Camping, grown up style……

Posted on May 26, 2016 by Comments Off on Camping, grown up style……

IMG_7102After you have ensured that you are not booking in to anything other than an “adults only campsite”, (we are dog friendly too) it is time to check out the best of what is on offer for grown ups.

I have done lots of posts about walking (which I love), food (which I also love), and so for some other ideas if you are visiting soon:-

  1. Last year quite a number of our guests ventured out with Fowey River Hire this was for the guided canoe expeditions, and also hiring kayaks out.  The feedback was excellent and indeed guests have even told us that they enjoyed it so much they have bought their own kayaks for this year. This years dates and times are out with regular expeditions and for more information prior to arriving check out their website. The Fowey Estuary really is a great place to try out kayaking and is not only beautiful, but the waters are far calmer than out on the open sea.  If it is a guided tour, then my understanding is that there is usually a stop off at the pub in the pretty Golant village.
  2. imageOur guests seem to be a fit bunch, and so I am sure some of you would be up for cycling along the trail and country lanes to visit a few of the local vineyards. In one direction, there is Polmassick Vineyard and also very close by Bosue Vineyard.  Both do tasting and tours, and at Polmassick cream teas are also available.  A good cycle ride, but well worth it in another direction you will find Knightor Winery. As well as tasting and tours, Knightor has a lovely cafe & restaurant open in the daytime and evenings, and they host also feast nights which make for a great night out. Need a bike then contact Stuart at Pentewan Valley Cycle Hire
  3. Campers who venture out to Falmouth always seem to have a good day out, and Falmouth is one our favourite Cornish towns.  There are lots of little independent shops, a huge choice of restaurants, and lots of Henry Cav - Ferrylittle ferry crossings to the likes of St Mawes, Flushing and other boaty places. Head out there 17-19 June and you will see the Falmouth Classics Regatta. A little bit later in June 27 June-2 July it is the Pendennis Cup. Whilst out that way, it would be a good time to take a little diversion and head off to The Pandora Inn at Restronguet.  This was last year voted the best pub in Cornwall and you will not be disappointed.
  4. ferryMy idea of a great car free day out would be an early start and catch the first ferry over to Fowey. On landing in Fowey, I would head off to Pinky Murphys for coffee.  After a mooch around Fowey, I would walk round on the SWCP to Polkerris and feast outside at Sams on the Beach with a bowl of gorgeous Fowey River Mussels. Depending if time was in my favour, it would be the bus or ferry back.  If time was in my favour I would walk back from Mevagissey via Lobbs Farm Shop and pick up some goodies for supper.

cyderfarmNot forgetting for the beer/cider lovers out there St Austell Brewery Tour, Skinners Brewery Tour, and Healeys Cider Farm.  Well, I say tour, but of course it is tour and sample, as the two go hand in hand.  If heading to Skinners you can catch the bus or train to st-austell-breweryTruro then nobody has to drive.  St Austell Brewery is just up the road, but again on the bus route.

Food 

I don’t think I can write a post without including food!!

For the foodies out there, our regular wood fired pizza and fish & chips start in June, and also breakfasts.   Also on in June locally are

18-25 June 2106 St Austell Feast Week

21-22 June Fowey Mussel Fest

News from Camp Dog Harvey (aka HRH)S7000414

For all you handbag dogs out there I have passed on the bandana feedback and hopefully a selection of smaller ones will arrive in time for Summer.  Great for the forthcoming heatwave as you can wet it and keep cool, in more ways than one.

What I have learnt this week from under the desk!  New answer for “can you walk to the Eden Project from here” – technically, yes you can, and around it and back as someone did from here the other day.  I was well impressed but now in my more mature years, I won’t be following suit ;).

IMG_7106Bookings – our diary is a very busy one, with only the odd gaps here and there, and a couple of cancellations available.  This is except at the moment for “proper camping” between 3-10 June.  There must be something really, really exciting going on elsewhere in the Country.  However, if you are a spur of the moment camper, why not take up this opportunity of lots of space and book.  This could of course all change very quickly if the anticipated 90 day heatwave transpires.

The Meadows Campsite is an adult only (and dog friendly) campsite/caravan site in South Cornwall, close to Heligan, Eden, Mevagissey and Charlestown.  We love campfires, bunting, all things quirky and people from all walks of life.

To book call 01726 844383, or complete the contact form and you will get a swift response.

 

Spring Bank Holiday Camping Bonanza……

Posted on May 16, 2016 by Comments Off on Spring Bank Holiday Camping Bonanza……

IMG_7106After a fabulous first bank holiday weekend, we have been working hard to make the second just as good.

Well, using our extensive powers of charm and persuasion, we have persuaded our local pop ups to pop along over the weekend.  This means there will be a way of escaping  the half term madness, and you can retreat back to camp in the evening.  We have new fire pits, and all of the old ones too, and our wood stacks, are still a plenty.

For all those booked in, here  is what is on offer for the weekend:-

  1. Sunday – we have Cornish breakfast including doorstep sandwiches made with Kittows Sausage and bacon, and other delights served up by the Cornish Maid.Lazys pic
  2. Saturday evening – the Cornish Maid will be here serving up Chilli Nachos or similar.
  3. Sunday evening, we have Kernowforno (as recently featured in The Times 😉 ) here, cooking up their amazing wood fired pizzas fresh to order.
  4. To go with our pop up food Lazys (by name, but not by nature) Travelling Bar will be here.  I understand that this time there will be some new cider cocktails on the menu amongst other things.

From the beginning of June, our regular nights will also be starting with pizzas on Tuesdays, and fish & chips on a Thursday. The pop up bar and Cornish Maid (breakfast) will also be making regular appearances

Our pop ups now have their own page on our website – please  check this out, with some great pictures that I will add to as the season revs up a gear, or two!

