Tregongeeves Cottages

Play Days

2016-03-10T13:17:00.003-08:00

Plays days make for happy days and today we were very happy at Tregongeeves as we took delivery of our new soft play and rockers. As I am sure you can see from the pictures the grandchildren loved testing out the equipment.

The Recreation Room has had a complete make over this winter, with a new upstairs providing stunning views across the valley, and with yesterday's gales it proved a wonderful, warm retreat to storm gaze from. The upstairs is home to the table tennis, pool table, air hockey, dvd library and information leaflets.

Downstairs we have loved letting out our inner child. Who didn't want a purpose bit Wendy House under the stairs complete with kitchen and dolls crib? Or for the more adventurous youngsters why not scramble over the soft play area or rock and roll on the pig and cow. There is a huge play mat, train table and for the adults - a coffee machine and papers to enjoy whilst the children relax in this amazing new space.

We love it and hope you will do to?

A Very Cornish Christmas!

2015-11-24T07:48:00.000-08:00

Families and loved-ones reunite, communities around the country are decorated with colourful lights and wooly knitted jumpers with reindeers on become ever so common; this time it’ll be Christmas Day and we can’t wait!

Christmas begins in Cornwall, with the City of Lights in Truro, which I think you'll agree from looking at the photos was pretty impressive. The great thing is that the City of Lights is just a taster of the many great events and displays to follow!

Christmas in Cornwall is truly magical, from harbourside illuminations to festive fayre, we truly embrace Christmas in our county. There are a number of wonderful events for you to enjoy running right up until the New Year, below you’ll find a few of our personal favourites:

Christmas at Eden

What a treat to have this world-famous attraction just up the road! At Christmas Eden transforms it’s Rainforest biome into an enchanted wonderland, where all things festive are celebrated through live performance, music and even a few guest visits from the man in red himself - complete with reindeers of course! Be sure to make the most of their indoor ice-rink too, who knows your family could contain the next Torvill and Deane!

Victorian Christmas Fair

For the 11^th time, Truro turns back the clock for 6 days by welcoming the glorious Victorian market. This market has been rated the 5^th best in the UK and will be visited by tens of thousands of people all looking to pick up Christmas gifts and local high quality produce. Exhibitors are handpicked to ensure only the best is on offer to visitors, Victorian attire is also in the contract for them. You can also expect live music and mulled wine! If you love impressing your loved ones with unique and interesting gifts, then this one’s for you!

Nadelik at Pendennis Castle

Nadelik is all about experiencing a true Cornish Christmas, including the slightly odd traditions. This is a great event for those with children as they can really get stuck into the activities planned, whilst parents can assist and enjoy a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie (or two). You can expect carols, dancing, arts & crafts sessions and “Lighting and Chalking the Block”. We can guarantee you won’t have experienced anything like this before!

Mousehole Christmas Illuminations

30,000 people travel from across the county as this historic habourside village is lit up for the festive period. For those of you who have visited Mousehole before, you’ll know it is a very traditional, picturesque village; add the lights and it really is a spectacular sight, which may I add is run completely by volunteers. This is something you need to witness for yourself.

Mousehole & Truro photo credit: Paul Watts

A Short Autumn Getaway at Tregongeeves

2015-11-04T07:41:00.000-08:00

This week's blog post comes straight from the mouthes, or keyboard, of one of our lovely guests who kindly took the time to write a full review of their weekend staying in Swallows and shared it with us. So we thought we'd share it with you and give you a look into a short autumn break at Tregongeeves.

Flicking through the welcome pack - look at those scones!

After a long week at work it was amazing to know that as soon as the clock chimed at 5 o’clock we could escape reality for a couple of days. We met up in Truro and within an hour of finishing work we had arrived at Tregongeeves; almost immediately we sensed the serenity that surrounds the farm cottages. We walked in to a generous welcome pack including homemade scones, jam, clotted cream on the table and a full breakfast pack (eggs, bread, milk, locally sourced bacon and sausages) in the fridge. With the knowledge that breakfast was sorted, we dumped our belongings in the bedroom and took a short stroll down to ThePolgooth Inn.

The cosiest of living rooms

We must have been lucky because as we arrived at the pub, slightly damp from the rain, a small table became available right next to the crackling fire. Although the pub was full, the barmaid took the time to talk us through all the local ales and cider and also let us try a sample before ordering. We ordered a pint of St Austell Ales’ seasonal ale; a large rose and were not disappointed. The menus were full of dishes that made your mouth water, but in the end we went for a crispy beef salad to start followed by a homemade vegetable burger with Cornish Yarg and sweet chilli and the pork special; all of which were the perfect size and full of flavour. It’s safe to say the walk home was made significantly more merry thanks to an evening of good food, friendly locals and a few glasses of wine!

We woke at around 9am on Saturday after a good night sleep in the most humongous bed, and within half an hour we were tucking in to the breakfast pack; I can personally recommend the sausages from local butchers Kittows, which the other half described as “proper sausages”!

Mevagissey Harbour

After breakfast we headed off to Mevagissey to explore the winding streets. A busy little fishing town full of character and fish for sale around every corner, Mevagissey is full of traditional Cornish charm. The small aquarium at the end of the harbour is definitely worth a visit; I must admit I had no idea what Sea Bream actually looked like before this trip. We headed back to the car and took the short drive to Charlestown, as I’m a self-confessed Poldark addict!

Charlestown - Polder's filming territory

Charlestown is beautiful, granted there’s not much there but what is there is well worth exploring. Having missed lunch we decided to treat our selves to an ice-cream from the award winning Tall Ships Creamery, and what a treat it was. The rest of the day was spent simply gazing out to sea and chatting sat on the harbour walls.

