Happy Christmas from Little Winnick Touring Park

Enjoying the winter beaches

We would like to wish you and your families a very Happy Christmas and best wishes for 2015.  We hope where ever and however you are celebrating you have a happy and relaxing time.  Here we shall hopefully, if the weather is on our side, start the day with breakfast on the beach - cooked on our trusty camping stove.  We are yet to decide which beach but the short list is Porthpean, Charlestown or Pentewan.  After a bacon and egg butty we will head to Richard's family for a Christmas lunch and dinner.  In the lead up to Christmas we will be visiting the big man himself at Heligan and maybe take in the decorations at The Eden Project.

Work is cracking on here at a fair rate of knots with the toilet block.  As with all building projects we have had some ups and downs already.  Last blog I said we were pleased we would only need strip foundations.  Well as we dug more out it became apparent the water table in places was just too high for this to happen.  So we are back to plan A and have been digging out for a raft foundation with vast amounts of steel in place, the concrete was poured creating a raft for the building work to get under way on.  We are really pleased with how it is going and can not wait to share with you all the end result.

The wildflower meadow

As for other work, yesterday saw 40+ laurels and various other shrubs being added to the already established planting that divides the pitches.  This will help make the pitches even more private in places than they are already.  The bottom field is starting to really take shape.  It was sown in early Autumn as a wild flower meadow with 25+ trees being planted there too.  The field is really starting to come to life and we hope it will attract an assortment of wildlife whilst providing guests with a lovely area to walk your dogs.

Steel before concrete was poured.

Winter is our time to take holidays.  At the end of November we went to Norfolk to visit my mum and dad, followed by a midweek break in Center Parcs for just the four of us - our first family holiday since Bethany joined us, it was really lovely to stop and have a well deserved break.  We ended our trip with a weekend at friends in London - I was spoilt with afternoon tea in London....a real treat!

We are also using our time wisely to visit places - obviously so we can help guests with places to suggest when you visit!  Our latest is The Beach Hut Cafe on Watergate Bay,  dog and child friendly it offers the most amazing hot chocolates and scrummy breakfasts along with lunch and dinner.  The sausages were the nicest I have had in ages.  This week sees an outing to the Eden Cafe for 'Vicar on the Fiddle'.  The local vicar has quite a well known band that plays every year in the Cafe whilst you can sip mulled cider and such delights...I am very excited about the prospect of a night out to get in the Christmas mood.  As always we are spending lots of time on the local beaches.  We went to Pentewan the other day, where strangely there was a whale that had washed up, sadly it was already dead before it came ashore, but it was quite a strange site!

Once again we wish you and your family a very Happy Christmas.

Best Wishes
Richard, Heidi, the girls and our merry band of helpers

As one door closes another one opens

We waved farewell to our very last guests yesterday after an amazing 2014 season.  But as we wave goodbye we are busy in the office as we have officially started taking bookings for 2015 as of the 1st November. (How is it the 1st November already?).  You can make bookings on online or by emailing mail@littlewinnick.co.uk or calling us on 01726 843687.  We are already looking pretty busy in August with people requesting particular pitches they like so make sure you book as soon as you can to secure your pitch.  All bookings require a 25% deposit with full payment 4 weeks prior to arrival.

This week we had good news regarding the foundations for the new building work.  We had planned for a floating raft foundation (I should put a caveat that I am no builder so if I get the terms wrong I am sorry), any how when we started digging, with a structural engineer and various other experts on site we had the welcome news we only need strip foundations (those channel ones, that normal buildings have) so that is a massive relief.  With good news come other irritations.  The week has been spent on our version of spagetti junction.  The main water and electrical cables for the site are having to be re routed, which is a head ache for the guys doing this.  New trenches have been dug and as of Friday only one more electric cable needed to be moved.

On Friday there was lots of water pumping taking place.  On top of the toilet block is a large water header tank.  This has had to be emptied as we start knocking walls down the weight would be too much until they have been re built in their new places.  We normally do this over the winter, but this year we did it a lot quicker than normal.


Saturday also saw yet more tree planting in the bottom field where we have sown the wild flower meadow.  We have now planted over 20 new trees to re landscape the open field.

As for us, well at home we are having our own building project take place over the next 8 weeks so we have been very busy preparing for that.  Poor Richard is on a building site at work and at home!  I did manage to pop to The Eden Project this week.  It was 'Halloweden' so there was lots on for children; it was nice but it has got very, very expensive for food and drink there.  We also ventured over to Lanhydrock for our second walk there in a week.  You can park for free and with bike tracks, including balance bike tracks, walks and a fantastic play area over looked by the cafe serving amazing hot chocolates it is fast becoming one of our favourites.

Pulling the plug after a long season

We pulled the plug for the final time on Monday of the newer toilet block and today I can officially announce it is no more. (it took a while to come up with that headline!) The digger, which is amazing to watch as it picks away at the building like a hand, got to work on Monday removing the building and today the final wall came down.  It was a frustrating job as the walls were lined with insulation so each wall had to be separated and certain bits removed.  Whilst the digger has been outside the builders and a few of our family have been working hard on the inside of what was formerly known as the old block knocking down all the walls to make way for a full reconstruction.  Currently reception is like a bathroom show room - if you would like one of 7 toilets and hand basins please do get in contact with us.

Excitedly watching the digger

inside old ladies block

It is exciting to see work happening so quickly, we are already making decisions about finishes and fittings to ensure that we have excellent quality and highly practical facilities.

So, please don't be thinking we are having a nice rest now.  No, officially we are still open for a few more days, despite the lack of facilities there are a brave few on site too.  Richard is coming home each night looking frazelled as the scale of the project becomes clear along with the number of major decisions that are needed each day.  And as for me - my soft little hands have nearly recovered now after planting up over 1000 bulbs over the weekend - hopefully they will be out in full glory when we open in March.

