Wild Camping and homemade pizzas

Posted on May 30, 2014 by Comments Off on Wild Camping and homemade pizzas

IMG_6785Our second season is now well underway, and the three of us are really back in the swing of it.

With the Pentewan Valley being such a beautiful spot, and so close to wonderful coastline, and the famous gardens of Heligan and Eden, it is a popular holiday choice.  Our decision to offer something a little different, and really based upon what we like is going down extremely well.

Park & pitch

Park & Pitch – our meadow field was a very popular place to be last year amongst the yellow flag irises, and ragged robin, and to enjoy the last of the evening sunshine. Whilst not wishing to spoil anyone’s fun  down the meadow field is not really a place for cars, and so it is now a car (and children) free zone.  Our campers love this, and indeed quite a few do anyway arrive under their own steam.  Those who don’t park up in the parking bay which has the ingeniously invented “grass protecta” under the grass.  They then have a wander around the meadow field, pick their spot and transport their gear in a barrow.  There are spots right behind the parking area, and as far back as our adventurous campers want to go.

Secluded meadow pitch

Our campers are loving park & pitch. We have a gentleman in his 70s who we offered one of our more formal pitches up field, but no he was not missing out on the meadow experience and was straight to the barrow.  The owls hooting, and tooting, and the hedgehog visiting for his supper, and listening to the dawn chorus, camping does not get much better than that!

Firepits and John’s breakfast baguettes can also be delivered even to the furthest part of the meadow field, and no-one is more than a max 2 minute walk to our top notch shower block.

The Carnival Campers

Up-field – this area is just a bit more civilised, with electricity for those creature comforts.  Everyone’s requirements are different, and so we have pitches to suit everyone and all formal pitches have hardstanding grass.  New tent pitches now have this just for a parking bay.

Kernow Forno pizzasVERY EXCITING NEWS – the first all singing all dancing wood fired pizza cooking date has been confirmed.  The date for the diary is Tuesday 17th June between 5-8pm on site here.  Check out Kernow Forno’s website for an idea as to what gastronomic delights you will be enjoying.

Whilst all advance bookable hook up pitches are booked up for that week, and indeed so really now until post August bank holiday, “proper camping” is still available.  We will charge your phone, ice pack exchange, and there is a hairdryer in the shower block.

Other Meadows News

Mabel Caravan has enjoyed her first guests who had a really fab time.

imageMackerel Fishing – we love mackerel and our first guests to go out this season caught 35!!  On the same day Chris from Aquila dropped off lots for us and our campers and it was a perfect evening for BBQing.

Dog Neckerchiefs & Bunting – our guests have many talents, and we like to find out what they are.  Thanks to Chris & Martin from Lincolnshire, we have lots of new handmade bunting up around the site, in particular between trees.  We are also now stocking this in our shop.  As Harvey gets asked many time by his four legged friends where they can buy a neckerchief from, Chris & Martin are going to make some which should arrive with us any time soon.  We shall have the best dressed units and dogs in Cornwall.Fat dog slim

Bookings – we are still taking enquiries for advance bookings for the summer weeks, but we have very limited availability, and just odd days here and there.  We are just about to change our calendar to fully booked.  When we do so, we will then take enquiries for last minute availability, for campers and tourers.  Of course we never turn away any one arriving under their steam, who also receive a 25% discount. We are a campsite close to Mevagissey and we are “just for adults”.

News from Camp Dog Harvey

This week we have had an unofficial cavalier king charges convention at The Meadows.  Henry, George, Rusty and Jessie.  We have had great fun without breaking the campsite etiquette. All my friends have enjoyed some of my favourite walks, beaches and pubs and are going home very tired, but happy boys and girls. Look forward to you all coming back to see me again.

An ideal base for exploring

Posted on May 20, 2014 by Comments Off on An ideal base for exploring

IMG_7102We appreciate that campers put a lot of effort in to finding a campsite for their Cornwall holiday.  The campsite has  to tick the majority of their boxes.

If we are lucky enough to tick those boxes then we expect one may be that we are a great central south coast base for getting out to see lots of those special places.

This year The Meadows team became NT “Love the Outdoors” members.  There are lots of NT attractions in Cornwall, and many off the beaten track places including beaches and hidden coves well worth any scramble down, or good walk to them.

These are some of the fabulous NT places easily accessible whilst holidaying at The Meadows Campsite

“Open Country”

1. Lantic Bay and Lansallos – this is a long stretch of unspoilt coast between the lovely Fowey, and the just as lovely Polperro.  Steep coves, rocky shores, and beaches to explore.  Dog friendly.

