01/28/06

For this years holiday we decided to visit Cornwall, with its crystal clear seas, dramatic cliffs, gardens old and new, and its famous cider!

We stayed in a small town called St. Mawes , on the Carrick Roads (the historic estuary of the River Fal) opposite Falmouth.

Above is the view from St. Mawes Castle, in the background you can just make out the larger port town of Falmouth. The canon point out across the Carrick Roads, a deep natural harbour at the mouth of the Fal. 

The size and quality of the Carrick Roads as a harbour was Identified by Drake as a possible landing point for the Spanish Armada. King Henry VIII ordered two castles to be built either side of the Carrick Roads at St. Mawes and its sister castle Pendennis. The castles have a clover leaf shape and are very well preserved - having been used for coastal defence as recently as WW2.

They still have many original canon there, as well as some examples of enemy canon.

The weather was pretty kind to us most of the time, so we got out in the fresh air and explored lots of little bays and beaches.

Mussels for the gourmet's among you!

The view from Dodman point, on which bronze age earth works and burials have been found.

Alexi and Daisy.

We visited the lost gardens of Heligan - where we found this mud/plant sculpture.

The Lighthouse at Zone Point, near St. Mawes. You can actually rent it for a week - i'm very tempted!

A view from Lizard Point - the UK's most southerly point.

Alexi at the Lizard.

Cornwall is famous for its long sandy beaches.

We visited St. Michael's Mount - which you can walk to at low tide.

Alexi discovered this unique theatre at Minack, where we saw Utopia Unlimited, performed by The Cambridge University Gilbert and Sullivan Players.

The theatre is literally cut into the cliff.

As we watched the performace we could see Gannets plunge diving into the sea behind the stage.

Finally, a small view of St. Mawes. The flag with the white cross on the black background is the Cornish flag.

Bath

The Roman Baths at Bath.  It's not Cornwall, but we stopped there on the way home - didn't drink the water.  We stopped at IKEA, too, but this made a better photo.  It was quiet in Bath - 9am on Sunday is the perfect time to go.  It wasn't quiet at IKEA at 2pm on Sunday...