Here at Cosawes Barton, we are trying to reduce our impact on the environment. We know lots of our guests are trying to do the same too! More of us are opting for electric vehicles as we try to be greener. After thinking about all the options, Andy and I have decided to take the plunge and have a 100% electric vehicle of our own. We know that many of our guests either already have electric vehicles or will do in the near future. However, we appreciate that unless you have easy access to charging points, holidaying by EV can be stressful. That’s why we have decided to install a new electric car charging point at Cosawes Barton for use by our guests, to make electric vehicle travel hassle-free. So, from early 2021, you can relax in the comfort of your cottage here at Cosawes Barton while your vehicle powers up for tomorrow’s Cornish adventures!

And many of our wonderful Cornish attractions also now have an electric car charging point too – including: The Minack Theatre , Land’s End Visitor Centre, Trerice National Trust and the Eden Project so you can visit and charge at the same time.

It’s not just cars either! You can even find electric boats now! The Kingsley II is a new hybrid electric passenger ferry on the Fal River from Trelissick, near Truro to St Mawes. This classic wooden ferry boat was built by Cornish boatbuilder Percy Mitchell in 1934 and has recently been adapted to be powered by both electrical and diesel engines, with the helmsman being able to switch from one to the other with ease.

We are lucky to have a number of linked ferries up and down the Fal, so it is easy to explore this beautiful river without needing to use the car. Enterprise Boats travel the River Fal between Truro and Falmouth, making several stops along the way so you can make it a full day out, visiting Trelissick, St Mawes and Falmouth before the return journey. Details of ferries and timings can be found at www.falriver.co.uk and you can save 10% if you buy online.

Happy green travelling!

This months blog is by the lovely Louise from Experience Cornwall Tours – a business also based in Ponsanooth that we are delighted to be able to recommend to our guests.

Louise writes:

“Come rain or shine, Cornwall is a stunning county to visit, with its golden beaches, endless coastal walks, must see landmarks, mining heritage and culture. Not to mention its outstanding food and drink on offer. In the height of the season, sometimes guests have visions of Cornwall being very busy – especially in these uncertain times when space is what we all need. But space and peace can be found, you just need to know where to look and when to visit.

Recently I had a couple visiting from Wales, join me on a tour. They wanted to avoid heavily crowded places and asked for some suggestions. It did not take me long to draw up an itinerary for them to showcase the best Cornwall has to offer, where you can still hear the birds and catch a wave without being dropped in on!

I took them to a spot with waterfalls in the morning, as it was raining. The trees gave us shelter, and we saw about 4 other people the whole time we explored this wooded haven. Knowing the crowds would be heading to the Eden Project or National Maritime museum, I knew where to avoid. The wind was strong and coming in from the west, so I picked my afternoon location based on this. We walked a stunning section on the South West coast path which was sheltered from the wind, passing rock arches, collapsed caves, secluded fishing villages and enjoyed a fresh Cornish crab sandwich on the beach while watching the fisherman hall their boats up on the shingle beach.

By late afternoon, the wind had dropped, and my guests wanted to go for a surf. Knowing the likes of Fistral and Perranporth would be crowded, I took them to a long stretch of golden sand where there is still plenty of space for a wave all to yourself. Knowing where to park saved a 2-mile walk across the sand.

We rounded up the day with a cream tea picnic on the sand dunes, while watching the sun slowly set over the Atlantic Ocean.

With forward planning and booking tickets in advance, you get National trust and English heritage sites quieter than I’ve ever seen them. With the new COVID restrictions in place and allocated numbers allowed at any one time, it has helped to spread out the flow of traffic. I visited Glendurgan gardens on a Tuesday in mid-August with my parents, we enjoyed a picnic overlooking the maze and only saw a few families as we enjoyed our sandwiches.

