Days Out - Winter Sun at Caerhays Beach

I hope you have all having a lovely festive season, on Saturday we said goodbye to the guests that had stayed with us for Christmas and welcomed those arriving to spend the New Year.

Yesterday Spence, Guy and I made the short drive to Caerhays beach to enjoy the beautiful sunshine and fresh sea air.  Caerhays beach forms part of the Caerhays Estate which has a beautiful 'big house' with very special gardens famed for their Camellias and Magnolias and well worth a visit in the Spring.

On the beach there were a few families also taking the opportunity to stretch theirs (and their dogs!) legs and also a couple of horses and their riders.  We took the opportunity to try out Guy's new wellies after discovering that his much-loved, hand-me-down 'Tractor Ted' wellies had a hole in them!

Come Summer or Winter - nothing better than a dig and a poke around in the sand!

 

Plenty of space to practice our silly walking!

 

We came home energised, refreshed and with a feeling not felt for a number of days - a little bit hungry - time to open that Selection Box!

Kate
Poltarrow Farm
Self Catering Cottages and Farmhouse Bed & Breakfast in Cornwall

Farm Friends - Guests of a different sort arrive!

Of course, here at Poltarrow we are used to receiving different kinds of guests from all over the world who come to stay here and discover our beautiful County.  This week we have some less typical guests turn up and who will be staying with us for a few months.

Around 40 sheep arrived from a neighbouring farm and will graze the wetter ground here at Poltarrow.  As the mild weather continues the grass is still growing so there is plenty around for the sheep. Peter's cattle's larger hoofs are kept off the wet ground during winter as they would leave big footprints and 'poach' the ground. 

Introducing sheep also improves the pasture as they eat differently to the cattle because they nibble rather than rip the grass.  Another benefit is gained from their poo which fertilises the ground.

I hope they leave a good review on Tripadvisor!  

Kate
Poltarrow Farm
Self Catering Cottages and Farmhouse Bed & Breakfast in Cornwall

Days Out - Lappa Valley Steam Railway

On Sunday we ignored the growing piles of Autumn leaves that are crying out to be picked up and made our way to Lappa Valley Steam Railway near Newquay for a fun day out.  When you arrive you board 'Muffin' the Steam Train who will take you on a ten minute journey through the Lappa Valley before arriving at the main park.  If you go, schedule your arrival to coincide with the timetable so you are not hanging around; trains depart at 10.30, 11.10, 11.50, 12.30, 1.25 and 2.00. Don't forget to take everything with you as 'popping back to the car' is not a simple task.

Steam up!

1st Class - the only way to travel.

Arriving at the main park.

The park is set around the Wheal Rose tin mine with its handsome engine house and chimney stack.

Wheal Rose Engine House

After our picnic lunch we boarded the Woodland Railway, which is a diesel train based on the 125, for a quick whizz around the park site.

There is plenty to do around the park site with pedal tractors, various slides and swings, sandpit diggers, two man canoes, crazy golf and the Trevithick maze.

 

Next up we boarded Eric, another diesel who took us through more woodland to another outdoor play area and football pitch.

 

Watching the Woodland train go past.

The literature says the visit last 4 hours which we would say is about right.  They have some good reviews on Trip Advisor where people say they think the park is suitable for under 8s.  There are plenty of picnic areas but also there is the Whistle Stop Cafe which tries to use local produce where possible.  The loos have baby changing facilities and all the staff were friendly and helpful.

All in all a good day out, some people may say it's a bit naff but I think it would be better to say a traditional family day out and that if you get stuck in and have a go on everything you'll enjoy yourself.

Kate
Poltarrow Farm
Self Catering Cottages and Farmhouse Bed & Breakfast in Cornwall

Days out - Heligan Harvest

We nipped up to Heligan yesterday to have a look at the annual Harvest Display - this year the pumpkin is the star of the show.  Pumpkins in every colour and form make up the display.

Kate
Poltarrow Farm
Self Catering Cottages and Farmhouse Bed & Breakfast in Cornwall

Farm Friends - New additions to Pets Corner

Summer has flown by in a haze of blue skies and blazing sun - the good weather continues as we enjoy this Indian summer. In August we had a flurry of new additions to Pets Corner, introducing...

Charlie

 

Rhubarb

Barley

Abigail

Charlie, Rhubarb, Barley and Abigail came from a local animal shelter who had been inundated by 80 (!) guinea pigs that the RSPCA had rescued from a rather overwhelmed old lady.  They are all boys (don't let the name Abigail fool you!) and are about 4 months old.  Their names were pulled out of the hat from a selection that the children staying here had come up with (hence Abigail!); I think they are great names that suit the boys well.

They have settled in well and after a couple of week on integration through wire with Minky and Monty the resident rabbits they are now free to roam Pets Corner.  Unfortunately they do seem to spend rather a lot of their time underneath the hutches!

Kate
Poltarrow Farm
Self Catering Cottages and Farmhouse Bed & Breakfast in Cornwall

Farm Friends - One Hour Old!

Regular readers of the blog will remember Jimmy B, the bull who came to visit last summer? Well, not convinced that Jimmy had done his job Dad brought in another bull afterwards and good job too as all the ladies went past the due date they should have given birth if Jimmy B was the Dad!  The second bull was obviously a little more up to the job as in the last few weeks we have had 5 new additions to the herd.  Here is the latest, born just before half nine this morning - just in time for the children on the animal feeding run to meet him!

Trying hard to get up on all fours

And up!

Kate
Poltarrow Farm
Self Catering Cottages and Farmhouse Bed & Breakfast in Cornwall

Days out - Pick Your Own at Trevaskis Farm

Last weekend we made our way to the restaurant at Trevaskis Farm Shop for Sunday lunch.  Afterwards we needed to take a stroll to work off what had been a monumental meal!  We picked up a couple of punnets and decided to pick some berries as we went.   Hidden amongst the gooseberries was this Mother hen and her chicks.

These hens/cockerels were out and about amongst the red/blackcurrants.

 

Uncle Gareth being force fed with his 5-a-day!

Next onto the strawberry tunnel...

Last stop the broad beans...

 And back to the shop to pay for our bounty via the pigs...

 Kate
Poltarrow Farm
Self Catering Cottages and Farmhouse Bed & Breakfast in Cornwall

Days out - Polo on the Beach

During the first weekend of July, the beach at Watergate Bay is transformed to Polo Field - Spence, Guy and I wandered over to have a look at the goings on.  It made quite a sight as we walked along the coast path.

The event is sponsored by Veuve Clicquot, their Airstreamer caravan serves perfectly chilled champagne - it was value for money to buy a bottle rather than a glass - be rude not too! 
 

And the games begin...

Kate
Poltarrow Farm
Self Catering Cottages and Farmhouse Bed & Breakfast in Cornwall