UK Mid- May drive week Cornwall
 

Week two (of this UK tour's seven plus) will be yet again beloved Cornwall engaged based in a Polzeath self cater. As such, we'll keep the drive itinerary ranges generally tighter, both within west coast centrally and similarly inland.

Garden, National Trust (21 sites) and English Heritage (17 sites) are fairly well covered as booklets and online materials abound for each. If there's one or more interesting "quirky" option in any or otherwise independent context, please advise.

We hope to do an hour daily of dedicated travel afoot in village, parks, shore etc. For roadway day jaunting, we'll keep an eye open for outdoor markets. distinctive food shops and bakeries reputed for particular delights, consumed by both of us - as with below - in strict moderation.

For lunch or dinner, we'll cook in as well as seek atmospheric trad pubs with value meals (e.g. as often as possible, trying to walk out done for two under L40 with one beverage each, a shared appetizer, two entrees and no dessert needing inclusion. Depending on costs, this can be for either midday or evening meal). Please suggest, while making any related stops, local middle to dark beers and ales not to miss.

All good things~

Hi preglad,

Lovely to see that you're coming back to Cornwall and you've obviously been before, so that makes it a little difficult to know which of the lesser known sights to recommend. I also had to remind myself where Polzeath is, though it's less than an hour's dive from here!

A quick google search for Polzeath and gardens put me on the right track - if you do the same, you'll see that the following non-standard places come up:

http://prideauxplace.co.uk/the-house/ [I've heard good things but never been]

https://pinslagarden.net [a small garden but interesting if you are a plant person]

https://www.hiddenvalleygardens.co.uk/the-gardens/ [ditto]

http://www.pinetumpark.com [ditto but bigger]

http://www.caerhays.co.uk [wonderful gardens and a house to see too if you prebook, also the beach and what is said to be an excellent cafe]

http://www.lamorrangardens.co.uk [a wonderful situation up above St Mawes which is also a must see, if you haven't already - there is a lovely walk to St Just and back which would fit your parameters]

St Just Church - lovely gardens and church in a beautiful position next to an inlet

Fowey - great for a day if you've not been yet - get the ferry over to Polruan and walk along the coast path, or have lunch in the pub. Great pubs in Fowey and one in Polruan plus the Headland Garden

http://www.gardensincornwall.co.uk/headland/

[good link to the gardensincornwall website too]

There are also numerous gardens that only open a few days a year - they can be found at the website of the National Garden Scheme

https://www.ngs.org.uk

if you let me know which ones you're interested in, then we can think about walks and pubs.

Not much to add as I've only been to Cornwall twice, but I want to say that St. Just was a favorite stop that I think abobut all the time.

tuscan - are you talking about St Just in Roseland, [which is the one I refer to above] or St Just in Penwith?

I only ask as it might be possible for someone to have been to the latter and to think about it all the time too! [it has a slightly Bohemian reputation!]

Hi Ann,

Previously I've too thoroughly enjoyed a visit to St Just in Roseland; thanks for the excellent garden tips. I have all the NT and EH literature as well, so now thoroughly covered for gardens and their properties.

Thoughts on other requests, please?

annhig: it was St Just in Roseland. I was enchanted. We spent quite a bit of time exploring.

ok, I'll try to turn my mind to trad pubs,

Here's one for starters, but it's a bit of a way from where you'll be:

http://www.pandorainn.com

If you like the Rick Stein style, there is this, a bit closer

http://www.rickstein.com/eat-with-us/the-cornish-arms/

And for a drop dead gorgeous situation, and bags of character, you might like this one:

https://www.stkewinn.co.uk

As someone once said, I'll be back!