Author: gloversure

Walk Through – Mawgan Porth

The North coast of Cornwall is a smörgåsbord of beautiful beaches and great surf breaks to which Mawgan Porth is of no exception. A few miles north of Watergate Bay, Mawgan Porth is a picturesque village with everything you could need for a great holiday!

Mawgan Porth Beach has all the right ingredients – sitting at the bottom of steep cliffs, this large sandy beach has rock pools, rolling surf and amazing sunsets.  It’s no wonder The Times named it one of the best beaches in Britain stating ‘There are better-known and busier beaches in Cornwall, but few can match the raw beauty of Mawgan Porth’. Mawgan Porth Beach is one of Cornwall’s quieter beaches making it popular with families with younger children.

IMG_0538

Coming off the beach and exploring the village you’ll find the local deli, cafes, surf shops and hire, craft workshops and jewellery and clothing boutiques.

Deli

Veg

Off-the-Beach

Arts-ad-craft

Trans Surf takes centre stage in the village, selling and hiring surf equipment and more. From wetsuits to custom made boards, vintage Levis and cowboy boots to fair trade Cornish clothing you could search the store for hours.

Trans-Surf-Women

Trans-Surf-Mens

Vintage

 

Art

Next door you’ll find Roo’s Beach. With a sister store in Porth, Roo’s Beach is building a reputation as the ‘beachiest’ boutique in North Cornwall. Fun and funky is the only way to describe their eclectic style.

MP-Roos-beach

Roos-Beach-Mawgan-Porth

Roos-Beach-MP

 

And don’t forget to visit Disco Beads. Created in 2009 by jewellery designer Vic Harrigon, as quickly as she could make the jewellery she was selling it. Now with her own shop in Mawgan Porth, you can purchase ready made bracelets and necklaces or create your own.

Disco Beads have a mirror inside which makes them highly reflective giving them the bright and glowing look of a disco ball when they catch the light.

Disco-Beads

Disco-Beads-Mawgan-Porth

After a few hours retail therapy we’d worked up an appetite for coffee! At the end of the village we spied ‘Laid Back Coffee co‘, an independent, mobile coffee business selling great coffee and home baked cakes from the back of a 1969 Morris Minor Van.

Laid-Back-Coffee

Laid-Back-Coffee-Co

Coffee-co

Alternatively, if you’re looking for proper pub grub served at morning, noon and night (full English breakfasts and muffins, freshly filled baguettes from Chough Bakery in Padstow, and stone baked pizzas), then the Merrymoor is for you.

Walking back towards the beach we were nearly convinced by the Kingsurf guys to take a surf lesson. Running since 1997, Kingsurf has taught thousands of people how to catch the waves and ride them all the way into shore.

There is a great local vibe in Mawgan Porth; the residents of the village really work hard to keep everything local. If you want an authentic Cornish holiday, Mawgan Porth is for you.

Check out our holiday lets in Mawgan Porth.

Walk Through – The Gannel and Crantock

gannel 3

The Gannel Estuary, North of Fistral and Pentire Point, is a tidal river that you can explore by foot, kayak or canoe, bike or horseback.

No longer navigable, it was once used to pole barges upriver carrying coal, timber or sand to distribute inland. Today there are still traces of boatyards, moorings and derelict craft.

Interested in staying in our most luxurious holiday cottages? Check out our luxury coastal cottages.

Beyond the boats, The Gannel Estuary is home to an abundance of wildlife, from wading birds such as Egrets to fish such as bass and sea trout, so be sure to take your binoculars and spot the local wildlife.

Gannel

We visited The Gannel Estuary at low tide and walked towards Crantock Beach, but not before we stopped off at the Fern Pit Cafe and had a Cornish crab sandwich and some homemade cake.

Fern Pit Cafe on East Pentire headland overlooks Crantock Beach and The Gannel, boasting stunning views across the beach. It’s also home to the tropical path leading towards the ferry boathouse.