“Open Country”

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A Roseland Cove

2. St Anthony’s Head and the Roseland – this is an absolutely fabulous part of Cornwall. This is the headland at the eastern entrance to Falmouth Harbour. Remote coastline dotted with gorgeous beaches. The walk around the head itself from St Mawes is highly recommended. A special place for lunch is The Hidden Hut Cafe on Porthcurnick Beach.  There is also a summer ice cream van at Carne Beach.

Dogs are welcome on the Roseland beaches and Camp Dog Harvey’s favourite is Towan Beach where you may see seals bathing.  His favourite pub on The Roseland at Philleigh which has a brewery next door.

3. Lanhydrock

This is described as “the ultimate victorian country house brimming with modern comforts”. There are lots of cycling and walking trails in and around the estate grounds.  The estate gardens are also stunning and well worth a walk around for all garden lovers out there. The cafe there also serves a mean Cornish Cream Tea.

The estate grounds and stable courtyard cafe are dog friendly.

“Open Country”

4. Respryn – this is the lower part of the Lanhydrock Estate with its own car park.  Don’t miss The Old Carriage Drive Walk to Bodmin Park Railway Station which houses a cafe for coffee.  Also don’t miss the easy access riverside path – keep eyes peeled for otters and kingfishers.  Pooches very welcome, and good bathing spots along the way

“Open Country”

Crantock Beach 2

Crantock Beach

5. Crantock, Polly Joke & Holyswell Beaches – these beaches are absolutely fabulous and some of the best beaches in Cornwall.  There are great walks, including a circular one on the SWCP taking in all 3 beaches, and returning via Crantock Common, which is CD’s favourite and he also finds time for a skinny dip along the way. Great choice for your pooch – he/she will love it.

Meadows News

I am the farmer’s daughter after all

Our little old, but lovely tractor has arrived.  It has been working already, and is a good runner.  Here it is fitted with its box ready for bringing up logs from the wood for splitting as our piles have already been dented.

The secluded meadow pitches are already proving popular with our “proper campers”.  The new park and pitch scheme is working very well enabling the meadow field to be a car free zone. We have in flower ragged robin, pink campion and yellow flag irises, and lots of butterflies.

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Mabel Caravan

Mabel Caravan is at long last in situ and looking gorgeous. Mabel is sited next to the stream and at the moment there is a carpet of bluebells behind her on the bank.  Mabel’s first guests arrive at the end of the week for a birthday celebration and they will have lots of fun with her.

News from Camp Dog Harvey

Life here is pretty good at the moment. Spring sun, deck watch and sharing a tub of Roskillys ice cream with Camp Daddy every now and then.  It does not get much better than that.

I am enjoying meeting all of our four legged guests and we have had some very keen walkers staying who have enjoyed some of my favourite walks and beaches.

The first month of being back on duty has flown by and I look forward to seeing many more of you during the season.

CD Harvey x

Join our happy campers

Bookings

“Just for Adults” continues to be an extremely popular choice, especially dog friendly too. Please do check our availability calendar as there are only a few spaces left for most of the summer weeks on our bookable pitches.  For our casual pitches we are always worth a call for a last minute short get away.  For those arriving under their own steam, we will always find you a spot to set up camp.

 

You can see so much if you are on two feet, or four if a dog

Posted on May 8, 2014 by Comments Off on You can see so much if you are on two feet, or four if a dog

Exploring the SWCP around Black Head

Well Spring is definitely springing, here in South Cornwall, and everywhere is turning very colourful indeed.

Walking down to Hallane Beach

Here at The Meadows Campsite, we are extremely fortunate to have such great walks on our doorstep, and a beautiful trail linking up to the SWCP.  The Meadows’ Team view is that if you are prepared to do some of your exploring on foot, you will find places that you won’t see out of a window.

The part of the SWCP around Black Head, and the gorgeous Hallane Beach is particularly stunning at the moment with the wildflowers, in particular wild garlic and bluebells.  We have enjoyed our first taste of John’s homemade wild garlic pesto and it was just as delicious as I remembered. Another part of the SWCP looking particularly lovely, and great for those with dogs is Gorran Haven through to Caerhays (Porthluney Cove).  This section takes in four dog friendly beaches, two of which you may get more or less to yourself.

Camp Dog checking out his guests

Our own bluebells on the bank are also extremely colourful, and Camp Dog Harvey has been taking the path along the bank recently to carry out his daily inspection.

As well as our SWCP circular walks book, we are now stocking pocket size local ordnance survey maps for just £4. Shower proof and pocket size showing all the footpaths, bridleways and trails nearby they are great for planning walks from the campsite, and also covering Gorran and Caerhays.  These are proving very popular indeed, and you are unlikely to get lost.

The Mevagissey Ferry is now running, and indeed a group of our guests were on the first sailing, and extremely lucky to be following a basking shark for most of the journey.  This trip cannot be recommended enough and is a great way to visit Fowey.  If you get carried away and miss the last ferry back, then there is always the option of returning on the bus.

