TOURING : CLUB SITES Learning the surfing ropes with Extreme Academy FOR THE FAMILY

Tin time Good reef! Poldark Mine offers a glimpse Fancy getting up close and into the extraordinarily hard life personal with sharks and of a tin miner. Archaeological stingrays? Then head for evidence shows that tin was Blue Reef Aquarium, actually mined here as far back . We were lucky as the medieval period. enough to experience T01326 573173 feeding time for an Wpoldark-mine.co.uk enormous turtle. Nearest featured site

T01637 878134 Wbluereefaquarium.co.uk Nearest featured site Treamble Valley

DOME SWEET DOME

DON’T FORGET and You can book your Time pitch online at caravanclub.co.uk/ searchandbook, by calling Hot topic Lee Davey relives Cornish our Advance Booking Service The Eden Project’s ‘biomes’ holidays gone by and tries his on 01342 327490 or, for containing plants from all over the AS sites, calling them planet are simply staggering – the 30˚C temperature in the Rainforest hand – and feet – at a spot of surfing direct. was certainly welcome on a chilly day.

tide T01726 811911 he year 1980 was a special one Granted, things have changed – the THIS MONTH’S FEATURED SITES Wedenproject.com for me – and it has nothing to Goonhilly satellite earth station is unable to Porth of call Nearest featured sites Marazion/Treamble Valley do with the Austin Metro accept visitors at present and I now have TREAMBLE VALLEY In the late 19th century, Treamble Valley Club site topping the automotive sales two kids of my own and weigh twice as See p55 of the Sites Directory Porthcurno was famous charts or male pop stars of the much as I did back then – but keen to revisit & Handbook 2013/14 for its undersea Ttime such as Nik Kershaw and Howard scenes from my childhood, I set off on an telegraph cables. TREVEDRA FARM AS Porthcurno Telegraph Jones swapping the previous decade’s flares eight-day West Country tour, taking in four See p56 of the Directory Museum tells the story for big hair and make-up. Cornish Caravan Club sites. of a revolutionary At the age of 10, I visited on a As Poppy (10) and Charlie (five) aren’t MARAZION technology. stay-away trip with the school and the most patient of travellers, we began See p44 of the Directory memories of the Goonhilly satellite with the closest site to our home – T01736 810966 CARNON DOWNS AS Wporthcurno.org.uk dishes and surrounding coastlines still live Treamble Valley. Sandwiched between Nearest featured site See p33 of the Directory YOU ARE HERE on in the dark recesses of my mind. Newquay and , the site spoils >> Trevedra Farm

18 www.caravanclub.co.uk June 2013 The Caravan Club Magazine 19 TOURING : CLUB SITES