We became rather fond of these donkeys

Once back at the farm, we decided to go see the animals. Now, we might be adults, but feeding the chickens and brushing the donkeys still put a huge smile on our faces – we just felt completely free. After a quick swim in the heated pool and a relaxing session in the bubbling spa (which is an absolute must), we got ready for dinner. Judith was able to point us in the direction of a few great restaurants, of which we chose the Rashleigh Arms in Charlestown. Being on holiday, we decided to get a taxi which costs £6 each way. The food was all homemade and for a cider and a meal each it cost less than £30. We then headed down to the Harbourside Inn and were completely blown away by the electric atmosphere as a local band played in the corner. Locals welcomed us in and we even had a bit of a boogie at one point.

For us, Sunday’s are spent relaxing, so we had a lazy day in bed and cream teas for breakfast – perfectly acceptable when on holiday in Cornwall! We then pottered over to the golf course next door, who lent us a few clubs for the driving range. The staff at St Austell Golf Course are very welcoming and if it was nearer we would be visiting again for sure.

St Austell Golf Club

After golf, we reluctantly packed up our stuff, went for one last walk down the country lanes and said goodbye to Tregongeeves. All in all, we were amazed at the level of detail gone in to each and every aspect of the cottage: the locally sourced welcome pack, the immaculate set-up and the way that everything from sauce-pans to tennis rackets to olive oil is provided. Tregongeeves is a very special place where we literally had NOTHING to worry about which was absolutely bliss - We now feel like we're ready to face the Christmas madness! We’ll be returning in the New Year to explore more walks, taste more local produce and experience the South Coast of Cornwall in all its winter glory.

To find out more about our short break packages please click here.

Inspired by Poldark

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People have been flocking to Cornwall for their holidays for well over a century now, some even naming Cornwall as their favourite place on the whole planet – quite the statement! In all honesty we can see why it’s played such a big part in many people’s holidays, and we feel very lucky to be able to provide a base for people to create those happy holiday memories that will stay with them for a lifetime.

We're pretty sure that a large part of the attraction to Cornwall is because of it’s breathtaking scenery, in particularly those famous golden beaches. So we're not surprised that in the past few years a certain film crew have cottoned on to Cornwall’s natural beauty, yes we’re talking about Poldark of course. They may not have been the first film crew to choose Cornwall as their set location, but they’ve definitely done a good job of showing the rest of the world just how special our county is – and it’s a great story! So we thought we'd dedicate this weeks blog to everyone's favourite Cornish Officer, Ross Poldark, and how you can experience a fraction of his lifestyle whilst staying at Tregongeeves.

1. Saddle up in Bodmin

Bodmin Moor was used to film many of the inland shots in the last Poldark series and so why not saddle up and have a gallop across the moor - it's the perfect place to do so. Imagine wind in your hair, the pounding of horses hooves and views that are second to none, it’s a great way to experience another side of Cornwall (whilst saving your legs). There are a number of stables and riding schools on the moor who cater for all abilities, with sessions lasting between 2 and 10 hours. Fancy a quick hack? We’d be more than happy to point you in the right direction.

Photo Credit - Adam Gibbard/Visit Cornwall

2. Visit Poldark Mine

Poldark Mine is the only full tin mine in Cornwall that offers underground guided tours, so you can experience the intense change in temperature, feel the ragged tunnels and witnesses the sheer darkness for yourself. It’s hard to explain what the tour is like as it captures and takes over the body's senses, you really do have to do it for yourself. There’s so many unique features to see, infact the chairman of English Heritage listed it as “one of the two most atmospheric mine tours in Europe”.

3. Take to the sea

Poldark, as we know, is very naval based and some of the most beautiful locations can only be seen from the water. But never fear, where there’s a will there’s a way: Head up to Koru Kayaking in St Agnes and hire a kayak. A couple of hours paddling will give you more than enough time to see Cornwall from a different angle. If the thought of being at sea on your own is quite frankly rather daunting, don't worry there's no need to miss out: you can book a kayaking tour where an instructor will share his expert knowledge with you whilst taking in the iconic coves and cliff faces.

Photo Credit - Adam Gibbard/Visit Cornwall

4. Head down to Charlestown

We've already spotted the crew filming down in this beautiful town's harbour just a couple of weeks ago. Charlestown plays home to the medieval ships in the first series of Poldark and is intact the most common harbour scene throughout. This quaint harbour is home to magnificent ships with high sails, infact the whole town is very traditional looking. This being said, it’s also home to some amazing little café’s where you can taste one of Poldark’s favourite meals - The classic Cornish Pasty of course!

So why not head down to Cornwall and take a step back from a world full of modern technology for a while. Of course there’ll still be the luxury of the fully heated swimming pool and hot tub for you at Tregongeeves – but we’re pretty sure even Poldark would have had a quick spa session if he had the opportunity!

September in Cornwall: It's ALL about the food!

2015-09-11T07:48:00.001-07:00

September’s here and there is one thing on everybody’s mind this month, food!

This month we’re celebrating the excellent standard and huge variety of produce that can be found right here in beautiful Cornwall.

We’re very lucky to live in a county that produces such rich produce; from crab freshly caught off the coast of Newlyn to asparagus grown in the fields of Wadebridge in the north of the county, we’ve got it all.

If you’re a bit of a foodie, then Cornwall’s definitely the place for you, and there’s no better time to visit than September. There are a number of events and festivals being held that are dedicated completely to the best Cornish food, so why not head down and indulge in the best of our county’s produce. P.S There’s more than just pasties on the menu!

Photo credit - Matt Jessop

10^th – 27^th September: Eden’s Food Festival at the Eden Project

The Eden project is adding a twist to the plant to plate story by providing a whole range of activities including a family fun weekend and the addition of a number celebrity chefs demonstrating how to cook fun and exciting dishes at home.