Want to stay in Crantock, Newquay near to Fistral and Watergate? Have a look at our properties in Crantock.

The ferry boathouse, at the bottom of a steep path, provides access between Newquay and Crantock Beach at high tide, between 10am and 6pm. When the tide is out there is a foot bridge which can be used free of charge.

Either way you choose to travel, you’ll arrive on the stunning beach of Crantock. Here you can sit back, relax or explore and play until the sun goes down.

The Gannel Estuary and Crantock are so close to Fistral Beach, why not visit whilst on holiday with Beach Reatreats.

Discover the scenic walk from Crantock to a mystery location, exploring hidden gems and stunning coastal vistas along the way in Cornwall.

TAKE A LOOK AT OUR PROPERTIES IN FISTRAL

A fresh perspective

Summer is here, sea temperatures are warming and marine wildlife is teeming around our shores. It’s the perfect time to set foot beyond the beach and try coasteering.

fresh-perspective

It’s been a long winter gazing seaward. But the time has come to twist your perspective on the Cornish coastline. As the ocean warms up this is the season to take the plunge and explore the swell-lashed territory where land meets sea. Coasteering brings you face to face with marine life, while taking you into creases of our rugged shores that are inaccessible by any other means. Be prepared for your knees to wobble and your heart pound as you swim through gulleys, ride whirlpools, explore sea caves, scramble up cliff faces and leap from rocky ledges. A coasteering trip isn’t for the faint-hearted, but for families with an adventurous streak, there’s no better way to get under the salty skin of North Cornwall.

For coasteering virgins, you can expect your initiation to go a bit like this… Feet and hands clinging fast like barnacles to the rocks, trying desperately to resist the pull of the swell taking you back into the sea. Heart in your mouth as you leap from a granite ledge. Salty bubbles of adrenalin bringing you back to the surface where you bob like a seal (only ungainly and badly dressed), eyeing gulls and cormorants that swoop overhead. Coast path walkers are just specks on the land; they have no idea what it feels like to see the coast from out here. You ride the next surge of the ocean into the mouth of a sea cave. Another hit of adrenalin. You’re addicted.

The terrain you will witness is unlike anywhere else in the country with its sheltered coves, wave-hewn headlands, natural sluices and smugglers’ caves. And there’s no better time to experience this territory than in summer. “After a long winter the wildlife goes into overdrive,” explains Ben Spicer of Cornish Rock Tors. “In inter-tidal zones you might see starfish or giant spider crabs, while a seal might pop up in deeper waters.” Elliot Walker of Pure Activities agrees: “Coasteering is an amazing activity to experience in summer when clifftops are covered with gorse and wild flowers, birds return from their winter migrations, dolphins are exceptionally playful and sunny days make sea temperatures more comfortable.”

Despite full-throttle adventure credentials, coasteering is a family-friendly activity and doesn’t require superhuman levels of fitness. Launching off sea cliffs and disappearing into tidal caves might feel like breaking all the sea-safety rules that have been drummed into you, but in the hands of expert guides you’re doing so in a safe, controlled environment. There are coasteering trips for all ages and abilities, from easygoing routes for first-time families to power coasters (with aid of a RIB boat) for extreme adrenalin junkies.

“Newquay is the hub of coasteering in the South West,” declares Rob Barber of Newquay Activity Centre. “So standards of service are high.” He points out a culmination of factors that make the coast between Newquay and Polzeath an incredible place for coasteering: “Not only are we lucky enough to have the Gulf Stream warming our waters, but it’s down to the fusion of pristine environment, some of the country’s most eye-catching indigenous wildlife and consistent swell.” Whatever you encounter on a coasteering trip it’s the raw beauty of the coastline that smacks you squarely in the face. Well, that and the North Coast swell.

IMG_5302_copyright_www

Where can I have a go?

Extreme Coasteering

Adrenaline Quarry

Cornish Coast Adventures

Walk Through – Portreath, Cornwall

We visited Portreath, a peaceful village around 45 45-minute drive down the coast from Beach Retreats headquarters. Evidence of Portreath’s history as one of Cornwall’s first industrial ports can be seen around the village.

