On our regular beach walks we always keep a look out for what the tide has left at the high waterline and usually end up bringing something home that looks useful, indeed the sign to our Woods here at Cider Cottage is made from driftwood and there is always string from fishermen's nets, which is very useful in the garden.
Cornwall is a great place to go beachcombing, with an endless choice of bays and beaches. It's certainly a good way to amuse the kids, who will always enjoy seeing what shells, unusual stones and driftwood they can find. They may want to make some fun art on the sand out of the bits and bobs they find. There is always a chance to find some of the Lego pieces that were lost at sea off the Cornish coast in 1997, when a container was washed from a ship. Lego still turns up regularly on Cornwall's beaches, especially soon after storms and to find a dragon or an octopus is the ultimate prize for the avid beachcomber. There is even a Facebook group called Lego Lost At Sea, where recent finds are shared. On our regular beach walks we always keep a look out for what the tide has left at the high waterline and usually end up bringing something home that looks useful, indeed the sign to our Woods here at Cider Cottage is made from driftwood and there is always string from fishermen's nets, which is very useful in the garden. The great thing about beachcombing is that it can be done any time of the year in all weathers. It's free, there is always the anticipation that you could find something interesting and kids, big and small, love hunting for treasure!
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Looe is a great place to visit with its narrow streets, bustling harbour and glorious sandy beach, a must for sunny days. This lovely fishing village is just a short drive from Cider Cottage or a senic train ride along the river valley from Liskeard Station, where the parking is only £1 for a day. Many of our guests choose the train for their first visit to Looe and say how much they enjoyed the trip. Children love to catch crabs from the Harbour Wall or the Millpool causeway. There are boat and fishing trips available from the Harbour and a chance to visit magical Looe Island when the tide is right, a trip we can throughly recommend. There is lots of choice of places to eat in Looe whether it's for a snack, just fish and chips or fine dining. There is always something special about enjoying a meal with a waterside view. 10 minutes from Cider Cottage is the village of Minions, the highest Village in Cornwall set on Bodmin Moor. A short walk will give stunning views and a chance to see ancient stone circles, historic mining engine houses, the iconic Cheesewring and much more. It is truly a super place to explore and each time we visit we find something new. Some sequences in the recently screened TV series Poldark were filmed here. The Stagecoach scenes and lonely crossroads with Ross & Demelza on horseback. Indeed the area is often used for filming, it has such an atmospheric timeless appeal. There is a Pub and Cafés in the village to complete a visit to this interesting scenic area. And of course the children and fans of the yellow and blue characters Minions, love having their photo taken with the Village sign. We have had some super Spring weather down here in Cornwall, and its been great to get out and about to enjoy the beautiful countryside and coast alike. Spring and early Summer is a great time to visit Cornwall with a wide choice of uncrowded beaches, where it is now warm enough to spend a few hours just relaxing and enjoying the beauty whilst listening to the waves. There are usually caves to explore and rock pools with a multitude of sealife, and who can resist dipping their toes into the surf. There is usually a cosy café or pub nearby to refuel in before heading off to explore more of Cornwall, which has so much to offer. Be it a fine Stately Home or Castle, maybe Poldark filming locations like Bodmin Moor and historic Charlestown. There is also mysterious Jamaica Inn or pretty Port Isaac where Doc Martin is filmed or just enjoy the natural beauty by walking on the stunning South West Coast path. You will be spoilt for choice of what to do and miss the busy time, when of course people flock to Cornwall and who can blame them, it's such a unique and special place.
The much anticipated new BBC series Poldark is back on our TV screens once more. A brilliant showcase for some stunning Cornish scenery all within easy reach for a day trip from Cider Cottage. Some of the locations for filming are very close by, having been filmed near Minions on enigmatic Bodmin Moor with its rugged scenery and mining heritage; only 10 minutes drive from Cider Cottage. A little further down the coast just 30 minutes from here is historic Charlestown with its grade II listed harbour. It’s no surprise that Charlestown attracts so many visitors every year and this unique location is so often used by film makers for its timeless appeal. The other Cornish locations used for filming Poldark can be easily visited from Cider Cottage and combined with a day out exploring the Cornish coast and countryside.
