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Woodwind Retreat, Our Cornish Escape, Snowlands Caravan Park, Par (2026)

16/06/2026

Pendennis Castle is a historic coastal fortress overlooking the entrance to the River Fal in Cornwall. Built between 1540 and 1542 on the orders of Henry VIII, it was designed to defend England against potential invasion and remained an active military site for more than 400 years.

Highlights

A well-preserved Tudor gun fort with a distinctive circular keep.

Extensive Elizabethan, Victorian, and Second World War fortifications.

Panoramic views across Falmouth Bay, Carrick Roads, and the Cornish coastline.

Underground tunnels, gun batteries, and wartime exhibits.

Historical significance

Pendennis Castle played a role during the English Civil War and remained strategically important through both World Wars. It was decommissioned in 1956 and later opened to the public. Today it is managed by English Heritage

We had a lovely walk around it. We walked from Falmouth Town and it’s mainly uphill but offers fabulous views.

In total we walked 9 miles and a lot of that was uphill!! But you can park the car in the grounds if you wish instead of getting the train. The train journey was beautiful and lasted about 80 minutes.

12/06/2026

Looe is one of Cornwall’s classic fishing towns, located on the south coast about 20 miles west of Plymouth or 11 miles from Par.

It’s divided into East and West Looe by the River Looe, which flows into a busy harbour before reaching the English Channel.
Historically, it was an important fishing and trading port and remains an active fishing community today.

What makes Looe special?

Working fishing harbour – The harbour is still central to the town’s identity, with fishing boats bringing in fresh catches daily.

Traditional Cornish character – Narrow streets, old cottages, seafood restaurants, and waterside pubs give it a classic seaside atmosphere.

Family-friendly beach – East Looe Beach is a sandy beach right beside the town, popular for swimming, paddling, and crabbing.

Coastal walks – The famous South West Coast Path passes through Looe, offering spectacular walks towards nearby coves and villages.

We had a lovely day. It is beautiful but very touristy. Every few shop would be a bakery luring people in to buy scones or Cornish Pastries. We tried a beef and Stilton one and it was very tasty. Most of the bakeries have open kitchens so you can watch them make the Cornish Pasties.

The beach was pretty with a calm sea, lots of toddlers were paddling.

The drive is beautiful but you can also get the ferry from Fowey for £7 each way.

11/06/2026

Fowey pronounced “ Foy”,is one of Cornwall’s most picturesque harbour towns. Located on the south coast at the mouth of the River Fowey, it combines a working port, sailing centre, historic streets, and spectacular estuary scenery.

What makes Fowey special?

* Historic harbour town – Fowey was one of Cornwall’s most important medieval ports, prospering through trade in tin and later china clay, which is still exported from the area today.

Beautiful estuary setting – The town sits on a deep natural harbour surrounded by wooded hillsides and coastal scenery. The River Fowey estuary is considered one of Cornwall’s finest landscapes.

The town is closely associated with Daphne du Maurier, who lived nearby and drew inspiration from the area for several of her novels.

Sailing and boating – Fowey is a major destination for yachts and boating enthusiasts, with ferries, river cruises, and sailing events throughout the year.

We had a lovely walk around and a bite to eat.

The car park is at the top of the hill. Fine when you are going down but different when you walk back. It made us both smile when we could actually hear 20 year olds puffing as they reached the car park!! Our motto one front in front of the other and keep going.

We came to Fowey earlier in the year and drove through the narrow lanes. Never ever again. What makes it really tricky is not really the narrowness of the lanes but that the steps that go in to the house protrude in to the lanes making it even more narrow.

We were lucky to visit the church with the organist playing.

Fowey is beautiful and well worth a visit.

04/06/2026

What a lovely review

22/05/2026

The Santa María ship carried about 40 crew members. Historians believe it was originally a merchant ship called La Gallega before being used for Columbus’s voyage.

The famous voyage

The expedition departed from Palos de la Frontera on 3 August 1492. After stopping in the Canary Islands, the ships crossed the Atlantic and reached land in the Bahamas on 12 October 1492.

The ship never returned to Spain.

On Christmas Day 1492, while near present-day Haiti, the Santa María ran aground on a reef off Hispaniola. Columbus ordered the wreck dismantled, and its timber was used to build La Navidad, the first Spanish settlement in the Americas.

The Nao Santa María is a faithful, full-scale floating replica of the historic flagship Christopher Columbus commanded during his 1492 transatlantic voyage. Built by the Fundación Nao Victoria in 2018, the 29-meter wooden vessel serves as a traveling maritime museum.

