top tips
Serious Eating Out
in no particular order, but they are all wonderful!
Jamie Oliver’s restaurant, Fifteen, at Watergate Bay does truly superb food www.fifteencornwall.co.uk...01637 861 000. Don't leave booking until you are on holiday - it will be too late!
Nathan Outlaw is now at the St Enodoc Hotel… www.enodoc-hotel.co.uk 01208 863 394. (I am not entirely sure I have forgiven him for moving as he was just about next door to us!) The very lovely Chris Prindl made his plates...
The food by Paul Ainsworth at No 6 in Padstow is absolutely superb… www.number6inpadstow.co.uk 01841 532 093....
The Porthminster Cafés food is a good as it gets…
You really do need to book in the Summer… 01736 795 352 www.porthminstercafe.co.uk Take the train from St Erth to Porthminster (St Ives is the next stop). The view from the train will make you stand up in awe.
Rick Stein restaurants are all wonderful...www.rickstein.com... 01841 532 700.
Chris Edens food at the Driftwood Hotel has to be tasted www.driftwoodhotel.co.uk 01872 580 644.
We are just waiting to hear what Paul Ripley has been up to....
All of the above are about a 35 minute drive from Charlestown, in various directions!
Bretts food is superb, and his restaurant is a only a 7 minute walk from Charlestown...www.austells.net 01726 813 888..
...if you manage to eat your way through this lot, www.sugarvine.com/devonandcornwall/awards/michelin_awards.asp lists a few more!!
Not So Serious (but still fab) Eating Out
We ate at the Gunards Head at Pendeen & it was absolutely worth the drive www.gurnardshead.co.uk 01736 796 928...
They also own the www.oldcoastguruardhotel.coluk at Mousehole...01736 731 222, and I have heard it is superb...
We went on a day trip to St Ives and ate at www.blasburgerworks.co.uk 01736 797 272 & will go back again!
and they have now taken on the www.halsetowninn.co.uk... 01736 795 583...Superb...
I walked from St Agnes Village to St Agnes Beacon and saw the whole of Cornwall at once ( I said gosh rather a lot ) along the Coast path to Trevaunance Cove and up the hill for the most delicious lunch at Genki www.genkicornwall.co.uk 08172 555 858.
The lovely Paul Ainsworth had taken over Rojanos at Wadebridge, www.rojanos.co.uk so visiting is an absolute...01841 531 796
If you find yourselves in Truro you might like www.gravy-boesti.co.uk 01872 222 237 We do!! The food is scrummy and oh so so pretty...
What a treat, Rick Stein has taken on the Cornish Arms at St Merryn... D and I got married at the Norman Church opposite...I am sure D's Best Man snuck him measure to calm him down! Rick Steins St Petroc's Bistro is also just wonderful.. Oh and his Fish and Chips are superb... (We always ask for the Goujons, kids size, and ask for loads and loads of lemon...ummmm) www.rickstein.com... 01841 532 700.
Eating Out in Charlestown
Claire and Rob set up their Orange Farm Shop on the end of the Charlestown Quay... www.orangefarmshop.co.uk 01726 850 242 Find the Sea and you can't miss them!
Charlies Café at Charlestown is wonderful, 01726 67421, and sells yummy panninis, squishy cakes and scrummy coffees and teas - their crab sarnies are superb! and their Boat House is going down a Storm 01726 63322 www.charliesboathouse.weebly.com
The Tall Ships Creamery in Charlestown make wonderful ice cream... They were recently voted one of the top 10 best ice cream makers in England www.guardian.co.uk/travel
Bretts food is superb, and his restaurant is a only a 7 minute walk from Charlestown...www.austells.net 01726 813 888..
Sam has opened another restaurant in the Old Life Boat Station at Polkerris Beach www.samsfowey.co.uk 01726 812 255 Ask to sit by the glass doors - you'll see why!
The www.pierhousehotel.com 01726 67955 in Charlestown has a terrace which I think might actually be the best terrace in England...Their crab sarnies are perfect and the beer is wonderful (according to my David!)
www.thelifebuoycafe.co.uk in Fowey is just lovely...01726 834 858...
and finally we can organise Great Grub to pop in the oven, leaving you to enjoy wonderful food at home without having to book a babysitter! Just email me on antonia@antoniaspearls.co.uk and I will arrange it....
