Category: Activities

Coastal running stretches – #behere with Beach Retreats

The second in our series of blog posts focusing on coastal running in Cornwall. We join Helen Clare on Porthtowan Beach for her essential warm-up and warm-down stretches tailored specifically to coastal running.

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Once a competitive swimmer to a regional level, Helen has always been driven by sport, health and fitness. Now a keen trail runner and surfer, she is dedicated to spreading the health benefits of exercise and yoga and works closely with many athletes as part of their cross-training, injury prevention and therapy. Helen has gained the Leadership in Running Fitness certification and Sport Yoga instructor status.

Helen says: “Start jogging at an easy pace to allow your muscles to warm up as you progress along your run. Afterwards, take the time to do these essential post-run stretches.”

Down Dog

On your hands and feet, bend the knees to guide your hips up and back, lengthening your spine (pictured above). Only then start to think about lowering your heels towards the ground. This pose helps to re-lengthen the hamstrings gradually and stretches out the entire back, realigning and decompressing the spine.

Standing forward fold

From your down dog, walk your feet up to your hands. Bend your knees and look forward, then breath out and draw your chest towards your thighs, straightening your legs to your own degree. This pose releases the lower back and gently stretches the hamstrings.

Low lunge

From the forward Fold, step your right leg back. Place your hands on your front thigh and lower your tail bone towards the ground as you sink your hips comfortably. This pose releases tension in the hip flexors and the quadriceps.

Side stretch

From the low Lunge take your hands to your hips and align hip over knee and knee over ankle. Reach up, hold your right wrist and stretch over to the left. This pose offers a great side body stretch that can go all the way down into the hip, stretching into the tensor fasciae latae muscle, which attaches to the IT band.

Runner’s stretch

From the side Stretch lunge, come up and take your hands to the ground and press your front toes down, lengthening the front leg – this will provide a nice stretch through the front of the ankle and shin. Then, bend the left knee and lift the toes, draw back the hip before beginning to straighten the leg to your own degree. This pose starts to deepen the stretch into the belly of the hamstrings.

Hip opener

From runner’s stretch, widen your left foot out and place your right hand down. Start to turn to your left, flexing back your toes and either placing your left hand gently on your thigh or stretching it up to open the chest. This pose works deep into the glutes and piriformis hip muscles, as well as the back hip flexors and quads – relieving built up tension from running.
Repeat on the other side.

Helen’s top tip!

When home, lie down with your feet up the wall! This relieves pressure on the feet and legs, reverses the blood flow and allows the muscles to rejuvenate!

Discover the freedom of coastal running with expert tips from Beach Retreats

We joined professional yoga instructor and trail runner Helen Clare at www.helenclareyoga.com

Explore the breathtaking beauty of St Agnes in North Cornwall, where coastal trails make it the perfect destination for running enthusiasts.

Coastal running – #behere with Beach Retreats

The first in a series on blog posts on coastal running in Cornwall. Challenging trails. Spectacular coastline. And no iPod. Why you’ll turn your back on road running forever.

“You only have to look at the scenery here to see the appeal of running along the coast path,” says keen trail runner Helen Clare as we lace up our running shoes.

We’re on the North Cornish coast about to tackle a 30-minute circular route for my first foray into coastal running, and I’m a little nervous.
The 3.6 mile round trip is rated easy to moderate on the South West Coast Path’s website, but I’m not convinced. My 20-minute jogs around the flat local park seem like little preparation.

Starting from our holiday home at Watergate Bay, the plan is to follow the two-mile stretch of golden sand southwards to Porth Beach, before climbing up onto Trevelgue head and back along the coastal path to where we started off.

From a physical point of view, coastal running can be more challenging on your legs, core and cardiovascular system, but the softer surfaces are a lot easier on your feet. And as we step as step out the door, my fears are immediately diminished by a cool sea breeze. I’m confronted with a vista of endless blue skies, a beautiful expanse of beach, and barely another soul around.
“It’s about making most the most of the landscape on your doorstep,” says Helen as we start off. I notice there’s no iPod strapped to her body. “Why, when you can absorb the natural surroundings – listening to the birds, the wind and waves?”