Photo credit: Visit Cornwall

11^th -13^th of September: Newquay Fish Festival at Newquay Harbour

A well known event throughout the south-west, the Newquay Fish Festival is the perfect opportunity to try some of the country’s finest seafood and learn from leading chefs, such as Rick Stein, how to conjure up the perfect fishy dish. There’s also going to be a heap of music include a Cornish Ceili and Last Night of the Proms, straight from the Royal Albert Hall.

19^th September – 4^th October: Harvest Festival at the Garden’s of Heligan

The harvest festival takes place every autumn and is a sight not to be missed. It is promised to be “an experience for all the senses”. Not only are the displays phenomenal but this event also gives guests the opportunity to try some of the more unusual Heritage varieties of fruit and vegetables from the garden in daily tasting sessions.

Photo Credit: Matt Jessop

25^th September: Lobster Fish Supper at Watergate Bay, Newquay

September marks the end of Lobster season, but don’t fear you have the chance to get your lobster fix at this spectacular event. You can expect wine, summer cocktails, fabulous desserts and mountain of exquisitely cooked Lobster, all enjoyed on the beach with live music and dancing. What’s not to love?

Photo Credit: Toby Lowe/Cornwall Food & Drink

25th - 27th September: The Great Cornish Food Festival, Lemon Quay in Truro

An absolute must for any true foodie, the Great Cornish Food Festival is known for for having the biggest variety of produce out of the shows. The festival will see a mass of celebrity chefs giving demonstrations, whilst local producers will be selling their produce at very competitive prices. If you're looking for a chutney thats a little bit out of the ordinary or a proper Cornish ale then this is the place to be.

26^th September: Celtic Breadmaking Workshop at Bedruthan Steps

Join master breadmaker and Red & Wild Chef, Adam Clark for a day of breadmaking in this stunning location. You’ll produce bread from many celtic regions including sweet saffron bread and lardy cake from our home county of Cornwall. Just imagine the smell of freshly baked bread with views over the sea…

If any of the above sounds tempting then we can help. We still have limited availability at discounted prices for September, so you can have the perfect relaxing getaway with the addition of some of the county’s best food…Ideal.

Photo Source: Visit Cornwall

Silver Shoes and Golden Stars

2015-08-28T06:03:00.000-07:00

With September less than a week away, we've had to turn our thoughts to Autumn and accept that Summer is slowly coming to a close - sob! But thinking back over the last couple of years, September seems to be getting a bit of a reputation for having lovely weather, almost like an Indian Summer.

These past few weeks we've been completing a couple of farming jobs, all of which have been made quicker thanks to a some little helpers. Last week the farrier paid our horses a visit which filled the children with excitement. As the farrier fitted the horse new shoes the look of mesmerisation on the children's faces was a brilliant site. At the end of the fitting, each child received one of the horses old shoes as a little keepsake from their stay at Tregongeeves. I like to think that in a few years they'll find the shoe in a draw and reminisce all their holiday memories.

So in addition to the excitement of bailing the hay and watching the farrier, we've got some news to share...Last week we welcomed an inspector from the Tourist Board to Tregongeeves and we're very happy to say that we passed everything (with flying colours too!) and retained our 4 glittering golden stars. Having 4 stars is amazing but what really makes our day is reading about your experience on Facebook or on the reviews you leave us with; There's nothing better than knowing you contributed to someones blissful memories. So next time you stay with us, please leave us a review or let us know what you got up to, it really does make our day.

So with Autumn we get to see a quieter Cornwall which makes it the perfect time for exploring. We love the crunch of leaves under our feet and sitting in front of the open fire down at the Polgooth Inn, so although Summer may be slowly fading away, we've got lots to luck forward to. Here's a few dates to pencil in your diary:

Gorsedh Kernow: 1st-6th September
Bude for Food: 18th-20th September
Truro Food Festival: 25-27th September
The Full Monty at Hall For Cornwall: 28th September - 2nd October
Lord of the Flies at Hall For Cornwall: 20th October - 24th October

Down On The Farm

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This past week we’ve heard tales of crabbing, sunbathing and sunset walks from our guests, which can only mean one thing – summer is finally here! It’s been lovely to see our guests enjoying the sunshine, with children playing in the courtyard and parents becoming top barbecue chefs in the evenings. We’ve got our fingers crossed that the sunshine is here to stay!

However, we’ve also got some sad news to share with you all. We’ve recently said goodbye to one of our oldest residents at Tregongeeves, Alice, our white donkey. Rescued by Judith in the late 90’s, Alice and her daughter Angelica have lived on the farm for the past 18 years where they have become firm favourites with our guests. Alice was a real lady and loved because of her polite nature; you could always find her waiting patiently by the fence, ready to be groomed or to accept her favourite treat, a carrot.

We'll all miss our Alice, but I'm happy to say that our other donkeys are their usual happy soles and are continuing to work their way through the acres of grass in the sunshine.

Walks: The Wild and The Wonderful

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One of the greatest things about Cornwall is the sheer amount of natural, untouched landscapes that are just ideal for a day of exploring. There’s no better feeling than reaching the top of a hill, looking down and just admiring the view and what you have accomplished. So why not make up some sandwiches, put on your wellies and go on your very own Cornish adventure. You’ll find a whole book of walks at the farm but here are a few of our favourites:

· Gorran Haven and Dodman Point

A 4 mile walk of moderate difficulty, however the views from Dodman point over Veryan Bay towards Nare Head make the slight struggle all so very worth while. Look out for the HUGE granite cross at Dodman point which was placed there in 1896 as anavigational aid for seafarers - it's also the perfect spot for a scenic photo!

Hall Walk

Second up is the Hall Walk in Fowey. Meandering around the lower banks of the River Fowey, this particular route has been listed in Britain’s top 100 walks and is not too strenuous for the whole family to enjoy. If the promise of probably the best estuary views in the county isn’t enough to get you walking, then the many tea rooms and the thought of a cream tea should be.

