Mawgan Porth Cornwall Holiday 2022
Where would we go for our holiday this year? Well as it is Archie’s favourite place we decided to book another week down at The Park in Mawgan Porth Cornwall. As I have said in previous blogs we never go back to the same place twice and we have holidayed in many different Countries but something seems to draw us back to this place. Probably Archie (our Clumberdoodle dog). He loves it down there and I have to say it is so dog friendly and we have looked at various other dog friendly places to stay but keep coming back here.
The Park has a large selection of different accommodation but we chose to stay in Lowenek again as we enjoyed it last year.
This will not be such a long blog post as previous years as there would be lots of duplicate photos and places that we visit so a much shortened diary. So there will be less photos especially of Mawgan Porth beach but there are some additional photos of Archie enjoying himself and other accounts that have not been mentioned previously.
It wasn’t a very good lead up to the holiday as Steve (my husband) had been suffering with a trapped nerve in his neck for the past 8 weeks, but he was determined to go even though he was still in pain.
Saturday 14th May 2022
We left home about 11.10 and arrived at our normal stop Cardinham Woods at about 12.15 for a walk through the forest and a picnic before we were able to check in at The Park.
We arrived at The Park about 3.30 p.m and after unpacking it was then the obligatory 5 minute walk down to Mawgan Porth beach. Archie knew exactly where he was going and was very excited. Unfortunately not much beach as the tide was right in, but he enjoyed digging and doing sand angels.
It was a glorious first evening so after a little time on the beach we walked across the road and enjoyed a drink at The Merrymoor Inn.
Back to The Park and we picked up a takeaway meal from The Kitchen (the onsite restaurant) and enjoyed it back in the comfort of Lowenek.
After our meal it was still such a lovely evening that we decided to have have a late evening walk back down to the beach. The tide was out unlike earlier so there was plenty of beach.
Here are a couple of photos of Mawgan Porth beach in the evening.
The Park also have put up some strung lights lining the outer footpath which made for a pretty stroll back through the grounds.
The Eurovision Song contest was on so as it was on until 12.00 I did watch the results and amazingly the UK were runners up to Ukraine (thought as this was such a rare event at the UK not coming bottom I had to include it!!)
Sunday 15th May
Woke up to a beautiful warm and sunny day so after enjoying some croissants for breakfast it was a walk down to the beach. The tide was out so plenty of beach for Archie to explore which included chasing the frisbee that was a free gift from The Park for their doggy guests. Only trouble was this one came apart after about the 3rd throw.
Got back to The Park where It thought I would just mention it to the Receptionist and ask for another frisbee (even though it was a free gift), well she could have said “no” but she kindly obliged and gave me a replacement. We decided we would get a pasty from The Kitchen on site restaurant (as we had done before) only to find out they have stopped doing them.
So seeing as it was a Sunday, roast dinners were on the menu but we didn’t want anything that filling. However I noticed that they had an anti pasti starter consisting of cold meats, pickles, focaccia bread (although it actually came with ciabatta) stuffed peppers rocket and balsamic olive oil which I thought would be a nice light lunch. So I ordered this and took it back to Lowenek and enjoyed it with a glass of wine in the lovely warm sunshine. We could have been in Spain or Italy, but it was equally nice in Cornwall.
After lunch we had a short walk through woods, but then from the lovely sunny morning it decided to rain so we walked back and had our first game of Uckers (a board game originally played by the Military, which is great fun and very addictive!) I won 1-0
We decided to walk down to have our evening meal at the Merrymoor Inn right by the beach. The weather was not nice enough to sit outside so we went inside. As it was Sunday they did a nice carvery which was very good and very good value. Archie sat under the table and behaved impeccably so as a reward for being so good he had a late evening walk on the beach before the short walk back to The Park.
Monday 16th may
Woke up to appalling weather. Looking at the forecast a week ago it should have been dry all week, then everything changed – typical. We had arranged for Steve’s Sister to come and visit as she lives in Cornwall so whilst we were waiting for her to arrive we had 2 games of Uckers. I won both games 2-0 the first was a whitewash as Steve had no pieces home. The next one was just as bad for him as he just had 1 piece home. I think he wished he had not played but it was his decision to play to while away the time in the awful weather.
By the time his Sister arrived the sun had come out so after a cup of tea and a chat it was down for a walk so Archie could show her “his” beach.
We found a huge pool and threw his frisbee in it and Archie swam out to retrieve it.
I threw it out again but it went right into the very deep middle bit and Archie as not so keen in going in to retrieve it. He just decided to stand on the edge and bark at it hoping it would float to him rather than him having to swim to get it. He continually barked at it and he would not venture in and after a short period of time the frisbee sank to the bottom and started to be enveloped by the sand.