I can see Helen’s yoga background coming into play. There are other reasons too which remove coastal running far away from its tarmacked counterpart. “Coastal running is more about freedom, being relaxed and not running against a clock.”
My mind starts clears as we reach the half way point – an almost meditative state. Wondering where that split in the path leads? There’s nothing stopping you to change your route and go exploring. Feeling tired? Then walk for a stretch, or turn around and head back home. No one’s judging.

The terrain along the coastal paths in Cornwall is so varied that you can choose how challenging you want your run to be. And god. Those views. I’m so engaged the whole way that I barely notice how long we’ve been running for when I find myself back where we started.

Later, after we’ve showered the sand and salt out of our hair, we make our way to dinner overlooking the beach and fall into our seats. Exhausted, happy, and exhilarated.

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And the best thing? It didn’t really feel like exercise at all.
We stayed at The Village with Beach Retreats, a development of eco-houses built into the hill above the beach at Watergate Bay.

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

Hit the coastal trails with Beach Retreats’ guide to invigorating seaside running experiences.

We joined professional yoga instructor and trail runner Helen Clare at www.helenclareyoga.com

Beach Retreats visited the unassuming shop on Cornwall’s north-coast to find out more and sample its famous saffron heavy cake as seen on TV.

The secret is out about this unassuming bakery. We visited one of its flagship shops on Cornwall’s north coast to find out more, and to sample some of its famous saffron-heavy cake as featured on TV, of course.

Take a stroll into Portreath village centre and you’d be forgiven for walking straight past Portreath Bakery. But you’d be missing a treat if you did.

Established by Marion Symonds in 1988, the family-owned business has gone strength to strength, now offering much more than the humble – although fantastic – Cornish pasty.

The bakery sources all of its ingredients locally, adding eggs, meat and vegetables, who have been a supplier for more than 20 years.

Over the years the bakery has featured on various television programmes alongside Hugh Scully and ‘Two Fat Ladies’ and has also been personally recommended by Rick Stein’s book ‘Food Heroes’ and Carolyn Martin’s book ‘Our Daily Bread’.

Their famous saffron heavy featured on a recent television programme, Britain’s Best Bakery, where the judges remarked on how moist and fruity it was.

Cornish pastry facts

    • Heavy cake was originally taken to sea as sustenance for sailors, including Marion’s uncle Gordon Greenslade who is now in his 101st year and still living in Portreath
    • Pasties were originally invented by housewives for their husbands to take down the mine and typically had a savoury and sweet end
    • Miners would hold the pasty by the crimp throw this away at the end to avoid eating the arsenic that was on their hands
    • Housewives marked their husband’s initials on the left-hand side of the pastry to avoid any confusion at lunchtime
    • Miners often saved this corner of their pasty for a ‘knocker’ or mischievous elves who were believed to cause bad luck

Portreath Bakery is 30-minute drive down the coast from Newquay. Visit www.portreathbakery.co.uk for more information.

Elevate your beach BBQ game with expert tips and tricks on perfecting a beach BBQ with our guide!

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

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

Christmas in Cornwall – top five must dos

Christmas tree at Watergate Bay, Newquay

December is almost upon us, which means we can officially start to feel festive. Christmas in Cornwall is a truly magical time, with lots to see and do for the whole family. It was hard, but we’ve whittled down our top five Cornish Christmas must dos.

Find out why Christmas time is the best time to visit Cornwall and some of our holiday retreats to stay in at Christmas time.

Take a dip

Nothing shakes away the Christmas feeling of excess better than a Christmas or Boxing Day swim. And we’re talking about nothing more than a bikini or shorts and a string of tinsel. At a cool 10 degrees Celsius, it’s certainly bracing, but you’ll be surprised to find quite a few others getting into the spirit of things and taking the plunge. Organised swims take place at Bude, Gwithian and Sennen, but Watergate Bay is great for warming up with a hot chocolate afterwards.

