Cornwall, Recipes, Stories, Places to visit, Food and Drink, History, Photography,
Apologies for the radio silence! I am very busy with my photographic career. I thought my readers may be interested in some images I recently took of Falmouth fisherman, Les Angell on my professional photography website blog! A lovely man to spend the morning with.
http://www.marklordphotography.co.uk/2016/11/13/the-story-of-an-oysterman/
We are delighted to be celebrating our first year wedding anniversary tomorrow and I though it was about time to put some of our honeymoon pictures on one of our blogs! So if you head over to www.acornishcoastalwedding.com (our wedding blog) you will see them.
Go grab yourself a cuppa tea and a piece of Saffron cake and enjoy the pictures!
M&B
With a recent visit to Cornwall planned to see my parents they thought it would be nice to take us out for a Sunday roast. All we had to do was suggest somewhere to go? I jumped on the computer and typed in ‘Best Roast in Falmouth’ and at the top of the Google results was a review which rated The Waymarker between Falmouth and Gweek highly. Trip Advisor has a few reviews on The Waymarker and upon reading them I thought it was definitely worth a go.
So, after a quick call to Mum and Dad who said ‘Oh yes that’s Paul Mann’s relative who runs it – we’ve passed it by but never been in there. Shall we give it a go?’
After a quick email it was all booked up for 1pm Sunday. Well, what a Cornish Gem – The Waymarker is a timber frame construction built in a tranquil old granite quarry at Trewardreva, Constantine. With beautiful countryside surrounding the building and plenty of outside seating I imagine it would be a great place to stop off to relax on a warm and sunny day. We opted for the more civilised indoor seating arrangement as we were having a cooked meal. After hearing the rave reviews online we decided to all go for the roast beef.
Whilst we waited for the meal my parents had a couple of shandies and Becky and I thought we could try some local beverages. Becky went for an Elderflower Presse made in Duloe by Cornish Orchards while I went for a more alcoholic option of a real ale. Lizard Ales of Coverack, on the Lizard peninsula brew half a dozen different ales in an old nuclear bunker and I opted for the classically named Kernow Gold. A cracking light and refreshing ale suitable for lunchtime drinking.
With the drinks going down well, it was not long before our meals arrived. Wow, they looked mouth-watering! It transpires that Rhiannon who runs The Waymarker is a farmer’s daughter. That combination of farmers daughter and cooking will usually result in a hearty meal especially when roast Beef and fresh veg is concerned! It was a really great meal, friendly service and an idyllic location. So if you are in the area, its well worth trying this little gem tucked away off the beaten track between Falmouth and Gweek.
After that delicious meal we had to try to walk some of it off so headed for the Penrose Estate to walk down to Loe Bar via Loe Pool.
Loe Pool is a fresh water lake located on the Penrose Estate with a shingle bank separating it from the sea. Measuring 50 Hectares (500,000 sq metres) it’s quite a large lake that we later realised.
Becky and I headed off as my parents wanted to take a more leisurely stroll and not walk all the way to the sea. It’s a ride I have done on my bike before but never on foot – Dad did say its a ‘Hell of a walk’ – He was right! After a 40 minute walk we realised just how much further we would have to walk around Loe pool before then turning around and walking all the way back. Not wanting to keep Mum and Dad waiting too long we turned around and headed back with the idea of driving to Loe Bar car park and walking along the clifftop to see the bar, the pool and the sea.
The scenery around the pool, the bar and the south Cornish coastline is just stunning. The clear blue skies and the fresh vegetation were just glorious. Its well worth a walk for the able-bodied person, next time we will plan to take all day to do the walk and take a lunch with us to have on the beach (bar).
A word of warning. Do not attempt to go into the sea on Loe Bar, there are very dangerous under currents here coupled with the steep shingle bank which acts like quicksand so do not even consider stepping foot in the water. Several lives have been lost along this stretch of coastline. So be safe and keep out of the water! The dangerous swimming conditions and remoteness keep this beautiful beach off the bucket & spade brigades go to lists – excellent. Check out how quiet it is on a Sunday afternoon!
Here are some of my favourite pictures taken that day
We finally got back to Falmouth, where we went up to Pendennis Point to admire the view…… and have a Mr Whippy too!
Now the holidays are well underway and more and more people are travelling down the A30 for their holiday in Cornwall I though I should post some suggestions on places to visit. For those looking for something to do and a great National Trust Property to visit then I would recommend the grand house of Cotehele near Saltash overlooking the Tamar Valley. Originating from the 1300’s Cotehele was the home of the Edgcumbe family with Sir Richard Edgcumbe being responsible for the main parts of the building we see here today. Its a stunning house to explore on a dull day and has beautiful gardens to enjoy in finer weather. My pictures were taken in March last year so do not do the grounds justice, however check out the National Trust Website here to find out more about this lovely house, how to get there and admission.