I thought I had better do something or it would be lost forever (could have been 2 free frisbees gone in 2 days), so I rolled up my trousers and started to wade out. However the sand started to get really soft and my feet started to sink causing me to nearly topple over. I was aware that I was being laughed at by Steve and his Sister who thought it highly amusing and secretly hoping that I was going to get soaked. So I decided it was time to get out and left the frisbee slowly sinking to the bottom never to be seen again.
Steve then decided he could go in and get it. He took his trousers off, then the shirt came off and out he waded. The water was now up to his chest but he was not deterred and managed to retrieve the frisbee and gave it back to a very grateful Archie.
Steve enjoyed wading into the pool so much that we egged him on to go and have a proper swim as it was deep enough. He relented so he took off his shirts and went out in his underpants not the “full monty” (good job the beach was quiet) whilst Archie looked on.
As his pants were now wet he laid back on a rock in a “model pose” to dry them off. Steve warned me not to post this photo but it just had to be included!!! He will not be amused when he sees I took no notice of him and his body is now plastered over the internet!!!
However he wasn’t there long enough and as his underpants were still wet so he got dressed behind a very big rock where the underpants came off and he went commando for the walk back along the beach with them in tow.
We got a nice pasty from the Cornish fresh shop and enjoyed them very much sat on a picnic table overlooking the beach. As it was such lovely weather to wash down the pasties we crossed the road to the Merrymoor Inn where us girls enjoyed a G & T and Steve a pint of Guinness.
Back to Lowenek for a coffee and cake and sat out enjoying the warm sunshine.
Decided to have a takeaway from The Kitchen back at Lowenek which was very enjoyable. Then the Uckers competition started. First game Steve v his sister (she only came to visit us to play Uckers!), Steve won 1-0 then I played his sister and beat her 1-0. She was not happy coming to play and lost both games.
Tuesday 17th may
Steve’s sister stayed the night and as it was such lovely sunny but windy morning we went for a walk down to the beach and then back for a cup of tea before Steve’s sister went home.
We couldn’t resist taking a couple of pasties back from the Cornish Fresh shop for our lunch as they were really nice. However after lunch the weather turned and down came the heavy rain. Still we enjoyed the warmed up pasties for lunch and sat and watched the torrential rain.
Even with it still raining we decided to drive to Porthleven mainly to go into the nice gift shop where we bought our flame light last year. With our Anniversary on Friday we thought we might find a nice gift for us. Well the weather driving the 1hr 10 min drive was appalling with torrential rain so heavy visibility was awful. There was flooding on some of the country roads and standing water on the dual carriageway. However when we actually arrived at Porthleven it stopped raining and the sun came out.
There was one big disappointment and that was that The Harbour View Crafts and Gifts shop that we had driven down to Porthleven for was closed.
We decided to get a cup of coffee but quite a lot of cafes were also closed. We did however find one that was open – Nauti but Ice which also sold ice creams (as the name suggests) and pizzas. We sat on an outside picnic table although still a little damp from the rain. There was a sign saying that if you were ordering anything and were sitting outside it would be treated as a takeaway. So I went inside and ordered a Cappuccino and a Flat White costing £6.10. The waitress brought them out to our table and the coffees were in a very small polystyrene cup . Over £3.05 for a very small coffee in a throw away cup – a complete Cornish rip off.
So having to pay for parking and 2 very expensive coffees and no nice gift shop open, awful weather to get there it was a bit of a waste of time and money. However the weather driving back was a big improvement as the sun stayed out and the roads were now dry.
Another takeaway from The Kitchen which as always was very good and a couple of games of Uckers, me winning both games, 2-0.
Wednesday 18th May
Decided to do the pleasant walk to St Mawgan and have a drink in the Falcon Inn. Arrived 11.05 am only to find that the pub was shut. Should have looked at their opening times online before we set off which said that it was not open until 12.00 pm. Anyway we walked around the back of the pub to the St Mawgan Tea Rooms and Garden and sat in their pretty little garden. Steve enjoyed a pot of tea served with a bone china cup and saucer (typically English) and I enjoyed a nice cup of Cappuccino also served in a nice china cup and saucer (unlike yesterday at Porthleven) and lovely friendly service from the young man.
They do have a lovely light menu with local produce including soup, cakes, cream teas and savoury afternoon teas, a proper high tea with finger sandwiches, cream tea and cakes. Shame really as we only wanted a drink. I would certainly recommend this super little place. As well as the tea room they have a good shop next door. The Falcon’s loss and their gain and it was very busy probably with a few others who expected the Falcon to be open at that time of day.
