Local Area Archives - Trewince Holiday Lodges

Recollections from a past visitor

trewince 19th March 2013 No comments

Gordon Fox shared a few memories with us after looking at the pictures of the old pontoon. “The remains of it were still there in the sixties and there was a wooden boat shed containing old canoes and rotting life jacket detritus with some clinker built boats upside down mostly rotten, one of which wasn’t too bad, ok for calmish seas and we used to row to St Mawes in it until the following year when my Dad bought a British Seagull outboard engine to use on it until after another year or two it became unseaworthy and started to fall apart. He then hired a safer good Dory sea boat to put the outboard on and we stuck with that type of boat until going for a lot faster inflatable with higher powered outboard.”The boat shed was still there in 1985 when we arrived at Trewince but it was washed into the water by a landslide onto the Quay one winter. It had seen better days by then. It made a good bonfire!

Gordon went on to say: “Our family and friends holidayed at Trewince for many happy years because we loved the people and the area and we were great friends with managers Jim and Jean Wilde and their daughter Sally. First time was as a child was in a chalet. Coach Cottage, Quay cottage stays started when my father bought a Hutchinson Nautisport inflatable with a Volvo Penta outboard that zipped it along at about 30 knots. It did for fishing, shopping trips to Falmouth and St Mawes, beach and pub/restaurant runs. So the car stayed virtually immobile for two weeks which suited my Dad as he drove for his living as a commercial truck salesman, and because there’s no breathalyzers on the water. As an adult I used to meet up with my family and groups of friends there when I was on leave serving in the RAF in Germany, then later at Brize Norton. The last time I stayed at Trewince was to camp up for a few days after backpacking the Cornish Coastal Path from St Ives in the late 80s or early 90s meeting up with my sister, brother in law and young nephew. There was drama one night as a caravan went up in flames in the woods and the PT firefighters had been in the pub first, but they sorted it and nobody was injured. Superb place.”

Gordon might be interested in seeing this old list of Charter rates from 1962:

Clock off in Cornwall

trewince 31st July 2012 No comments

ANDY RUDD makes the most of where time stands still.

The Rudd family always jokes that when you’re entering Cornwall across Saltash Bridge you should throw your watch over the side because for the next week you won’t need it. You see, in Cornwall there’s no rush to get to that meeting, no place to be at a certain time and definitely no last orders at the bar. That’s because Cornwall runs on its own clock – Cornish time. It’s a place where time seems to stand still – or at least that’s the impression I’ve reached after holidaying there on many occasions while growing up. So I was delighted when I got the chance to return with my wife and show her what Cornwall has to offer. We were staying in a log cabin at Trewince Manor – a 26-acre estate on the southern tip of the idyllic Roseland peninsula. A haven of beauty, Trewince typifies what Cornwall is all about. Each fully-furnished, fully-equipped single-storey log cabin or two-storey chalet has breathtaking views overlooking either rolling countryside or the English Channel. Our three-bedroom chalet was comfortable and even had Sky TV in case, heaven forbid, we found ourselves with nothing to do one evening. A terrace leading off the lounge overlooking the sea provided a perfect sun trap and place to eat bacon butties in the morning as we worked out which marvellous walk to try that day. Rain or shine there’s plenty to do whether you want action or just want to relax. Down the road from Trewince is St Anthony Head where you will see the lighthouse used in the kids’ TV series Fraggle Rock. You can easily spend a day doing a circular walk starting from the car park and heading out towards St Mawes through the grounds of Place House and St Anthony Church.

