The Park Mawgan Porth with Clumberdoodle Archie 2021

The Park Mawgan Porth with Clumberdoodle Archie 2021

Friday 7th May 2021
This was the start of our 2nd week’s holiday, the first being in Dorset (read about that here Steamer Point Lodge with Clumberdoodle Archie 2021).

We had breakfast and finished the packing and loaded the car and said farewell to Steamer Point Lodge. We had thoroughly enjoyed our week there (even though the weather could have been better) in this amazing location and will certainly miss the peace and quiet with just the bird song and the waves breaking on the shore.  Archie will definitely miss the miles and miles of beach walks.

Now down to Cornwall for the 2nd week of our holiday and back to Archie’s favourite place The Park at Mawgan Porth.  We never go back and stay anywhere twice but we all love it down here and this will actually be our 4th visit.  Another beach location with Mawgan Porth beach only a few minutes walk from the accommodation. However looking at the weather forecast it did not look very good at all for the week coming so just hoping that the forecast will be wrong.

We left Dorset and stopped for a walk and a picnic lunch at Haldon Forest at Exeter.  The journey down was dry and sunny although a bit cold.

We arrived at The Park about 5.30pm unpacked the car and put everything away.  On previous visits we have stayed in Ebrenn (which is our favourite) and Mor but on this visit we chose a different dog friendly property called Lowenek.  I can best describe these 3 places as  brick built 2 bedroomed semi detached bungalows.  I am actually glad we went for Lowenek as it is now the front runner and we preferred it to Ebrenn.  I have only posted a few photos of Lowenek but I have more showing the inside including the bathroom and en suite.

The Park Mawgan Porth with Clumberdoodle Archie 2021

Unlike when Archie arrived at Steamer Point when he became quite agitated, he obviously remembered being here and settled very quickly.

He knew where he was and wanted to go down for his first visit (of many) to Mawgan Porth beach, so when we had unpacked that was where we headed.  He met a few dogs on the beach and the first thing he did was to float in the rock pools.

The Park Mawgan Porth with Clumberdoodle Archie 2021

There was a film crew on the beach and after doing some research found that filming was being done on multiple beaches around Cornwall at this time.  They were filming The House of Dragon which is the new prequal to Game of Thrones, I cannot be 100 per cent this was what it was but it is very feasible as Mawgan Porth is a lovely beach.

Well we arrived in sunshine but walking back from the beach guess what, it started to rain which got heavier as we got back to the accommodation.

We ordered a takeaway from the Kitchen which is the onsite cafe/restaurant at The Park and ate it back at the accommodation  and looked at the rain falling outside. Steve had battered cod chips & peas and I had truffled spaghetti and meatballs, rocket, pesto and Parmesan, which was a huge plateful but very tasty.

 

We both had a little dessert ( well it had been a long day). Steve had sticky toffee pudding and I had a brownie pot, ice cream and chocolate sauce.

We had our first game of Uckers down here in Cornwall with Steve starting out on a winning streak winning  2 – 0.

Saturday 8th may
Woke up to horrible weather, driving mist and strong winds but feeling very warm. Unlike every day in Dorset we had to have breakfast inside looking out over the hills and countryside instead of the sea but it was still a pretty view.

We decided to go on the circular walk from Mawgan Porth to St Mawgan, which we have done a few times in the past.  It is about 4 miles in total with some very pretty scenery. The country paths were strewn with wild garlic which smelt quite strong in places.

The Park Mawgan Porth with Clumberdoodle Archie 2021

We crossed over the road  and passed The Off the Path Coffee which we have stopped at before but was closed today but we are hoping to go there on Thursday with friends.

Through the pretty little village of St Mawgan and through the churchyard and past the Lanherne Carmelite Convent.

Then the public footpath takes you through fields where today a herd of young bullocks were grazing. They had congregated just inside the first gate and on the path and they became very interested in Archie. I was a bit worried but Steve and Archie went through the gate first first, trying to shoo them off as I was not so keen to go through.  I walked through the gate and walked very quickly in front of Steve and Archie anxious to get to the next gate.  However the herd insisted they were going to follow. The quicker Steve walked the quicker they walked, all the time being in touching distance whilst Steve tried to fend them off.

We went through another gate which unfortunately was open so they kept on following but saw a closed gate at the bottom of this path where we could leave them behind. I was really glad to get through it and watched as Steve and Archie trying to keep in front of the herd.  However we all made it and and closed the gate leaving the bullocks pressed up against it watching us depart. Big sigh of relief.

We got back to Mawgan Porth but couldn’t go back to Lowenek  just yet without letting Archie go down to the beach. When we eventually got back Archie was washed and dried with the pet blaster (yes that has to go everywhere with us) and we enjoyed a much needed cup of coffee. Thankfully the weather improved a little, well that is light drizzle instead of the heavy rain that was forecast, but it was warm particularly when I was doing a power walk through the field of bullocks.

