburgers & breakfast baps using meat from local butchers, proper job!

On leaving Higher Harlyn Park head straight on to the National Trust Car Park at Trevose Head.. It is possible to make a nice circular walk from here taking in the RNLI Padstow Lifeboat Station at Mother Ivey’s Bay and Booby’s Bay.  This walk will probably take an hour and half to 2 hours.  To make the most of a nice sunny day the nearby beaches are good for body boarding, surfing and sun bathing.

If you have whipped a good appetite or would simply like some lovely late afternoon/evening drinks why not stop off at Constantine Restaurant at the Trevose Golf & Country Club which is open to non-members.

With stunning views out over the Atlantic, Constantine aims to deliver quality local seafood, meat and produce fresh to your plate. They also have a sun deck where you can just sit and relax with drinks overlooking the view.  Sit back, relax and enjoy the sights of local fishermen working their pots in the distance as the waves roll in to Constantine and Booby’s Bays.

Whatever you decide you could easily wile away a day here!

Gorsedh Kernow announces host town for 2023

Gorsedh Kernow and Padstow Town Council are pleased to announce that Padstow will be the host town for the annual Esedhvos and Gorsedh ceremony in September 2023. The Gorsedh ceremony takes place on the first Saturday of September and is preceded by the Esedhvos Kernow, a celebration of Cornish culture and of the host town.

The last Gorsedh visit was in 1951.

Further information on Gorsedh Kernow

Gorsedh Kernow exists to maintain the national Celtic Spirit of Cornwall and to give expression to such spirit. It supports and promotes Cornish cultural activity, including the study of Cornish history and literature, the Cornish language, Cornish art, music, dance and sport and encourages links with other Celtic countries. The Esedhvos festival includes the annual awards for adults and young people.

Gorsedh Kernow’s Esedhvos Festival of Cornish Culture, which includes the bardic ceremony where new bards are initiated, will be held in and around Padstow in the first week of September with the main bardic ceremony taking place on Saturday 2 September 2023.

For further information about Gorsedh Kernow please visit the website www.gorsedhkernow.org.uk

Launch of Gorsedh Kernow Awards 2023

The Gorsedh Kernow Awards celebrate and honour those who demonstrate the Celtic spirit of Cornwall in creativity or community work and it is open to anyone to nominate. The scheme caters for all ages, with Young People’s’ Awards up to age 18, and Adults’ Awards and Certificates of Recognition. Last year saw a record number of nominations and submissions. This year’s deadline of 23rd April gives plenty of time to nominate someone, or submit work, this year. Last year saw Awen medals awarded at a special evening at the Hayle Esedhvos for an impressive array of creative and community work across Cornwall. Winners included Mary Ann Bloomfield and the community of St. Just for the splendid staging of the Ordnalia, Helen Tiplady and the Hall for Cornwall Youth Theatre, and Roger Gool for a lifetime’s dedication to the Padstow carols. Certificates of Recognition were given for new creative work – from poetry to song- in Cornish and English, on Cornish heritage, and for new films. Who will be honoured this year?

These awards are agreed by a panel whose judgments are informed by specialist adjudicators but candidates are nominated by the public. If you have been inspired or impressed by an outstanding contribution to Cornish community or culture made by an individual or group you can nominate them for a Gorsedh Kernow Award. This may be someone, or a group, whose creative or community work has promoted, embodied, or demonstrated the Celtic spirit of Cornwall for a considerable time or in an exceptional way. Winners will be awarded the prestigious Awen Medal, specially designed and made from Cornish tin.

You can also enter your own work for recognition by Gorsedh Kernow’s specialist adjudicators. Successful submissions will be awarded a Certificate of Recognition and may, in exceptional circumstances, be awarded an Awen medal.  Adults can submit work in Cornish language writing, Cornish dialect writing, Cornish study, and Creative Work which enables individuals or groups to submit evidence of their own project (such as an exhibition, new song, craft or performance). Published books should be submitted instead to the Gorsedh Kernow Holyer an Gof Awards scheme.

Details of how to nominate someone for an award, to submit your own work for recognition, and of the Young People’s awards, are available on the Gorsedh Kernow website at https://gorsedhkernow.org.uk/awards/.
All winners are invited to a presentation evening, with entertainment, and exhibition at the September Esedhvos Festival of Culture in Padstow.
If you would like more information on the Gorsedh Kernow Awards, please email awards@gorsedhkernow.org.uk.