For those that like to cycle, a good day out can be had at the Camel Trail – a 17-mile disused railway track, running from Bodmin to Padstow. Around 350,000 visitors a year ride the trail which takes in some of Cornwall’s most breathtaking countryside. Comfortable bikes can be hired (£12 per day) and you don’t have to be an experienced rider to tackle the trail – the promise of a cream tea or fish and chips at the end definitely keeps you going. After a long day’s walk or just a busy day doing nothing, head to one of the two local pubs to recharge your batteries and rest your weary feet. A mile from Trewince is the The Royal Standard pub in Gerrans and a little further along The Plume of Feathers in Portscatho. Both have a great atmosphere and serve up hearty portions of home-cooked food, best washed down with a pint of the local Doom Bar or Tribute ale. We recommend the fish pie and lasagne at the Standard. Venturing further afield Mevagissey is a short drive away and there you can wander around the narrow streets full of galleries and gift shops. To sample the fresh catch of the day – so fresh it’s straight off the boat – book a table at The Shark’s Fin. Nearby the award-winning Lost Gardens of Heligan make for a more sedate day out. There are 80 acres of grounds bursting with colour with walled gardens, a huge vegetable plot and bird hides. Don’t forget to stop at the farm shop on your way home for some tasty local produce.

A favourite spot of ours is Polkerris, a small sandy cove near St Austell. The area was a great inspiration for Daphne du Maurier who wrote her famous novel “Rebecca” in the area. There’s an excellent walk across the headland to Fowey but be prepared for a challenge as the round trip is about nine miles – but worth every step. Time your walk so that you arrive back in Polkerris just as the sun is beginning to set to take full advantage of the views from The Rashleigh Inn as you enjoy a well-earned evening meal in their restaurant. On our last day we went to Padstow, sitting back and enjoying another Cornish cream tea to the sound of an acoustic guitar. A bearded man in a fisherman’s cap is on the harbour singing Cornish folk songs. His name is John Breeze, or Breezy to friends and he’s a celebrity in these parts for the money he raises for charity every year. Breezy tells me he used to be a PE teacher who came down to the harbour to play so he could “get away from it all”. “Problem is,” he says, “I liked it so much I packed it in and came here for good.” And I can see why. I wonder if John’s got space for a tambourine man?

GET THERE Trewince Manor holiday lodges are open all year. Depending on the time of year, a week’s stay in a sleep-six single-storey lodge is from £510 to £1250, a two-storey from £603 to £1,350 and a sleep-5 (Redwing) is from £458 to £950. Visit www.trewince.co.uk or call 01872 580289.

Babington’s Leek

trewince 20th April 2012 No comments

Some guests staying here this week, keen botanists, pointed out that we have Babington Leeks growing in our woods – along the pathway. I must confess that I had never heard of such a plant, but apparently it is quite rare, and grows in the Roseland, our particular part of Cornwall. Another local rarity is the moss “Weissia multicapsularis” (many-seeded) but no-one seems to have spotted that yet. There is lots of wild garlic in our hedgerows at the moment – the flowers resemble white bluebells but the garlic scent gives away its identity. Lots of culinary uses for this one – and I have even seen the leaves for sale in the greengrocer’s organic boxes.

Heartlands opens and Duchy Opera sings

trewince 12th April 2012 No comments

Duchy Opera is honoured to have been invited to sing at the launch of the prestigious new Heartlands attraction and World Heritage site. We shall be there on Sunday April 22nd at 11.30–12 & 1-1.30. Everyone is invited to this free event which lasts all weekend. Watch out for the specially commissioned 4m² heart-shaped blimp which will rise into the sky over the 19 acre site.

“Special guest, Newton Faulkner joins line-up for three-day opening celebrations at the UK’s first free cultural playground”

BRIT nominated, acoustic guitar virtuoso Newton Faulkner was today announced as the special guest of honour at the launch of Heartlands, the new free visitor attraction and World Heritage site in Cornwall, which will open to the public on Friday 20 April 2012.

The musician, who will be playing two concerts in nearby Falmouth on Sunday 22 and Monday 23 April, will perform a small live acoustic set on the Saturday afternoon as part of the three-day party to celebrate the opening of this inspirational new 19 acre site, which has been created to help regenerate one of the poorest areas of Cornwall.

As well as performing, Newton will also leave his mark on the Totem Circle within Heartlands, a new events space dedicated to buskers and new talent. Twelve totems surround the circle; each with two sides left blank for performers to graffiti their initials. On carving his initials, Newton will kick-start this ritual and begin the Totem Circle’s story.