The smell of bacon...

Most mornings as we walk around the park, no matter what time of year it is you get a whiff of bacon and sausages cooking.  It is hard when all you have had is cornflakes.  Today we created our own 'whiff' - we set the stove up on the benches outside reception, invited a friend or two and then created a breakfast feast of sausage, egg and bacon roll with a side of brown sauce and a mug of coffee...can a morning get much better?  Well I suppose if I didn't have to clean the toilets it might be slightly better...but all part of the job.

Talking of cleaning toilets, there are not that many left to clean as we have started gutting the old toilet block ready for the big re-build that is happening through the winter.  On Monday, rather excitingly we are taking down the new block, as the plans see the brick building coming out into this area.  It is an exciting but quite scary time.  Ultimately we are please to be creating toilets that we will be proud of with family and disabled facilities  and nice new toilets and showers.  Obviously there will be lots of updates through the winter about how it is going...just keep everything crossed that the weather is on our side.

The wild flower meadow that we have sown is starting to grow up now - it is about three inches high - I can't wait for this to come into flower, returning the meadow to it's formal glory.

The end of the season is days away now, which brings mixed emotions.  It is nice to have a tiny rest - by rest I mean a weekend where we have two days off in a row, the weeks are physically more demanding than peak season as we are usually out planting, digging, painting or something similar.  It is sad to shut the gates and see everything go into hibernation, but it is also nice for us to explore Cornwall a bit more.  Last night I went out with the girls to The Rashleigh in Charlestown.  My friends have long raved about it and I have questioned what all the fuss was about.  However I agree it is really rather lovely and worth a visit it you are down here.  The food it good quality, well priced and in a lovely atmosphere.  It is also child friendly- although we were well and truly child free :-) .  This week also sees a night out for Richard and I..a first since our family grew so we are looking forward to that.  We are off to the Kingswood which is just up the road from Little Winnick.  We have not been for a few years so we will let you know what it is like.

We hope you have a good weekend where ever you are.

2014 Season Review

I spent most of the 2013/2014 winter giving you updates about the winter battering us in Cornwall, and indeed most of the UK.  It was a wet and windy affair and made our opening season feel like a distant memory.  Now here we are coming towards the end of the 2014 season, it is October and I am in shorts - 2014 really is the longest summer in a very longtime!

The season started early in April, at the same time as we welcomed our second daughter Bethany into the world, adrenaline was what kept us going those first few weeks along with jolly members of first rally of the season.  Rallies have featured throughout the 2014 season, with the final rally booked in a few days time.  With a dedicated rally field where organisers can pitch an entertainment marquee rallies are very well catered for, with many already booking for 2015 and 2016.

Around May the weather turned warm - and so it stayed - with only an odd blip since then.  It has been exceptionally nice, with long evenings and clear skies the majority of time which meant June and July were very, very busy, then from the week before the school holidays we were completely full until early September.  The Indian Summer has then encouraged many people to take to road and turn up without bookings and meant September has been pretty full too.

To all of you who have visited us over 2014, thank you.  We really do appreciate your business and it is a great pleasure to see so many of you returning.  Now many people think on the 31st October we shut the gates and jet off somewhere for the winter.  If only!  No this winter see's the refurbishment of the toilet block.  The newer wooden toilet block will be coming down and the brick block is under going a full refurbishment.  The work will mean we now have a purpose built family and disabled bathrooms along with a new washing up area and laundry room.

We have also been busy over the last few weeks on the bottom field.  The 'wild meadow' has been sown in the bottom two thirds of the field.  Once this has grown we shall be putting in paths for people to enjoy walks around.  The goal posts are also now in this field for our younger guests to enjoy.

When we took over Little Winnick Touring Park in the depths of 2012/2013 winter our aim was to breath life back into the old site; we knew it had potential and had watched it go from a successful popular site to a site hardly used over a number of years.  We also knew it would take a lot of work and some very, very, very long days and summers.  In two seasons I think it is safe to say we are extremely proud of our achievements and thrilled to have put the heart and soul back into a fantastically positioned site. I just had to let someone in through the barrier and I had a little tear in my eye as I looked back across the site and thought about how far we have come and how many happy memories have been made at Little Winnick this summer.

So, in summary.   A blooming good year thanks to you the guests, and the great British weather.  We hope you will come back in 2015 and see us and see how the park and our family has grown.  In the meantime, keep an eye out for blogs over the winter to see how things are progressing here.  And don't forget we are open until the end of the month and 2015 bookings are being taken from 1st November when you can reserve a specific pitch if you wish.

Thanks from us all
Heidi, Richard, Jessica & Bethany x

Getting hot hot hot

With the temperatures on the rise again this week it is hard to believe we are in autumn, but September is whizzing by.  We enjoyed a spot of blackberry picking last week to make a delicious apple and blackberry crumble and we have been crunching through the leaves.    Cornwall is fantastic at this time of year.  Not only is it a lot quieter but the seas start to get a bit rough making for some fantastic sights.  One of my favorite things to do through the autumn is to enjoy a lunch whilst watching the waves crashing and you really are spoilt for choice as where to go.

Locally you could pop down to the Driftwood Beach Bar, which is part of Pentewan Sands Campsite but open to non residents.  The small beach hut offers stunning views from the warmth of the recently refurbished bar.  The food is good and with a selection of hot and cold drinks you could sit back and watch the waves roll in.  My favourite cliff top location to enjoy breakfast from is Lenwinnick Lodge.  The Lenwinnick Lodge offers a great blend of relaxing dining with breathtaking views - even on a rainy day it is worth a visit.  The waffles for breakfast are my all time favourite.  Or slightly further along the coast why not try out the Watergate Bay Beach Cafe.  The stunning views are complimented by great food in a very family friendly environment.

