Our staycation in Cornwall 2020

02/08/2020

This summer we decided to go on a staycation to the land of pints, pirates and pasties. Come along and see what we got up to on our first holiday with our tiny sausage pup Sona. https://www.instagram.com/sona_thesausagedog/?hl=en

Lansallos Cove

Where did we stay?

If you are looking for a unique place to stay I would definitely recommend checking out ‘Canopy and Stars’.

We found ourselves a quirky 19th century wagon, nestled in the corner of an idyllic horse paddock, in the village of Lanreath. The village lies between Fowey and Looe in South East Cornwall.

Sanger’s Wagon is full of character, colour and charisma. In rain or shine this place is truly remarkable. Rose and Al, made us feel extremely welcome and thought of everything to make our stay as enjoyable as possible. Rose even baked us some homemade scones and a cheeky bottle of prosecco in the fridge upon arrival.

Link to the accommodation we stayed in-https://www.canopyandstars.co.uk/britain/england/cornwall/sangers-showmans-wagon/sangers-showmans-wagon

This accommodation is very dog friendly - Rose and Al left us a dog bowl, towel, doggie biscuits and some very convenient poo bags.

The wood fired hot tub was blissful to relax in with a glass of bubbles after a long day of hiking and sightseeing.

Hot-tub tips from Buzz

1. Light the fire at least 3-4 hours in advance.

2. Keep stirring (making sure to move the water from the bottom to the top every 45 minutes).

3. Test the water.

4. Hop in, enjoy the scenery and relax.

Where did we go?

Charlestown harbour

This Georgian harbour town certainly brings you to a mystical world of pirates and mermaids. Take a stroll around the harbour to view the intricate rope laden ships and fantastic sea views.

After exploring the beach, making sure to look in the warm rock pools teeming with sea life, why not enjoy a warm pasty with a coffee? (I highly recommend the clotted cream ice-cream for dessert).

Lansallos Cove

A little glimpse of our coastal hike that sandwiched our scintillating swim in the crystal clear ocean.

Head left out of the adequately sized National Trust carpark, and begin the trail beside a quaint old church, meandering through a tranquil woodland until eventually breaking out in full view of the turquoise waves clapping the shores of this secluded cove.

A 6 km walk in total with various coastal paths that increase in difficulty. A word of warning though, if you have a cute puppy this walk may take double the time (Sona gets a lot of attention from other walkers).

Happy hiking.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lantic-bay-and-lansallos/trails/lansallos-coastal-and-woodland-walk

St. Nectan's Glen

We spent our Monday morning chasing waterfalls through St. Nectan's Glen. A 4.90km walk through a beautiful woodland valley. Soothing stream sounds lead you to three spectacular waterfalls. The spacious dog friendly cafe at the top made for a perfect pit stop before beginning our descent to the base of the waterfall. Make sure to wear waterproof footwear or be prepared for wet feet as you will need to cross a shallow river to get the best view.

This walk is not for the faint of heart becoming quite steep and muddy in places, but standing below the falls; staring through the hole carved by the power of water-as if it led to another dimension- engulfed by the sounds and cooling mist of this roaring beast, all of this is quickly forgotten.

Top tips from Em

Don't give up! The waterfall is definitely worth it.

Wear wellies or shoes you do not mind getting wet.

You can easily visit Tintagel Castle on the same day (it is only a 9 minute drive by car).

https://www.st-nectansglen.co.uk

Tintagel Castle

Situated on the rugged north Cornish coast the ruins of Tintagel Castle are shrouded in folklore. Upon entering the village the history begins to show itself almost immediately as you pass the old post office built in the 14th century. The aptly named 'Merlins cave' and gift shops full of Arthurian trinkets further enforce the mythology of the area. It's thought that King Arther was conceived in this very castle with the help of Merlin the Wizard. After exploring the village, head for the sea to catch breathtaking views of the castle and bridge. The new bridge was built for access in 2018 and is quite spectacular. Below the bridge steps lead down to Tintagel beach and Merlin's cave. Looking through the sea cave in the afternoon, you might catch a glimpse of the waves crashing at the far end as the wind whistles through and the sun splashes the glimmering rocks and just for a second you stare deep into the eyes of Mother Nature, in all her glory!

After a mighty walk back up the hill, you are more than ready for the world's best pasty. Enjoyed best with a pint in one of the local pubs. From swords to sandwiches, seashells to Sunday lunch- Tintagel has something for everyone.

Top tips from EM

Make sure to book in advance.

Do not go on a windy day as you will not be allowed over the bridge to the castle.

Dog friendly -there are lots of big cliffs so please keep them safe on the lead.

Wear appropriate shoes whilst walking (it can be slippy in runners/trainers).

Make sure to visit Merlin's cave.

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/tintagel-castle/

Where did we dine?

The Sardine Factory Looe- the seafood is a 10/10. Lovely food, great service and they even do takeway. http://www.thesardinefactorylooe.com

The Jubilee Inn Pelynt- great atmosphere, lovely pub grub and extremely doggie friendly. https://www.jubileeinnpelynt.co.uk

The Plough Duloe- our Sunday meal was superb! A very safe and clean environment to enjoy delicious local food. This restaurant is also very dog friendly. http://www.ploughduloe.co.uk

The Cornish Bakery Tintagel- voted the world's best Cornish pasty, delicious pasties and very friendly staff. These pasties are so good that we had to bring one back for a friend that had recommended it. http://www.thecornishbakery.com

Looe Gin- This gin was unreal! Buzz had the fresh kumquat and I had the pink raspberry flavour which definitely complimented my sweet tooth.They even had some doggie gin outside for Sona. https://copperfishdistillery.co.uk/looe-gin/

This blog was written by Em, Buzz and Sona the sausage dog.