socialworker

There was a great British soap opera that was shown here in the States on Masterpiece Theater in the 80s or 90s--time is a blur--that took place in Cornwall. I loved it but am blocking on the name, but it is what motivated me to insist on going there when I visited the UK for the 1st time back in '98. It opened each episode with a view of roiling ocean from an impossibly high cliff.....So ann, my seeming digression is that one never knows what will be the impetus to visit any given locale!

annhig

Poldark, perhaps?

based on the novels of Winston Graham, it is the story of a mining family [the owners not the workers] in the C19. lots of swashbuckling and ripped bodices.

there are also a number of the novels of Rosamund Pilcher that have been filmed in Cornwall where thy are based, but largely for the German market, where they are extremely popular. We saw one being filmed in Helston.

while I'm on a roll, the detective series "Wycliffe" is filmed exclusively in Cornwall and it's a good game trying to spot the locations!

socialworker

Thank you, ann!! Yes, Poldark---he was really handsome, as I recall....

raincitygirl

Thank you Ann. We will be driving from St. Mawes to the New Forest to have two days there and then on to London.
Perhaps we could stop on our way to Brockenhurst, we'll see how the time goes that day as it looks like the roads we will be taking for the most part will be secondary type roads.

You are indeed a good ambassador for Cornwall!

Hilda_Bell

A .P.S. sorry, annhig, I just now saw your link to The Abbey Hotel which looks just lovely It's too late there to call the UK now with the time difference but emailed and am keeping my fingers crossed. I will look at all the recommendations of places to visit and find them on my Cornwall map and plan our itinerary. I am so grateful to everyone for their input. I will post after the trip and let you know. Please don't forget we have some beautiful places to visit in Canada as well! Thank you, thank you.

farrermog

Speaking of Port Isaac, Doc Martin fans may also wish to check out foreign adaptations of the series, especially the French version starring Thierry Lhermitte shot in and around Doëlan in Brittany (and which is currently showing in Australia on public multicultural TV channel SBS 2 on Monday nights at 8.35).

annhig

Thank you, ann!! Yes, Poldark---he was really handsome, as I recall....>>

remember the lovely Angharad Rees who played Demelza? [a name invented by Winston Graham as i recall] - she sadly died recently at the very early age of 62:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18940018.

raincitygirl - if you do stop off at Sidmouth, do say hello to our donkeys, Eeyore and Henry. We sadly had to return them to the Sanctuary about a year ago because Eeyore had a digestion problem and needed specialist care, and we couldn't just keep Henry, which was a real pity because he had the most lovely temperament.

Hilda - good luck with the Abbey.

Hilda_Bell

Thanks, Ann! Reserved something called "The Suite" at the Abbey for the four of us which should "suit" perfectly! At The Slipway Chris told me they will likely be filming Doc Martim when we are there so that will be interesting! Won't tell my husband or friends (until we get there) about the 15 minute walk uphill to the carpark from the hotel!

annhig

Hilda - how lovely. the Abbey is just off Chapel Street which is quite the most interesting street in Penzance and close to all the best bars and restaurants.

and the Slipway in Port Isaac has always appeared to me to be the sort of place I'd want to be in if I were staying. good idea to keep stum about the parking!

raincitygirl

ann, I will say hello to your donkeys! Sad you couldn't keep them, love the name Eeyore, he was one of my favourite characters when my mom used to read Winnie the Pooh to us. I will take note of their names and ask for them.

And Hilda will you share the dates of the Doc Martin filming? I love that show.

Last night DH and I watched a really interesting show with Martin Clunes (the star of Doc Martin) called Horsepower. I love horses (as well as donkeys) so found it very engaging, all about man's relationship with the horse, through the ages and today in different parts of the world.

Sorry, back to travel....

crazyfamilyof4

oh my...what an amazing thread! - where would you say the best point would be if you had a car to do day trips but also be able to access a place like St Ives using a train etc?

annhig

oh my...what an amazing thread! - where would you say the best point would be if you had a car to do day trips but also be able to access a place like St Ives using a train etc?>>

The branch line for St. Ives is at St. Erth. [pronounced St. "Earth"] so anywhere near a place on the main line would be convenient, but the most interesting of those from a tourist's point of view is Penzance, followed by Truro, which does of course give easy access to the rest of the country as well.

here's a website that i just came across that we might ALL benefit from [yes, even me!]

http://www.carfreedaysout.com/stives.html

keep the enquiries coming - perhaps we need a special Cornwall button on the forum!

PalenQ

If going by train check out these superb sites IMO for lots of great info on British trains - www.seat61.com; http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id11.html; www.ricksteves.com. For schedules www.nationalrail.co.uk - also discounted tickets if you want to book far in advance to guarantee them and not be able to often change nor refund them - for fully flexible travel check out the BritEngland Railpass that lets you hop on any train anytime - such full fare tickets can be dauntingly expensive.

I've done Cornwall and Devon by train several times - the branch lines that survived the Beeching Ax are very quaint - few-car trains trundling thru the lush coutnryside.

Hilda_Bell

Thanks for your encouragement re the Slipway and Abbey Hotels, annhig! I think a special Cornwall button on the forum is a great idea judging by the interest on this great thread!
raincitygirl re the Doc Martin filming dates. We are in Port Isaac July 14 and 15 and the man at the hotel said he was pretty sure they would be filming then. It is probably a summer long venture to film a new season so any time you are there you will have as much chance of seeing a grumpy Martin Clunes as I will! That Horsepower programme sounds interesting! Thanks also to PalenQ for that link to British trains. We plan to do some train travel in Cornwall once the car is parked. Getting a North American to pry his fingers off the steering wheel is not an easy chore!

raincitygirl

Hilda thanks for that. We will be there the first week of July so maybe we will be lucky with a Martin Clunes spotting.

Thanks Ann for that link and PalenQ. We will probably drive everywhere though, the friend I'm going with is keen to drive, she's Australian so it's the correct side of the road for her.

And Ann, that donkey sanctuary is well known, I was halfway through asking said friend if it would be okay to stop and see it and she let out a big happy shriek, she'd seen it on a t.v. program in Australia and is keen too. Then my English friend was over helping me look at different driving routes and saw the sanctuary in my bookmarks list, and she has been there a few times, her parents donated regularly over the years.

I like the Cornwall button idea too!

annhig

raincitygirl - i had no idea that the fame of the Donkey Sanctuary had spread so far. It's nice to know that people are donating; we used to place a donation box in our holiday cottage [which overlooks the field where the donkeys used to be] and the box was always full at the end of a let.

annhig

hilda - I'm so glad that your bookings were successful.

you must report back!

stevelyon

Just to sidetrack - Poldatk is now in his seventies (see below)

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgur...sQ9QEwAw&dur=0

stevelyon

Of course I meant Poldark - Poldatk is the Polish version

annhig

Poldatk - I love it.

not sure if they have Tin mines in Roland though.