If the great outdoors is more your thing then why not undertake a lovely walk - to be honest there are far too many to list - from local circular walks to long coastal walks - so ask us when you see us for recommendations.  A great circular walk is the Fowey Hall Walk - the views back over to Fowey are stunning and you can be rewarded with a great big slice of cake from one of the many cafes in Fowey!

I have to say with the piglets at Heligan I am there a few times a week to keep the children happy - we have a local pass which means we can go as much as we like.  The piglets are adorable, I know I mention Heligan a lot but it really is worth a visit right now the gardens are looking stunning.  I currnetly plotting how we could rehome one of the piglets...they are adorable!

Seven nights for the price of five offer

So we made it through August!  It was an incredibly busy month, we were full about 95% of the time, and welcomed in two rallies during that period too.  It really has been an amazing season, as silly as it sounds it brings a little lump to your throat when you drive past and see both fields full and you can hear children laughing and watch families enjoying quality time together.  We have loved welcoming so many of you back for return visits and look forward to hopefully welcoming you back in following years.  Many of you have asked about next years bookings - we will open the 2015 bookings from 1st November so please contact us then to secure your pitch.

I have to say it has felt a little but autumny here recently -I was every excited to spy a healthy helping of blackberries waiting for us to pick and the elder bushes full of berries - I am hoping to make elderberry juice.   All rather timely as we have only just finished last years blackberry and apple jam.  However according to the weatherman an Indian Summer is on it's way with temperatures rocketing again.  Why not make the most of seven nights for the price of five with us other the coming weeks?

Last week we had a great train adventure.  We went for lunch at Lanhydrock - a beautiful national trust property.  The House is one of the finest examples of upstairs downstairs living - it is really lovely.  We went to the new cafe at the huge bike centre and had lunch there.  We enjoyed one of nicest hot chocolates I have had in a long time - it was HUGE.  If you do go make sure you read the menu board just inside the door - we missed that and missed the seasonal soup.  We ended up having homemade burgers which were delicious.  After lunch we hopped in the car and drove a mile down the road to Respryn and walked the path up to Bodmin Parkway Station.  With a train obsessed child this was brilliant - we got to see two normal trains and the steam train part of the Bodmin and Wenford Railway - a real treat.  It was spotting with rain but this didn't matter as the walk is tree lined so we were well protected.  This will be a brilliant walk over the autumn and winter months and is buggy friendly.

Last week we had not one but two trips to The Lost Gardens of
Heligan.  Mainly because of the piglets.  They are adorable - there are two litters there and the mothers are working very hard to keep all the hungry mouths full! It really is worth a visit.  Obviously we had to sample the cake just to make sure the cake was up to the usual standard.  It was!

Sunday Adventures

Working in this trade it is sometimes a struggle to make time to enjoy Cornwall during the summer, but this year we have been having adventures every other Sunday.  Judith (my mother-in-law) has been having adventure days with us as Richard, my husband works so the girls and I go on a magical mystery tour with her.  Without fail they involve very small roads and an element of reversing, a cake stop and somewhere to enjoy lunch.  Yesterday we had our latest day out - off we went with the car loaded with a picnic, pushchair and baby carrier, with me hoping I would not have to do too much 'skinny road driving' or even worse too much reversing.

As it happened we stuck to good roads yesterday and took the main road out of St Austell towards Lostweithel - once through the lovely village famed for it's antiques we turned off towards Bodmin - here it was revealed to the car of excited travellers that we were going on a Bodmin Moor Adevnture.  First stop was Golitha Falls.  Just follow the brown signs to a free car park and head into the woods following the river.  With a two year old in tow the first thing that sprung to mind was the Gruffalo Woods.  The stunning wooded valley is a magical mystical place with the tree canopy providing shelter from the odd spot of rain. The path is an adventure itself littered with tree roots for little people to explore - thankfully we took the four month old in the baby carrier as it was not pushchair friendly.  As the river crawls through the woods the anticipation to the falls grows.  The river falls a spectacular 90 metres in altitude and provides a peaceful setting to enjoy a Cornish valley at it's best.  I am very much looking forward to an autumn walk through the trees taking a flask of soup with us in a few weeks time as I am pretty certain it will be spectacular.

Back in the car we then drive a short distance to Siblyback Lake Country Park where we unpack the picnic and enjoy the view over the huge lake.  I forgot the picnic blanket so we are rather squashed on a series of baby blankets!  A great location for a picnic with toilets, play areas, cafe and free parking.  Not a great location to allow a two year old to play with a ball though - I am sure a few people laughed watching me run after it as we get to the top of the hill and she lets it go as it hurtles towards the water (the ball not the child!).  We got to enjoy gig racing on the lake and watch Granny teach Jessica how to roll down a hill - thankfully we all made it back to the car in one piece.

Next stop was a ride out on Bodmin Moor to the Cheese Ring in Minions.  Park in the free car park and wander over the Moor to the Cheese Ring Stones.  Jessica loved this, the soft ground with hills to climb and stones to explore proved a great natural play ground - you could spend hours up here just in one location or go for a circular walk (signposted).  Within the village there is a pub and cafe for food, or on the Moor with views across to Devon you could enjoy a picnic.

Final stop on our tour was Tregongeeves, Judith's home, for a well earned coffee and homemade biscuits.    Tregongeeves Farm Cottages are situated just a short drive from Little Winnick Touring Park and open throughout the year, so why not treat yourself, leave the tent or caravan at home and enjoy a lovely break - there are some great short break offers available at the moment.