We walked the other route back through the fields and back to The Park. Played Uckers in the evening with me winning yet again 2-0.
Thursday 19th May
Lovely morning so already planned that this would be the best day to go to Padstow and take the foot ferry across to Rock and have a nice walk along the lovely large sandy beach.
We had a lovely walk along the beach at Rock.
We then enjoyed the return journey on the ferry back to Padstow and of course just had to have a pasty (well you cannot beat a proper Cornish pasty for lunch!!) which I purchased from the Padstow Cornish pasty shop, which was lovely (probably one of the best) sitting on a wooden seat overlooking the harbour trying to avoid the pesky seagulls.
Our friends who live in Cornwall came to visit us in the evening with their dog Aggie who Archie had already met (see previous blog). He obviously remembered her as he gave her a warm welcome. We had a drink sat outside on the bench and table in the garden of Lowenek. We then took the dogs down to the beach (yes a real beach day today) to have a run around.
Then all 4 of us enjoyed a meal at The Catch a seafood and grill restaurant overlooking the Mawgan Porth beach.
After a good meal it was back to Lowenek for a coffee whilst Aggie and Archie amused themselves playing with Archies balls (not literally!!) and then Aggie enjoyed chewing on Archies antler bone, sat on his cool mat whilst Archie looked on – true love!! Then it was time for them to leave and I think Archie was sad to see Aggie go as they really got on well with each other.
Friday 20th May our 44th wedding anniversary and our last day
After breakfast we went for the short walk through the woods to the Off the Path Coffee which we had visited before, so please see previous blog and enjoyed a coffee and slice of carrot cake sat overlooking the valley.
We were also joined by a robin who was probably hoping for a piece of cake!!
As we love the area and staying at The Park we did decide to just go and have a look at a holiday lodge in Sunhaven holiday park that they had advertised for sale which was just down the road from the Off the Path Coffee and on the way back to The Park. It was brand new and very nice but the site fees and other fees plus another couple of other issues we made the decision it was not for us and The Park is the best option.
We walked back to Lowenek and then down for Archie’s last walk on Mawgan Porth beach. The tide was out so he enjoyed a nice long walk and was smitten with a golden doodle called Lola and they had a good run around together. We then sat on a seat overlooking the beach and enjoyed an ice cream, which Archie also helped us eat. Now I know I will be berated for giving Archie human ice cream but he doesn’t like the doggy stuff!!!
I did some packing as we have to vacate by 9.00 am in the morning.
We had our last (anniversary) meal down at the Merrymoor. It was a lovely warm dry evening so we sat out in the garden overlooking the beach which was a nice way to finish off our holiday.
Last 2 games of Uckers and I won both 2-0. Grand total 9-0 to me, Steve was not amused as you can imagine losing all games.
Saturday 21st May – departure day
As we had an early start having to vacate the accommodation by 9.00 a.m. we decided to have breakfast in The Kitchen restaurant and enjoyed a full Cornish cooked breakfast, so a nice start to our departure day.
Just one last photo of Steve’s electric car plugged into the charging point (the yellow surfboard) at The Park whilst we having breakfast.
Good trip home with no hold ups and we got home at about 11.15 a.m, unpacked, washing machine on and back to normality – holiday forgotten!! After Archie’s walk in the afternoon up on the moors behind our house and a float in the river down in the woods I gave Archie a bath to wash out all the sand and salt water. He was looking like a real salty sea dog. Once dried he did look and smell a lot better. Gone were the frizzy beach curls and back to his wavy coat. Also all his bedding and rugs were washed as sand had got in to all of them.
As Steve was not 100% with his trapped nerve, we had planned to visit some new places this time but we were limited to what we could do. So we have already booked up for another week in Lowenek next year when hopefully Steve will be much better and we can venture further afield on day trips. So here’s to 2023 and yet another blog post!!!
Mike says
Well I am surprised that the Robin looked so chilled. The perfect picture, However all the white flesh on the 16th was a little ‘off putting.’
Lots of words but the pictures focus on Guinness and food! Great pair of underpants should create a bit of…..interest. 9-0 seems to prove that you are the best ‘Uckers’ player. At least I think its spelt ’Uckers’? Hmmm.
Great read though!
Karen says
Hi Mike
Glad you liked it and yes, I have to agree lots of mention of food and Guinness. Steve has been inundated with offers to pose professionally mainly from SAGA!! I also totally agree with you that I am the best Uckers player!!!
Regards
Karen