With local knowledge and some forward planning, a hectic day in August can be a relaxing day out, made even more so if you don’t have to do the driving and can enjoy a cold local beer with your lunch! And if you feel you have missed out visiting the likes of St Ives, Fowey and Newquay, then plan your next visit to Cornwall out of season and you will enjoy a much quieter Cornwall. Don’t tell everyone but April and May can be the best months to visit, pink sea thrift covers the coast path, blue bells turn fields a vivid blue, roads are quieter cutting down journey times, accommodation is cheaper and in recent years, we have had better weather than August!

The locals call September our Indian Summer, the sea is at its warmest and the sun sets are stunning. The pace seems slower and as the nights draw in, the last of the beach BBQ’s sees the end to another summer season. Enjoy Cornwall all year round. The shoulder months is when Cornwall is at its best.”

Louise offers fantastic bespoke tours of Cornwall for you, picking you up from Cosawes Barton, doing all the driving for you and providing refreshments long the way! What a treat!

Louise and Andy’s top 5 reasons to visit Cornwall this autumn

Autumn in Cornwall….simply glorious – and is Louise’s favourite season. While the days are a little shorter, it is usually sunny and warm and the crowds are gone – perfect for relaxed exploring and getting away from it all. So what are the autumnal things we would recommend?:

1. Walking

One of the best ways to experience autumn in Cornwall is on foot. Complete a section of the South West Coast Path or explore inland, there are miles of paths to choose from. We have lots of suggestions, maps and guides – but the 6-mile circular walk around Loe Bar in Helston (part of the National Trust Penrose estate) is definitely up there! And there are two cafes on the route too! Yippee!

2. Dog friendly days out

While there are beaches that welcome dogs all year round, others have a seasonal dog ban. After 1 October, dogs are allowed back onto many of the beaches during the day, giving you much more freedom when you are planning where to go.

All of our cottages are dog friendly – and you are very welcome to explore our 17-acre site with your furry friends as well as exploring further afield!

3. Storm watching  

Many guests relish the drama and excitement that a good winter storm can present. There are few places in the UK that are as exposed to the full fury of the big systems that roll in off the Atlantic Ocean and Cornwall can boast huge waves and spectacular sights. One of the most photographed storm watching towns locally is beautiful Porthleven – often featured in the media on stormy days. Amazing! (and also offering many good coffee shops to shelter from the elements!). One of our favourites is The Twisted Currant

PLEASE ENSURE THAT WATCH FROM A SAFE VANTAGE POINT AND FOLLOW ALL SAFETY ADVICE

4. Crowd-free adventures

Beaches are largely empty out of season! The luxury of wondering along a beach or exploring a cove in peace and quiet is amazing. No car parking worries either! Most of Cornwall’s attractions are open throughout the autumn and Cornwall’s renowned gardens are as spectacular in the autumn as they are in the spring. Can’t you already hear the scrunch of the leaves under your boots?

5. Autumn cosiness

As the nights start to draw in it feels great to pull on a jumper, light the log burner (each of our cottages has one!) and enjoy a cosy evening in – maybe with a tipple or two (for medicinal purposes, obviously!).

Autumn breaks at Cosawes Barton

Autumn is the ideal time for getting away with friends and family for a short break or long weekend in Cornwall. We have three 5* Gold award rated cottages – each has a wood burner and plentiful supply of logs available. We offer a low occupancy tariff for two adults sharing – and for 2020 a guaranteed full refund should you be unable to come for any Covid-related reason.

Book online now at www.cosawesbarton.co.uk

Here at Cosawes Barton we have been totally spoilt over lockdown to be able to go outside in our beautiful grounds and garden and have a real sense of freedom – which we know that many of our guests have not had. One thing we have missed though is being able to swim in our local pools – which for us forms an important part of our fitness regime. Many indoor pools remain closed – and many people (us included!) remain wary of going to an indoor pool anyway at the moment. Fear not! Whilst staying with us, there are many alternatives for outdoor swimming in Cornwall!