Regatta Season

Another busy August week has whizzed by here at Little Winnick.  Saturday's are what are known as 'change over days' when we have a good number of check ins and outs - today we have had almost 40 arrivals and many departures - as a result we are yet again full tonight which is always a joy.  Our attentions are now beginning to turn to September - don't forget we will be offering 7 nights for the price of 5 again - that means you could stay for 7 nights from as little £40.00.

It is regatta season here in Cornwall at the moment.  This week sees the fantastic Fowey Regatta - the Red Arrows  will be flying over on Thursday - their display is always awesome.

Next Saturday is Portscatho Regatta - a traditional regatta with an exciting highly visible course. Followed by the Newlyn Fish Festival on the 25th August - the festival celebrates all things fishy and is a real incite into the Cornish fishing trade.

Then the icing on the cake is the Falmouth to Royal Greenwich Tall Ship Regatta.  I am really excited about this as 47 tall ships from around the world - including 12 square rigged tall ships will be in Falmouth for the week culminating in a Parade of Sail on 31st August 11am -2pm.  With a small person obsessed with pirates we will certainly be taking a tour around the boats!

Summer season in full swing

The summer season is in full swing here at Little Winnick Touring Park with the main park full and the Rally Field hosting Bedfordshire Caravan and Camping Club - and I have to say times like this make all out hard work worthwhile with a park full of lovely caravan and campers.  The mood is lifted by the utterly glorious weather we are enjoying for the whole of the 2014 summer.  Yes we have had the odd blip here and there but on the whole it is has be sun, sun and more sun.

If you are visiting at the moment there is so much on for the whole family.  The Eden Project currently is home to dinosaurs - the girls and I will be going tomorrow to check this out, but I have heard the large life like puppets are a bit scary and will keep the children entertained for hours.  A short drive away The Lost Gardens of Heligans are celebrating The Lost Summer with old fashioned activities to keep young and old amused for hours.

Slightly further afield the Maritime Museum has a jammed packed calander of events to keep children entertained - we shall be heading over there for pirates week and will be taking a tour of the Tall Ships when they return to Falmouth later in the month.

If you are looking for some culture then there is lots of theatre to choose from both indoors and out.  The Minnack Theatre is a bit of a drive but worth every minute with stunning cliff top views to admire whilst watching some great theatre.  Locally firstly the Miracle Theatre visit The Tempest and then the Asylum Theatre Company take up residence at The Lost Gardens of Heligan with A Dead Dog in a Suitcase and other Love Songs.

Food is fast becoming one of the many jewels in Cornwall's crown.  Most recently the well known local Sam's Restaurant has opened Sam's in the Bay at Carlyon Bay.  The pop up restaurant is on the stunning beach which is awaiting development so why not enjoy it in it's most natural state - we have heard the cocktails are pretty special.

As for us, we are all keeping busy.  August is always a very very busy month ensuring we have a park to be proud of and that all our guests have an enjoyable stay.  We tend to spend our day off in our garden trying to get on top of the weeds!  This week we had the treat of celebrating our eldest daughter's second birthday - all went well until she let go of her helium balloon outside!  Most Saturday's I try and go on an adventure with the girls as it is a little bit quieter and Daddy is working, tomorrow is The Eden Project, last week we enjoyed the Artisan Market in the Market House in St Austell - a truly beautiful building, a little bit like a time capsule.  The week before we headed to the Lizard and explored the delights of the Seal Sanctuary - well worth a visit and the Lizard is a magical place.

Hi there, i'm Victoria and here at Little Winnick I've been doing my work experience this week. I have had a great time getting stuck in and meeting lots of new people, working on reception and greeting the guests. The owners are really friendly and welcome everyone as if they've known them forever! The site is looking great in time to welcome the summer holidays. The park is a fabulous place to spend your holiday or even a great place to stop by for a few nights; near to the local pubs, beaches with easy access to nearby shops and restaurants, Little Winnick really is the place to stay. With easy access to cycle paths, the site is the perfect place for those of you who love dogs or if you fancy a stroll by the River Winnick.  With lots going on in the local area, Little Winnick is an ideal place with easy access to the surrounding area- why not say here and visit Fowey regatta, for the chance to see the Red Arrows, The Eden Project and Charlestown Ship Wreck and Heritage Center? The park even offers a selection of information on the activities in the area and so is fantastic if you fancy getting involved in the events nearby or if you just want to relax on the beach. What a great place to spend your holiday. Back to school for me but I wish I could stay for longer!

Victoria

Trains, penguins and beaches

Hello there campers,
We hope you all all keeping well and enjoying this fabulous summer.  We are very busy here at Little Winnick Touring Park, with lots of people making the most of the great weather and our fantastic location.

Last week saw the Scottish and Irish Schools break up, so we warmly welcomed many younger guests to the park, many of whom have been making the most of the goal posts and footballs available to borrow from reception for use in our big field next to the park.   Do pop in and borrow whatever you would like from Reception or swap books.

Whilst Richard is busy at Little Winnick I have been testing out a variety of local attractions so we can give you a first hand account of what they are like.  Along with my weekly trips to Heligan, which is walking distance from the Park I have been off with our two girls (2 years and 14 weeks) testing out Lappa Valley.  Having visited before we had children I knew it was a lovely place, but really appreciated it this visit.  Lappa Valley is a children's delight, with miniature steam trains, electric trains, canoes, a play ground, maze and much more.  Before going check the train times to avoid a wait.  We arrived to catch the 10.30 train, it was nice and quiet.  Jessica loved the 'choo-choo' train up the valley to the park.  Once we had taken the ten minute ride we quickly hopped on to the electric train.  We then treated ourselves to bacon sandwich and a cuppa whilst Jess whizzed around on the peddle tractors.  The whole place is really fantastic for little people and I can not recommend it highly enough for young families.  The ticket price includes everything so there are no hidden extras.

