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17th October - 18th October 2017

Cornwall

Two trips to Cornwall while we stayed in Devon, on the theory it is just around the corner. Yes, it is and lots of corners and small winding roads. Still a lot of it was on a large road or two. The first trip was to Tintagel, I have wanted to go there ever since I read King Arthur books and Merlin stories. We stopped first at the place which was supposed to be the scene of the last battle between King Arthur and Mordred at Slaughterbridge (good name). The place was a little sad and needs a makeover. We decided against the souvenirs and walked into the outside area. Then down came the rain!!! Ross was a little put off by the rain, the place and I guess by the whole idea. I went to see the supposed grave stone of Arthur, the battle ground and got a little damp in the process. The gravestone has Irish script on it know as OGHAM, as this is one of only 7 stones of this type in England, it is probably a gravestone of someone important. I liked the atmosphere and it could all be true.
Back in the car and off to Tintagel castle. Did stop for cornish pasties we do need fuel.This was very imposing up on a cliff top. There are steps to the castle, last time Ross was there it was not possible to go to the castle and looking at the steps he decided not to bother. The weather was nice now, so I took the steps. Four breaks later I was informed I was nearly there so sure enough into the castle I went. This is not Arthurs castle it was built much later, but it is said to be on the foundations of Camelot!! 
The drive here had been longer than I expected so we decided to stay the night somewhere. Port Isaac’s is Dr Martin’s town. Off we went to explore, what a great village. It is so cute we saw it all the Pub, the beach, Mrs Tishell’s chemist. Alas it was booked out as far as accommodation was concerned. Down the road to Padstow.
Padstow is another gorgeous Cornwall town. I can see why people love it down here, if only the weather was warmer. Again, lots of great views, some good places to eat after all this is Rick Steins town, we found his shops, so expensive. They have the National Lobster hatchery here. Lobster have 1000’s of eggs and very few survive. The hatchery takes the eggs and they all survive and are let loose when they can dig into the sand and are safer. Dinner at a lovely restaurant in the centre of town was a delight and we stayed in a very nice pub.
On the drive home we stopped at the pub in the middle of Bodmin Moor, The Jamaica Inn, cannot miss a pub in the middle of nowhere. It was quite a place, an very big for having no neighbours.

Our second trip was to Lands’ End, well how can we be so close and not go there. Having already traversed Cornwall’s roads we pre-booked our accommodation!! Now I have to say it was cheap, sure it was a long way from the nearest town, but we have a car! Penzance was the local town. We had a fantastic seafood lunch while waiting to go to the hotel and a short wander around town.

We went up some extremely small lanes to the back of beyond to find our hotel. Every corner was a sharp backward facing corner, but we got there and parked. The hotel is now run as apartments and staff are only there for a few hours a day. We found our Keys and the room was nice with view across to the sea.  We had, had a big lunch and the town was a long way away so dinner was snacks.

The next morning, we awoke to the worst storm so had breakfast and watched the storm for a while until the electricity suddenly went off. Raincoats on and off to Lands’ End. It was very blowy and cold, but we got a good idea of what it would be like on a good day. Too cold to stay to long so off on the tour of the scenery. Botullook was a very cute town are there any non-cute towns in Cornwall. We saw some tin mines and walked around the coast what a lovely place for a mine desolate but beautiful. Back at the hotel still no electricity. When it eventually came on just on dark, dinner at the pub. Yes, you guessed no food as they had, had no electricity. Dinner of left over snacks. How ridiculous in the best area in England for fish.

On the trip home we stopped at St Michaels Mount. This is on an Island and is cut off at high tide. We walked out across the sand, the house is on a very tall hill. The whole thing is an amazing experience, the views are wonderful. The house was built in 1135 and there have been people on the island for 3000 years, why they stayed cut off part of the time and on such a high place I do not know. I certainly would not be popping out for milk. We managed to climb the steps and visited the house. Being National Trust members and heritage members is saving us lots of money. After we saw the house we had lunch in the pub and watched the tide cut the house off from the mainland
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