The Potager...

I had heard good things about the Falmouth Pop Up before we had left for Cornwall.  Locally sourced food, cooked by the wonderful Annie who used to co-run the Runcible Spoon here in Bristol.  In just a short time the Falmouth Pop Up has developed a large cult following, serving delicious food in unusual locations.  Recently Annie has converted her garage into an intimate dining room, serving breakfasts and suppers.

Annie has also recently taken over the running of the cafe at The Potager (whilst the owners are having time with their new born).  We stumbled into the cafe during a rain storm and were instantly made to feel at home.  Annie made us hot buttered toast with Apricot Jam and cups of tea while we talked about the Potager and the pop up.   Her love of food is immediately apparent as is her love of sharing it with people. 

The Potager is like a Cornish version of Petersham Nurseries.  A series of large open greenhouses with different plants from across the globe.  In one glasshouse we discovered a Ping Pong table with a box of bats and balls beside it and a comfy sofa's to view the game.  Large Cacti and Agaves jostled with wood carved sculptures.  It had a real sense of fun yet a calm place to curl up and read a book.

Outside walking through the gardens I discovered further places to play, A swing waiting to be sat on, hammocks for the ultimate lazy afternoon, a Badminton net on the lawn ready for a game. On into the vegetable garden and orchard beyond with free range hens scratching the grass, it made me want to go home and grow my own.  The Potager is a place to come for great food, to relax and play in a beautiful location.  And if you fancy, take a wander around the artists studio spaces which are there too.  It is definitely my kind of place.

For more information on Annie's pop up supper clubs please visit her facebook page. If you are in the Lizard area of Cornwall, do take some time away from the Beaches and visit the Potager too, it is a real gem.

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For more on my Cornish Holiday please have a look at these posts:

Avallen Barn

Helford

Kynance Cove

Tremenheere Sculpture Garden

For places to stay nearby please visit Forever Cornwall.

Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens...

Just half an hour drive south from the Barn, on the outskirts of Penzance lies the most beautiful Tremenheere Sculpture Garden.   We discovered a leaflet in the barn's 'what to do in the area' file, not realising at the time what a gem this place is.  Leaving the children with my parents, Dan and I set off on a daytime date.

The garden is set on a hillside overlooking St Michaels Mount.  From the Cafe terrace we ate delicious home made soup and cakes gazing at the shimmering sea below.  The Cafe was such a find.  Eames Eiffel chairs, striped floors, pops of pink and green.  A really welcoming sight for travel weary eyes.  With food to match it's stylish interior I found it hard to leave and walk up the hill to the garden behind.

The path led us through thick woodland, with a most tropical feel.  Bluebells carpeted the floor but above our heads towered large tree ferns, sort of anglo/australian woodland.  The babbling brook and the rustle of leaves, we knew we were discovering something quite special.  As we headed to the top of the hill, the wooded canopy gave way to spiky Agaves and grasses, and the occasional Sculpture. The views from the top stretched out to St Michaels Mount and beyond.

Dan and I feel nourished by the good food, and gorgeous gardens and returned to the family feeling refreshed and happy from our date.

For more information on Tremenheere Sculpture Garden please visit their website.

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More on my Cornish break can be found here:

Avallen Barn

Helford

Kynance Cove

Kynance Cove...

You might remember last year when I said we had found our beach.  Well I am going to say it again.  We have found our beach!  

Kynance Cove is stuff of childhood dreams.  Rocky, wild and raw.  The trek down from the beach gives glimpse of the clear turquoise seas crashing below.  Scrambling over rocks at low tide, to finally land on white sands and soaring cliffs covered in barnacles.

At very low tide the sea allows you to skip round to the other bays, search for buried treasure in the caves.  We all became giddy in the delight of placing the first footstep on washed new sand.  Jumping in and out of waves, rushing to crash us against the jagged rocks.

Kynance Cove will always be in my heart.. the pina colada smell of the bright yellow gorse, the colour of the ocean. I love that word

O C E A N

lilac sea thrift billowing in the breeze. Sea gulls calling.  The smell of salt still lingers with me...

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For more on our Cornish holiday and where we stayed please see my previous posts:

Avallen Barn
Helford

more to come...

Helford...

Staying on the Lizard is new to me. I've been to other places in Cornwall, and over the years I have discovered great beaches and the perfect cafe for romantic meals or quick bites for kids. Landing somewhere new is always a little tricky, fun, but tricky.  Days can be spent finding the perfect village, cafe or beach. 

On the first day of our holiday we walked out of the barn and across the field, following the small stream down to the sea, we stumbled across the most picture perfect seaside village of Helford.  White washed, thatched cottages jostled for limelight along the streets, each with gardens overflowing with montana clematis, valerian, bluebells and cowparsley.  Boats bobbed on the gentle wave in the river estuary.

Walking through this idyllic setting we found the village pub the Shipwrights Arms.  We settled with a drink on the bottom terrace with views of the river.  A perfect spot for crabbing.  Charlie, Rufus and Dan cast lines out and within minutes Barry the Crab was hauled in.  Charlie did a little dance and made up a song for Barry... the boy was in love with crabbing.

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We stayed at Avallen Barn, through the amazing holiday company Forever Cornwall.  Helford is a 10 minutes walk from the Barn through the most beautiful bluebell covered woodlands.

Avallen Barn...

 

Last week we spent on holiday in glorious Cornwall (have I mentioned it before? ahem).

Anyway, I suppose I should start from the beginning.  To me a good holiday starts with a great place to stay.  A home from home, somewhere after a days adventuring you come back to and it's comfortable, beautiful and loved.

Avallen Barn is just that.  A stunning, architect designed converted barn, set in the rolling hills above Helford and it's river.  Part of a hamlet of buildings called Kestle Barton all of which are renovated to the same high standard, Avallen is magnificent.

On Friday afternoon, we drove south, and followed the directions through bluebell covered hedgerows to our final destination. As we rolled into the old farm yard we were blown away.  Slate grey painted woodwork and stone - it really was gorgeous.

Inside we all ran from room to room, whooping and shouting - 'there's table football!' or 'I've got a log burner in mine'.  We soon settled into a routine, like we had lived there for years.

In the garden we made full use of the space. Climbed the apple trees, played with super soakers and kites.  Had a keepie uppie competition.  Our meals naturally gravitated around the large outside table, BBQ's of prawns, halloumi, chicken and lamb, washed down with lots of local beer.

To me Avallen is the perfect family holiday.  Not the usual base to sleep, but a real home.  For adults to relax and kids to play out their adventures.

We will be back!

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Avallen can be booked through the amazing holiday company - Forever Cornwall.  There are a few weeks left in this years holiday calendar. For more information have a look here.  Oh and please say Lou sent you!