We ate a lasagne and garlic bread that I brought with us for dinners and a nice glass of wine. No sitting outside in a pub garden tonight. Continued with our Uckers comp with Steve winning yet again 2 games to 1.

Sunday 9th may
Woke up to a dry but windy morning, so breakfast inside. Decided on a trip out in the car to Porthleven which was about 36 miles. Being a Sunday we were not  sure if anything would be open so I packed up a picnic. (I digress now), Steve has an electric  car and there are charging points at The Park, but after doing some research found out that there were charging points on a new industrial estate walking distance from Porthleven Harbour, which Steve wanted to try.  Plug it in and the car could be topping up whilst we were walking around Porthleven.

Now 36 miles should have taken about 40 minutes but it took us about 1 hour 10 minutes, nothing to do with traffic but the narrow Cornish roads as we opted for the shortest scenic route which was a mistake.  We eventually arrived at Porthleven  plugged the car in and walked the short distance into the harbour.

It was pretty little harbour and we had a walk around the headland to the view out to sea.

I noticed as we were passing there was a sign outside the Harbour View Cafe advertising  “The best Cornish pasties in the World” (this stuck in my head!!).

We passed an old disused lifeboat station before heading back to the harbour.

Before we decided to walk around the other side of the harbour I thought “how could we resist one of those pasties?  (well they beat the pate rolls I had packed for a picnic, they could wait until tomorrow perhaps?”).  So we sat outside in the freezing cold with a pasty and a pot of tea for 2. I have to say that the pasties were very nice but I would have to dispute the “best pasty in the World statement”. It was so cold that Steve even put his woolly hat and gloves on. We were not the only mad ones sitting outside, us British are made of stern stuff.

After consuming the pasties and tea we continued walking around and we needn’t have worried about shops being open on a Sunday as most of the shops and pubs were open (obviously trying to cash in on as much trade as possible after all the lost trade over the past year).  I spied a nice shop that I just had to have a look around. There were lots of nice things in there but in particular an unusual glass lamp in the form of a flame. Steve went in to have a look and we decided that as our wedding anniversary was looming this could be our present. I only went in to browse but couldn’t resist it.  It actually was made in Bali and it is unusual.  I thought it would look nice in our lounge. I just hope we can get it into the car when we go home.

We got back to the car and decided to get a cup of coffee from the Origin Coffee the Roastery where we had parked the car.  This was in a large new building where they  blend their own coffees with a large seating are outside.

We then decided to visit the Helford River which was very picturesque and had a little walk along the coast path again lining both sides of the path an abundance of wild garlic.  The weather changed when we got here – for the better, as the sun came out and it was a lot warmer and it was very pleasant. We found a little secluded cove where Archie dipped his paws into the sea.

At the entrance to the car park there was a little chapel that had been changed into a cafe which included a doggie deli (whatever that was) which they had called the Holy Mackerel. Although we didn’t go in to sit in the tables in the garden it was very sweet.

We programmed the sat nav (which we call Mabel, which we have called all our previous sat navs) to take us back to Mawgan Porth, but I don’t think she was properly awake as she took us on a very narrow and I mean very narrow windy country lane. Had we met another vehicle coming the other way I have no idea how we would have passed it.  We then encountered a couple of small deer who came running along the road but jumped into the hedge before they got too close and then we passed a lonely duck waddling in the road, so wildlife on one it certainly felt like.

We eventually made it to a main road and on to the dual carriageway and then got back to The Park around 5.30 p.m.  It had been a long day especially driving on narrow Cornish roads.

As with all the days here Archie had to have his fix of the beach, so as soon as we arrived back we headed down there before his tea (and ours). The tide was right in so it was only a very short walk as there was not much beach but he played with a couple of dogs.

We were hoping to get a take away meal from the Kitchen (the cafe on site)  but found out it was closed tonight. So we walked back down to the beach hoping that we could get a table a the The Merrymoor Inn which is right next to the beach.

There is also a seafood restaurant (which we wouldn’t use as I don’t eat any fish or shellfish) and a fish and chip takeaway (as long as they did alternative to fish & chips) or the last resort was to eat our pate rolls łeft over from our picnic. Luckily The Merrymoor  had free tables. so as the weather was still very pleasant it was a very enjoyable end to the day.

Steve enjoyed a pint of Guinness and me a J20, with Steve opting for the fish and chips and I had a goats cheese, onion and pepper pizza which was huge. I didn’t think I would manage to eat it all, but I persevered and only left one slice.

