Mawgan Porth, Newquay, Cornwall

I was absolutely overjoyed when I discovered that Mawgan Porth beach, bay and village was just a short bike ride away from the camp site I was currently staying at. Due to the camp sites remote location and the closest shop being about 20-30 minutes away by foot, work kindly lent me a bike for my time there which was more than handy. I can't quite remember the last time I actually owned or even rode a bike apart from my recent time in Cornwall this year, maybe well over 10 years ago... You never forget how to ride a bike, right??!!

So now I had my very own handy, borrowed bike and a whole county to explore, I took to venturing out on my days off and during the evenings to... Well, where ever the roads would literally take me. I already knew that I lived very close to Newquay and had forgotten about the remote bays, villages and beaches that run along the route between where I was living and into Newquay itself.

One day I set off down a different route than usual, riding past farms selling fresh produce from potatoes to eggs to bread to carrots and so on... Passing churches and villages, derelict buildings and a huge snazzy golf course which I later found out was The Merlin Golf and Country Club until the sea and coast line was in full view. I instantly recognised the area and as I got closer and closer to this stunning bay I realised that I was now riding through Mawgan Porth and down to Mawgan Porth beach. My family and I used to visit this beauty of a bay with our dog (Prissie) and go on long walks with her, this beach being one of the many few which allow dogs on and one of the quietest so you enjoy your time there in semi peace.

Prissie...❤

The stunning views on the way down to the beach and through the village, I couldn't resist capturing this moment.

Mawgan Porth Beach... Raw beauty.

Surfers Paradise... www.surfing-cornwall.com

Cornish Life and Living Like a 'Proper' Traveller...

So, before I go off into what life was like living and working over in the Southwestern part of France, I wanted to rewind back to life within the Cornish borders during the month of June before I set off, once again for France. Unfortunately my persistent side of me won't allow me to miss out a chunk of my exploration journey, so here goes... 

June 2013

As some of you may be aware already, I had lived in Cornwall previously a few years back for approximately 8 years and I've never within those years experienced such delightful summer days. Cornwall is a strange place when it comes to the weather, you could be in one part and feel the warmth beneath your feet sat on a beach enjoying a BBQ or a beer or two... To running through streets of river like streams dodging the pours of rainfall and wrapping yourself up as if it were winter. It really does go from one extreme to the next, but I was lucky enough to enjoy a months worth of solid sunshine accompanied with a side order of a summer glow appearance.

So that's the weather sorted, onto my accommodation... Living like a 'proper' traveller in a caravan, yep that's right, a caravan. I was so happy and excited when I found out that the staff accommodation involved living on a camp site because I've always wanted to live in a caravan from as far back as I remember. I remember asking my mum a shelf load of questions in my younger teen years inquiring constantly about getting a caravan in the back garden and if it would be possible to live in it hahaha

I lived in a two bedroom fully fitted caravan with myself and two other girls (a couple), one girl was from the Northern part of England and the other from New Zealand so we had plenty of interesting conversations. It took some time getting used to the slight smell of gas, showering in a giant sink like basin and living in such a small space but the surroundings was worth it, especially waking up every morning to sea views, the smell of sea air and being surrounded by greener than green countryside. It also took some time getting used to the laid back side of life the Cornish enjoy so much, which isn't a problem at all apart from the fact that my bodily system has been well and truly trained over the years of working for fast paced companies and unfortunately it can't be altered in any way, shape or form.

And a few more shots taken in Padstow aka Padstein...

The Camel Trail Ride - Wadebridge - Padstow

Planning on visiting Cornwall this summer??!! Hiring a bike is a must, with amazing scenery, a dramatic coastline with fantastic beaches and a deeply mystical heritage hiring a bike is a great way to spend a day exploring the wonders of Cornwall. I moved to Cornwall back in 2003, from Swindon, Wiltshire and had the pleasure of living and working around the Launceston and St Austell area for 7 - 8 years before moving to Somerset. How does it feel to be back within the Cornish borders??!! Great, and it feels good to be surrounded by familiar faces and places again and I'm so glad I chose to return for the summer, its going to be a good one indeed.

You can hire a bike from pretty much anywhere across Cornwall and the prices are pretty reasonable considering you normally get a full day hire along with a kit consisting of a puncture repair kit, bike lock with key and a pump. I hired a bike for £13 from a local bike hire shop in Wadebridge as this was our starting point to lead us into Padstow taking the 5.5 mile bike trail (Camel Trail) that runs along a former rail route and runs parallel to the Camel Estuary. The Camel trail is virtually flat for the entire length from Bodmin all the way into Padstow which in all is 14 miles long, welcoming walkers, cyclists and horse riders. There is a coffee/tea shop halfway down the Wadebridge to Padstow route - a guy towing a cart on his pedal cycle, nice spot to admire the views over the estuary and looking onto Padstow.

Padstow is a lovely little town and fishing port on the north coast of Cornwall, during the summer months it becomes extremely busy with visitors who enjoy a variety of things from sailing to walking, horse riding to cycling, surfing to shopping and not forgetting trying the local tasty treats. You really do get a taste of Cornwall from Padstow, locally sourced fish for a delicious portion of fish and chips to creamy Cornish ice cream (probably the best ice cream in the world) to Cornish fudge and proper Cornish pasties.

You can jump on the Padstow Rock ferry for £3 return (adults) and £2 return (children) which runs between Padstow and Rock every 20 minutes.

There are a variety of local restaurants run by celebrity chefs such as Rick Stein or Jamie Oliver. Rick Stein owns four restaurants - The Seafood Restaurant, St Petroc's Bistro, Rick Stein's Cafe and Stein's Fish & Chips, four hotels, The Cornish Arms in St Merryn as well as three themed shops - a delicatessen, a patisserie and a gift shop. So yes, he pretty much owns the place to a certain extent and its funny because most of the locals and residents in and around the area have nicknamed Padstow "Padstein". Surely you can see how and why??!!

Cotford St Luke, Somerset

After visiting the family in the new village of Cotford St Luke for a few weeks and continuously walking past this building which at present is used for accommodation flats, I was intrigued to find out what it was originally built for and used as. I found out from the trusty web that it was in fact a psychiatric hospital called Tone Vale Hospital, with patients originating from places as far apart as Porlock (on the north western edge of Somerset) and Yeovil (on the south eastern edge). Cotford St Luke is a new village that was established following the closure of Tone Vale Hospital and Cotford Asylum in the 1990s. The old asylum buildings were converted into housing commencing in the late 1990s.

A number of mental hospitals closed in the United Kingdom including Tone Vale Hospital during Margaret Thatcher's government as a policy was proposed stating more community care. In 1987, Tone Vale had 504 inpatients. In 1992, the number had reduced to 350, and in March 1994 to 117. The hospital closed in March 1995.

Trees glorious trees... around the area.

Did you Know??!!

Harold Gimblett, Somerset and England cricketer was admitted to Tone Vale with depression in 1953, he was treated with ECT. Electroconvulsive therapy, formerly known as electroshock, is a psychiatric treatment in which seizures are electrically induced in anesthetized patients for therapeutic effect. Treating severe depression and schizophrenia.