Exploring Cornwall

Blue Reef Aquarium Newquay

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Attraction | "Blue Reef Aquarium "

Blue Reef Aquarium Photo - Blue Reef Aquarium Newquay, Newquay, Cornwall

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We visited Blue Reef Aquarium situated in the lovely Towan Beach, one of Cornwall's most popular surfing beachs. It gave us a chance to see what creatures live in the surrounding seas. Although not the cheapest attraction in North Cornwall, it is still good value. The aquarium recreates various underwater habitats from the Cornish coast to the Mediterranean and, even further afield, to the tropical splendour of the coral reefs of the Caribbean. It has a stunning collection of marine displays. Many of these are on view in the ocean display. Its 250,000 litres of sea water contain numerous colourful reef fish, including angelfish and puffer fish, as well as stingrays, moray eels, giant wras...Read More

We visited Blue Reef Aquarium situated in the lovely Towan Beach, one of Cornwall's most popular surfing beachs. It gave us a chance to see what creatures live in the surrounding seas. Although not the cheapest attraction in North Cornwall, it is still good value. The aquarium recreates various underwater habitats from the Cornish coast to the Mediterranean and, even further afield, to the tropical splendour of the coral reefs of the Caribbean.

It has a stunning collection of marine displays. Many of these are on view in the ocean display. Its 250,000 litres of sea water contain numerous colourful reef fish, including angelfish and puffer fish, as well as stingrays, moray eels, giant wrasse, giant groupers and black-and-white tip reef sharks. The perfect streamlined shape of sharks just has to be admired. The walkthrough underwater glass tunnel offers views into the reef display. From the surface a boardwalk overlooking the coral atoll allows visitors to look downwards into the depths.

Other displays include octopuses, seahorses, giant crabs and lobsters. The freshwater turtle displays are stunning. In Turtle Creek, it is possible to see miniature alligators, mud turtles and fly-river turtles, some of which are bizarre. Some of the new species on display are prehistoric African helmeted turtles, snapping turtles from Florida and the Australian pig-nosed turtle. There is a rescue facility here for sea turtles.

Particularly beautiful are the Snakelocks Anemones found on the southern and western shores of Britain and as far south as the Mediterranean Sea. They are distinguished by long flowing tentacles and will usually be found in a bright green colour, sometimes with purple tips to the tentacles.

Strange but true facts I discovered:

• The cephalogod group which consists of octopus, squid and nautiloids are members of the mollusc family and have all evolved from primitive snails.
• Octopuses have eight legs, three hearts, a parrot like beak and blue blood.
• Egg wrack a species of seaweed around the Cornish coast is thought to be immortal.
• Squid, cuttlefish and octopus can change colour instantly.
• Common lobsters are usually blue and are only pink or red after they have been cooked.
• Lobsters have two different claws, one for cutting and one for crushing.

Blue Reef has a pioneering captive breeding programme for a wide range of species. The nursery displays everything from baby clownfish to seahorses. Other breeding successes at the aquarium include Bangaii cardinal fish, sharks, rays, pipefish and cuttlefish. Interestingly, the aquarium is propagating its own hard coral in a display highlighting the threats faced by coral reefs throughout the world.
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Member Rating 5 out of 5 on July 8, 2011

Blue Reef Aquarium Newquay
Towan Promenade
Newquay, Cornwall
01637 878134

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Eden Project

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Attraction | "The Eden Project"

The Eden Project Photo - Eden Project, Cornwall, England

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The Eden Project was our number one reason for visiting Cornwall. Dubbed 'the Eighth Wonder of the World', with its distinctive white domes, the Eden Project is Cornwall's best-known tourist attraction. But it's much more than just a big green theme park and visitors can expect to come away with a better understanding of the environment we live in. As they say at the Eden Project, 'we aim to reconnect people with their environments locally and globally'.Tim Smit conceived the Project in 1994. The site chosen was a former china clay pit; a huge crater, 60 metres deep, south-facing and sheltered, but with no soil and prone to flooding. In October 1998 building work got under way and the pro...Read More

The Eden Project was our number one reason for visiting Cornwall. Dubbed 'the Eighth Wonder of the World', with its distinctive white domes, the Eden Project is Cornwall's best-known tourist attraction. But it's much more than just a big green theme park and visitors can expect to come away with a better understanding of the environment we live in. As they say at the Eden Project, 'we aim to reconnect people with their environments locally and globally'.