If feathered friends are more your thing then why not check out Paradise Park in Hayle.    I will confess to not being overly excited about visiting a bird park - I am not the biggest bird fan.  However Paradise Park was a pleasant surprise.  The whole park is immaculate and has a nice selection of birds in beautifully maintained enclosures.  Jessica's favourite without any doubt was the penguins.  Especially the feeding time.  Followed closely by the tractor in the farm area where there were animals to pet.  The bird display on the lawn was very impressive and informative.  The day was topped off by a pasty from Phelps which you can get in the way...no Cornish day out is complete without a pasty!

In this weather all Cornish Beaches are pretty stunning.  If Jessica gets even a glimpse of the beach all I hear is 'bbeeeeeeeee'. So as you can imagine we are at the beach a lot.  Last week on Richard's day off we had a lovely day on Charlestown Beach.  We left the grandparents with the children whilst we nipped to Wreckers for a birthday lunch.  We had a delightful meal with the sea in view.  After lunch we headed back to the beach to see how much the tide had come in.  It really is a lovely little beach in a pretty village full of history and heritage.

We finally got round to visiting Healey's Cyder Farm - it is beautiful very much like time has forgotten it.  There are animals to pet and a great guided tour of the farm and best of all free cyder tasting which has resulted in us purchasing a selection of cyder matured in oak barrels - trust us it tastes good.  We finished this day out with a visit to Chapelporth Beach - what a find.  I read about it in my Wild Cornwall book.  The drive down is a bit hairy - especially when you meet another car but the small cove is quintessentially Cornish.  The life guards keep watch as the crashing
waves break whilst families play - the car park is £3.50 so make sure you make the most of the day.

No internet or phones

Hello
We are so sorry if you have been trying to contact us at all.  We have no internet or phones at Little Winnick as someone crashed into a telegraph pole further down the valley.  They are working to restore it ASAP.  Apologies if we have not been back in contact with you -we will contact you as soon as we have been re connected. (In case you are wondering at our house in the town we do have internet so are able to get on our blog at home!)
Many apologies Richard and Heidi

Hot Hot Hot

When I married a Cornishman and three days later moved to Cornwall I thought we would be enjoying wall to wall sunshine all year round.  I had a bit of a shock the first year; it rained quite a bit and felt more like monsoon season over the first Winter.  Richard had to buy me a posh raincoat just to persuade me to stay.  As a Cornishman of course he knew how unpredictable the weather is down here, but when it is good it is REALLY good.  And here we are, three years since that fateful move and dare I say it we are 'living the dream' that so many people imagine it is like living in such a stunning place.

It has been gloriously hot and sunny for a few weeks now.  After a busy check in today we headed to Mevagissey for a fish and chip supper.  We strolled to near the Harbour Office side of the little village to tuck into our feast, the quieter area of the village.  It was without any doubt glorious.  So, so, so hot and the views that postcards are made of with the brightly coloured houses nestled into the steep hills with the fishing boats bobbing in the harbour.

With two small children I am all for easy to access walks right now and the stroll from Respryn, just past Lanhydrock proved perfect for us with a pushchair for the 10 week old and the toddler strapped to my back.  The walk follows the river to Bodmin Parkway station along what used to be the carriage drive to Lanhydrock House.  We were lucky enough to see a steam engine pull out of the station, the noise and sounds that such an engine makes are wonderful.  Park at the small car park in Respryn which asks for a £2 donation and follow the footpath from the car park.  You can also cross over the road and head into the woods towards Restormel Castle.

Whilst I am off on exciting adventures with our two girls Richard is hard at it at Little Winnick.  It is so busy at the moment, with lots of advance bookings coupled with a good number of people checking in for a night or two without booking. The park is looking lovely, with the grass growing well and a fantastic buzz created by all our guests.  For those of you who have been following the blog you will know over the winter we cleared the bottom field to aid drainage and tidy the area up. The next stage which recently took place was to spray the field to prevent the development of some serious weeds, once the field has died back (hence it looking brown) we will be reseeding the area.

The bookings continue to come in thick and fast for the summer holidays - don't forget to book to secure the dates you would like.

Happy Campers

Wowie it is hot hot hot here and according to the weatherman this is set to last.  As a result last night we were full and tonight we have just a handful of pitches available.  It is just wonderful to feel the buzz around the park and to see so many people having a lovely time.  The first three weeks of the August are full now too and limited availability throughout the rest of the holiday period so please do book to avoid disappointment.

Apologies for the lack of blogs recently we have had a number of large rallies in and have been away ourselves introducing our nine week old to family in Norfolk. .  We are well equipped to cater for rallies of all shape and sizes so please do contact us if you would like to discuss coming to Little Winnick.

The best place to enjoy the sun right now has to be the stunning Cornish coast.  Yesterday we enjoyed a stunning day at Caerhays Beach.  The beach has a car park (£3.50), a small cafe and is dog friendly.  The sheltered cove is ideal for people who don't want a long walk to the beach.  From Little Winnick you can walk to Pentewan Beach.  The beach does not allow dogs, but has a lovely cafe, play area and small harbour.

Tomorrow we are off to The Kingswood Bar and Restaurant for Father's Day after work - I will let you know what we have.  The restaurant is highly regarded locally and walking distance along the trail from Little Winnick and child friendly.