I did have trouble walking back to  The Park though and really wished I hadn’t forced myself to eat that much. We enjoyed a nice cup of coffee and were gong to finish off the day with couple of games of Uckers but Steve had shut down after all that driving on the Cornish roads, so we decided to  wait until tomorrow before we resumed the competition.

Monday 10th May

In the early hours the heavens opened and we had a torrential rain shower, and then another heavy one in the morning. This is not a very good start to the day and the forecast was showing today was going to be a nice day.

Very windy so again had to have breakfast inside. Then the sun came out so it was looking good.

We decided to go to St Ives which is about 40 miles away and programmed the sat nav for the  fastest route so as not to have a repeat of yesterday and it wasn’t too bad as it took about about an 1 hour 10 mins. We thought being a Monday and not yet the holiday season and Covid restrictions not fully lifted yet (the next date for further restrictions to be lifted is 17th May and then final lift off 21st June,) it wouldn’t have been very busy – wrong, it was heaving.

I left the pate rolls on the fridge as we knew we would be able to buy yet another Cornish pasty here (well you just cannot visit Cornwall and not have a pasty or two or three!!!)  We followed the harbour parking sign to the 1000 spaces car park. Amazed to see it full and were about to try and find alternative parking when a female driver went up to the left who obviously knew where she was going so we followed her, which is a stroke of good luck as it led to a small car park which was practically empty. This little car park is not visible from the main one so it was a great find.

It was quite sunny travelling to St Ives,  but as soon as we arrived and went to get out of the car it started to rain heavily. Luckily it was only a passing shower and then the sun came out, but it was still very windy and a bit chilly, but at least it was dry.

It was a very steep walk down to the cobbled streets lined with mainly independent shops and quite a few pasty shops – hurrah and eventually down to the harbour. However the whole place was heaving and hardly anyone was adhering to social distancing. There were signs hung high across the narrow streets advising to keep to the left, but no one was taking any notice, and to be honest as people were looking in the shop windows and as the streets were very narrow it was impossible to keep your distance.

We actually wore our masks walking around as we felt uncomfortable.  Also cars are allowed on the narrow streets which seemed ludicrous as there was really no room for all these people and cars.

We got down to harbour and the beach and we breathed a sigh of relief as with the vast beach it was a lot quieter than the streets.  Archie went wild with excitement, well it was only yesterday that he was on a beach after all!!!  He found a deep bit of water at the base of the pier and had a float, then just had to play with other dogs.

It was then lunch time so we found a pasty shop right on the front and consumed our pasties sat on wooden benches in front of the pier wall and a very nice pasty it was.  This was the only place we could find to sit down as all the other seating places were full.

As it was so busy we decided we had had enough so walked back up the steep path and steps to the car park and made our way back to Mawgan Porth. We noticed as we came down the hill into Mawgan Porth that the tide was a long way out so there was lots of beach, so decided to have a nice hot cup of coffee before venturing down.  However with it being so flat the tide comes in very quickly and within a short of time by the time we got down there wasn’t that much beach now.  There were though plenty of dogs for Archie to play with.

When we got back to Lowenek Steve decided to top the car up and as the sun had come out and it was really quite warm, probably the warmest we had felt all holiday.  We sat out in the paved area outside in the warm sunshine and enjoyed a can of ready made pink gin and tonic which was very pleasant.

We decided to go down to the Merrymoor Inn for our meal tonight and as it was a lovely evening it was ideal for sitting out in a pub garden.  I plumped for the Spanish bean and tomato stew served with cous cous and a salad and Steve had glazed ham egg and chips.

We then resumed our Uckers tournament (I wish we had’t) as I lost 3 games to nil).

Tuesday 11th May
Our Son (Adrian) decided to pay us a visit. He had the day off so he was interested to see why we keep coming back to The Park (this was our 4th visit). He left his house in Ivybridge at 7.45 am and arrived at the park just after 9.00 am, so an early start for us! Nice morning dry and sunny which was not forecast.

We started the day with our walk to St Mawgan. We decided once we got to St Mawgan  that we would not to do the circular route and come back he same way to avoid the cows that we encountered in the field last Saturday.

We did however pass through the Churchyard to show Adrian the interesting wooden plaque that is situated next to the path.

The weather was kind and apart from a light shower of rain on the way back it didn’t last very long.

Then Archie wanted to show Adrian his beach. So after a cup of tea we walked down there in the lovely sunshine. The tide was almost at lowest so the beach was huge so plenty of room to play with the frisbee.

The Park Mawgan Porth with Clumberdoodle Archie 2021

Archie found a huge rock pool that he swam in and we were all enjoying it, until the heavens opened and down came the heavy rain. It was a good job we wore our anoraks (which we nearly decided not to when we set off as the sun was out and it was lovely). The plan was to have lunch at The Merrymoor but the rain stopped that as we were all soaked through.

