Family Mini-Adventures in Cornwall - Tintagel and Boscastle

Another weekend - another mini-adventure!

This time we made the most of the beautiful autumnal light and headed to north Cornwall, to Tintagel and Boscastle.

We parked at the large car park in Boscastle and caught the 95 bus to Tintagel (there are only four buses per day, so it's important to time your arrival carefully if you're planning to do this walk).  In Tintagel there are plenty of little magical and crafty shops to explore.  Our timing made this the perfect time to stop for a pasty and coffee at The Cornish Bakery, situated just above the path down to Tintagel Castle.

Suitably fuelled, we hit the coast path for the five-mile walk back to Boscastle:

Google Maps

It's a stunning bit of coastline with some amazing rock formations to marvel at, the turquoise sea, stacks, arches, caves and birds (we saw Gannets, a kestrel and a Peregrine).

If you're new to coast path walking, I should warn you, it does go up and down a bit, but every turn gives a new and breathtaking view.

I think our favourite bit had to be the section where we dropped down into Rocky Valley.

Back in Boscastle we refuelled with cake at The Good Stuff Cafe at Harbour Light before driving home.

Family Mini-Adventures in Cornwall - Nanjizal and Land's End

 

This was an adventure we had been hoping to do when we were in Cornwall in May half term, but we were defeated by staff shortages for public transport at the time, so were delighted to revisit it in August, not long after we moved to Cornwall.

First, we walked down to the station and caught the train from St Austell to Penzance (not at all expensive with our family railcard).

In Penzance the bus station and the train station are right next door to one another.  We hopped on to the next available "Land's End Coaster" bus - an open-topped service which goes around the coast in both directions between Penzance and Land's End.

We hopped off the bus (not literally) just as it makes the turn down towards Porthcurno (not far from Polgigga), and walked cross-country to Nanjizal beach,

Image from Google Maps

Nanjizal beach has some sand and some rocks.  I went for a swim, but we had an ulterior motive for being here...  There's a wonderful pool in a cave that you can access at low tide!  We clambered over quite a lot of boulders, some of which were pretty slippery.  I was glad I had my trainers on.  There were certainly a few skinned shins and grazed ankles from others doing the same thing.  It was well worth it though - you drop into a long thin pool - those with children, it's worth noting that the pool gets deep quite quickly - and you can swim through this deliciously cool turquoise water right to the arch at the end where you can feel the suck and pull of the Atlantic beyond.

This lovely photo is from "We are Cornwall"

This pool, known as The Song of the Sea (what an evocative name) was a truly magical place to swim and we all came out feeling fantastic.  It's just a short walk (half an hour) from there to Land's End along the Coast Path. At Land's End you can find something to eat or drink while you wait for the next Land's End Coaster bus back to Penzance.

Google Maps

If you fancy doing this trip yourself, you do need to check the tide times and the times of the buses.  The Song of the Sea is best accessed at low tide (when you'll also get some beach at Nanjizal), and you also need to leave yourself enough time to walk there, swim and then walk along to Land's End to get the bus.  You really don't want to miss the last bus from Land's End - it wouldn't be a cheap taxi ride.

Cornwall Adventure 3

After an exploration of central Truro (I loved the Art Cafe! - yummy avocado, egg and bacon on sourdough - yummmmm), we have beetled along to Camping and Caravanning Club - Sennen Site this evening. 

It's a bit breezy with a gusty draft whipping in from the North, and we were a bit chilly. However, after a Korma we set out west to see the sunset on the beach. This microadventure was only about 20 minutes walk but the outcome was stunning.  This... is my cathedral.:

Cornwall Adventure 2

After a frosty sunrise at Camping and Caravanning Club Veryan site, we headed to Perranporth for the beach today. 

Though the sun was shining it wasn't that warm, though Miss Busy was determined to go in the water. We started with hot drinks outside the Watering Hole while Miss Busy and Mr Build-It got started on ambitious sandcastle building. 

After a bit, when it seemed to have warmed up, hubby headed to the campervan to fetch the wetsuits and then I headed to Pickwicks to collect fish and chips. We sat by the big rock on the beach to eat our lunch and then the other three went for a dip - not me for a change - I was too cold! Miss Busy was a bit surprised by the strength of the waves and glad to have her dad there to grab hold of.

Later, after picking up some groceries in Newquay, we drove along the coast and stopped to enjoy an ice-cream at Bedruthan Steps. Its breathtakingly beautiful there. A fabulous cliff-top spot for just chilling and finding your perspective on the world.

Cornish Adventure 1

Walked from St Just-in-Roseland to St Mawes today. The weather is warm but grey and breezy. The kind of weather where you need your jacket on when you stop, but soon take it off again when you get walking.

This is a beautiful walk through fields along the river, with bluebells and other wildflowers I need to learn the names of scattered all around. The tide is out far enough that there are big sections you can walk along the shell-strewn foreshore too, which is where I'm sitting to write this, while the children play on a conveniently sited tyre swing.

St Mawes is in a beautiful spot. Multi-million pound homes along the shore and a very Joules vibe. I felt distinctly underdressed and scruffy! St Just is a riot of flowers, camelia  rhododendron and daffodils being the cheerleaders at this time of year.