Portreath Bakery is owned by the niece of one of the last fishermen to work out of the harbour. Their famous heavy cake was taken out to sea to sustain the fishermen during their trips.

Today the bakery is has an excellent reputation across Cornwall and nationally. And it is easy to see why from their tempting treats.

While traditional pasties can be bought alongside artisan breads. Walking down to the beach along the inner basin which was constructed in the 19th Century. Where you will find a pub on a beach, The Waterfront Inn.

Discover Portreath’s no-drive delights, where relaxation and adventure await just steps away from your doorstep along the stunning Cornish coast.

And a typically perfect Cornish beach, popular with surfers, bodyboarders and kayakers. As well and sandcastle creators and sunseekers.

Fancy staying in Portreath? Check out our Portreath holiday retreats.

Walk Through St Agnes

A picturesque walk through the village and around the coast.

St Agnes is a postcard Cornish village steeped in tin mining history. Nestled on the north coast of Cornwall, the seemingly sleepy town offers a relaxing spot for a self-catering family holiday. Discover inspiring coastal walks and independent shops; including greengrocers and butchers, and an array of places to eat. Wander the winding streets to find your favourite cafe, restaurant or brewery tucked away – hidden from the crowds.

Discover more of what St Agnes has to offer and explore our St Agnes holiday cottages.

The town is only a short walk away from our properties in St Agnes. Although a small town, you can find everything you need while on holiday. From greengrocers, butchers, a spa (for recharging your batteries), and a gift shop (to take home a slice of Cornwall.

Fancy staying in a holiday retreat with a hot tub? Check out our cottages with a hot tub for a relaxing getaway.

The Sorting Office, opposite the hairdressers, is the perfect place to stop for a morning coffee or afternoon cake. The delicious bakes are all homemade by a local family company called Rustic Cakes.

From the town, you can follow a pathway down to Trevaunance Cove. A sandy cove, with waterfront cafes, a pub and brewery, Trevaunance is popular with families, walkers and stand-up paddle boarders. On the beach, Koru Kayaking offer equipment hire and tours around Cornwall’s historic coast. Explore hidden sea caves, see the coast from a different perspective and spot a seal or two! For those who enjoy the ground beneath their feet, from Trevaunance Cove you can follow the coastal path through the gardens and up the cliff to Blue Hills.

Blue Hills still feels like an undiscovered part of Cornwall. Scattered with engine houses, chimneys and tine mines, walk in ancient miner’s footsteps as you descend the coastal path.

Take a captivating walk through Perranporth, exploring its expansive sandy beach, rugged cliffs, and vibrant seaside atmosphere along the Cornish coast.

Named after the blue and purple heather, which grows on the wild clifftops, Blue Hills provides a tranquil spot for a family picnic and soaking-up the views. At low tide, there is a small sandy cove and plenty of rockpools to explore. From this part of the coast, you can experience some amazing Cornish sunsets. Dine alfresco and discover your new kitchen on the beach with a family barbecue.

Book your self-catering family holiday in St Agnes.

Dinosaurs Unleashed – Eden Project, Cornwall

BREAKING NEWS:  Dinosaurs have been spotted in the St. Austell area heading towards Eden Project.

Until now dinosaurs were thought extinct, but it seems the abundant plant life of Eden Project has given the prehistoric creatures new life.

The team at Eden are calling on all junior (and senior) explorers to help them track down the escaped dinosaurs and learn all about our Earth’s past.

There is no time to lose, we must find the dinosaurs!

Head to Eden Project this summer between 21 July and 2 September for a truly immersive experience, Dinosaurs Unleashed, it’s a sensory feast that you’ll never forget! Step boldly into an ancient, exotic landscape of raw earth, rocks, roots, ferns, dripping mosses and giant redwood trees, habitat of the frog, snake and giant centipede. As you walk through atmospheric morning mist, you’ll hear Pterosaurs soaring overhead and smell the subtle scent of conifers on the air.