Newton joins a large and eclectic line-up for the Heartlands Magic Myth and Mayhem Launch Party, which includes music performances from (amongst others) Dalla, John Dowling, The Viewers, Hedluv and Passman, and Duchy Opera; theatre from Rogue, Bish Bash Bosh and Squash Box; dance from The Big Dance Company, CScape and TR14ERs. The event will also include special lantern, flag making and dance workshops, storytelling, face painting, aerial performances, acrobatics, skateboarding, BMX, fire show and fireworks.

The weekend will begin with a Hearty Party Parade on Friday 20 April as over 800 schoolchildren, local community groups, businesses and colleges formally open the site. Once open, a specially commissioned 4m² heart-shaped blimp will rise into the sky and fly over this, the former mining heart of Cornwall for the remainder of the weekend.

Vicky Martin, Chief Executive of Heartlands said:

“We are honoured that Newton was able to take time out of his busy tour schedule to pop in to see us at Heartlands and we can’t wait to see him perform. Our three-day extravaganza brings together an eclectic and exciting mix of music, dance, theatre and spectacle and we are looking forward to opening Heartlands in style.”

Heartlands is based on former derelict mine land at Robinson’s Shaft in the village of Pool. It is hoped the £35 million Cornwall Council-led development, funded by the Big Lottery Fund, Cornwall Council, the Homes and Communities Agency and the European Union will support the regeneration of Pool, Redruth and Camborne – an area containing over 10% of the Cornish population which has struggled to recover from the closure of the tin and copper mines (and related industries).

Heartlands became a reality in 2007 when it was awarded a £22.3 million grant by the Big Lottery Fund, the biggest grant BIG has ever given to a single project in England. It was one of only three projects in the UK to receive the grant under BIG’s Living Landmarks scheme.
The free attraction will be run as a social enterprise by the charity, the Heartlands Trust and includes:
World Heritage Site state-of-the art exhibitions
Restored Engine House with 80” Beam Engine (the last Cornish engine to work on a Cornish mine)
Biggest Adventure Playground in Cornwall (themed on Cornish myth and history)
Diaspora Botanical Gardens (each relating to a country that the Cornish have emigrated to)
Red River Café and Bar
Art and Craft studios
Chi an Bobel (large community, conference and function hall)
Totem Circle (small amphitheatre for music, dance and theatre performances)
Market Square
Events Arena (for large scale outdoor festivals)
Interactive art installations including graffiti-me totem poles and Red River paddling stream
19 one and two-bedroomed sustainable homes
Biomass boiler, photo voltaics, rain-harvesting system and wind turbine
Year-round programme of events
Newton Faulkner first entered our world back in 2007, when his debut album Hand Built By Robots rocketed up the charts all the way to the number one spot. Since then, Newton has toured relentlessly around the world and 2009 saw the release of his second full-length album, Rebuilt By Humans. Currently Newton is working hard on material for the eagerly anticipated third album, due for release next year. For more information, visit www.newtonfaulkner.com

The Big Lottery Fund (BIG)

The Big Lottery Fund (BIG), the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, is responsible for giving out half the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery.
BIG is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since June 2004. The Fund was formally established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.
Big Lottery Fund Public Enquiries Line: 08454 102030, Textphone: 08456 021 659. Full details of Big Lottery Fund projects and grant awards are available at: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Big Lottery Press Office: 020 7211 1888. Out of hours: 07867 500 572

The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) is the single, national housing and regeneration delivery agency for England. Its vision is to create opportunity for people to live in homes they can afford in places they want to live, by enabling local authorities and communities to deliver the ambition they have for their own areas. This is achieved by:

Understanding the needs and aspirations of people and communities through close working with local authorities on local investment planning
Enabling local delivery through the channelling of expertise and investment
Working effectively with the market, housebuilders, investors and other stakeholders

Almost on our doorstep

trewince 6th April 2012 No comments

FOOD tastes better outside – fact. And food this good tastes exceptional outside. Simon Stallard and Jemma Glass of the Hidden Hut have only been here since Easter 2011, yet have been featured on TV, sold out of upcoming feast nights until the end of June and regularly serve more than 100 guests in one sitting.