Tim Smit conceived the Project in 1994. The site chosen was a former china clay pit; a huge crater, 60 metres deep, south-facing and sheltered, but with no soil and prone to flooding. In October 1998 building work got under way and the project opened to the public on 17th March 2001. By June 2001 the millionth visitor had passed through the gates.

The biomes are the biggest conservatories in the world, split into a 'humid tropics biome' and a 'warm temperate Mediterranean biome'. They contain more than a thousand plant species, mist sprays and dramatic waterfalls. The bubbles consist of inflated hexagonal transparent 'plastic' windows with a life-span of more than 25 years. The panels are transparent to UV light and have a triple-membrane which provides them with excellent heat insulation properties.

The Rainforest Biome is the larger of Eden's two covered biomes. 100 meters wide, 200 metres long and 55 metres high it is tall enough to hold trees from the tropical rainforests. It contains over 1,000 plant species including palms and bananas, rubber trees, rice, coffee, sugar, pineapples, bamboo, and flowering plants such as peace lilies, capsicum, and the lavender striped aubergine. The steeper slopes resemble the Steppes, the Prairies and Chile.

The temperature in the Rainforest Biome ranges from 18 to 35°C. A network of misting sprays and a waterfall preserve humidity. Computers help regulate the climate, but it also relies on the natural properties of the environment such as the rear cliff wall which absorbs heat from the sun during the day and releases it at night. The plants themselves also help control the environment, releasing moisture to cool the air when it gets too warm.
Themes in the humid tropics biome include Malaysia, West Africa, tropical South America and tropical islands. Rainforests have up to 60 inches of rain in a year, but in the tropical biome soil irrigation preserves soil moisture. It is possible to climb to a viewing platform high above the canopy of trees below. This we did in a temperature of 38°C and 70 per cent humidity. It wasn’t long before I resembled a wet rag with the sweat pouring off me. The view was worth it but definitely not recommended for anyone not physically fit.

Eden's Mediterranean Biome is 65 metres wide, 135 metres long and 35 metres high. In this biome air temperature varies between 15° and 25°C in the summer and a minimum of 10°C in the winter. Summers are hot and dry, whereas winters are cool and wet. In its warm temperate climate, natural gardens bloom as in the Mediterranean, California and South Africa. In the controlled environment of the biomes there are insects, butterflies and some lizards. It also contains cork trees from the Mediterranean, an ancient knarled olive grove containing trees up to one hundred and fifty years old, the copper sculpture of a bull representing Dionysus and a vineyard. The size of the Biome is such that although it is indoors it feels very much like actually being in the Mediterranean.

The out-of-doors site is a huge biome in its own right. Part of it contains plants found in our own British temperate climate. An apple orchard, plants unique to Cornwall, both native and introduced and thriving in the mild Cornish climate, a tea plantation, over 300,000 daffodil bulbs, in bloom from early March to May- bulb mania in all its glory. In July and August the joy that is the British Allotment. In late summer a dazzling display of sunflowers, and of lavender in rows- their scent wafting in the breeze. However no two visits are ever the same. Part of the enjoyment is seeing Eden change, not just through the Seasons, but over the years.

The Eden Project is extensive, requiring much walking, often up and down sloping terraces. The land train that tours the steep part of the site has wheelchair spaces and staff to help. Although the Eden Project has been designed as 'wheelchair friendly' it must be accepted that in a project of this type and on this scale, that not all 35 acres can be accessed by wheelchair.

The Eden Project exceeded our expectations and we may well go back again as it changes with the seasons. It is best to visit the Mediterranean Biome first to get acclimatised before visiting the Tropical Biome for the latter is truly an exhausting experience. We were glad to escape its clammy interior. Allow around four hours to fully enjoy the site.
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Member Rating 5 out of 5 on July 8, 2011

Eden Project
Village of Bodelva
Saint Austell, Cornwall PL24 2SG
44 (0) 1726 811 911

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We had a free day in which we explored Newquay. We simply walked it although there is a land train that is a good option for the less fit. The town has a lot of history to it which is the kind of place we enjoy.Newquay used to be a fishing village. There has been a small harbour here since 1439 but it wasn't until 1770 that its importance as a commercial harbour took off. Richard Lomax, a speculator from London, had the vision to create an enclosed three acre harbour from which to ship mineral ore to the smelters in South Wales. Joseph Treffry, a mine owner bought the harbour and built the Newquay Railway connecting the harbour to the tramway high above the cliffs. Cables wound around a ...Read More

We had a free day in which we explored Newquay. We simply walked it although there is a land train that is a good option for the less fit. The town has a lot of history to it which is the kind of place we enjoy.