Gyllyngvase Beach Falmouth

Gylly is one of Falmouth’s most popular beaches – and only about a 15 minute drive from us here at Cosawes Barton. It is popular with families, great for water sports and just a ten-minute walk from Falmouth’s town centre. It is easily accessible, with a large car park nearby and a café on the beach. It is RNLI lifeguarded this summer – and is viewed as one of the safer beaches for a Cornish dip.

Jubilee Pool, Penzance

Penzance’s Jubilee Pool is just gorgeous! The pool is an art deco masterpiece and worth a trip just to look at… it is a sea water pool with a unique triangular shape – 100 metres at its longest point and 56 metres at its widest. There is also a learner pool, a geothermal pool, and a poolside café. Attendance is limited for this summer and your time slot can be pre-booked. The pool is closed for deep cleaning clean every Monday.  For further information or to book –  https://jubileepool.co.uk/

Photo credit – Polgoon Vineyard

Chapel Rock Tidal Pool, Perranporth

With St Piran’s flag flying ceremoniously on its summit, Chapel Rock on Perranporth beach is a recognisable feature on the 3-mile-long stretch of golden sand. Home to a natural open-air pool which is filled with sea water at high tide and warmed by the sun during the day, Chapel Rock is popular with families – so you may want to go early or later in the day. Please be aware of the tide as dangerous rips form here.

Children’s Pool, Cape Cornwall

To the west of Cape Cornwall is Priest’s Cove, a small fishing cove.  A small bathing pool has been carved out of the rocks is perfect for paddling in when the tide is out. When the tide is full, Priest’s Cove offers up fantastic snorkelling opportunities when the sea is calm. The beach has a small slipway still used by local fishermen and there is a National Trust car park nearby.

PLEASE NOTE – Outdoor swimming in Cornwall is wonderful but can be dangerous – particularly if you are in the sea. Please be mindful of tides and weather conditions and follow all safety advice from the RNLI. 

Many of our guests have asked what life has been like here during lockdown. The answer is – quiet! The most noticeable change has been the growing visibility of wildlife. The birdsong has seemed louder and the wildlife more abundant.

Ponsanooth as a village had an influx of woodpeckers at the start of lockdown – which was wonderful to see and hear. We have seen many more deer in the garden – getting braver and approaching ever closer to the house. And there is also much debate on whether a particular new resident is a ferret, polecat or stoat. We have set up a wildlife camera to solve this mystery!

Whilst we have been closed, we have been able to make lots of improvements here – from painting and decorating to changes in the garden and a fully updated website.

We have also been working very hard to ensure that when guests return, the cottages are as safe as we can possibly make them. We have drafted and completed a comprehensive Risk Assessment document (which we will happily share with guests if asked) and also have a detailed Covid cleaning protocol for each clean – which will be signed off for every set of guests and available for review by any guest who would like to see it. As a result, we are very proud to say that we have been awarded the status of a Visit Britain accredited venue for Covid security.

There are steps that you can take too to ensure a lovely stay. We highly recommend that you pre-book shopping deliveries in advance of your arrival – supporting local wherever possible! Our wonderful village shop is award winning and stocks almost everything https://www.facebook.com/PonsanoothVillageStores/and the Cornish Food Box Company is also excellent https://www.thecornishfoodboxcompany.co.uk/food-boxes.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1afXlpyi6gIVT-3tCh2PlA_iEAAYASAAEgLwqvD_BwE . Both deliver to Cosawes. This way you can social distance and support the local Cornish economy. A win/win! Supermarket deliveries are also possible – book early to get your delivery slot!

Please also pre-book attractions, pubs and restaurants to avoid disappointment. Cornwall will be busy this summer with less availability so thinking ahead is the key to a great stay.

This summer at Cosawes will be slightly different – a “new normal”. Cornwall will be just as lovely as ever though – it is waiting for you and we are looking forward to welcoming you back..

Louise and Andy x