Men-Amber Rock, a lost logan rock with a strange history

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In Cornwall the landscape around us is alive with stories. As a people we seem to have always formed a close relationship with the natural geology that surrounds us. Here it is nearly impossible for a rock to be just a rock! There is always a tale attached and sometimes more than one!

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Men-amber rock is a large natural granite outcrop on the summit of a hill near the hamlet of Nancegollan. It’s name probably derives from the Cornish men-an-bar meaning ‘stone on top’. Continue reading →

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Be part of WildWorks’ latest extraordinary performance

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For three weeks this summer the Lost Gardens of Heligan is playing host to an ambitious show with an ensemble of around 150 – and the best bit is anyone can be a part of it! No experience necessary!

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A couple of nights ago I popped into the Hall for Cornwall to hear the WildWorks team introduce 100:Unearth, a passionate performance that will artfully weave together themes of Love, Lose, Hope and War. Continue reading →

The Giant’s Crossing – Statue of Saint Piran, a journey to Brittany

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This spring make some time to say farewell to Saint Piran. He is preparing to make another miraculous journey.

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His passage from Ireland to Cornwall floating  on a granite millwheel was a few hundreds years ago and when he drifted ashore on the wild Cornish coast he brought with him christianity and the secret of smelting tin. Now in 2018 our patron saint is getting ready for another exciting journey our neighbouring Celtic nation, Brittany. Continue reading →

Review of Marco Polo’s new Guide to Devon and Cornwall 2018

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I was recently asked if I would write a review for the new Marco Polo Pocket Guide to Devon and Cornwall. I agreed, excited that they wanted my opinion and by the prospect of a free book!

Marco Polo Guide to Devon and Cornwall 2018
Marco Polo’s new Guide to Devon and Cornwall stood up to sandy beaches well!

After all my years of travel you might say that I am a bit of a guidebook connoisseur. For me they have to be really practical – getting me from A to B with ease but they also have to be informative and inspire me. Continue reading →

Logan Rock – Louden Hill, Bodmin Moor

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There are a few places in Cornwall that are really special to me that I tend keep to myself and until now the logan rock on Louden hill was one of those places. But after walking out there today I decided its just too fun not to share!

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Bodmin moor is relatively small when you compare it to Dartmoor or the wilds of Wales and Scotland but that for me is part of the attraction. It means that within a few minutes the walker can find themselves in complete solitude and in a strange and forgotten country. Continue reading →

Cornwall hosts the 40th International Mining Games

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This was my first time at this exciting and rather different kind of event and I wasn’t really sure what to expect! However I soon learnt that the International Mining Games are like the Olympics of the industry. The best teams from across the globe come together to compete against each other in this gruelling event.

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Now in its 40th year teams of international students from Brazil, Congo, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, USA and Australia visited Cornwall for this year’s games. Held at the King Edward Mine Museum over 3 days there were also seven teams, both male and female, that entered from Cornwall’s Camborne School of Mines. Continue reading →

Venton Bebilbell – Cornwall’s Well of the Little People

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The aim of this blog from the beginning has been to throw some light onto the lesser known places, stories and people of this fascinating county. And today was one of those days when I felt particularly blessed to have been born here. Cornwall is overflowing with legends and mysterious traditions – some of which are just being rediscovered.

In the 1980s an ancient well was uncovered close to Men-an-tol, hidden in the undergrowth just off the track that leads from that famous ancient monument to the Nine Maidens Downs. In fact it was so I am told discovered by Craig Weatherhill when he literally fell in it!

Venton Bebilbell, (also known as Fenton Bebilbell) which translates as ‘well of the little people’, had been practically forgotten since it was last mentioned by the historian A K Hamilton Jenkin in the 1930s but these days this ancient site is finding a new place in people’s lives.

Continue reading →

Top Ten Free Days Out in Cornwall

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This county has so much to offer, with miles and miles of coastline, historical towns and wild, wide open spaces keeping yourself and the family entertained shouldn’t be hard. However days out, especially with a family can be expensive so I have tried to put together some money saving ideas for fun things to do that won’t break the bank.

Other than the price of your picnic or the bus fare these things to do are all FREE! Continue reading →