Newquay used to be a fishing village. There has been a small harbour here since 1439 but it wasn't until 1770 that its importance as a commercial harbour took off. Richard Lomax, a speculator from London, had the vision to create an enclosed three acre harbour from which to ship mineral ore to the smelters in South Wales. Joseph Treffry, a mine owner bought the harbour and built the Newquay Railway connecting the harbour to the tramway high above the cliffs. Cables wound around a drum and powered by two winding engines, known as Whims hauled wagons through a tunnel up from the harbour.

Up to the early 20th century, the small fishing village was famous for pilchards. From a "Huer's Hut" above the harbour the Huer on seeing the distinctive ripple on the surface of the sea, known locally as 'the shirming' and the reddish purple hue just beneath the surface would shout down a megaphone-like trumpet "Hubba, Hubba," or "Heva, Heva," and this cry would spread throughout the locality, causing much excitement. Everyone would rush to the quay and to their boats, urged on all the while and guided by their Huer.

The Hut dating back to the 14th century is now a Grade 2 listed building. It appears that the hut may have been a Hermitage. While Newquay no longer has any involvement in pilchard fishing there are plenty of other fish to catch. The Harbour is still a working fishing harbour but is also home to pleasure boats and is a hive of bustling fishing trips. In season and out, there is a trip to suit the most ardent angler. Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the North Cornwall Coast, Newquay is a fantastic place for fishing.

You may see out on the water during your holiday, six oared rowing boats either racing or practicing. Built of Cornish narrow leaf elm, 32 feet long with a beam of 4ft 10inches, Cornish Pilot Gig boats original use was as a pilot vessel in the 19th century. On sighting a large ship making its way to one of the major ports of Bristol, Manchester or Southampton, crews raced their gigs out to it. The winner got their pilot on-board to enable safe passage and receive the payment.

Gigs also served as one of the first shore-based lifeboats that went to vessels in distress, with recorded rescues extending as far as the late 17th century. Nowadays the sport of gig boat racing is growing in popularity with over 100 clubs, the majority being in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, however clubs also exist in Devon, Dorset, Wales and London. Internationally there are pilot gig clubs in France, the Netherlands, the Faroe Islands, Australia and the USA.

One of the town’s attractions is Tunnels Through Time or as it is now known Bucaneer’s Bay. This is popular with those into pirates and Cornish history. Situated at the top of a hill in St Michaels Road next to the church overlooking a car park, is the museum.

The tunnels feature famous stories of people such as Merlin, mermaids, pirates, smugglers and cavemen. Here we met Captain Calico Jack and his trusted wench Anne Bonny in a swashbuckling adventure in the heart of Newquay. Travelling through The Sunken Village of the Damned as the fiend kept jumping out at us and screaming my wife was like a jumping jack rabbit by the time we emerged from there.

Newquay has claimed the title of ‘UK Surf Capital’. I can’t say I have ever been into surfing but I do like to watch those that can. For those that cannot but would like to have a bash there are surfing lessons available. These are quite expensive but if it’s something you want to try it’s probably worth the money.

Newquay contains many arcades which provides fun for some and can pass an hour here or there especially if you get a rain shower and want to stay dry. There are seven miles of coastline with 11 beaches all different in their own way some offer excellent surfing conditions, others are suntraps for that beautiful tan whereas some are just fun for the kids. Fistral Beach is one of the most popular with surfers. It has many facilities such as a surf school, shop, toilets and café. It is a good place for families, couples and surfers. Protected by a lifeguard it is safe.

The newly built A30 makes Newquay an easy resort to reach by car. If you prefer, you can fly in. The local Airport has flights from Ireland (Cork, Dublin and Belfast), England (Leeds, Manchester, Bristol, London Stansted and London Gatwick) and Scotland (Edinburgh and Aberdeen). There is also a train station in the centre of Newquay close to the major hotels. National Express also provide a regular coach service from major cities over the UK, you may need to change coaches near Plymouth or Exeter but several services enter Newquay daily.