Gorsedh Kernow Proclamation 22nd April 2023

On Saturday 22nd April Gorsedh Kernow will hold the Proclamation.  On this day a procession of Bards will form on Church Street and proceed to the bandstand in Padstow, coming down via Duke Street. The procession will start just after 10am, with the ceremony taking place at around 10.30am for approximately half an hour before the procession re-forms and leaves the area. This ceremony is to announce the forthcoming event in September.  Please be aware there will be temporary traffic delays around 9.45am-11.30am in the area.

We hope people enjoy watching this Celtic ceremony and procession. You can find out more about Gorsedh Kernow at https://gorsedhkernow.org.uk/

Calling all Trailblazers and lovers of the Path – join our Trailblazer Walk and help celebrate our 50th anniversary and 50 years of protecting, caring for and sharing the amazing South West Coast Path!

Join the South West Coast Path Association 50th Anniversary Trailblazer Walk  – an epic 630 mile relay hike which is open to anyone and everyone.  You can join just a morning or afternoon walk on your favourite stretch of the Path or take on a number of sections. The walk starts in Minehead on 12 May and South Haven Point on 27 May with a finish point at Royal William Yard, Plymouth on 15 June where the charity will celebrate its golden milestone.
It is FREE to take part but there are limited spaces per walk and booking is essential.
Grab your ticket on Eventbrite 

There is so much to see in Cornwall, the county is vast, varied and stunning, so it really helps to have local knowledge if you really want to see the treasures of coast and moor.

Barry Pengelly and his company, Cornwall Discovery Tours, are a brilliant way to tour Cornwall. He has the local experience, insight and historical knowledge that makes tours so memorable. You only have to take a look at his Tripadviser page to see that.  His tours are favoured especially by our friends across the pond–American’s can sometimes be stunned by our tiny twisting roads–but anyone from out of county can be overwhelmed when driving here!

His bespoke guided tours of Cornwall can be tailored to your needs. Barry is even happy to collect you from the airport and take you to your accommodation, and he’ll venture out of county if that’s helpful too!

Whether your interest is seeing Cornwall as a film set, at Doc Martin and the Fisherman’s Friends’ Port Isaac, or touring the county’s award winning breweries and vineyards, you can create a unique experience. The idea of being able to sit back, relax and enjoy the trip is really quite appealing to most people!

The real gem though of Cornwall Discovery Tours is Barry himself, such warm host, whose chatter is filled with anecdotes that make your trip so memorable. For instance, Tripadviser shows 109 reviews rated as ‘Excellent’ and just one at ‘Very Good’!  With comments like; “After spending several days with Barry, we understood why he gets rave reviews. Barry is Cornwall!”

Certainly something to consider if you are new to the county or want to really know the locals’ Cornwall.

Rosamunde Scott was born in 1924 in the small village of Lelant in Cornwall. She spent many happy times growing up on the cliffs and beaches, and the Cornish landscape had a profound influence on her. In 1946 she married her husband, Graham Hope Pilcher, and moved to the opposite end of the British Isles, to Dundee in Scotland.

         

Congratulations to 3 of our Members who gained Awards at the Cornwall Tourism Awards ceremony on 3rd February 2022.

Old Barn Tregonetha won the Silver Award for Self-catering Accommodation of the Year.

Coswarth House won the Silver Award for B&B and Guest House of the Year.

The National Lobster Hatchery won the Silver Award for Wildlife Friendly Tourism Business.

One of our members, Stephen Chidgey, has long been something of a role model for Cornish tourism, having been a regular winner in the Cornwall, Southwest and Visit England awards since 2014. His self catering cottage The Old Barn in Tregonetha, boasts a range of eco features that include a ground source heat pump, solar panels, rainwater harvesting and electric charging points.

As someone who believes wholeheartedly in a sustainable, ethical approach that provides customers with an outstanding value-for-money service, he has now gone one step further. Stephen has long been a supporter of Cornwall Air Ambulance – a vital community charity that helps visitors as well as residents when they get into difficulty. He has now introduced the opportunity for visitors to The Old Barn to make donations that will help this life-saving local charity. Not only that, Stephen has also pledged to match guest contributions from his own pocket!

To read more about the charity and Stephen’s support for it, click here https://bit.ly/30K4gwJ