And all out of a large caravan-sized, olive green wooden hut that squats discreetly above the dunes at Porthcurnick beach on the Roseland Peninsula. Reaching the hut is by foot only, either from Portscatho along the coastal path or down the road from the Rosevine and Driftwood hotels, four miles from St Mawes.

As yet, there are no signs, just word of mouth, passers by and locals, who are as much a part of the clientele as tourists.

This is a more permanent pop-up café with food prepared by an experienced head chef and a nutritionist.

“The sourcing of the products is what I enjoy,” explains Simon, “I love rare breeds.”

The split pea and slow roast ham soup featured an Old Spot from Calenick Farm and the beef bourguignon I missed yesterday was made from the farm’s shorthorn beef.

The soup whacked a meaty punch from the stock used to boil up the ham, served with generous chunks of bread and slabs of butter.

Alongside the soup we ordered wraps – smoked salmon and creamy cheese, blue cheese, prosciutto and rocket. The wraps were crammed full and the combination made for a light but filling lunch.

Followed up with a chaser of cake and tea and the meal became a feast. The brownies were particularly memorable (as a good brownie should be), made by Jemma’s mum Maggie, and no, you can’t get the recipe. The pair have grand plans for the little Hut – Simon speaks of giant metal stands for his paella feast nights, the next of which is happening on the beach in June, of plans to get a fire-pit built and more tables that are currently being crafted out of an entire tree.

Simple, big ideas and a conscious move away from the stress and anti-sociable hours of Simon’s previous life as head chef at the nearby Roseland Inn, Rosevine and Bustophers, Truro. Souped up and sated, the sun came out and our cup of tea became a brew with a view – priceless.

The tables filled and emptied – walkers, elderly ladies, families, dogs, locals.

Book early if you want to get a place on the Hut’s summer feast nights to which you bring your own booze, cutlery and plates, making for a very reasonably priced evening out. Sourced with passion and knowledge, expect such Hut classics as lobster and chips, crab night, slow roasted pork belly (vegetarians catered for) and fish pie, all featuring the great outdoors and all its breezy, unpredictable Cornish beauty.

For more on the Hut take a look at this week’s West Briton newspaper www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/Hidden-tales-Hut/story-15723507-detail/story.html or go to www.hiddenhut.co.uk

Under wraps – the perfect excuse to eat al fresco at Porthcurnick beach on the Roseland. Your cup of tea becomes a brew with a view.

Spring is here

trewince 5th March 2012 No comments

The daffodils are out in the Woods now – I picked a big bunch last week. My favourites are the jonquils which smell so heavenly – but they are quite hard to find. Peter sent a few to his mum in the post – she loves the scent. Let’s hope there are some left to send for Mother’s Day. There are various types of daffodils, from the tiniest ‘wild’ ones, to the large King Alfred and the frilly double ones. We’re told that in times gone by the bulbs were literally thrown into the woods and allowed to grow where they settled.

Some years are better than others, and at the moment there are a lot of ‘blind’ leaves as well as flowers, but they may be waiting to pop up later in the month. We have some daffodils in the front garden which regularly flower in December. We bought them one September when we were down Lamorna way, and I’ve often thought it would be good to get some more. There’s nothing quite like a daffodil in the garden at Christmas.

As for the deer – I didn’t see any sign of them but then they are rather shy creatures. The badger tracks are very clearly seen at this time of year when the ground cover is minimal. It’s so lovely to walk through to the end of the woods – the view alone is worth it, and it’s so quiet and peaceful so early in the season. In a way you want to share it with everyone but at the same time keep it all to yourself – that’s Trewince I suppose.

Minack Theatre on the cliffs wins Gold SW Tourism award

trewince 8th February 2012 No comments

The Minack Theatre won the Gold award at the SW Tourism Awards finals in Torquay, in the category “Tourism Activity, Sport & Experience of the Year”. The West Cornwall winners were Team Minack, Penlee Gallery (gold in small attraction), Boskerris Hotel (bronze in small hotel) and Visit Cornwall. Geevor Tin Mine won bronze in the small attraction category.