Luxulyan Valley

The Luxulyan Valley can be described as nothing less than breathtaking. It’s thickly wooded terrain and steep granite sloops surround the fast-flowing River Par, whilst playing home to some quite extraordinary early 19^th century industrial remains which are completely unique to the West Country. This 3 mile walk is one you will remember, and also the perfect spot to enjoy a proper Cornish Pasty!

Photo Credit: Christopher Dart and Reading Tom (Flickr)

The Real Cornwall

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Cornwall, a holiday for many and a home to others but why do we all love it so much? There’s so many reasons, it’s impossible to list them all but one thing I particularly value is the great local produce that’s available year on year. From bacon for your breakfast to the world-famous clotted cream, we’ve got the very best produce right here in Cornwall.

If you’ve stayed at Tregongeeves before you’ll have had the pleasure of trying some of the best Cornish produce in your welcome pack. We think it’s about time to shine some light on those responsible for producing such tasty food.

Niles Bakery: You can always rely on the team at St Austell to provide you with a nice fresh loaf or if you’re feeling like a sweet treat their pastries are on a whole new level of deliciousness.

TrewithenDairy Farm: As their slogan says “Happy Healthy Cornish Cows” and if that wasn’t enough to put a smile on your face, the creamy taste that runs throughout their produce definitely will be.

Kittow’sButchers: Famous for their sausages, this award-winning butchers is based just down the road at Kilhallon Farm in Par. They are the ideal of a family business and if you like you can even follow their blog to find out what’s going down on the farm including how Laudamus, the Pedigree Ruby Red Devon Cow, is getting on with all his wives.

These are only a few of our favourite producers - we haven't even mentioned all the amazing fishing folk! - but it's thanks to them that our guests get a delicious taster of real Cornwall.

Say hello to our new arrivals

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I feel it’s only right that this week’s post begins with a bit of appreciation for the fine British weather, hasn't it been glorious? All the animals up here at Tregongeeves have been very glad to enjoy a spot of sunbathing, however for a few it is a long awaited experience.

We’ve recently welcomed a few new additions to our farm in the form of 18 chickens that were very much in need of some TLC. Sadly, these chickens had spent their lives in cages in a battery farm; can you imagine never seeing the great outdoors? Don’t worry though, thanks to the British Hen Welfare Trust we were able to give them a new home right here at Tregongeeves.

In just under two weeks they’ve settled right in with the other chickens and are even ruling the show a little bit! It’s so lovely to see them stomping around the field knowing that grass is a totally new experience and although they don’t look 100% yet, they’re well on their way.

Keep checking our Tregongeeves news to find out how these chickens are getting on in their new walk of life.

Glorious weather, yet we are buying umbrellas!

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New umbrellas

This morning when we arrived at Tregongeeves we were transported onto the set of 'I'm Singing in the Rain' - except there was no rain and the back drop was Tregongeeves. You see Judith was let loose in Truro this week and as well as getting some lovely new garden furniture for various cottages she stumbled across the most beautiful umbrellas with various animals on them - so much so every cottage now has one for those occasional Cornish showers. The umbrella display that greeted us was not exactly how I expected to start the day!

This week we have had glorious weather, the sun is really warm - in fact I even got sun burnt sitting in the garden. We ventured to Cardinham Woods this week. It is a really lovely spot for both families with young and older children and dog walkers. There are a series of trails varying in length - we always do the Lady Vale walk as it is short and doable for toddler legs. The worm trail keeps them entertained too. There is a lovely natural play area and a beautiful cafe called Woods Cafe which offers yummy homemade cakes. I am very excited about the woods as we have just signed up to the new Forest School running there - keep an eye out for one of events in the holidays run by the brilliant Claire. We completed a term at a different venue before Christmas and the girls loved it so we cant wait to start again in April. Over Easter Claire is offering various courses for families - their sessions fill up very quick as her reputation goes before her so book early to avoid disappointment.

Views from the Coast Guard Hut

This weekend we are going to take the girls to the coast guard hut at Caerhays. It is the most stunning hidden gem. Follow the signs for Caerhays Beach and on the sea side of the road you will find a pull in and see the top of a small hut. Walk down to the hut and have your breath taken away. The views are stunning in all directions, over looking the sea. The small hut offers shelter from the sea breeze and the enclosed gardens lets little people explore whilst staying very safe. It is the most amazing place.

We are going on a chick hunt...

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There is a book that is loved in our house called 'We are going on a Bear Hunt'. Well tomorrow Grannie, with two granddaughters in tow is 'going on a chick hunt'. As you do! Apparently there are some rare chickens available in near Falmouth that lay brown and green eggs (I am certain Judith will give you a much more accurate account of names and breeds than I can). All I know is we are soon to be mothering 10 chicks under a lamp for a while whilst they grow strong enough to go outside. Eggs have been a bit thin on the ground of late so hopefully over time this new members of the coup will get producing for us.

The rest of the animals are doing well. The sheep very much enjoyed seeing their friends Pippa and Sam who are returning young guests, and enjoyed the attention they got from everyone during half term. Alice also enjoyed having her hair trimmed by guests recently whilst the pigs enjoyed the extra food they got.

Over half term our younger visitors had fun not only feeding the animals each morning but also partaking in a bit of 'Tin Can Cooking'. The feast was made even better by homemade shortbread. We also had lots of fun creating crafts to decorate the Recreation Room windows. We hope over the year our younger guests will help us make lots of lovely hand prints.

Today a very rare event occurred; my two girls fell asleep at the same time in the same place - the back of the car. I can count the times this has happened over the last 10 months on one hand! So what do you do in Cornwall when you have sleeping children in the car - you take in the view and the gloriously amazing spring sun. I head to Caerhays Beach

when you can park and see the sea. It is a must just for the view but it is a fantastic family beach too with a castle behind you it is a truely magical place to inspire young minds.