Become an explorer – Clue up at Basecamp before striking out on your expedition. At this first base, you’ll learn all you need to complete your quest around Eden.

Explorer Field Stations – Meet explorers from the past. Find out why they went down in history as some of the greatest adventurers and what we can learn from them.

The Crater of the Tyrant King – Dare you enter the Crater? You’ll encounter the most feared predator of all, a Tyrannosaurus rex, as it devours its Triceratops prey!

The Dig Pit – Dig deep into the past to uncover a dinosaur skeleton, and see how humans discovered and pieced together this world by finding fossils. A great activity for the whole family to get stuck into! There will also be a junior version for the under-5s.

Dinosaur exhibition – In our Core building, discover why people are so fascinated by dinosaurs. Find out why scientists think they were so BIG and why they think they were wiped out 65 million years ago.

The exhibition will also feature an amazing collection of dinosaur fossils that has never been publicly exhibited before, including real dinosaur eggs, a fossilised brain, a whole skeleton and a real T-Rex tooth.

Adventure Journal – When you arrive at Eden you’ll be given a free Adventure Journal where you can record details of your adventure here.

Note for parents and carers of youngsters (of a possibly nervous disposition): the Crater of the Tyrant King is an authentic and immersive experience. It shows a very realistic (and slightly gory!) scene. Please check with our staff if you have any questions/concerns before joining the queue.

Top Chef Cornwall winner with a link to Beach Retreats

Cornwall’s next generation of cooking talent have been in competition to win the title of Top Chef across Cornwall and the winner has a could be part of the in-house catering team at a Beach Retreats property!

Top Chef Cornwall

Merryn McCluskie, age 12, from Mawgan Porth was announced the overall winner at the final cook-off at Treviglas School on June 28th. Coming through a series of heats, Merryn was crowned overall winner across all age groups after a ‘masterchef’ style cook off in front of a respected judges including two from Fifteen Cornwall. The prize includes a Fifteen Cornwall apron and day at the restaurant in Watergate Bay.

Merryn is the daughter of Pippa and James who run Blue Bay House in Mawgan Porth. They provide an in-house catering service for guests – everything from a grand banquet to picnic baskets, so it’s easy to see where Merryn picked up her cooking skills.

Merryn cooked her favourite food – asparagus – as part of the two courses in the final:

Tregassow Asparagus wrapped in pancetta served with wild leaves and flowers, parmesan shavings and drizzled with French dressing.

Fresh fillet of Cod with a herb crust, baked and served with a lemon butter sauce, seasonal vegetables and Cornish new potatoes.

Read more about Blue Bay House and their personalised in-house catering options for guests.

Polo On The Beach, Cornwall

Don’t miss out on one of the best events in Cornwall!

On 5 and 6 July, Polo on The Beach returns to Watergate Bay with an action-packed weekend of ponies, segways and champagne.

Want to stay in a luxury holiday house with a view of the sea? Check out our cottages with sea views.

Now in its eighth year, Polo on the Beach is focused around the main Watergate Bay Trophy match on Saturday 5th July between Joules and First Great Western, teams made up of some of the country’s finest polo players.

Free to attend, there are three polo matches in all, starting with a ladies match on Saturday afternoon, followed by the Watergate Bay Trophy men’s match. The third match is on Sunday afternoon and is the hotly contested Cornwall vs Rest of the World.

The weekend is all about polo but there are also lots of other exciting events to entertain the crowds including polo demonstrations, a horse stunt show, polo pony relay races, Segway polo and live music, as well as a Champagne bar and The Beach Hut barbecue & bar on the beach.

Dive into the exciting world of alternative surf activities in Cornwall and discover new ways to enjoy the waves.

Check out the full event line up.

