Our family holiday in Cornwall,
September 2007
After an enjoyable holiday near Bideford in Devon the previous year, our family decided to organise another one. We decided that Cornwall should be nice in mid-September, and I think it fell to Rob and Mel to find a suitable house for our extended family of ten; Mum, Sharon, Mick, Emma and James, Mel, Rob and Millie, plus Lin and I and our border collie, Bonnie. They found a fantastic house called Silver Spray on the clifftops at Port Gaverne on Cornwall’s north coast. Which, it turned out it was also close to the pretty town of Port Isaac where the Doc Martin TV series was filmed.
Date
Activity
Sat Sept 15th
Drive to our holiday house in Cornwall
Lin and I were coming from Staffordshire; Mel, Rob and Millie from Cheshire, and everyone else from Derby, so we decided to make our own way down to the west country, and meet up at the services on the M5 just south of Bristol. We then continued as a convoy to our holiday house, and got there at around 4 pm.
The house and location were just stunning, situated high above the Atlantic with the South-West Coastal Path running right past the property. It had lots of land, and extensive sea views, with Port Isaac to the west, and the coast as far as Tintagel to the north. We spent the rest of the day settling in and relaxing.
What did we do for dinner?
Sun Sept 16th
Pottered around the local area
After breakfast, I walked Bonnie a mile or two up the South-West Coastal Path, then Lin, myself and Bonnie went into Port Gaverne for a look around. Mel, Rob and Millie walked up the South-West Coastal Path, and got a fair bit further than Bonnie and I.
After lunch, Bonnie and I joined Mel, Rob and Millie for a blustery walk along the cliff tops down into Port Gaverne.
What did we do for dinner?
Mon Sept 17th
Lin and I to Delabole Quarry
Pretty overcast at first, and Lin and I drove into Delabole and walked around the Slate Quarry. Sharon, Mick, Emma and James decided to drive to Porthcothan for the day, and Mel, Rob and Millie drove to Bedruthan Steps.
What did Mum do?
In the afternoon, Lin, myself and Bonnie drove out to explore the coastline to the west of us. Had a wander round, around Polzeath and Rock. and then beers.
For dinner we all had a big takeaway dinner from the local chippie.
Tue Sept 18th
Lin and I to Bedruthan Steps
We woke up to bright sunshine, so Lin and I went to Bedruthan Steps, then lunch at the Falcon Inn in Saint-Mawgan.
Mel, Rob and Millie spent the day around Penzance at places like Sennan Cove, and Mullion Cove, and the Telegraph Museum at Porthcurno.
For dinner, Lin and I plus Mum, Sharon, Mick, Emma and James drove to Rick Stein’s Bistro in Padstow for a nice (but expensive) meal. Mel, Rob and Millie had dinner on their way back from the Penzance area.
Wed Sept 19th
Lin and I to Port Isaac for lunch. Bay Hotel in the evening to watch a local band.
Cool and grey with the odd bit of sunshine. Lin and I drove into Port Isaac parked in the St. Endellion Car Park and walked around the coastal path into the town. We had a drink at the Golden Lion next to the harbour, and then took a hot Cornish Pasty up the coastal path for a tasty al fresco lunch.
Mel, Rob and Millie took Mum to Boscastle.
What did Sharon, Mick, Emma and James do?
In the evening, we all went to the Bay Hotel in Port Isaac for drinks, and to watch a local band.
Thu Sept 20th
Mass outing to Tintagel
Mega-convoy to Tintagel. Mum sat on a bench in the village while the rest of us walked down to the castle and spent an hour or so exploring.
We rejoined Mum in Tintagel village for a lunch of Cornish pasties.
We then drove the couple of miles to Boscastle for a wander round, checkout the gift shops and have a drink.
In the evening Mel and Rob drove Mum down into Port Gaverne, and the rest of us walked down. We sat outside the Port Gaverne Hotel with our drinks, and eventually asked for a table inside where we ate some decent pub grub.
Those of us on foot then walked up the steep footpath in the semi-darkness back to the house.
Fri Sept 21st
Go-karting, sight-seeing, packing
Rain overnight, and a grey start. Big convoy to the St Eval Kart Circuit circuit near Wadebridge. The go-karts had slicks and the circuit was glistening wet in places, but all except Sharon, Mum and Lin decided to give it a try. Any attempt to actually race was asking for trouble… on the wet curves, the kart just wanted to go in a straight line (well mine did anyway). The only way I found to go round with any pace was to accelerate through the bends to create some oversteer, but then you often found yourself going too fast for the next corner. I imagine there were a few spins that day!
In the afternoon, Mel, Rob and Millie walked into Port Isaac, and Lin and I drove to Porthcothan for beer and lunch, and a wander round the beach. Then back to the house to pack for the trip home.