Who could think of a better ‘shelf’ on which to display their trophy? Quote from the Minack: “We were thinking about asking the builders to cement it in!!”.

Cornwall gears up for the arrival of the Olympic torch

trewince 2nd February 2012 No comments

Organisers of the London Olympics have revealed the route which will be followed by torchbearers in the Olympic Torch Relay. They will begin at Land’s End on May 19 this year and Cornwall will have an opportunity to enjoy the spotlight for a brief moment as the eyes of the world focus on our beautiful landscape.

David Fursdon, chairman of the South West England Board for the Games which heads the regional partnership Team South West, said: “We’re pleased that the Olympic flame will pass through all the counties in South West England. The route should mean that the maximum number of people will be able to reach a vantage point without travelling for too long.

“The torch relay will be a unique opportunity for people across the region to experience their own Olympic moment and to be part of the excitement and enthusiasm as they see the Olympic flame pass through their counties, towns and villages.”

The torch will be carried for sections of the journey on different modes of transport including the Rainforest Balloon as it ascends at The Eden Project, near St Austell, Cornwall. Gaynor Coley, Managing Director of the Eden Project, said: “The Olympic flame is designed to spread the message of peace, unity and friendship so it will be a very special day for all of us in our beautiful county.”

However…………. there has already been quite a hoo-ha because the route is avoiding towns such as Camborne and Redruth.

St Ives, Hayle, St Agnes, Perranporth are also “excluded”. No-one seems to be commenting that Portscatho will be missing the flame as well!! The route through Cornwall will be: Land’s End, Sennen, Newlyn, Penzance, Marazion, Rosudgeon, Ashton, Breage, Helston, Falmouth, Truro, Newquay, St Stephen, St Austell, Stenalees, Bugle, Lanivet, Bodmin, Liskeard, Saltash, Plymouth.

You can read more and see a map of the route here.

Ice-skating at Eden

trewince 27th January 2012 No comments

Ice-skating at Eden until at least 26th February. Perfect for half-term holidays. Check it out!

“Our magical ice rink is back with a new stunning glacial theme. In addition to our general skating sessions, there are special sessions for all ages and abilities, so come on down and get your skates on!”

Ice skating on the ice rink at the Eden Project

Of course, there’s lots to see and do all the year round.

Top 10 things to do with kids:

Explore the largest indoor rainforest in the world.
Enjoy the imaginative children’s play areas.
Follow exciting trails around the site, with shortcuts, hideaways, stepping stones and sandpits.
Get involved in special events for kids, including den building in the summer, ice skating in the winter, and rock climbing at certain times during the year.
Marvel at the massive futuristic Biomes and sculptures.
Listen to fascinating stories about weird and wonderful plants
Interact with exhibits such as the Seed, Plant Engine & Nutcracker.
Learn about the amazing things plants do.
Feast on the delicious children’s food in the cafes.
Get some great toys, games, gadgets and books in the shop.

Trewince Avenue Elms

trewince 27th January 2012 No comments

Trewince Avenue before Dutch Elm disease destroyed the trees. This road is the one leading from the village up to our gates. The photo comes from Arthur Mee (Children’s Encyclopædia, I believe, but unable to verify). Date, anyone?

Below is another photo of Trewince Avenue. When we first arrived at Trewince in January 1985 one of the first things I experienced was skidding on the ice and crashing the car into one of the elm tree trunks buried in the hedgerow. It had been our son’s first day at the Roseland School and we had been misinformed about the time of the school bus, making it necessary to drive him to Tregony. At the time my husband was still working in London and was using our Morris Minor that week, so I had to explain to him that I had dented the company Volvo! In fact, I only just managed to drive it to my new home.

The Elm trees have been replaced by Sycamores planted at the sides of the road (actually on the edges of Trewince Farm fields.) Time will tell whether the appearance of the Avenue will be restored but it’s hard to imagine that it will ever look like this again.

Category: Local Area