Food Shopping Top Tips
Claire and Rob set up their Orange Farm Shop on the end of the Charlestown Quay... www.orangefarmshop.co.uk 01726 850 242 Find the Sea and you can't miss them!
The M5 Services at Exeter has a tiny M&S, there is a Sainsburys at Bodmin (off the A30) and a Tesco at St Austell. The huge M&S, the huge Sainsburys & the huge Tesco are at Truro and the Ocado is at Saltash.
The Tall Ships Creamery does wonderful ice cream... They have just been voted as one the best ice cream makers in England! www.guardian.co.uk
Pasty wise - Niles are scrummy, Mr Steins are superb and Marys are wow...
The Fish Shop in Fowey, www.foweyfish.com 01726 832 422 is superb and they have a great wine list too...
If you can't make it to Fowey, have a look at Fish4Thought, let me know what you'd like and I will have it delivered on the right day...01208 262 202.
Lobbs farm shop at Heligan is worth a visit... www.lobbsfarmshop.com 01726 844 411.
Butchers - TA Kittow and Sons at Holmbush (walking distance from Charlestown) do the most fabulous meat...they are sadly lacking a website....possibly becasue they don't need one! 01726 73005.
The Duchy Smoked Fish Co are wonderful....www.smokedfishcornwall.co.uk 01726 816 063.
Days Out
The Eden Project is amazing (www.edenproject.com 01726 811 911) Take bottles of water, and wear clothes suitable for the tropics under your usual clothes... it is hot at the top! Their new restaurant is great.
You have to go to The Lost Gardens of Heligan. www.heligan.com 01726 845 100. The jungle is magnificent.
I don't really know how to say how mind blowingly beautiful this garden is...www.tremenheere.co.uk 01736 448 089...to call it a Sculpture Garden doesn't really do it... Dr Neil Armstrong bought the land in 1997, and has commissioned some of the most amazing pieces of landscape architectual art...Just go and see...Oh and the food is wonderful...
Kayaking from Lerryn has got to be experienced 01208 871 066 www.encountercornwall.com/places_lerryn
www.greatgardensofcornwall.co.uk Just have a look...
The Charlestown Shipwreck & Heritage Centre www.shipwreckcharlestown.com 01726 69897 is a wonder, and comes with a talking pirate and the necklace that Kate Winslet wore in the film Titanic (in its superb plastic presentation box!) and its shop is pocket money heaven.
There are world class golf courses at Trevose, St Mellion and St Enodoc. Trevose is a links course www.trevose-gc.co.uk 01841 520 208, St Mellion www.st-mellion.co.uk is superb 01579 351 351, and St Enodoc www.st-enodoc.co.uk 01208 863216 is fantastic - you will need your handicap certificate for St Enodoc!
The Tate at St Ives is a must, as is the Barbara Hepworth Museum at St Ives. www.tate.org.uk/stives 01736 796 226
You must go to Godolphin House. It has just been bought by the National Trust and for a reason! 01736 763 194 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/godolphin
The Carnglaze Slate Caverns are a sight to behold… guided tours, closed on Sundays…www.carnglaze.com 01579 320 251.
Go to Lanhydrock House and get a lift in the vintage car to the door. Cotehele House is a wonder (both are www.nationaltrust.org.uk)
Port Elliot in bonkers www.porteliot.co.uk 01503 230 211 Elephants, arsenic wallpaper & the round room by Lenkiewicz.
Graham Slack will take you sailing on the Fowey Estuary in his traditional clinker built river boat, Guillemot. 01208 873 721 www.foweyriversailing.com or you can hire an easy to drive motor boat from Steve at the Town Quay in Fowey www.fowey-boat-hire.co.uk 07989 991 115.
The Maritime Museum at Falmouth is fantastic. www.nmmc.co.uk 01326 317 878.
Go and visit Chris Prindl – His work is just so beautiful.. Phone beforehand just to check he is in…www.prindlpottery.co.uk 01208 871 162.
If you fancy a surfing lesson or two the wonderful Constantine Bay Surf School are the people you need to speak to - They will take you to the beach with the best waves to suit your ability & are just really lovely people - 07837 488 083 www.constantinebaysurfschool.co.uk. Wetsuits can be hired from Constantine Bay Surf Stores www.constantinesurf.com 01841 520 250 - Remember the tighter the warmer...