One of the UKs most least altered Tudor houses
Details of the main hall and armoury
Details from the chapel at Cotehele
Kitchen utensils in fireplace
Signs of Spring and Signs of Autumn
Top Pic – Dad, Never happier than when he is in a shed….
Bottom Pic – Magnolia in bud
The quayside and relics of days gone by…
I have been having a look at a few pictures taken from a recent trip to Falmouth and see that once again I have several pictures of the coast! What’s lovely about them is the way the different colours conjure up different moods of the sea.
View of Pendennis headland from the St Mawes ferry
Red sky at night, photographers delight!
Sunset From Pendennis Point, Falmouth
Finally, not a picture postcard photograph but one of my favourites reminding me of some of my photography heroes such as Joel Meyerowitz and his images taken around Cape Cod and also the work of American legend William Eggleston for his excellent use of colour within his photographs. Anyhow, here is my effort of the glamorously named Gasworks car park, Falmouth.
A misty Gasworks car park, Falmouth
People are up in arms on the south side of the Tamar as those in charge of the country namely the The Chancellor of the Exchequer in his 2012 Budget has announced that VAT will be added to hot food. This means the Cornish Pasty will incur an additional 20% VAT to its price. This increase will dramatically damage the Cornish economy and could potentially damage employment in Cornwall too.
Boo… Mr Osborne, surely Mr Cameron is not happy with this decision for all the holidays he has in the county! Another 40p on top of a £2 pasty, whatever next? 5p if you want it in a bag!
The pasty is a staple diet for the Cornish and a popular attraction for visitors. Pasties are expensive enough as they are without putting the cost of them up.
Well, followers of My Saffron Bun please have your say and sign the e-petition on the HM Government website here.
Mother's pasties - you will not be putting VAT on these beauties Mr Osborne!
Ok, let’s get this blog a bit interactive with a bit of audience participation!
Whether you live in the county as several of my followers do, holiday down there or like myself are Cornish and live outside of the county – this post is for you! Do you have a fond memory of Cornwall, from your childhood or maybe more recently? It could be something life changing or something silly but when you think of it makes you feel great and gets the Kernow blood pumping though your veins.
So, please send them in, with a photo if you like and I will post them on My Saffron Bun. If you wish to remain anonymous that’s fine, just let me know.
Please send your fond memories to mysaffronbun@gmail.com
Go on – you know you want to! Thanks 🙂 Here’s my effort…
Who said men can't multi task?
This is a photo of Becky and I on a bicycle made for two (mainly pedaled by one!) on the Camel Trail, Padstow. We always go from Wadebridge to Padstow and hire bikes from Bridge Bike Hire who are good chaps and always supply decent bikes, well ones that will get you to Padstow and back. The scenery is stunning all the way and its an easy 7 miles each way although it doesn’t feel that far, well maybe on the way back!
When we get to Padstow its got to be Rick Steins Fish and Chips for lunch, eat in or on the quay. If it’s a nice day I’d do the quay option, you will be served quicker and the views are better!
Have a great weekend, whatever you get up to?
Turning Leaf Ring
Riptide Studs
Turning Leaf Earrings
Riptide Bracelet
Turning Leaf Bangle
Double Drops Pendant
” I take all my photos on the beach which is just at the end of the lane where I live and couldn’t wish for a better photography studio”. All images © Marsha Drew
If you are visiting Rock, Polzeath and the North Cornwall coast then you must pop into The Winter Gallery at Polzeath to see Marsha’s work and other Cornish artists work.
Following on from the St Piran’s day celebrations I thought it would be an appropriate post to show some images that I took of the closure of South Crofty mine back in 1998. I was at college and had got myself a NUJ (National Union of Journalists) press pass for a few years which was a fabulous thing and got me into some situations that the man on the street would struggle to get into – sometimes maybe for the best! A quick flash of the pass at the gates of South Crofty and with a large black camera sporting the letters N I K O N and I was in! With a lot of press in the area I was being pushed from side to side by the big boys of Fleet Street. But with some Cornish determination I got a few pictures that day that I was pleased with. Here are a few work prints I have found in my boxes. All shot on Kodak’s lovely Tri -X film!
A proud Cornishman supporting the miners on the last day of the mine being open
The derelict looking landscape surrounding South Crofty in 1998
The tag board showing the few miners underground on the last shift
Local well wishers whom have sent letters and donations to support the miners, even one from over the Tamar!
Two of the last miners to come out of the mine from their final shift
Thankfully South Crofty has reopened and the future is looking bright, well not underground – that’s pretty dark still but the future of South Crofty is bright and its providing jobs for locals again!
…..and finally the PRESS pass
should have gone to SpecSavers! ( I think I did!)
My Saffron Bun 