So plan B came into action and that was to get a take away from The Kitchen on site at The Park, and all 3 of us chose yet another pasty but this time with the addition of chips.  We sat inside Lowenek around the table in the warm once we had all dried off.

We even put the radiators on to dry off our wet clothes.  Just in case anyone is reading this and questioning having someone being allowed inside with us during the covid restrictions, Adrian is in our support bubble so he was allowed.

So the pate rolls were redundant again, but they might still be alright for us to eat for our tea later as we won’t want much after our pasty and chips we had for lunch.

After lunch Adrian then set off home again, but he had enjoyed his day and if was nice for him to come down and see us. Steve and I then had a cup of coffee and had 2 games of Uckers  as we were feeling tired as Adrian informed us that we had walked over 7 miles during the day (well the tide was out a long way!).

ARCHIE DOG TIRED

It was a draw with each winning one game. Then the sun decided to come out again and got very warm so much so that we sat outside , you would not believe we had torrential rain a couple of hours earlier.

Breaking news  (I know you would have been gripped to know what happened to the pate rolls!).  As I said above as we had eaten a big lunch we finally ate them for our tea.  It was really the last day before they would have to have been thrown away (and I do not like to waste food) and very nice they were too!!!

We ended the evening with 2 more games of Uckers which I won both.

Wednesday 12th May
Breakfast inside, as although it was dry and a bit warmer it was cloudy. We decided to take a trip to Padstow (which we love) which is about 9 miles away from Mawgan Porth and another place to have yet another Cornish pasty for lunch.

We walked along part of the Camel Trail which is very picturesque.

We found a little path that led down to the estuary and as Archie was quite warm he cooled down in the shingle.

ARCHIE DOING A SNOW ANGEL IN THE SHINGLE

It had been dry up until now, but then it started to rain.  We walked back into the town to buy a pasty where you are spoilt for choice but we bought a pasty from the Padstow Pasty Shop which I thought would be apt.  They were lovely and we sat on a wooden seat  overlooking the harbour in the rain and being careful not to be attacked by the watching seagulls. I couldn’t take a photo or else the seagulls would have pinched my pasty and I was not going to let that happen!!!

Back to The Park for a hot cup of tea. Then our daily walk down to the beach. The tide was in so not much actual beach.

We had a takeaway from The Park Kitchen in the inside comfort of Lowenek and both having the truffled spaghetti and meatballs and using up the last of our box of wine, less to take home.

Played 3 games of Uckers, with Steve winning 2 games to 1 and so to bed

Thursday 13th May
We had friends coming to visit who don’t live very far away so it was nice to catch up with them and their white boxer, Daisy. They also brought the sunshine with them as it was a lovely day with just a bit of wind.

They arrived mid morning and we had a cup of tea and a chat outside and then walked down to the beach where the dogs went wild and both let off steam. The tide was out so plenty of room for them to run around.

The Park Mawgan Porth with Clumberdoodle Archie 2021

Then we walked the 10 minutes to the Off The Path Coffee and had a bite to eat and a drink.

If you are in the vicinity this is a super little place to drop in and have a coffee, tea, cake or a light lunch.

After lunch we walked back to Lowenek for an afternoon cup of coffee before our friends headed home. They should have been with us all holiday as it was the best day for weather from the whole two weeks

I started to do some packing as we were heading home tomorrow and we had to be out by 9.00 am, so an early start.

It was our last night so back for a final walk on the beach before we had our final meal at The Merrymoor. Steve had fish and chips. As you can see he has had a lot of fish and chip meals whilst we have been away, (well as I don’t eat any fish so I don’t cook it at home!).  I had the margherita pizza washed down with a glass of wine.  However after such a lovely warm day it was a very cold evening and Steve had to don his woolly hat.

Then one last walk along the beach for Archie to bid farewell although it was a short walk as not much tide tide was in.

Then the end of the Cornish leg of Uckers, playing 3 games which I won 2 games to 1. Total for the Cornwall comp was 10 games to Steve & 6 to me.

The overall result of our 2 weeks competitions was 12 games to Steve and 13 to me so I won by 1 game, hurrah.

Friday 14th May
Breakfast then the last bits of packing, we loaded up the car and headed home, to all that washing and ironing!!!  First load on before lunch and back to normal!!!  However it was nice to get rid of all the sand that we had accumulated over the 2 weeks. I think we have come to the conclusion that although we love the sea we wouldn’t want to live near any sandy beaches, as the sand gets everywhere.

The end of a lovely staycation and although both locations by the sea, both completely different.

By the way the lamp looks lovely in our lounge all lit up.

The Park Mawgan Porth with Clumberdoodle Archie 2021