Sennen Cove – sand aplenty FOOD + DRINK OUTDOOR FUN ON THE EDGE

Trevedra Farm AS

Bay of plenty farmyard lies a beautifully rural site with an impressive shop and With a beachside location, great DID YOU KNOW? café. The latter also offers a menu with service to match and End games takeaway service for those A Cornish tour wouldn’t be dogs made welcome, The Beach GoonhillyStation Satellite on the Lizard Earth peninsula is home to a wishing to avoid cooking. complete without a trip to Hut at Watergate Bay is well dish with a diameter worth a visit. of 32m,‘Merlin’ dubbed Land’s End is well worth a visit and Land’s End. A historical paying a fiver for the car park allows you to mirror-maze and 4D (yes, T01637 860543 4D) cinema experience will enjoy the coastal paths around this most Wwatergatebay.co.uk Surf’s up keep the kids amused. Nearest featured site PERFECT PUB Sennen Cove simply represents westerly point. We visited enjoyable and Treamble Valley Why not try your hand – or T0871 720 0044 Charlie at historical attractions such as Arthur’s Quest feet – at surfing with expert Watergate Bay Wlandsend-landmark.co.uk and a 4D film experience. tuition from Extreme Nearest featured site the seaside in all its glory Unfortunately, we missed the arrival of Academy at Watergate Trevedra Farm “ a group of ‘end-to-enders’ by 24 hours. Bay. Age needn’t be a Anyone inn? for choice when it comes to EXTREME FUN Speaking to the staff, I learned that some barrier and it’s a great way With a name likeThe First and ” to work up an appetite! Last Inn how could you pass it entertainment. From surfing to simply As a measure of how enjoyable surfing is, folk made the journey from John o’ Groats by? The menu is reasonably feeling the golden sand between your toes we asked the Extreme Academy staff if ‘by dustbin’, only to be outdone by a T01637 860543 priced and includes homemade along one of Newquay’s 11 surrounding they could push back our lunch booking at guy who ‘swam’ all the way in a pool on Wextremeacademy.co.uk dishes and sandwiches. beaches, all tastes are catered for. The Beach Hut to give us a bit more time the back of a lorry. Thank heavens for Nearest featured site Treamble Valley Initially, surfing wasn’t on my Cornish in/on the sea. Poppy had an ear-to-ear smile English eccentricity! T0871 720 0066 Wfirstandlastinn.co.uk to-do list but Poppy and I decided to, quite when we got the thumbs-up. Nearest featured site Trevedra Farm literally, take the plunge. We opted for a I was a bit ‘shall-I-or-shan’t-I?’ at the PICTURE PERFECT 2½-hour beginner’s session with Extreme start – but with expert guidance surfing is Just past the First and Last Inn lies Sennen Academy at Watergate Bay. Including an activity that can be enjoyed by both Cove – having never been before, I’m glad Cycling wetsuit (as it was the coldest Easter since young and old. And, at £30 per person, it we took the turn. With a car park at either The Cornish Way (National 1962, we were also togged-out in was great value, too. end – one by the harbour and the other by Poppy at Gwenver Beach Cycle Network Route 3) is a Crown jewel neoprene boots and hats) and surfboard Showered and changed we headed for the beach shop and restaurant – it’s simply fantastic cycle route, spanning hire as well as excellent tuition from Nick, The Beach Hut, where the food matched the seaside in all its glory and yours for a the length of the county from The Crown Inn at it was simply outstanding. the surfing (I recommend the Pulled Pork). couple of quid in the meter. Land’s End to , splitting at Goldsithney is within walking for a choice of journey distance of the Marazion site We started with ‘boards’ drawn in the Dogs are also welcomed here, with The small harbour is no stranger to folk via or . Be (ask the wardens for sand, and each step neatly overlapped the complimentary water bowls. armed with SLR cameras and we were warned, there are some big directions) and offers decent, next until we were doing the full ‘Hawaii After the morning’s exertions, the unable to resist the temptation to capture hills, but the views are well traditional pub fare. Five-O’ on dry land. Next it was time for Treamble Valley site itself was a good the moment– we flitted from one scene to worth the effort! the real deal on Watergate Bay’s waves with choice for a spot of family rest and the next while doing our best to avoid T01736 710494 Wsustrans.org.uk Wstaustellbrewery.co.uk some ongoing tuition. relaxation. The large play park at the far others’ long lenses poking into our shots. Nearest featured site Marazion Lying undiscovered until our second day Wonder walks there was the jewel in Trevedra’s crown, The South West Coast Path covers some 630 miles, Gwenver Beach. It’s a steep drop to the many of them taking in Cornwall’s outstanding and often dramatic scenery. Visit the website to plan your walk. sands (those with mobility issues will struggle to negotiate the coastal steps) but Wsouthwestcoastpath.com once you’re at the bottom it’s simply Nearest featured site any Gold star end is hedged and elevated so, even though staggering. As a measure of its Healey’s Cornish Cyder we pitched fairly close to it, very little magnificence, we even set the alarm clock Farm offers free parking, free sound travelled as far as our Sprite. As so we could enjoy it before breakfast. entry and, best of all, free Poppy and Charlie took in the swings and What’s more, it’s dog-friendly all year, too. tasting. Guided tours and tractor rides are available for things, we were able to enjoy the peace and With our calf muscles still feeling the a small fee and there’s also a watch the few clouds pass lazily by. burn from Gwenver’s steps, we loaded up restaurant if you’re peckish. Leaving Treamble Valley, we headed and headed for the Marazion site. It’s name towards Land’s End and the Club’s altered recently from ‘Threeways’ but if T01872 573356 Wthecornishcyderfarm.co.uk Trevedra Farm Affiliated Site. Trevedra you’ve visited before, fear not, for that is Nearest featured site Treamble Valley Marazion Club site is a working farm but beyond the all that has changed. >>