The Driftwood Cafe is also open once again on the beach at Pentewan Sands, and lovely for a lunch looking out to sea, with tables and chairs on the verandah.

Things are now starting to get going in Cornwall, and so if you have booked, or are still to book a trip then here’s some great diary dates:-

9-10 May – The Big Produce Market, Truro’s Lemon Quay

10-17 May – St Ives Literature Festival & Fowey Festival of Words & Music (lots happening to celebrate the best of literature and arts.

11 May – Lostfest in Losthwithel – Arts & Crafts, stalls and live music and dance

23 May – 1 June – Fal River Festival (Roseland Penisula) 150 plus events

23-26 May – Run to the Sun Festival, Nequay.  This is where to go for VW spotting as there will be lots and lots of them.

26-31 May – The Pendennis Cup.  Best vantage point to see the super yachts is Pendennis Point

5-7 June – The Royal Cornwall Show, Wadebridge

13-15 June – Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival

21-22 June – Fowey Mussel Festival

21-22 June – St Merryn Steam & Vintage Rally

29 June – 4 July – Mevagissey Feast Week

4-6 July Padstow Vintage Rally & Country Fair

4 July – Sundowner Sessions, The Fisherman’s Friends, Newquay

12 July – Liskeards Agricultural Show

14 July – Stithians Agricultural Show

18-20 July – Bocconoc Steam Fair – an extremely popular event.

26 July – 7 August – Charlestown Regatta

17-23 August – Fowey Regatta & Carnival week

17 August – St Ewe Country Fair – this is a fantastic proper country fair, and is well worth a visit.

Meadows News

Early Spring camping in the meadow

After our winter groundwork, our campsite is really now starting to come back to life. We have had quite a number of campers, camping in the meadow field already.   It has also been great to see the fire pits burning again, enabling our campers to sit outside in the evenings keeping warm.  Whilst our rally was here, we also had the stove lit on the deck on a couple of lovely evenings, which they found was a lovely accompaniment to a couple of glasses of their favourite tipple.

Our new pitches are coming along nicely, and our newly planted gunneras are growing well, as are our foxgloves.  Our guests are going to love the views, and being pitched a little out of the way by the stream.  This year for camping in the meadow itself in our secluded pitches, you will be doing so by “park and roll” . Parking bays will be on the edge of the meadow, and you can transport your gear in style.  We will have camping pitches in the summer with pitch parking too, but the middle of the meadow will be a car free zone.

IMG_0175Since clearing “down field” we have acquired so much more grass and after waving good bye to digger and dumper, we have bought a little tractor.  It’s not one of the big shiny tractors at the rear, its the little and lovely Fordson Dexta at the front.  We are just now awaiting its arrival which should be any day soon.  It will be great for “down field” and indeed up field, and bringing up wood and lots of jobs really.  Father and Farmer Bowler is coming to stay this month to give John and I a few little tractor lessons.

 

 

IMG_7106Bookings

There must be something very exciting happening else where in the country in early June.  Early June is a fabulous time for going away (my own view) as you get such long days, and it is generally that bit quieter.  We are very busy indeed at the end of May, and almost booked up from the middle of June until the end of August, but early June is still quite quiet.   Whilst we really do not mind some quiet time, for those lucky folk who can suit themselves, we do have room for early June and would love to see you.  The Meadows is just for grown ups, and ideally placed for visiting Mevaggisey, and the Lost Gardens of Heligan.

For all those guests, we have been unable to accommodate this season,  please do try us again either later on in the year, or book earlier next year.  We are also keeping a few casual pitches to accommodate those last minute short stays, and also if you are just passing by on a tour and want to stay an odd night or two.  We also always ensure that we have space in our camping area  for those arriving on foot, or by cycle.

Mabel Caravan

Our Caravans” – Lottie & Mabel.  Lottie has already entertained a number of guests this season, who have thoroughly enjoyed themselves.  Mabel is getting ready for her first guests who are staying for whit sun bank holiday.  We do still have some  availability for our caravans during the summer weeks.  Please get in touch should you wish to book one of our lovely caravans for a special stay. You can book here, or by telephoning 01726 844383 

News from Camp Dog Harvey

Crossing back from the other side

I am still really enjoying being back on duty.  So far, so good with all four legged visitors on site and none have been cheeky enough to catch any of my pheasants.  As I look good in bluebells,  I am carrying out my site inspections from the other side, whilst being careful not to get lost down any rabbit holes in the process.

 

ALL WE NEED NOW FOR 2014 IS LOTS OF SUNSHINE :), & FOR OUR FRIEND MOLLY FROM ROTHLEY TO WIN THE EUROVISION