Grannie Day Care

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Today Grannie Day Care is full to capacity with all three grandchildren insitu. We have Jessica who is 2 1/2 years, Bethany and William who are both 10 months. It is mayhem I am sure. In fact the very reason I am able to write a blog is because I do not have a baby or toddler trying to help me type right now - so thanks Grannie!

Grannie herself has been very busy preparing the cottages for the half term visitors. As usual we have had our winter makeover with painting happening throughout, new curtains, plastering and lights in various cottages. It is always a mad dash in January to get everything done but we are finished and ready to welcome guests for the February Half Term.

Spring is really springing in Cornwall, it is getting warmer and there are flowers out left right and centre. If you are visiting in the next few weeks here are some great ideas of things to do:

The Lost Gardens of Heligan - not only do children get in free in February but you can try your hand at making a wildlife hotel, explore the garden and try out the rope bridge.
The Eden Project - try your hand at survival skills at Eden
Cardinham Woods - one of our favourite pushchair family walks with a fantastic cafe and children's play area
The Maritime Museum - discover the history of tea this half term - you might even get to enjoy a cup!
Spring coast walk - enjoy a refreshing stroll on the north coast followed by lunch at Lenwinnick Lodge watching the waves crashing, both child and dog friendly.

Spring is springing

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One of the many joys of living in Cornwall is that Spring seems to come that bit earlier. The snowdrops are out in full glory and the daffodils are starting to appear all over the place. We went for a lovely walk to The Lost Gardens of Heligan this week with the balance bike in tow for our two year old - it was absolutely delightful and perfect for the younger riders who can't make it that far.

We have also been making the most of stunning sunny weather here with breakfasts on the beach, long walks and lots of playing outside. Why not come and stay at Tregongeeves and make the most of the early sunshine? What's better than taking the camping stove down to the beach and listening to the bacon sizzling in the pan - we were the envy of the beach that is for sure. If you don't fancy bringing your stove then why not enjoy breakfast Lenwinnick Lodge. The family friendly restaurant has a relaxed atmosphere with stunning views nestled on the edge of the cliffs overlooking the North Coast.

Our younger guests can make the most of the ice skating rink at The Eden Project. On Wednesdays they have a dedicated toddler skate in the morning which is great fun for all the family and over half term there is Survival event for you all to take part in. If flowers are more your thing then why not take in the 7000 daffodils that make up the Mawgan Church Daffodil Festive - well worth a visit on 14 - 16 February. The Lost Gardens of Heligan are hosting a Love Wildlife event with trails and events for all the family.

Happy Christmas from Tregongeeves

2014-12-17T07:31:00.000-08:00

Happy Christmas to you all from Tregongeeves Farm Cottages, we hope where ever you are spending Christmas you have a restful and happy time and wish you well for 2015.

walk along Pentewan Beach

The cottages are full of Christmas cheer with trees and decorations up. Within the farmhouse where Judith lives there is a whirl of excitement as she prepares to host Christmas lunch for us all - it will be quite a busy day with a two year and two 8 month year olds, but one we all are very much looking forward to. Having watched Paul and Mary's Christmas Bake Off special last night I have promised a ginger and white chocolate cheesecake - lets hope that goes ok.

This time of year the donkeys seem to fit in perfectly to the festive spirit. Although they are a bit grumpy at the moment as they are in two separate fields as two of them are a bit fiesty and stopping the older girls getting as much food as they need. As Judith has more time on her hands in the quieter months Tom the horse is getting lots of lovely rides, which I think Judith is enjoying as much as him. Alice the Shetland Pony does a good job of looking disheveled a lot at this time of year, mainly due to long hair always looking a mess. Do give her a comb if you see her.

Hot chocolate at Watergate Bay Beach Cafe

We have been making the most of how quiet the roads are down here at this time of year and have been on plenty of adventures. We have discovered The Beach Cafe at Watergate Bay. The dog and child friendly cafe is a real treat for breakfast and serves the most amazing hot chocolates - well worth a visit. We have also taken several trips to Lanhydrock. There is a new, huge play area along with miles of cycle tracks. Right next to the new play area is a fantastic cafe which again does amazing hot chocolates are great food too.

Living so close to the beach of course we have been making very regular trips to the beach. Just last week we took a wonderful stroll down to Pentewan - I could count on one hand the number of people on the beach, it was magical having it to ourselves.

Once again we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happ

y New Year

Best Wishes,
Judith & John, Richard, Heidi & The Girls, Alison, Patrick and William,

We made it through our stay

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Our friends at Heligan

Jessica making friends with Diggory

Last time I told you I was in charge of the animals whilst Judith and John had a well deserved holiday. I am pleased to report, all animals made it through my custody period - albeit a bit fatter than normal as I may have given them one or two scoops too many of food and got my wires crossed and fed Tom the horse each morning, even though someone else was feeding him! All in all we very much enjoyed our time at Tregongeeves. Jessica, our two year old loved feeding the animals each morning with the guests. Luckily last week I had some brilliant helpers collecting the eggs and making sure I gave the pig enough food and Alice got her special breakfast each morning. The hard part was getting Jessica to come back from feeding the animals without a go on the 'bouncy bouncy' (trampoline). We took advance of the facilities on site though and took Bethany, who is 5 months for her first dip in the swimming pool and went on some lovely walks around Tregongeeves.

With the temperatures on the rise again this week it is hard to believe we are in autumn, but September is whizzing by. We enjoyed a spot of blackberry picking last week to make a delicious apple and blackberry crumble and we have been crunching through the leaves. Cornwall is fantastic at this time of year. Not only is it a lot quieter but the seas start to get a bit rough making for some fantastic sights. One of my favorite things to do through the autumn is to enjoy a lunch whilst watching the waves crashing and you really are spoilt for choice as where to go.

