Cornwall - cliff climbing on the South West Coastal path

Today we visited a place I've not visited before, the Lizard, the most southernly point of the UK. We parked at the lighthouse (£3.50) and walked down to the café and beach for a fabulous view. I'm going to miss the sea when we leave. Sailor started limping so he had his boot on for is first walk with his all terrain footwear.

We wanted to do the mile walk from the beach but as usual, we went a little off piste and missed the footpath so found ourself on the edge of the cliffs leaping down rocks and climbing up the other side of hills. We were on the South West coastal path and didn't know it. The view was amazing but it was the last straw for poor sailors foot but he soldiered on. Penny and I were the scout to find our way back and luckily we found a path to Lizard village where we had a pitstop. What else but another Cornish pasty.

A limpey walk back to the car for a well earned rest.

Cornwall - Port Isaac and Boscastle

Our day started at Port Isaac, a place we visited just a few months ago and our inspiration for this trip. It's a must for all Doc Martin fans. We walked around the headland and down the hill, past Louisa's cottage, past the school which is actually a restuarant and the playground is a car park. Down to the beach for a walk, through sequeezy belly alley which is where the Doc lived when he separated from Louisa. Onto the chemist and up the hill to the Doc's surgery. It's so small and there is absolutely no way I would drive a Mercedes through those streets. TV is very deceptive.

We carried on up the hill and through daisies and flowers. It felt like a lovely summer's day with the sun shining and us walking through a flower garden...mid October. We walked up to the headland which is used in the filimg too. It has the most amazing view back to Port Isaac. We sat on the hill for a long time looking at the view around to Tintagel and looking down to Port Issac. It's up there with one of the most amazing views I have ever seen.

Our next stop was to Boscastle, which I've also visited a couple of times before and notorious for the devasting flooding. We walked to the harbour and up to the cliff edge for an amazing view back into Boscastle. All the while Penny and Sailor had a lot of attention. They were loving it. Ali and I had a lunch pitstop. A cream tea for Ali and a cheese scone cream tea for me. The best type of cream tea. Ali even put the cream and jam on the cornish way! 

Cornwall - our first floating bridge journey

Our days are staring later and later as the holiday goes on as we relax into the swing of things. Our day started in Charlestown, as recommended by Mum and Dad. It's home to the ship wreck museum and tall ships. £2.50 to park for a minimum of 4 hours was a bit steep. We had lunch of Cornish pasty (cheese and onion this time, my 2nd in 24 hours) and crab sandwich. We ate in a tiny dog friendly café. Every table had a dog by the side licking their lips and waiting for crumbs.

We drove on to St Mawes Castle, an English Heritage castle. On the opposite side of the estuary is Pendennis Castle. We had a free audio guide which proved impossible while trying to go up and down stairs with dogs and take pictures at the same time. No bother though because the views were amazing. A castle of Henry VIII's time and his coat of arms decorate the castle.

We had to cross the estuary but that would involve a 27 mile trip but instead we found King Harry floating bridge. It's a chain bridge that is pulled across the river. It only takes 10 minutes and cost £6. We loved it and it was the first floating bridge that the doggies have been on. It's the first floating bridge I've been on too.

Our next stop was to the English Heritage Pendennis which is completely different to St Mawes across the estuary. It started as a defence built in Henry VIII's time, but it was used as a garrison during both world wars. The main building has a video explaining the history of using Pendennis in World War One. We walked to the Half Moon battery through creepy tunnels. We saw guns, cannons, a moat, the tudor tower and admired stunning views across the estuary.

A day if history but a welcome grass day for Sailor and Penny. They even got to dress up in Pendennis Castle in Army hats.