Click here: for more info on Charlestown as a filming location Square Sail Film & TV The Rame peninsula is an often neglected corner of Cornwall. This suits our guests as it is less than 30 minutes drive from Cider Cottage and a wonderful area to explore with its glorious uncrowded sandy beaches and rich heritage. The village of Kingsand, once a popular haunt of smugglers, recently featured in the acclaimed film, Mr Turner staring Timothy Spall. The village took the guise of Margate in Kent for the filmmakers. Other scenes from the film included the evocative Rame Head with its 11th century monks' chapel. Rame Head offers stunning views along the wide sweep of Whitsand Bay and out to the Eddystone Lighthouse, far out at sea. Nearby Antony House is an early 18th Century property, now owned by the National Trust. The popular 2010 family film, Alice in Wonderland, was filmed in the grounds of Antony House and it is certainly well worth a visit. The 800 acre Mount Edgcumbe Park also makes a great day out with stunning views across Plymouth Sound and many features including a folly, an ice house, grotto and deer park. With the moor being so close to Cider Cottage it is no surprise that our guests enjoy walking and exploring the area. The scenery is breathtaking and the panoramic views stretch for miles, with the sea in view looking South, Dartmoor and Plymouth in the East, Rough Tor in the North and all the way to Dodman Point in the west. The moor is dotted with disused mine engines, ancient stones and monuments so lots to explore. There is never a dull moment for children and cute moorland ponies are always a favourite. With free car parks at Minions, two tea rooms and a pub, there is plenty of choice for refreshment when explorers are ready for a rest.
A new trail has been developed for walkers and cyclists, linking the market town of Liskeard with the moorland area of Caradon Hill. The signposted on-road trail follows quiet Cornish lanes between deep hedgerows up onto Bodmin Moor with its rich heritage, spanning from Neolithic megaliths to the industrial mining landscape of the 19th century. From sweeping views over the high ground to wooded river valleys at the lower levels, this trail provides plenty of opportunity to enjoy the abundance of wildlife and experience the tranquility of this beautiful area. Cider Cottage is one of the very few properties offering self catering accommodation right on the route of the Caradon Trail. This makes us an ideal base for exploring this enchanting part of South East Cornwall, without needing to take the car out. For this reason we are proud to display the Walkers are Welcome sign on our window. Cyclists are equally welcome and we offer secure storage for visitors' bikes and equipment. For more information on the Caradon Trail and other walks in and around Liskeard, do visit Liskeard. Not only is the area great for daytime activities, but it takes on a new character after dark. Cornwall Council is currently applying to designate Bodmin Moor as a Dark Sky site, on account of its complete absence of streetlights and other light sources. If successful, Bodmin Moor will be one of only 5 Dark Sky sites in the UK and one of only 24 worldwide. Caradon Hill can be seen from Cider Cottage and this is already a brilliant spot for watching the sky at night, to identify planets, satellites and the occasional shooting star. And it's not only walking and cycling that are catered for at Cider Cottage. We have recently installed a charging point for electric vehicles. This is another way in which we can reduce our carbon footprint. If visitors arrive in an electric car, we are happy to provide you with free charging, during your stay, from our charging point. What could be better than a week's free motoring? So, as well as Walkers and Cyclists, owners of Electric Cars are Welcome too ! Many activities are available not far from Cider Cottage, including fishing. Siblyback Lake is very nearby and is excellent for Rainbow trout fishing. Also Bake Lakes, which has 9 lakes and ponds to choose from, with coarse and game fishing available. Plenty of choice for the serious angler, for family fun, or those just trying the sport for the first time. Sea fishing is nearby at Looe, with a wide variety of charter angling boats for the sport fisherman and those who just want to ‘have a go’. Trips range from full day trips to offshore reefs and wrecks in search of large Pollack, Ling and Coley, to shorter half-day ‘reef-fishing’, or 2 hour mackerel fishing trips that are more family oriented. Looe is also an ideal venue for the shore angler, and the estuary and harbour also provide ideal spots to fish. Cider Cottage now has a new secure outdoor storage facility, kindly supplied by Country Sports South West. This will be ideal for guests’ angling needs, with plenty of space for a whole host of rods and angling equipment. Guests may also find it useful to store childrens’ bikes, golf clubs, surf boards and other large items. Less than 4 miles from Cider Cottage is the old mining village of Crow's Nest, where a short walk will take you up to Caradon Hill. Much of South East Cornwall can be seen from this fascinating part of Bodmin Moor, as well as distant views of the sea at Rame Head and Whitsand Bay. Today, the peace and tranquility of Caradon Hill is home to relics of the former copper mining industry. The remains of old engine houses, chimneys, spoil heaps and railway tracks are all waiting to be explored. For hundreds of years, modest deposits of tin had been extracted on Caradon Hill, but in the late 1830s, rich seams of copper were discovered. There followed a frenzy of mining for this valuable mineral, and during the 1850s and 1860s engine houses, with their tall granite chimneys, were erected across Caradon Hill to extract the copper and to pump ground water out from the mines. Mining villages sprung up at Darite, Crow's Nest, Tremar and Pensilva, while the population of St Cleer increased by 400% between 1841 and 1861. At its peak, there were 4,000 miners working in the South Caradon complex alone. But a slump in the price of copper in the 1880s saw many of the mines close. Whether it's a bracing walk, or a glimpse into a forgotten industrial landscape, this area is a must to visit during your stay at Cider Cottage. |
New AuthorIn Feb 2021 Keith and Karen Burden took ownership of Cider Cottage whilst Lynn and Peter the previous owners moved closer to the sea to explore and enjoy more of a coastal life. Archives
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