the roseland return

This week we returned to the Cornish fishing village of Portscatho, in the Roseland Peninsula, where we had the most superb week's holiday last summer. Whilst the weather wasn't quite as kind to us this time round, we still had a wonderful time filled with non-stop adventure, play and laughter, like never before. 

Admittedly there wasn't too much laughter as we tried to pitch out tent in a thunderstorm (clearly we'd lost our sense of humour at that early point) but the rain clouds eventually parted and treated us to lots of sunny spells for the rest of our stay.

The vast majority of our time was spent crouched over rock pools, bobbing about in the waves and feasting on naughty Cornish treats. We also took the little ferry from St Mawes over to the bustling port of Falmouth to rummage for hidden treasure in the brimming second hand shops.

Back at the camp site, the girls marauded around squealing with delight, surrounded by an army of small friends with bubbles, balls, wooden swords and kites. The fields were also home to a small flock of sheep, chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs- the camp site lady would ring a hand bell in the morning at feeding time and the children all came running, desperate to help out!

We met a couple who had recently returned from paddling around the entire British coast in a sea kayak for 4 ½  months. The children were mesmerised by their tales of sleeping in bivy bags in car parks, not to mention the revelation that they only packed 5 pairs of underwear for their entire excursion! 

Needless to say, this encounter did nothing to stave off my ever-growing canoe obsession; I haven't quite convinced Steve of circumnavigating the British Isles just yet, but I think I might have him signed up to paddle the length of the Kennet and Avon Canal sometime soonish...

Once the girls were tucked up, Steve and I snuggled up in blankets, drinking cider, playing scrabble and treating ourselves to my dad's delicious blackberry vodka, which I had been saving for our holidays. I think it must have affected my usually impressive scrabble-playing skills as I lost every single game we played. I'm still sulking about it, but I will win back my scrabble crown at Christmas!

And now we're back home, preparing for the new school term, signs that the summer is drawing to its close. This evening has felt very autumnal indeed- we've been tucked up around the wood burner, watching 'Match of the Day' on the television!

I'll be trying to catch up with all your blogs over the next few days- what have I missed? x

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!