Heavenly scent that summer is on the way

I love this time of year when Cornwall really comes alive with the trees in blossom, lambs in the field and everywhere you turn bluebells.  Now I am no gardening expert but I suspect that the winter weather is the driver behind the stunning carpets of blue which seems to be everywhere you turn in Cornwall right now, and the scent of the bluebells is just wonderful and really raises hopes for the glorious summer I am certain is just around the corner.    A short stroll along the river bank that hugs the park you will find stunning carpets of flowers and if the wind is in the right direction the smell drifts over the park.  Luxulyan Valley is a bit of a locals secret,  but worth a visit this time of year.  The old woods are littered with mining history and is a brilliant place for dogs and children alike and must for bluebell lovers right now.

Talking of woods, I was excited to see that Tehidy Woods, about a 30 minute drive away is, hosting the Wild Woodland Summer Ball, by the fantastic Rogue Theatre Company.  The magical woodland experience will have little  people and grown ups too enthralled in the magic of fairies, dragons and mermaids.

Closer to home is the exciting summer of theatre promised at the Lost Gardens of Heligan.  The 20th August sees the grounds play host to The Tempest by The Miracle Theatre Company - a show not to be missed.  We have had the enormous pleasure of seeing two productions by the Miracle Theatre Company and they are without fail brilliant.  So funny and wonderful actors.  If that was not enough we then see the arrival of the Kneehigh Theatre Company with Dead Dog in a Suitcase (and other love songs).  The Kneehigh are a well known theatre company who normally play to sell out crowds so book early to avoid disappointment.

The bank holiday here has been beautiful and we have enjoyed welcoming so many of you to the park.  As the children return to school we enter a time when it is mainly only adults on site making the most of our brilliant 7 nights for the price of 5 offer - which makes us the best value campsite in the valley.  So why not pop in, enjoy our great location, well stocked shop, WiFi access and onsite facilities for as little as £40 for 7 nights.

Many of you have been asking how our new little arrival is getting on, which is most kind thank you.  She is now four weeks old and getting on nicely. In fact she is asleep next to me at the office desk as I type - giving guests who check in a little startled when she moves and they notice her!  Big sister is enjoying her new role, but more importantly is loving having people back on site to meet again, as we are too!

Happy Birthday to us!

one of first jobs was to install a new play area

Well campers, we have made it through our first year.  A year ago today we officially opened for business having taken over the business just a few months before.  We opened with some trepidation, with no one booked in and just a hope that everything worked after hours and hours of rigorous testing.  To our delight one year ago, one person came in off the road - what excitement it caused - the poor person was a bit taken aback by our excitement.  But a year in and we are truly blown away by the popularity of the site and the numbers of you already returning or re booking with us.  To all of you who have stayed or are planning on staying - thank you for making this a truly memorable year for our family.  obviously we hoped we could make the old place a success like it's golden days - we wouldn't have taken the business on if we didn't believe in it, but the rate in which we have built up customers is humbling to us.

improvement works to the bottom field

The year has seen the full board up in August, two rallies, a fantastic  summer of heat waves and much improvements.  The improvements include redesigning the shop and reception, new hook ups, installation of tv aerial points and hard standing pitches, drainage work, lots of new tarmac, pitch dividers to name but a few jobs that have kept us all busy!

As a family we thank you for your support and look forward to seeing many of you in 2014.

**UPDATE** We have very limited availability for the last week of July and first week of August so please do contact us if you are hoping to book up then.

The park 2013

Exciting Easter

Gosh what a fantastic Easter!  We welcomed the Devon and Cornwall Rally to the site, which meant we were officially full - quite an achievement so early in the season.  The site was buzzing with an events marquee playing host to music, bingo and big breakfasts.  We loved welcoming all who came with the rally and very much look forward to welcoming everyone back in August, plus the other rallies we have booked for this season and next season.  Not only was the rally a success but the weather was sensational too.  Leading to a couple of burnt noses over the Easter break (me included!).

For all the returning guests I am sure you will have seen the Easter Newsletter we sent out, if you would like to have a look at what we have been up to then check out our website for the full installment!

As we mentioned in the last blog our family has grown over the last few weeks, pictured is Richard and I with Bethany and Jessica.  (I am rocking Bethany in her bouncer chair with one foot as I type!). As a family run park we love welcoming you and your families to Little Winnick and can offer first hand experience of what is happening locally so please do ask us for advice of great places to go with little people.  We are very excited by the uprising in Gruffalo activities across the County.  To celebrate the Gruffalo's 15th Birthday there are lots of activities happening from free walks to events at Eden.  Why not follow the Gruffalo Trail around The Eden Project or take part in the Gruffalo's birthday party preparations? Or if you would like to take in the great outdoors and do a free event then visit Cardinham Woods.  Not only is the play area amazing there is a free Gruffalo Trail around the woods.  The cafe there does fantastic cakes too.

The beauty of Little Winnick is that there is so much to do on our door step.  Last week we walked down to Pentewan as I mentioned in the last blog, and the lunch I rushed off to at Heligan was sensational - as always.  I had a Dexter Beef Sandwich with salad, doesn't sound much but was the best sandwich I have had in a long time.  On my next visit (I am a regular with my season ticket), I had Dexter Beef Goulash and a cheese scone followed by the biggest meringue in the world!  Pictured are the shire horses sowing poppy seeds in the fields at Heligan, it was a spectacular site which made the hairs stand up on the back of your neck - it was like going back in time.  Also nearby is the small fishing harbour of Mevagissey - a great place to get fish and chips from followed by a walk around the village.  The Roseland Peninsula is also a short drive away with stunning quiet beaches and the King Harry Ferry.

If you are hoping to visit in August then please do book soon to avoid disappointment as we are getting very full.

First new arrivals for 2014 season...