Key Specifications - 15th-Century Carrack (Nau)Length: 95 ft (29 m)Beam (Width): 26 ft (8 m)Masts & Sails:

4 masts and 5 sails covering over 300 square metersConstruction:

Built in Spain using a combination of modern materials (fiberglass coated with wood) to combine 15th-century craftsmanship with modern safety standards.

Experience Aboard when docked, the ship acts as an immersive floating museum. Visitors are typically allowed to roam all 4 to 5 of the ship's decks.

Onboard, you can inspect traditional rigging, view navigation instruments, and explore informative panels that recreate conditions aboard the original expedition.

The ship looked amazing sat in the Harbour and is now is on its journey to Padstow, Cornwall.

21/05/2026

Just 20 minutes drive from the Retreat is Mevagissey.

Mevagissey is a small working fishing village on Cornwall’s south coast, and it feels very different from surf-focused Newquay. Where Newquay is energetic and beachy, Mevagissey is quieter, more traditional, and built around a picturesque harbour with narrow winding streets and old stone cottages.

It’s one of the most photographed villages in Cornwall because of:

* The twin harbour walls
* Colourful fishing boats
* Tiny lanes filled with pubs, cafés, and galleries
* Steep hills with sea views
* A slower, old-fashioned fishing-village atmosphere

History and character

Mevagissey has a long history tied to fishing, especially pilchards and mackerel. It still operates as a working harbour today, which gives it more authenticity than some purely tourist-focused villages. The harbour dates back centuries and was heavily developed in the 18th century to support the fishing trade.

The village name comes from two saints: St Meva and St Issey.

Mevagissey is well known for seafood. You’ll find:

* Crab sandwiches
* Fish and chips
* Mussels and local catch
* Cornish cream teas
* Traditional pubs near the harbour

Fresh fish sold directly from the harbour is common when boats are in.

If Newquay is Cornwall’s surf town, Mevagissey is closer to the classic postcard image of Cornwall: fishing boats, harbour pubs, sea mist, and coastal walks. It’s usually better suited to a relaxed break than nightlife or surfing.

21/05/2026

Newquay is one of the UK’s best-known seaside towns and the unofficial surfing capital of Britain. It sits on Cornwall’s Atlantic coast, with dramatic cliffs, long sandy beaches, and a laid-back surf culture that gives it a very different feel from many traditional English seaside resorts.

What makes Newquay special is the mix of:

* Surfing and beach life
* Coastal walks and scenery
* Family attractions
* Nightlife and festivals
* A relaxed Cornish atmosphere

Beaches

Newquay is famous for its beaches — there are more than ten in and around town, each with a different vibe.

* Fistral Beach — the iconic surf beach with powerful Atlantic waves

* Great Western Beach — popular with surfers and younger visitors

* Porth Beach — calmer and more family-friendly

* Crantock Beach — stunning dunes and a quieter atmosphere

* Towan Beach — central and lively, near the harbour

We got the train from Par Station, a ten minute walk from our retreat and enjoyed the 52 minute journey through beautiful Cornish Country side.

The tide was going out but was still high so we had a lovely walk through the town to Fistral beach. Then on the way back enjoyed a drink with a view in the Fort Inn and that view was magnificent. Then another walk on the other beaches and by now the tide was out and it revealed a vast beach.

The walk from Fistral Beach to the town is about a 15 minute walk. On the way back we walked through the Golf course.

It was a tad windy in the morning but that sun made an appearance in the afternoon and the coats came off.

We do love Newquay with the beautiful beaches, street art and quaint streets.

16/05/2026

Tintagel Castle, Cornwall

Perched dramatically on the rugged north coast of Cornwall, Tintagel Castle feels less like a normal historic ruin and more like stepping into a windswept legend. As a tourist, the experience starts before you even reach the castle itself: narrow village streets, sea mist rolling over cliffs, and the constant roar of the Atlantic below.

The approach is unforgettable. You walk along steep coastal paths with panoramic views in every direction — jagged rocks, crashing waves, and green headlands stretching into the distance. Then the castle appears, split between mainland and island cliffs, connected by a striking modern footbridge suspended high above the chasm. Crossing it can feel both thrilling and slightly nerve-racking if you’re not fond of heights.

What makes Tintagel special is the atmosphere. The ruins themselves are fragmented — old stone walls, remnants of medieval chambers, scattered stairways — but imagination fills in the gaps. Guides and signs constantly weave together real history and Arthurian myth. This is the place long associated with King Arthur, where legend claims he was conceived. Whether you believe the stories or not, the setting makes them feel strangely plausible.