Our own pig - Ronnie

Locally you could pop down to the Driftwood Beach Bar, which is part of Pentewan Sands Campsite but open to non residents. The small beach hut offers stunning views from the warmth of the recently refurbished bar. The food is good and with a selection of hot and cold drinks you could sit back and watch the waves roll in. My favourite cliff top location to enjoy breakfast from is Lenwinnick Lodge. The Lenwinnick Lodge offers a great blend of relaxing dining with breathtaking views - even on a rainy day it is worth a visit. The waffles for breakfast are my all time favourite. Or slightly further along the coast why not try out the Watergate Bay Beach Cafe. The stunning views are complimented by great food in a very family friendly environment.

If the great outdoors is more your thing then why not undertake a lovely walk - to be honest there are far too many to list - from local circular walks to long coastal walks - so ask us when you see us for recommendations. A great circular walk is the Fowey Hall Walk - the views back over to Fowey are stunning and you can be rewarded with a great big slice of cake from one of the many cafes in Fowey!

I have to say with the piglets at Heligan I am there a few times a week to keep the children happy - we have a local pass which means we can go as much as we like. The piglets are adorable, I know I mention Heligan a lot but it really is worth a visit right now the gardens are looking stunning.

animal antics expected

2014-09-01T06:35:00.000-07:00

I don't want to count my chickens too soon but I expect some animal antics over the next ten days as Richard and I have moved into Tregongeeves whilst Judith and John take a well deserved holiday to Ireland. Usually there is some sort of animal antics - I moved the children and me in at about 10am, we went and did our animal inspection, and by 11am I have noticed that a chicken has managed to escape their paddock and is currently down by the house. This is not good. Chicken catching is one of my least favorite activities, especially with a two year old as a helpful helper and a five month attached to me! Other than escaping chickens everyone else looked good; Alice is much better after recovering from a sore eye, the pigs were in good voice grunting for a carrot and the sheep looked a bit disgruntled about the slightly damp weather.

I was every excited to spy a healthy helping of blackberries waiting for us to pick and the elder bushes full of berries - I am hoping to make elderberry juice. Jessica on the other hand was every excited to spy the trampoline, swings and slide; luckily I managed to distract her long enough to get past them without too much of a fuss. If you are staying over the next couple of weeks we look forward to meeting you and showing you around the animals.

Last week we had a great train adventure. We went for lunch at Lanhydrock - a beautiful national trust property. The House is one of the finest examples of upstairs downstairs living - it is really lovely. We went to the new cafe at the huge bike centre and had lunch there. We enjoyed one of nicest hot chocolates I have had in a long time - it was HUGE. If you do go make sure you read the menu board just inside the door - we missed that and missed the seasonal soup. We ended up having homemade burgers which were delicious. After lunch we hopped in the car and drove a mile down the road to Respryn and walked the path up to Bodmin Parkway Station. With a train obsessed child this was brilliant - we got to see two normal trains and the steam train part of the Bodmin and Wenford Railway - a real treat. It was spotting with rain but this didn't matter as the walk is tree lined so we were well protected. This will be a brilliant walk over the autumn and winter months and is buggy friendly.

Last week we had not one but two trips to The Lost Gardens of
Heligan. Mainly because of the piglets. They are adorable - there are two litters there and the mothers are working very hard to keep all the hungry mouths full! It really is worth a visit. Obviously we had to sample the cake just to make sure the cake was up to the usual standard. It was!

Sunday adventures

2014-08-25T06:54:00.001-07:00

Working in this trade it is sometimes a struggle to make time to enjoy Cornwall during the summer, but this year we have been having adventures every other Sunday. Judith has been having adventure days with us as Richard, my husband works so the girls and I go on a magical mystery tour with her. Without fail they involve very small roads and an element of reversing, a cake stop and somewhere to enjoy lunch. Yesterday we had our latest day out - off we went with the car loaded with a picnic, pushchair and baby carrier, with me hoping I would not have to do too much 'skinny road driving' or even worse too much reversing.

As it happened we stuck to good roads yesterday and took the main road out of St Austell towards Lostweithel - once through the lovely village famed for it's antiques we turned off towards Bodmin - here it was revealed to the car of excited travellers that we were going on a Bodmin Moor Adevnture. First stop was Golitha Falls. Just follow the brown signs to a free car park and head into the woods following the river. With a two year old in tow the first thing that sprung to mind was the Gruffalo Woods. The stunning wooded valley is a magical mystical place with the tree canopy providing shelter from the odd spot of rain. The path is an adventure itself littered with tree roots for little people to explore - thankfully we took the four month old in the baby carrier as it was not pushchair friendly. As the river crawls through the woods the anticipation to the falls grows. The river falls a spectacular 90 metres in altitude and provides a peaceful setting to enjoy a Cornish valley at it's best. I am very much looking forward to an autumn walk through the trees taking a flask of soup with us in a few weeks time as I am pretty certain it will be spectacular.

Back in the car we then drive a short distance to Siblyback Lake Country Park where we unpack the picnic and enjoy the view over the huge lake. I forgot the picnic blanket so we are rather squashed on a series of baby blankets! A great location for a picnic with toilets, play areas, cafe and free parking. Not a great location to allow a two year old to play with a ball though - I am sure a few people laughed watching me run after it as we get to the top of the hill and she lets it go as it hurtles towards the water (the ball not the child!). We got to enjoy gig racing on the lake and watch Granny teach Jessica how to roll down a hill - thankfully we all made it back to the car in one piece.