Now, as for the weather, it has to be kind and the long term forecast does look that way.  For long term, John andS7000509 I look at the farmers’ forecast.  For short term, after recent inaccurate BBC forecasting we came up with our own weather stone.

S7000242For bank holiday walking, Heligan Gardens is looking lovely.  The walk up there is also lovely and hopefully the bluebells will still be out.  The walkers discount offered by Heligan should be enough to get you up the hill. The SWCP is also looking fabulous as our walking guests are keeping us regularly updated.

The season so far has got off to a great start, and there has been lots of lovely guests visiting.  Last week Camp Dog Harvey made a new friend called Derek.  Derek has been a cavalier owner all of his life and is 94! A sole motor homer owner who had come a long way to see Cornwall once again, and certainly did not let his age stand in his way. Heligan Garden, Caerhays, Ferrying from Mevagissey to Fowey were all ticked off. With the great weather there was also plenty of time for relaxing on the campsite in a chair with a good book.  Derek did  lots of book swaps, and so if you pick up a Clive Cussler whilst you are here, it is probably one of his.

The wildflower meadow should be looking super by the time the bank holiday is upon us.  Everything has all of a sudden gone mad, and the ragged robin and yellow flag irises are shooting up.

If John can just catch our resident moles who are giving us a daily runaround all would be fabulous.  Moles are very cute creatures, but why do they like the greenest areas of the campsite.

News from Camp Dog – I am now back in the swing of everything.  I am first in the office in the morning, and S7000414last out at night (very true) ! Apart from being trodden on a few times, life is good being back on duty.  All of those on four legs have been extremely well behaved. With my stylish good looks I have made a few dog bandana sales and so am earning my keep.

IMG_7102Bookings – there is not a lot left now for hook ups until the end of August, except for the odd cancellations that come in.  For “proper camping” (none electric) there are many dates where we are down to our last couple of spaces for advance booking.  This means if you have us in mind, then please get in touch sooner rather than later.

 

Touring Cornwall the Cool Camping way – we are always worth a try if it is just for the odd night, or two.  Please give us a call, or email us, or just drop in should you be passing by. The Meadows is just for adults, and very dog friendly, and a great spot if you enjoy walking/cycling and don’t mind a few hills.  Situate in the Pentewan Valley, The Meadows is great for Mevagissey, Heligan and even the Eden Project.

Lynn ( on behalf of The Meadows Team)

 

What a great opening weekend

Posted on May 3, 2016 by Comments Off on What a great opening weekend

S7000293Well, in our year one I think we had about 6 units on the campsite for the first bank holiday, and one of those was Martin Dorey with his Reporter hat on.  That meant we very slowly eased our way in to the season, which was good really as we were complete novices.

This year was a completely different story and we had  almost a full campsite.  That made for a fantastic weekend, as with some great sunshine, as well as a frost, and with foodie/drinkie delights all was good.  Being rather nesh myself, I was very impressed with the number of “proper campers” for our first weekend, especially those who woke to frozen tents.  Hardy, there were as after waking to a frost, about an hour later about 30 of them were swimming in the sea in costumes NO WETSUITS !! A shout out to Pauline Barker the organiser of the wild swimming camp and what a lovely group they were.  They had fire pit every night, a swim every day, and after there swim there was lots of ooh aaahing coming from the shower block at the delight of our lovely hot showers.

S7000495A lot of our campers travelled lightly for the weekend bringing, lots of layers of clothes and not leaving much too Lazys picfor room.  Our wild swimming group, and also the rest of our guests on the campsite, were very pleased to make full advantage of the food offerings on site this weekend.  These were courtesy of Kerno Fornow cooking up wood fired pizzas fresh to order, The Cornish Maid cooking up doorstep breakfast sandwiches, porridge and hot drinks and Lazy’s Travelling Bar, who did not have time to be Lazy !! I made the mistake of saying to The Cornish Maid “don’t think you will be busy so early in the season” to then watch a constant queue from her starting serving to the end of her service.  Of course the brekkie had to get the swimmers from Porthpean to Charlestown & back!!

Saturday night with the pizzas and Lazy’s bar working in tandem, glorious sunshine and all our fire pits going, IMG_0992there was one of the best atmospheres I can remember.  John & I always say that The Meadows attracts lovely like minded people from all walks of life, and some extremely cute dogs.

S7000490Despite, being a bit slow for everything natural (like grass, plants, trees etc), we did look lovely when we opened.  We made up for the lack of natural colour with extra bunting and fairy lights.

It has been good walking weather, and our early guests have almost all enjoyed the DSC_6544Mevagissey circular walk with a stop of at The Ship (why not)!

This means next bank holiday has a lot to live up to, as the benchmark has been set high.  I am working on the next one to see what I can pull out of the bag with the support of our local lovelies.

IMG_6785Bookings – we have very little left for high season if electricity is a must, and “proper camping” pitches are getting booked up for those we book out in advance.  If you still have us in mind for your summer holiday then you can book by completing the contact form, or giving us a call.  We do keep a few casual electric and “proper camping” pitches for those touring around,  and those who like to book last minute.

For first time visitors, The Meadows Campsite, is an adult only quirky campsite, and we are dog friendly. We are good for camping and caravanning for Mevagissey, Heligan Gardens, and we are IMG_7102also close to Eden. For walkers and cyclists, we are situate directly on the Coast to Clay Trail and for walkers this links up to the SWCP. We love campfires, nature, bunting and anything on the quirky side.  We also love showing our guests the food and drink delights of this local area.

Look forward to seeing all of those booked in with us soon. Next weekend is set to be another busy one, and the weather forecast is looking very good – not a frost in sight!

Lynn x