Down below, hidden near the cliffs, is Merlin’s Cave — accessible at low tide. The cave mouth frames the ocean like a fantasy film set, and hearing waves thunder through it is one of the highlights of the visit.

It’s not a “museum-heavy” destination. You go for the scenery, mythology, and emotional atmosphere rather than perfectly preserved architecture.

A few practical realities tourists quickly notice:

* There are many steep climbs and uneven paths.
* Weather changes fast — sunshine can become cold fog within minutes.
* In summer, it gets crowded by midday.
* Good walking shoes make a huge difference.

The nearby village of Tintagel adds to the charm with cafés, fudge shops, pubs, and stores selling everything from Cornish pasties to swords and dragon figurines. It leans heavily into the Arthurian theme, but in a fun, slightly theatrical way.

* it’s definitely not for those that are not steady on their feet. It’s definitely challenging but worth it.

We enjoyed our visit and glad we went. Whether children would get much out of it I’m not sure but the views are truly magnificent. The weather for us was very sunny but with a cold nip in the wind. Although climbing up and down definitely got us nice and warm.

It’s owned by English Heritage. We enjoyed coffee and a scone on the patio in the sun. They only charge £1 for a scone and butter if a hot drink is purchased and it was large and delicious.

The car park was about a five minute walk from the top of the path that leads you to the castle.

Parking was very reasonable at £7 a day.

10/05/2026

Spit Beach is a small, quiet beach on the south coast of Cornwall near Par and St Austell, looking out over St Austell Bay. It’s known more as a peaceful local spot than a big tourist beach. The beach sits near Par Docks and is reached by walking along the South West Coast Path.

Here’s what makes it distinctive:

* Mixed shoreline – You’ll find sand, pebbles, rock pools, and some rocky sections. At low tide, more sandy areas and rock platforms appear.

* Quiet atmosphere – Unlike busier Cornwall beaches such as Fistral or Porthminster, Spit Beach is relatively hidden and uncrowded.

* Industrial-meets-natural scenery – Nearby china clay works and Par Docks give the area an unusual Cornish industrial backdrop alongside coastal views.

Access is part of the experience. Most people park near Par Moor Road and walk 10–15 minutes under the railway bridge and along the coast path to reach the beach.

A few extra things worth knowing:

* There’s a WWII pillbox on the nearby headland.

We usually walk from the retreat which takes about 20 minutes. This is one of our favourite beaches as it’s nice and quiet, a hidden gem. The kids loved the rock pools at low tide.

Just remember to take chairs, bucket & spades and refreshments with you as there is no amenities here.

05/05/2026

Lanhydrock is in Bodmin, Cornwall just 20 minutes from Woodwind Retreat and it makes an excellent day out.

The gardens at Lanhydrock are a big part of what makes the estate special—they’re not just decorative, they tell a story about Victorian taste, wealth, and practicality

A classic Victorian “garden rooms” layout

Instead of one big open garden, Lanhydrock is divided into separate “rooms”, each with its own style and purpose. As you walk through, the atmosphere changes—formal, relaxed, productive—almost like moving through different outdoor scenes.

The parterre is all about symmetry

Near the house, there’s a formal parterre garden with geometric patterns, neatly clipped hedges, and seasonal flowers. It’s designed to be viewed from above (like from the house windows), almost like living artwork.

There’s a serious kitchen garden

The estate has a large walled kitchen garden, which historically supplied the house with:

* fruit and vegetables
* herbs
* flowers for decoration

Today it’s still productive, and you can often see traditional growing methods in action.

It blends into wild countryside

One of the nicest things is how the formal gardens gradually give way to woodland and parkland, so it never feels overly manicured. You can go from clipped hedges to quiet forest paths within minutes.

Seasonal highlights are a big deal

Different times of year completely change the experience:

* spring: magnolias, camellias, and bluebells
* summer: roses and herbaceous borders
* autumn: rich colours in the woodland

It’s designed so there’s always something worth seeing.

Rare and historic plant varieties

Because of its history and careful management by the National Trust, the gardens include heritage plant varieties—some chosen to reflect what would have been grown in Victorian times.

The walls create their own microclimate

The high brick walls around the kitchen garden aren’t just for show—they:

* trap heat
* protect plants from wind
* allow more delicate crops to grow in Cornwall’s climate

It’s a clever bit of old-school gardening science.

It’s both ornamental and practical

Unlike purely decorative estates, Lanhydrock’s gardens were designed to be useful as well as beautiful—feeding the household while also impressing visitors.

Woodwind Retreat, Our Cornish Escape

16/06/2026

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