Next stop was a ride out on Bodmin Moor to the Cheese Ring in Minions. Park in the free car park and wander over the Moor to the Cheese Ring Stones. Jessica loved this, the soft ground with hills to climb and stones to explore proved a great natural play ground - you could spend hours up here just in one location or go for a circular walk (signposted). Within the village there is a pub and cafe for food, or on the Moor with views across to Devon you could enjoy a picnic.

Final stop on our tour was Tregongeeves for a well earned coffee and homemade biscuits. Here at Tregongeeves we have enjoyed a busy summer, with the animals having lots of visitors paying them lots of attention. Alice the Shetland Pony has been getting some TLC as she has a sore eye, it is on the mend, but she has needed a bit more attention than normal. The Pigs, who were new this winter, are well and truly settled in, and sometimes seem to think they are the boss of Judith. As for the chickens, well they are well and as always ever increasing in numbers...or so it seems anyway - Judith always seems to have acquired a new chicken from here or there!

Do have a look at our website for some brilliant autumn offers to entice you down to enjoy the stunning Cornish coast during the winter months.

Regatta Season

2014-08-16T08:51:00.001-07:00

It is regatta season here in Cornwall at the moment. This week sees the fantastic Fowey Regatta - the Red Arrows will be flying over on Thursday - their display is always awesome.

Next Saturday is Portscatho Regatta - a traditional regatta with an exciting highly visible course. Followed by the Newlyn Fish Festival on the 25th August - the festival celebrates all things fishy and is a real incite into the Cornish fishing trade.

Then the icing on the cake is the Falmouth to Royal Greenwich Tall Ship Regatta. I am really excited about this as 47 tall ships from around the world - including 12 square rigged tall ships will be in Falmouth for the week culminating in a Parade of Sail on 31st August 11am -2pm. With a small person obsessed with pirates we will certainly be taking a tour around the boats!

Trains, penguins and beaches with a splash of cyder

2014-07-16T14:08:00.002-07:00

Whilst everyone is busy at Tregongeeves Farm Cottages I have been testing out a variety of local attractions so we can give you a first hand account of what they are like. Along with my weekly trips to Heligan, I have been off with our two girls (2 years and 14 weeks) testing out Lappa Valley. Having visited before we had children I knew it was a lovely place, but really appreciated it this visit. Lappa Valley is a children's delight, with miniature steam trains, electric trains, canoes, a play ground, maze and much more. Before going check the train times to avoid a wait. We arrived to catch the 10.30 train, it was nice and quiet. Jessica loved the 'choo-choo' train up the valley to the park. Once we had taken the ten minute ride we quickly hopped on to the electric train. We then treated ourselves to bacon sandwich and a cuppa whilst Jess whizzed around on the peddle tractors. The whole place is really fantastic for little people and I can not recommend it highly enough for young families. The ticket price includes everything so there are no hidden extras.

If feathered friends are more your thing then why not check out Paradise Park in Hayle. I will confess to not being overly excited about visiting a bird park - I am not the biggest bird fan. However Paradise Park was a pleasant surprise. The whole park is immaculate and has a nice selection of birds in beautifully maintained enclosures. Jessica's favourite without any doubt was the penguins. Especially the feeding time. Followed closely by the tractor in the farm area where there were animals to pet. The bird display on the lawn was very impressive and informative. The day was topped off by a pasty from Phelps which you can get in the way...no Cornish day out is complete without a pasty!

In this weather all Cornish Beaches are pretty stunning. If Jessica gets even a glimpse of the beach all I hear is 'bbeeeeeeeee'. So as you can imagine we are at the beach a lot. Last week on Richard's day off we had a lovely day on Charlestown Beach. We left the grandparents with the children whilst we nipped to Wreckers for a birthday lunch. We had a delightful meal with the sea in view. After lunch we headed back to the beach to see how much the tide had come in. It really is a lovely little beach in a pretty village full of history and heritage.

We finally got round to visiting Healey's Cyder Farm - it is beautiful very much like time has forgotten it. There are animals to pet and a great guided tour of the farm and best of all free cyder tasting which has resulted in us purchasing a selection of cyder matured in oak barrels - trust us it tastes good. We finished this day out with a visit to Chapelporth Beach - what a find. I read about it in my Wild Cornwall book. The drive down is a bit hairy - especially when you meet another car but the small cove is quintessentially Cornish. The life guards keep watch as the crashing
waves break whilst families play - the car park is £3.50 so make sure you make the most of the day.

Fun on the beach

2014-06-14T08:50:00.000-07:00

As a farmers wife when her children were growing up and now running Tregongeeves a visit to the beach in good weather is the last thing of Judith's mine, but this week she has been not once but twice! The glorious weather and now grandchildren to enjoy it with was too much of a lure. So on Thursday off Judith and Jessica went to Caerhays Beach. The stunning cove has the Caerhays Castle and Gardens as it backdrop. There is a car park a few steps from the beach (£3.50 per day) and a cafe. I wish I had been there to see the Judith wrestling with her 'ladybird' - a sun shelter she had purchased for the day which once let loose from the bag she could not return! So much was fun we all headed there yesterday and it was indeed glorious. The shetlered cove is a bit off the beaten track so it is quieter than many of the more popular beaches. Ask Judith to borrow her ladybird if you head there!

The animals are a story of two halves, the last hatching of chicks have all passed on for no reason we can think of. But Judith has now got more chicks so hopefully be have more success with these ones.

I am afraid it is just a quick blog today, the weather is calling us to tend to the garden and light the barbecue.

Heavenly scent of summer just around the corner (hopefully!)

2014-05-05T10:21:00.000-07:00

I love this time of year when Cornwall really comes alive with the trees in blossom, lambs in the field and everywhere you turn bluebells. Now I am no gardening expert but I suspect that the winter weather is the driver behind the stunning carpets of blue which seems to be everywhere you turn in Cornwall right now, and the scent of the bluebells is just wonderful and really raises hopes for the glorious summer I am certain is just around the corner. Luxulyan Valley is a bit of a locals secret, but worth a visit this time of year. The old woods are littered with mining history and is a brilliant place for dogs and children alike and must for bluebell lovers right now.