Saturday 5th July
12.00pm Veuve Clicquot Airstream Champagne bar, Beach Hut barbecue & bar open
1.30pm Segway demonstration
2.00pm An introduction to polo – rules and “how to play” demo
3.00pm The Stampede Stunt Company – horse display team
4.00pm Professional ladies polo match
5.15pm The Stampede Stunt Company
6.00pm Professional mens’ polo match between team Joules and team FGW
6.45pm Trophy presentations
7.00pm DJ set by ‘Billon’ on the beach until sunrise

Sunday 6th July
12.00pm Veuve Clicquot Airstream Champagne bar and Beach Hut barbecue & bar open
1.30pm Segway demonstration
2.00pm An introduction to polo – rules and “how to play” demo
2.45pm Polo pony relay challenge
3.45pm Segway polo match
4.30pm Cornwall vs Rest of the World polo match
5.15pm Trophy presentation

 

Fancy staying in Watergate Bay? Check out our luxury holiday properties in Watergate Bay, Newquay.

Sundowner Sessions at Lusty Glaze

Lusty Glaze Beach is developing a reputation as an amazing live music venue. The natural amphitheatre of this horseshoe shaped cove surrounded by high cliffs makes a truly remarkable concert venue.

Last year saw an amazing line up play the Sundowner Sessions on the beach and this year is no different. Check out the line up…

Fisherman’s Friends

Friday 4 July, 2014
If folk is your thing, this is for you. Fisherman’s Friends are a male singing group from Port Isaac, Cornwall, who sing sea shanties. Whilst essentially an acappella group, their studio recordings now often include traditional simple instrumentation. Tickets are available through the office on 01637 872444.

The Feeling

Thursday 24 July, 2014
BRIT award-nominated English rock band will be making their Lusty Glaze debut this year, bringing back their well known hits such as ‘Fill My Little World’ and ‘Sewn’. Tickets are available through the office on 01637 872444.

Morcheeba

Thursday 31 July, 2014
Morcheeba are a British band, mixing influences from trip hop, rock, adult contemporary, folk-rock and downtempo. They have produced eight albums since 1995, two of which reached the UK top ten. Tickets are available through the office on 01637 872444.

Newton Faulkner

Friday 1 August, 2014
Known for his characteristic percussive style of guitar playing, Newton Faulkner topped the UK album chart with ‘Hand Built By Robots’, featuring songs such as ‘Teardrop’ and ‘Gone in The Morning’. Tickets are available through the office on 01637 872444.

Simon & Oscar from Ocean Colour Scene

Sunday 17 August, 2014
Ocean Colour Scene, a well know Brit-pop band have had five Top 10 albums and six Top 10 singles to date. This year see Simon and Oscar perfom an acoustic set of songs you’ll know and love. Tickets are available through the office on 01637 872444.

Bellowhead

Monday 18 August, 2014
Simply, there is no one else quite like Bellowhead. Formed in 2004 this 11-piece big band fuses an exceptional amount of individual musical talent into something unique and truly uplifting. Tickets are available through the office on 01637 872444.

The-Line-Up-Lusty-GLaze

The live music doesn’t stop their either, throughout the summer Lusty Glaze are putting on a whole host of free Sundowner Sessions. Find the line up here.

Surf Diner in Newquay

New to Newquay town centre is the Surf Diner. Serving 100% Cornish burgers, steaks and seafood with authentic american flavours, this is the new place to hang out.

‘At our diner your food is sourced locally for the best in freshness and provenance. The meats we use are procured from Cornish farmers, hung for 28 days and all traceable. Our chefs hand-make your burgers, hand-cut your steaks and take pride in every dish we serve, even those that are meat free’.

As you walk up the stairs you know this is the real deal, massive pop culture artwork is hung on the walls, the juke box is hooked up with classic songs and genuine coca-cola memorabilia brings the whole restaurant together.

But, the pièce de résistance has got to be the view. The jewel in this diner’s crown is the commanding view it owns over the Atlantic. If you’re looking for alfresco dining we suggest you head to Surf Diner, you won’t be disappointed.