Newquay is a great place to go whether there is group wanting to celebrate a hen or stag do, if you have children and fancy a short break, if you have just got married and want a cheap honeymoon or if you just want a break away from urban life.
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Member Rating 5 out of 5 on July 8, 2011

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Land's End

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Attraction | "Land’s End"

Land's End Photo - Land's End, Cornwall, England

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Land’s End was one of the places visited on our coach tour. Both Land’s End in the south-west of England and John o’ Groats in the north-east of Scotland are famous landmarks. Between them is the longest distance you can get in Britain. Some cycle from one to the other for charity and others walk it. The distance by road is 874 miles. Both have a ‘First and Last House’ and Land’s End have a Land’s End John 0’ Groats club for those who have completed the journey in-between.From Land’s End the Atlantic Ocean stretches beyond the horizon until it reaches the shores of America. From the spectacular granite cliffs, a person on a clear day can see the Isles of Scilly on the horizon. We couldn’t!...Read More

Land’s End was one of the places visited on our coach tour. Both Land’s End in the south-west of England and John o’ Groats in the north-east of Scotland are famous landmarks. Between them is the longest distance you can get in Britain. Some cycle from one to the other for charity and others walk it. The distance by road is 874 miles. Both have a ‘First and Last House’ and Land’s End have a Land’s End John 0’ Groats club for those who have completed the journey in-between.

From Land’s End the Atlantic Ocean stretches beyond the horizon until it reaches the shores of America. From the spectacular granite cliffs, a person on a clear day can see the Isles of Scilly on the horizon. We couldn’t! Much closer is the Longships Lighthouse, while about six miles south-west is the Wolf Rock Lighthouse. There is a well-known signpost here, giving distances to faraway places. Visitors can have their photographs taken in this famous spot, overlooking the churning sea beneath spectacular cliffs.

John o’ Groats is in a gentler environment. From there the Orkney Isles are clearly visible and a passenger ferry only takes 45 minutes to cross. A few miles to the west a car ferry runs from Gills bay and makes the crossing in an hour. The castle of Mey where the Queen Mother lived is just a few miles further on. I pass through John o’ Groats once a year so I’m familiar with it. Land’s end I have only visited once.

The tourist complex at Land’s End features the history and heritage of Cornwall and Land’s End, with emphasis on ships and not surprising the hazards of the sea. A lifeboat forms part of the open-air display. The main exhibition is the Lost Labyrinth, an audio-visual experience encompassing everything from the lost land of Lyonesse and the legends of King Arthur to the present-day exploits of the air-sea rescue service. Being on a bus trip we didn’t have time to experience its wonders.

The area encompasses the Land’s End Hotel, various exhibition halls, play areas and craft shops. The Land’s End Cornish Sweet Manufactory is a traditional sweet factory where visitors can watch sweet-makers at work and sample the results. Greeb is a small animal farm in a setting where man have lived since the Mesolithic Age. This 200-year old restored farmstead allows a look back in time. It is the place to go for arts and crafts with a glass engraver, leather maker, wood turner, potter and a jewellery makes creating unique gifts.

The Relentless Sea Exhibition tells the story of the Cornish coastline and the tragedy of shipwrecks, the skulduggery of pirates, or visitors can watch the documentary of the Air Sea Rescue Services helping fishermen in difficulties. There are also the "End to Enders", tales of people who have travelled on foot and by other methods of transport from Land’s End to John O’Groats in Scotland.

There is plenty of shopping for those who are that way inclined. The Land’s End & John O'Groats Trading Company offers a selection of souvenirs, gifts, books, clothing, silverware and pewter. In the First & Last Toy Shoppe there is plenty on offer for the younger visitor. Penwith House has maritime gifts, paintings, toys and linen. Food is readily available at Land’s End from various restaurants.

Access to Land’s End is by road along the A30 from Penzance, or along the north coast road from St Ives. There is plenty of car parking and, for those not wishing to visit the theme park, reduced cost parking is available. There is free pedestrian access to the coastal path and buses run from Penzance throughout the year and from St Ives during the summer season.