Cornwall - a trip down memory lane at St Ives, Lands End and St Michaels Mount

Today was a trip down memory lane for me as I visited St Ives and Lands End with Vica 11 years ago and visited St Michaels Mount and Lands End with Janet and Rae 15 years ago. I strangely remembered them all so clearly. We started with St Ives and had a scarily narrow drive through the streets to the harbour car park (£2 for 2 hours parking). St Ives was packed with people and I think back to 15 years ago in the summer and how packed it was. We even got a pasty from the same shop and ate on the beach. I had a non-traditional Cornish pasty - thai chicken curry. Today was a gloriously sunny and sweaty day...in October! We even had a paddle. It must be a national greyhound in St Ives Day because we saw 5 and 4 whippets in the space of 2 hours so had lots of pit stops to say hello to the Greyhounds. Owning a greyhound is like being a coach driver, we all wave to each other.

Next we ventured around the coast road to Lands End and Ali and I had low expectations. £5 to park is a bit steep and must be worth a fortune in summer. Ali often worked from Lands End and I remember the Disney-esque look of Lands End but we were both super surprised. It was gloriously quiet and peaceful. October is the time to visit Lands End. We walked through the commercial bit to the sign and the first and last shop. On route we decided upon our next visit - Scotland to take a picture of Penny and Sailor in front of the John O;Groats sign.

On we ventured to Marazion (£2 to park) and walked along the beach to join the causeway to St Michaels Mount but alas it was still under water. So we waited until we could cross with dry feet. However, it meant that Sailor and Penny had lots of cuddles with tourists which they like. We walked around the harbour and memories flooded back from 15 years ago and sitting on the wall with Janet and Rae. I also remember legging it back through the water because the tide was coming in.

What a beautiful day of sunshine and warmth, without the crowds of a Cornish summer.

Cornwall - St Neot, Jamaica Inn and Tintagel Castle

A very comfy night sleep was awoken with the sound of farm machinery. I don't mind being woken up that way. A cooked breakfast set us up for the day and then it was time to head to St Neot. It's a tiny little village with a lovely church and super hilly. I'm not sure there are any similarities with St Neots whatsoever, but travelling Brownie enjoyed it.
Our next stop was Bodmin Moor and Colliford Lake for a little walk before lunch at the Jamaica Inn. Famous for Daphne De Maurier. The Shackell's have strangely never visited, after so many trips to Cornwall. We first went to the smuggling museum and saw the vessels they used to hide that goods in. We watched a video on smuggling in Cornwall and then went into the bar for a fabulous carvery lunch. Sailor and Penny laid out on the floor with everyone leaping over them. Luckily, they don't care. Jamaica Inn even has a horse park for you to tie your horse up. A quick visit to the Farm Shop for Cornish coffee and chocolate and then Mum and Dad headed home.

We then headed to Tintagel Castle, an English Heritage property. We are definitely getting our monies worth. I've visited before but I don't remember the steep decline and then huge incline up to the headline. I must have wiped it from memory. The dogs were fine and walked over the bridge to the headland but alas the steps were too steep for them to reach the top so Ali and I took it in turns. I realised I took the same picture that I took last time I visited Tintagel Castle 11 years ago!!!! Sitting with the doggies in the sunshine, look at cliffs and sweating was an unexpected thing in the middle of October. It was boiling.

Cornwall - a long journey South West

While visiting Port Issac this summer, we realised how much we miss the South West so booked a holiday in a cottage. However, I hadn't quite appreciated that it's quicker for us to travel to Scotland than Cornwall! So we decided to travel on the Friday and take a pit stop at Aunty and Cous Cous' on the way. It was lovely to see them and Tia. We were treated to a lovely brunch and walk, then on the road to Cornwall.

We arrived at Sloe Cottage late afternoon and collected the key. The cottage is gorgeous. It sleeps 6, has 2 bathrooms and open fire. Mum and Dad arrived for dinner and Trivial Pursuit Shackell Style. This includes answering every question as a team, asking any other question on the card that you think the person will know, picking different cards, or the dice saying one thing and meaning another. We were in stitches but Ali was the champion.

I also discovered something new after 9 years of being together. Ali adores lightly fires and can become somewhat obsessed with adding more logs to the fire. But gees it's cosy.