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Ice skating at the Eden Project

Visit a rainforest and go ice skating all in one Cornish afternoon at the Eden Project. The covered ice rink is open until 22 February and costs £6 per person (in addition to an Eden admission ticket) for a 40 minute session starting on the hour. For little ones, penguin skating aids are available to lean on and hold on to.

Padstow Christmas Festival

The gastronomical delight that is Padstow Christmas Festival returns from 4-7 December, starring award-winning chefs and more than 100 artisans and producers. See Santa arrive on his horse-drawn Victorian bus, spectacular fireworks, live music, carol singing and a lantern parade, plus lots more. Over on the south coast at Fowey Christmas market from 6-7 December, you can expect BBQs, Cornish traders, mulled wine, Santa arriving on a boat and even a sheep competition.

Cornish gardens and the National Trust

Nothing feels more festive than wrapping up in a bobble hat and gloves and visiting one of the many beautiful gardens or old properties in Cornwall. At Cotehele, see the famous 60-foot flower garland in all its glory – and help if you wish. Meanwhile, Trelissick house and gardens will be illuminated and decorated during certain weekends in December, and the Elizabethan manor house Terice will be a craft heaven of Christmas tree decoration and mincemeat making workshops.

Santa Fun Runs

Don a red suit and white beard and take part in one of Cornwall’s many Santa Fun Runs in aid of Cornwall Hospice Care. Events are taking place across the county in Truro, Newquay, Padstow, Falmouth, St Austell plus many other locations. If you’re not feeling up to it, it’s still a great event to support and watch go buy from the comfort of the side lines.

 

Thinking about staying for the New Year as well? Find out the best way to celebrate and spend the New Year in Cornwall.

Christmas in Cornwall

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, Cornwall is a magical time at Christmas. The county is lit up with lights, the fields are dusted with frost and the festive cheer is in full swing. What better time to wrap up warm head outside for a winter holiday you’ll never forget!

We provide the accommodation, you wrap up warm and Cornwall does the rest!

Here’s what’s on over the Christmas period:

Ice Skating at Eden Project
19 Oct – 2 Jan

 

Meet Father Christmas and real reindeer, enjoy an enchanting lantern parade whilst sipping hot chocolate and ice skate at Eden Project.

Truro City of Lights
20 November

Head to the most south-Westerly city in England and see the streets alight with a festive light parade.

Trereife Christmas Fair
22 Nov – 24 Nov

Over the weekend you can enjoy fantastic shopping, great food and arts and crafts all under the cover of a warm marquee. There’s nothing like Christmas shopping to get you in the festive spirit.

Santa Fun Runs
27 Nov – 14 Dec

In Land’s End, Padstow and Falmouth a whole sea of santas will be partaking in an annual fun run to raise money for Cornwall Hospice Care.

27 November- Truro (Late Night Santa Run)
30 November – Land’s End
1 December – Newquay (Santa’s on the Beach)
7 December – Wadebridge-Padstow (Santa Cycle)
7 December – Padstow
8 December – Heartlands
14 December – Falmouth (Super Santa-Day)

Fowey Christmas Market
29 Nov – 1 Dec

This beautiful seaside town hosts a festive weekend full of entertainment, food and drink and plenty of opportunity to pick up some great Christmas gifts.

Padstow Christmas Festival
5 Dec – 8 Dec

Head to Padstow, only a few miles from our properties at Beach Retreats to embrace the festive season. See this Cornish fishing harbour come to life with celebrity chefs, culinary delights and festive fun.

Mousehole Christmas Lights
14 Dec – 4 Jan

Probably the most talked about display of festive lights in Cornwall. Mousehole really put on a dazzling show by lighting up the entire harbour, in and out of the sea.

Which event will you attend this Christmas?