Waterskiing either needs to be done at Porthpean www.charlestownwatersports.com 07952 254 351, speak to Bruce or the www.camelskischool.com 01208 862 727 at Rock - Both can provide wetsuits for the occasion!
Padstow probably warrants a day - eat at the Middle Street Cafe or one of Rick Steins other places. They are all superb. www.rickstein.com 01841 532 700. Hire a bike at Wadebridge (www.cornwall-online.co.uk/bridgebikehire 01208 813 050) and cycle the Camel Trail to Padstow. Finish with the best fish & chips there are at Rick Steins Fish & Chip Shop and definitely have a ride on the speed boats!
If it is raining and you fancy a film the Super Duper Duplex at St Austell is open www.wtwcinemas.co.uk 0871 200 3304.
From the horses mouth... www.barguse.co.uk
For myth, legend and history, then St Michaels Mount is just the place. www.stmichaelsmount.co.uk 01736 710 507.
You will have a night to remember seeing a Miracle Theatre production... www.miracletheatre.co.uk And Wow, Wow, Wow! www.minack.com... and they even have magic seats! 01736 810 181
If you fancy a fishing trip, James Brown at St Mawes is fantastic... www.fishandtripstmawes.co.uk 07891 300 078
Beaches is a big one!
The wonderful thing about Cornwall is that if it is lousy weather on the North Coast it is usually beautiful on the South.
On the South Coast there is Charlestown Beach which is pebbly but is sandy when the tide is out and you can walk to the deserted Duporth Beach at low tide.
Porthpean is a lovely family beach with sand and rock pools and chips. Caerhays is the same, and also has a great beach shop (as well as its own castle with award winning gardens).
One of the beaches that Daphne du Maurier fell in love with was Menabilly. Park the car in the National Trust carpark and take the longish track to the beach through farmland - its well worth it. Once on the beach, turn left and walk for a bit and you will see Rebecca's Beach House.
On the North Coast, Constantine Bay beach is a spectacle, and you can just about make a Kellys "99" (hard not whippy) last the length of it! The surfing is fabulous, and there are life guards from April to October. Do not go in if the flags are red - the rip tide is fearsome! The rock pools are superb and perfect for dam building (buckets and spades etc can be bought from Constantine Bay Stores).
Bedruthan Steps is incredible - just don't get cut off by the tide like we did last time! (www.nationaltrust.org.uk).
If you still want more, these beaches are worth seeing…..
Carne, Crantock, Gorran Haven, Hemmick, Kynance Cove, Lantic Bay, Pendower, Polkerris (with pub!), Polzeath, Prussia Cove and Vault.
Really Important Phone Numbers
Taxis - Star Cars www.starcarscornwall.com 01726 66636...
and Blackbird Car Hire are just lovely...They can meet you at the train station... www.bbchire.co.uk 07855 238 392.
For emergency NHS dental treatment phone 01872 354 375, but our dentist, Canda says if you phone her practice & let them know that you are guests of ours, they will treat you as a private patient (ie look after you really well!) 01726 74748 (and that includes broken dental appliances!) www.manorhousedental.net
For an out of hours Doctor, Serco Out of Hours are the people, 0870 242 1242. For a day time Doctors Appointment phone Polkyth Surgery on 01726 75555...
St Austell Community Hospital 01726 291 100 is small and Nurse lead, so the Royal Hospital at Treliske, Truro 01872 250 000 is the one to use for bigger things.
If you'd like any Spa Treatments, my lovely therapist now comes to our houses. Just email me antonia@antoniaspearls.co.uk and I will arrange it....
and finally, my brother arrived slightly grey so I sent him to the Floation Rooms at Par... He came back soft pink! 01726 814 114.
If you'd like a bit of one to one Pilates, then the lovely Heather is just the person you need to see www.introspectpilates.com 07967 628 059 She is the reason I haven't fallen completely to bits!
Dr Liz Scanes - Duchy Chiropractic in Bodmin 01208 78777 - Need I say more!
Ollie Hughes Physiotherapy - www.ohphysiotherapy.co.uk...01872 276 074.. Life Saver...
The Walsingham Clinic Truro (01872 263163 (www.walsinghamclinic.com) is great for complementary therapies.
I can't think of anything else, but do let me know if I have missed anything (and if any of my suggestions are not up to scratch!).