I must apologise lots for the lack of blog when we opened for the 2014 season last Tuesday.  Hopefully you will forgive us, it is just our first new arrival of the season came a few days early- on Sunday 6th April our daughter Bethany Eve was born, a little sister for Jessica. A very quick birth meant Richard was back at the park for the opening day of the season just a day later!  As a result you will not being seeing much of me this year as I have two little people to keep me very busy however Richard will be on site most of the time.

So we are officially open for the season and already full over Easter which is just fantastic.  We have the Devon and Cornwall Rally taking place on site right now, and what fun they seem to be having with entertainment, breakfasts and walks out.  We have some pictures which I will get ready for the next blog.

Finally a blog that is super positive about the weather.  It is stunning.  So hot and not a cloud in the sky.  So much so I have been caught out a couple of times and got a little burnt.  By all accounts the weather is on the up now, so why not make the most of it and pop down to Cornwall to recharge in the glorious sun. We are offering 7 nights for the price of 5 after Easter.  Yesterday we walked from Little Winnick down the cycle trail to Pentewan with the pushchair laden with a picnic.  We sat by the harbour and watched the ducks and the comings and going of the village followed by an ice cream, it was so lovely.

Just a short blog today, as my parents who are down visiting and looking after Jessica for the morning have called and invited me to lunch at Heligan....my favourite lunch treat, so better decamp there for lunch!

Fourth Generation

Families are really important to us.  And whilst talking to the mother in law this morning, we had a proud moment when it hit us that four generations of our family have taken a great deal of pride in running family holiday parks for families.  Ok, so Jessica is only 20 months old and the main running she does is away from us to be honest, but we are very proud to be the only family run holiday parks in the Pentewan Valley.  But what does this actually mean for our guests? Well for a start that we have generations of experience and know how to run a good, clean, family orientated site. It also means we know all the great places to visit and have sampled them ourselves, whether with our daughter or with the dog.  We also know what it is like going on holiday with children.  How much stuff do little people need?  We have toys, games, sports equipment, books and new for this season a craft box in reception for you to borrow during your stay so it is one less thing for your to pack!

Of course we could not run the park alone - we have our brilliant wardens on site - Steve and Jude, who have been with the family for almost a decade now.  They live on the park to offer guests support in emergencies and help us in reception and with the general running of the site.

We are on the final count down to opening...exciting times.

Spring flowers and stunning blue skies

So we are on the final count down to opening, which is pretty exciting.  It is nice having a rest in the winter but the park feels so empty without guests to bring it alive.  This week we have begun to stock the shop, we are putting the final touches to the French drains (some of you may remember me mentioning the work starting on them a few months back but the weather stopped play), we have removed a couple of trees and we have nearly finished putting in the new pitch dividers. This week sees the final touches to the tarmac in the late arrivals area, work begins on a deep clean and we will be out gardening, admiring our very impressive daffodils which are out in full bloom.

I have been lucky enough to go on lots of outings this week as my parents have been down visiting.  As an annual pass holder at Heligan we were back there again.  A lovely walk from the Little Winnick Touring Park,  Heligan really is a great day out - I know I rave about it a lot, but right now the flowers are sensational and with it being pretty quiet you can visit without seeing hardly a soul.  We also ventured up to The Eden Project.  We only popped into the shop for lunch and a few sovereigns for my parents to take home - but the gardens were looking beautiful - again the daffodils are a delight right now with so many different and interesting varieties out.  Don't forget though if you are planning a visit to book your tickets online, or search for an offer as it is pretty pricey to get in.  If you are a National Trust Member you can get in half price for example.

We also had our first ever trip to Trebah Gardens.  Over near Falmouth the gardens are well loved by young and old with a stunning selection of plants coupled with a brilliant children's play area.  The walk down to the beach is magical - a real must if in Cornwall.

I was also spoilt on the food front with a lunch out at the Duchy Nursery.  I love the Duchy; the plants are stunning, and I always have to stop myself spending a fortune - and as for the food.  Well it is delicious.  You have to get there early to nab a table but even if you have to wait the food is well worth it.  As you arrive you are greeted by the smell of a roaring log fire and a huge selection of cakes.  The millionaires shortbread (by which I judge most tea rooms) is one of the best I have tasted - worth a visit just for that!

No blog would be complete without a weather update.  It is good news I am pleased to say.  After a very long wet period we have been enjoying wonderful warm days and stunning blue skies.  It is so strange not going out for the day without layers and layers of coats.  It really feels like spring is on the way and with the nights really drawing out there is a real buzz in the air that we can finally start thinking about the summer in front of us.

Spring is springing!

It is finally here - Spring started on 1st March officially and according to some it will be barbecue weather next week which is so exciting.  And I have to say when the sun is out it is glorious and so many of Cornwall's Tourist Attractions are coming to life.  Jessica and I had lunch at Heligan last week, not only was the food delicious but the lambs they have to pet are adorable.  There are also pigs onsite now too.  We also popped into The Eden Project recently.  That was a lovely day out with so much for children to do and of course dogs are now welcome at both.  

We are busy bees with only a few weeks until opening.  We are cracking on with sprucing up the early arrivals area with new tarmac and the ground work is being done for additional site lighting.  There is also a great deal of painting going on and ordering of new site maps and such like.  Today I will be turning my mind to the shop and getting the huge shopping list ready to restock in the coming weeks and I shall begin the arduous task of choosing ice creams for the freezer!

Perhaps most exciting is the news that we have been granted planning permission for improvements to the exisiting toilet block.  Whilst the facilities that we currently have are very good, with great showers and very clean and tidy, especially the current new block, we would like to consolidate everything under one roof and provide more facilities for our disabled guests and a family bathroom suite to make life easier for parents.  So with that in mind at the end of the coming season we shall be making major changes to what we currently have.  We will have full plans on display at Reception throughout the season so please do come and have a look and ask us any questions you may have.