20 www.caravanclub.co.uk June 2013 The Caravan Club Magazine 21 TOURING : CLUB SITES

It’s peaceful with a capital ‘P’ and, with Carnon Downs AS 60 pitches, it’s the smallest of the four sites we visited. There’s a short woodland dog CULTURE walk across the road or, if you feel like a longer trek, you really are spoilt for choice. Tate date Even the surrounding roads are quiet so taking to the tarmac is an easy option. Tate St Ives hosts special art exhibitions which change St Michael’s Mount is a few short three times a year. It is also minutes from the site. We arrived on the home to the Tate Café and island by boat but it is possible to walk Barbara Hepworth Museum across via the cobbled causeway depending and Sculpture Garden. on whether the tide is in or out. Weaving our way back through T01736 796226 Cornwall, our final stay was at Carnon enjoyed on neatly-clipped grass was a Wtate.org.uk/visit/tate-st-ives Nearest featured site Marazion Downs AS. If you’re new to caravanning pleasant way to pass the time. and find the final approach to a site a The Eden Project is a short hop from daunting prospect, this one is a piece of Heligan and no trip to Cornwall is cake. You’ll find the gravel tracks leading to complete without a visit to its the pitches equally generous. Mediterranean and Rainforest Biomes. Across the way We stayed within a stone’s throw of the It was a double-dose of horticulture for Whether you choose to play park and within minutes the kids were me, but what a day. The kids loved it, access the island by boat or off making new friends. Happy children I loved it and, most importantly, my wife causeway, St Michael’s generally mean happy parents. loved it. Need I say more? ■ Mount offers a castle visit like no other. There are great Loe Beach is just a short drive away – views from the terrace for here you will find kayaks and motorboats PS: The Cornwall Association of Tourist those with a head for heights. available for hire. Truro is three miles in the Attractions helped with my pre-trip other direction. For us, it was a trip to the planning (cata.co.uk) and I couldn’t leave T01736 710507 Lost Gardens of Heligan – although things without saying a big thank you to the Wstmichaelsmount.co.uk Nearest featured site Marazion of a horticultural nature are generally lost wardens at all four sites who were on me, I found it a fascinating place with an incredibly helpful and provided a service equally fascinating history. above and beyond. A good job, well done. Even though the temperature was barely in double figures, the sun was shining and a café-bought coffee

MEMBERS’ VIEW Mr and Mrs Kilbride (right) from Worcestershire said, “We’ve visited Lost and found the Marazion site six times or so and it’s perfect for walking our dogs. The Hidden from view by decades wardens are great and there are plenty of bramble and ivy growth, of good walks from the site.” To read even more member views, the restored Lost Gardens of see our fantastic online forum at Heligan are home to ancient Eun-ique camellias and rhododenrons caravanclub.co.uk/together Carn Euny is the site of a that have National village that was occupied Collection status. from the Iron Age until late T01726 845100 Roman times. Parking is a Wheligan.com short walk away in Brane. Nearest featured site Carnon Downs T 0870 333 1181 Wenglish-heritage.org.uk Nearest featured site Trevedra Farm Brian Harris from Warwickshire was enjoying one of his regular stays at Trevedra Farm. “My wife The Heath family (above) from St Austell and I have been coming to are newcomers to The Caravan Club but Trevedra Farm since the 1970s were having a great time at Treamble Valley. when it was run by the “We’ve only been members of The Caravan previous generation. The Club for a couple of weeks and this is our first rural location is hard to beat trip! We live 20 minutes away but Treamble with clean air and stunning Valley was recommended to us and we’ve views. The friendly team loved every minute.” make it a favourite.”

22 www.caravanclub.co.uk