a cornish adventure

We've been spending this week camping by the sea on Cornwall's stunning Roseland Peninsula. It's been the most incredible family holiday we've ever had. The weather was perfect, beaches were breathtaking and the girls were both the best behaved they have ever been- no tears or tantrums from either of them for the whole week. I think there must be something to be said for abandoning television and laptops and being forced to entertain each other!

 

 

Every beautiful sandy, rock-pooled beach we went to was virtually empty- most unexpected for Cornwall in the school holidays, I can only assume that the rest of Cornwall's holiday-makers were on the popular north side. This meant that the girls were allowed much more freedom to wander through the rock pools and paddle in the sea by themselves, as wherever they were, we could spot them instantly. Flora spent some of her holiday money on an inflatable boat "The Happy Crab" and the girls spent many an hour rowing her in the warm, shallow sea. The sea was so blue and calm that even I was swimming in it- it must be many years since the last time that happened.

 

 

 

 

The campsite where we stayed was like nothing we'd ever been to before- a small, heritage farm with lush green fields, rolling down to the sea and the most relaxed and friendly atmosphere we've ever encountered. There were only a small number of pitches, all of which were occupied by ordinary families with small children like ours (none of the scary super-keen rambler types you normally get, parading about in testicle-skimming cut off denims at the crack of dawn). There was a whole field set-aside for the children to run and play, with goal-posts and a willow den- both girls had the time of their lives and made armies of wonderful friends, who they were sad to say farewell to. Campfires were permitted in braziers that you could borrow with the purchase of firewood and every Wednesday night throughout the summer holidays there is an organised fireside gathering in the top field, with a bring-and-share bbq, music, poetry, story-telling and marshmallow toasting. It was the perfect opportunity to relax, make friends and watch the sun setting into the sea. 

I am now a rather rosy shade of pinky-brown and have an entire mountain of laundry to do, but I have never felt so relaxed. We'll be booking to go again next year as soon as we can- I can't imagine a holiday anywhere else in the world being so perfect!