Cornwall
appears to have it all; coastlines, landscapes, history and myth.
Based on the Gulf stream, the sea in Cornwall can be warmer than
other parts of the country and attracts surfers from all over the
world.
Errant Surf
School is
one of Europe's leading surf coaching and development centres. We
cater for total beginner surfers with our half day and full day
taster sessions. We also cater for improvers with our week long
course and private surf coaching. For the more advanced surfers we
offer longboard coaching weekends, BSA surf coach awards and the
NARS Beach lifeguard award. We are perfectly located overlooking the
surf at Great Western beach in the heart of Newquay. Click here to
view Errant Surf
Schools website
* Open all year
* Changing room, parking and private access to the beach
* Full range of surfboards (soft and hard) and wetsuits for all
seasons
* Prices from £30 for a half day, £40 full day surf lesson, £69 for
a weekend surf course and private
lessons from £35. Prices include all equipment, insurance
(£5,000,000) and certificate.
Bodmin Gaol If
you fancy a ‘day inside’ with a difference, then
Bodmin Gaol
could be the answer ! The granite jail, built by Napoleonic
prisoners of war, dates back to around 1778. When Bodmin rose to be
the county town of
Cornwall
in 1836, it became the
County
Prison
. The jail was undoubtedly a gruesome place in those days, with
cramped, cold and damp conditions, painful treatment at the stocks
and a fair chance of becoming a latter day local attraction whilst
being publicly hanged. In 1862 public hangings ceased but they
carried on executing prisoners inside the jail until 1909.
Apparently, the jail is haunted and appeared on Living TV's 'Most
Haunted' series – one wonders why given that 55 prisoners were
executed at the jail during it's 150 year history ! The prison
closed in 1927 and today the jail is open to the public as a museum
and aside from exhibits which recreate the lives of 18th
century prisoners, there are modern touches such as a bar, a
restaurant and gift shop.
British
Cycling Museum
The
British Cycling Museum is a must for anyone interested in the
history of cycling over the past 125 years. The museum is aptly
located in an old Victorian railway station in Camelford. The
museum opened in 1992, the passion of an enthusiast that had
amassed a large collection of cycling equipment and memorabilia.
With over 400 cycles, over 1000 cycling medals and badges and an
old cycle repair workshop, it is no wonder that the museum attracts
enthusiasts from all over the world. There is also an
extensive library of books, pictures, cycle lamps and other memorabilia.
Normally open Sunday - Thursday and at other times, The
British Cycling Museum does not have it's own website but can be
contacted on 01840 212811
Docton Mill
& Gardens
Docton Mill
Wild Flower Gardens are situated in North Devon (UK) in a
stunning valley, 1000m from the coast. The Garden started in the
1930’s but fell into disrepair in the 1970’s. 1980 saw the Mill
renovated and Garden cleared with extensive planting and the
creation of a new Bog Garden and borders, vast numbers of trees were
planted. The start of the new Millennium saw developments including
a new Magnolia Garden with large Herbaceous borders, Woodland Garden
and Greenhouse area enabling more extensive plant propagation.
Terice Manor Set
in a beautiful secluded spot, the house contains fine fireplaces,
plaster ceilings, oak and walnut furniture, interesting clocks,
needlework and Stuart portraits. The highlight of the interior is
the magnificent Great Chamber with its splendid barrel ceiling. The
garden has some unusual plants and an orchard with old varieties of
fruit trees. In the hayloft behind the Great Barn is an exhibition
on the history of the lawnmower. Visitors are welcome to play 'Kayles'
(Cornish skittles) on the parade ground.
Terice Manor website.
Geevor
Tin Mine
Geevor
Tin Mine opened as a Museum and Heritage Centre in 1993 and is the
largest preserved tin mining site in Europe and one of the largest
industrial heritage sites in Britain. Historically, Geevor Tim Mine
was significant in the international development of tin mining and
especially underseas. The facility is located near Pendeen between
Land's End and St. Ives on the South West Coastal Path.
Jamaica
Inn Known
all around the world as the setting and insiration for Daphne du
Maurier's fourth novel, "Jamaica Inn", this
attraction is a must for anyone with an interest in the work of
Daphne du Maurier. The storyline of the novel was hatched some years
after Daphne and her friend Foy Quiller Couch went riding on
Bodmin Moor whilst staying at the 18th century coaching house and
got lost due to bad weather conditions. Sheltering for some time in
a derelict cottage must have left interesting memories which later
came to life on the pages of her famous novel. One doubts whether
Jamaica Inn would be an attraction as such had it not been for
Daphne du Maurer but for over 200 years it has been a welcome
resting place for travellers crossing Bodmin Moor between Launceston
and Bodmin - and it is said, a hiding place for smuggled contraband,
incuding rum from which it is thought the name of the pub derives.
Jamaica Inn is one of the most extensive museums dedicated to Daphne
du Maurier and to smuggling and worth a visit if you are interested
in either subject. We are able to provide tours to Jamaica Inn as
part of our Daphne du Maurier discovery tour which runs each week.
Padstow
Museum
This small but interesting museum is situated just 50 metres from
the harbour side in the port of Padstow on the North Cornish Coast.
Initially set up in 1971 by an enthusiastic group of local residents
headed by retired boat builder Bill Lindsey, it holds an interesting
collection of artefacts giving an insight into the history of the
Port of Padstow over the past two centuries.
Padstow
Museum website.
Prideaux
Place
The Prideaux
family is an ancient Cornish clan whose origins go back to the 11th
century and who descend from such diverse characters as William the
Conqueror, King Edward I and Queen Eleanor of Castile. Jane Austen
too was a close relation.
Fourteen generations of the family have lived at
Prideaux
Place since its completion in 1592. Of its 81 rooms, 46 are
bedrooms and only 6 of these are habitable! The rest are as the
American Army left them at the end of the Second World War, complete
with such notices as 'Lance Sergeants' Mess'.
The
National Lobster Hatchery
Situated
on the quay at Pastow,
The National Lobster Hatchery is an important
contributor to the management of coastal marine resources and in
particular, to the restocking of lobsters. Local fishermen that have
caught pregnant female lobsters bring them to the centre and the
baby lobsters are born in captivity without predators that would
decimate the new offspring. The young lobsters are then raised to a
size where they can be released back into the sea. Open 7 days a
week throughout the year, the work of the hatchery is on view for
everyone coming to the visitor centre.
Lane Theatre
Newquay Dramatic Society was founded in May 1931 and has been
presenting plays ever since. Lane Theatre was established in the
Lane Village Hall in 1981 and as a result of 25 years of development
and Lottery funding, granted in 1999, now boasts a superb 136 seat
theatre with excellent facilities for disabled people. There is
free parking and a licensed bar. The theatre normally stages four
shows a year with two plays during the Summer season and productions
in the Spring and Autumn. For advance bookings and further
information you can ring 01637 876945 or visit Lane Theatre
website.