I couldn’t help being struck by the difference in commercialisation between Land’s End and John o’ Groats. The John o’ Groats Hotel has been shut for years. This white Gothic building, a local landmark needs to be brought back to life to breathe life into the community. Visitors can however explore a number of gift shops as well as a coffee shop and a small museum. The Tourist Information Centre doubles up as a shop offering a very good selection of books of local interest. The craft village provides accommodation for various crafts. The camping and caravanning site offers superb views over the Pentland Firth, a Firth that if it had its tidal energy harnessed could practically power Britain.

The car park at John o’ Groats offers free parking and the roads at John o’ Groats are much better than some of the roads our coach had to travel through from Land’s End.
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Member Rating 5 out of 5 on July 8, 2011

Land's End
B3306 from St. Ives/B3315 fro Penzance
Cornwall, England

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Barrowfield Hotel

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Hotel | "The Barrowfield Hotel"

Barrowfield Hotel Photo - Barrowfield Hotel, Newquay, Cornwall

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Our tour operator Dodds of Troon, Scotland, had booked us into the Barrowfield Hotel. The hotel’s name arises from an open space close to the hotel above the beaches containing 15 barrows. When excavated one of these contained charred cooking pots and a coarse pottery burial urn containing the remains of a Bronze Age Chieftain, who lived some 3,500 years ago. On arrival at the hotel a member of its staff came on to the coach and gave us a briefing on the hotel and our rooms. Imagine our surprise to find that our room didn’t match his description in the least. I can only suppose the hotel was gradually modernising the rooms and ours remained in the queue. It appeared a bit dated but clean. ...Read More

Our tour operator Dodds of Troon, Scotland, had booked us into the Barrowfield Hotel. The hotel’s name arises from an open space close to the hotel above the beaches containing 15 barrows. When excavated one of these contained charred cooking pots and a coarse pottery burial urn containing the remains of a Bronze Age Chieftain, who lived some 3,500 years ago.

On arrival at the hotel a member of its staff came on to the coach and gave us a briefing on the hotel and our rooms. Imagine our surprise to find that our room didn’t match his description in the least. I can only suppose the hotel was gradually modernising the rooms and ours remained in the queue. It appeared a bit dated but clean. The bed proved a bit unstable and creaked like mad. I only managed one sound night’s sleep in it. One woman who had a single room extracted an apology from the management because of its tiny dimensions. Our’s was small but acceptable.

The hotel proved ideally placed near to the lovely Tolcarne beach and only a 10-minute walk into town. For those that preferred transport a road train operates around Newquay. A ticket costing £5 gives hop on and hop off transport for the day. Nearby bus-stops offer transport to other towns and the world famous Eden Project. The hotel also runs some tours.

The hotel has an indoor pool which looked too small to me to be useful. It also has a Jacuzzi and Sauna. For these the receptionist provides towels as you go in. The nightly entertainment was aimed at older guests. All those booked in including ourselves fell into this category. It started off with bingo at 8 o’ clock and switched to the main performance at 9 o’ clock. The entertainment consisted of different vocalists for the first three nights. Although all were first-class their routines appeared borrowed from one another for there was little variation. On the forth and final night the performer interspersed his singing with crude jokes. One woman walked out muttering "rude, rude, rude". One joke was about a one-legged man. Among our group was an Irishman who had had both legs blown off – such jokes in the circumstance were not suitable. His singing was however good.

In the restaurant the staff assigned us a table for our stay at the first evening meal - which was always at 6:30. The waitress asked us at that meal whether we would wish to have coffee or tea at breakfast. The pot was always on the table when we came in at 8:30. For those wishing porridge at breakfast it was table service, but for those wishing cereal it was self-service. A cooked English breakfast followed consisting of bacon, sausage, fried or scrambled egg, fried bread and beans. Coffee or tea was available in the lounge.

At breakfast we had to choose what we wanted for the three course evening meal. The entire week’s menu was contained between the menu’s covers. We had to select the one for the correct day and choose from the three items in each course. This hotel probably rates as the most efficient I have seen and the service staff had their duties off to a fine art.

No complaints with food quality, presentation and service. An enjoyable stay but do not expect 4 or 5 star luxury.
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Member Rating 3 out of 5 on July 8, 2011

Barrowfield Hotel
Hilgrove Road
Newquay, England

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