Talking of woods, I was excited to see that Tehidy Woods, about a 30 minute drive away is, hosting the Wild Woodland Summer Ball, by the fantastic Rogue Theatre Company. The magical woodland experience will have little people and grown ups too enthralled in the magic of fairies, dragons and mermaids.

Closer to home is the exciting summer of theatre promised at the Lost Gardens of Heligan. The 20th August sees the grounds play host to The Tempest by The Miracle Theatre Company - a show not to be missed. We have had the enormous pleasure of seeing two productions by the Miracle Theatre Company and they are without fail brilliant. So funny and wonderful actors. If that was not enough we then see the arrival of the Kneehigh Theatre Company with Dead Dog in a Suitcase (and other love songs). The Kneehigh are a well known theatre company who normally play to sell out crowds so book early to avoid disappointment.

Broody (Grand) Mother Hen

2014-04-26T11:21:00.000-07:00

There has been a bumper crop of arrivals at Tregongeeves over the last few weeks. Firstly Judith and John no longer have one grandchild - in the space of 12 hours that total was taken to three! Their son Richard and his wife
Heidi welcomed Bethany Eve into their family, a sister for Jessica on the Sunday 6th April, and daughter Alison and her husband Paddy welcomed William John on Monday 7th April. A very busy time for the family indeed! Pictured is Richard and family at Heligan.

As if babies were not enough Judith has had chicks hatching left, right and centre too, I lose count of how many there are now, but lets just say a lot! Time will tell as to how many are hens. Talking of hens they have well and truly started laying again which is fantastic news and will ensure some delicious cakes are being produced.

Talking of delicious food we must recommend a visit to The Lost Gardens of Heligan. The food has really got very good there, especially anything involving the Dexter Beef. And the cakes are to die for. Huge and moreish! Pictured are the shire horses sowing poppy seeds in the fields at Heligan, it was a spectacular site which made the hairs stand up on the back of your neck - it was like going back in time Another recommend is the Cafe at the Duchy of Cornwall Nursery. It gets very busy so go late morning to avoid having to wait for a table.

Here at Tregongeeves there are a few of us who are very excited by the forthcoming Gruffalo activities across the County. To celebrate the Gruffalo's 15th Birthday there are lots of activities happening from free walks to events at Eden. Why not follow the Gruffalo Trail around The Eden Project or take part in the Gruffalo's birthday party preparations? Or if you would like to take in the great outdoors and do a free event then visit Cardinham Woods. Not only is the play area amazing there is a free Gruffalo Trail around the woods. The cafe there does fantastic cakes too.

Enjoying days outs

2014-03-22T07:49:00.002-07:00

I have been lucky enough to go on lots of outings this week as my parents have been down visiting. As an annual pass holder at Heligan we were back there again. A short car journey away, Heligan really is a great day out - I know I rave about it a lot, but right now the flowers are sensational and with it being pretty quiet you can visit without seeing hardly a soul. We also ventured up to The Eden Project. We only popped into the shop for lunch and a few sovereigns for my parents to take home - but the gardens were looking beautiful - again the daffodils are a delight right now with so many different and interesting varieties out. Don't forget though if you are planning a visit to book your tickets online, or search for an offer as it is pretty pricey to get in. If you are a National Trust Member you can get in half price for example.

We also had our first ever trip to Trebah Gardens. Over near Falmouth the gardens are well loved by young and old with a stunning selection of plants coupled with a brilliant children's play area. The walk down to the beach is magical - a real must if in Cornwall.

I was also spoilt on the food front with a lunch out at the Duchy Nursery. I love the Duchy; the plants are stunning, and I always have to stop myself spending a fortune - and as for the food. Well it is delicious. You have to get there early to nab a table but even if you have to wait the food is well worth it. As you arrive you are greeted by the smell of a roaring log fire and a huge selection of cakes. The millionaires shortbread (by which I judge most tea rooms) is one of the best I have tasted - worth a visit just for that!

No blog would be complete without a weather update. It is good news I am pleased to say. After a very long wet period we have been enjoying wonderful warm days and stunning blue skies. It is so strange not going out for the day without layers and layers of coats. It really feels like spring is on the way and with the nights really drawing out there is a real buzz in the air that we can finally start thinking about the summer in front of us.

I also need to mention the animals. There has been no more escaping pigs for now, I feared for their future at Tregongeeves if they kept terrorising Judith! We have a chicken decided to sit on her eggs in the donkey house - hopefully we might have some chicks in a few weeks. Judith is borrowing an incubator to hopefully hatch what she calls 'brown eggs' - ask her about them when you see her, they make lovely chickens and eggs. As for everyone else, they are all okay, enjoying the new lush grass that is starting to grow and making the most of the lovely weather.

Spring has sprung

2014-03-06T07:23:00.001-08:00

The daffodils are out and there is a real spring in our step! Especially in Ronnie and Ruby's step who have yet again escaped. They just like company and also like to make Judith work harder than normal! We have yet more new arrivals. We have new hens, rescued locally, they are already earning their keep and laying some lovely eggs for us, we have missed fresh eggs so much.

After a pretty hard winter Cornwall really is beginning to flourish with bulbs out, and glorious sun rises and sun sets. It is in fact our most favourite time of year to go and visit all the gardens that are within easy reach of Tregongeeves. We were at The Eden Project over half term and had a lovely time searching for seeds and making seed bombs. Then at Heligan we has great fun with the adorable lambs on show. More recently Judith had a well deserved day off enjoying a leisurely stroll around Fowey. The pretty fishing village is home to some delightful tea rooms and restaurants and has a lovely selection of shops, many of which are independent.