Cornwall is open for business

'Cornwall is open for business' that is the message for VisitCornwall and one we fully endorse -although we are not open for a few more weeks.  Weather seems to be the main content of my blogs these days and it is hardly surprising, however we are, thankfully doing okay.  As I have previously said the drainage is working a treat and we have little standing water.  The vast amount of work early in the close season in the bottom field has paid off it would appear and the entire site is draining much better.  Outside work has been stopped since before Christmas, however we are confident the weather will change for the better soon and we can crack on with improving the lighting around the site and other outside projects.

This week has been the worst week of weather to hit us.  On Wednesday the rain, hail and wind was unbelievable.  Jessica and I walked to playgroup at 100 miles an hour as we were blown along all protected in full waterproofs!  Today is pretty bad too.  I am sitting at home in the office watching the trees bend in two and the hail come in side ways.  However Carol Kirkwood, who we now watch every morning without fail promises a better week next week so we can look forward to that.

I am feeling a bit spring like despite it all.  The nights are without doubt drawing out now - we have light until 5.40pm and the bulbs are battling against the odds to come up and when it is nice the Cornish sun has a real warmth about it too - you can't help but smile when you feel that warmth.  You see that is one of the many things we love about Cornwall is that we seem to feel the warmth of the sun first and the first signs of spring are always early and offer us hope that there is warmer weather just around the corner.  Lets face we have got to have a stunning summer after the last few weeks - so get booking to avoid disappointment!

Book online

The online booking is now available again - apologies for the small technical issues we were having but all is fixed now so please do book online to ensure you get the best rates available.

Despite the truly horrid weather we are all still standing - just- down here.  It has been a scary 24 hrs.  So far the only casualty seems to be a flag pole from on top of reception.  We are hoping all this rain now means we are all set for a glorious summer!

Bookings

Hello,
I am afraid we are having a little technical issue with our online bookings at the moment, so until it is fixed we have removed that option from the website - hopefully we should have it working in the next few days.  In the meantime please do give Richard a call in the office on 01726 843687 or email mail@littlewinnick.co.uk.

Talking of bookings - the first two weeks in August are getting very busy - we have limited availability left so please do get in contact sooner rather than later if you have specific weeks you would like to come and stay at Little Winnick Touring Park.

Last blog I was off on my first aid course - it was a Family First Aid Course - very interesting and useful but hopefully something I will never have to put into practice at Little Winnick or home.  Home life is certainly busy for us at the moment.  Jessica is now 18 months old and in to everything as you can imagine.  She loves coming to the site and helping us but at the moment is a particular fan of puddles, well more to the point jumping in them!

Puddles leads me on nicely to the weather.  Right now we are meant to be in the eye of yet another storm.  Well, thankfully it seems very calm and dare I say it, we even have blue skies to enjoy at the moment.

Spring is springing despite the weather

Hello,
Well we are being hit by the same weather as the rest of the UK - wet, cold and very windy with a little bit of hail thrown in for good measure.  It has meant that any outside work has come to a halt for a day or so as everywhere and everything is just so wet.  In fact this morning is quite odd; I arrived in daylight first thing and now I can barely see outside it has gone so dark.

All that aside spring is really starting to show signs of being just a whisker away with bulbs popping up everywhere and the precious carpets of snow drops squeezing through the damp soil.  Cornwall is so lucky to have some stunning gardens which really are at their best throughout April and May.  Within walking distance we have The Lost Gardens of Heligan which if you visit at no other time is an absolute must in May.  The Eden Project can be accessed via bus, car or for those that don't mind a challenge and the odd hill - bike!  Eden is really beginning to mature now and the outside gardens which have a stunning tulip display are in my book equally as good as the famous greenhouses.

Closer to home we are starting to see the daffodils coming up, hopefully they will produce a good show for our guests at Easter.  Little Winnick HQ - better known as the office out the back is really starting to take shape now and nearly all the painting is finished in the office area.  The next big job us to give the toilet blocks a freshen up - but we will wait for a break in the weather for than job.  Other winter jobs include making sure our training is all up to date so today I am off on a first aid course - at least I will be warm and dry.

Stormy but safe

Happy New Year from all at Little Winnick Touring Park.

The South West has featured heavily in the news over recent days about baring the brunt of some fairly unforgiving storms.  It has been a wet and windy few days; this morning we were awoken at 5am by a fierce thunder storm, which was directly over head - the lightning show was pretty spectacular.  Richard and I live in St Austell, a short drive from the site.  Opposite is our road on Friday when the hail came down so hard it was like a flowing river down the road - we are only thankful we live on top of a hill.

As for Little Winnick -  it is fairing okay.  Each morning there have been some pretty large puddles, and a couple of pitches are water logged but the work on the drainage is paying off already - and lets face it if it can cope with the weather we have been dealt in the last few weeks then summer storms will not be a challenge!

Locally there are reports of isolated flooding - I am sure you will have seen that Looe was flooded on the National News and in Newquay the loss of so much sand has revealed a shipwreck no one knew existed.  Other than that the area was well prepared and we are coping pretty well.  The sun today was a welcome relief to a tough few days.

We are pleased to report that bookings are coming in for the 2014 season so if you are thinking about coming during the peak times or would like a specific pitch then we would recommend to book early to avoid disappointment.  You can book online or give us a call on 01726 843687.

One of my favourite things about Cornwall is how the mild climate makes the plants come to life earlier after the winter.  Despite the aforementioned weather the bulbs are well and truly sprouting and the first snow drops are about to come into flower.  For some reason this gives me hope that soon we will be in full spring here and then it is not long until we open and welcome many of you back again!