3 days to go

The last week has been like DIY SOS.  We have had many trades on site; the gas tanks arrived and we have hot water (Phew!), the new Elsan point has been installed, new lights are in the toilet block and we are putting the final licks of paint on things.  On Friday the signs for around the site arrived - Richard has been learning Cornish so there is a touch of the language across the park...you can have an education whilst going to the loo!

Some more exciting news is the chicken run has arrived! We will be getting a flock of four, so I am not sure they will be supplying the shop with eggs - we will leave that to the local free range egg supply, but they will certainly entertain us I am sure.

Also the shop is stocked. It was great fun getting everything for it, we hope we have a broad selection of things but please do let us know when you visit what you think.

Our first guests arrived on Saturday (I know, we are not open until the 1st but they wanted to set up early).  The local couple have a permanent pitch with us so they can escape and relax when they have time off - we were very pleased to welcome them to the park.

Normally I would also fill you in on what we have been up to around Cornwall, but I am sure you will understand that the last week has been spent at Little Winnick.  There is such a lovely atmosphere on the park, and the sun has been shining all week so I don't mind being there all the time!  We are now appreciating what a sun trap the site is, all day long it is glorious.  In fact I have had to buy us some sunscreen.  Especially for our youngest member of staff - Jessica who is 9 months old.  She supervisors our work and helps clean flower beds by crawling to them and eating whatever she can find!

So with three more days to go, we plan to put up the signs, have a sweeper in to clean the road, clean and stock the toilets and then maybe on Thursday we will sit down and relax!

9 days until opening

Only 9 days until we open!  We cannot wait to welcome people to Little Winnick. We have worked so hard over the last few months we really hope  returning guests will see the difference and new guests will enjoy our hard work!  This weeks sees the final electrics going into the toilet blocks, we are putting in new lights and doors.  We are also awaiting delivery of  the signs and planting up the flower beds with some flowers.  We are also installing new washer dryers and the oil tank is being installed.  It is all stations go!

I am making very good use of the trail.  Most days I walk down from our house in St Austell - usually with an 8 month old strapped to my back or in the pushchair. The trail is brilliant; bike, dog, pushchair, horse and walker friendly. Accessed from the site you can turn left to St Austell, very enthusiastic people can follow the route all the way to the Eden Project (up a huge hill on the way) or you can veer off and go to Charlestown. Or if you turn right you can easily get to Pentewan for a well deserved pint and food.  This week Granny is walking from the site to Heligan with Jessica for yet more cake (just to re confirm it is good cake - we are hoping they remember to bring us workers some.

Talking of food, within walking distance is the lovely Kingswood Bar and Restaurant. The very popular restaurant is often full with locals so book to avoid disappointment. We can highly recommend the 'steak and Shellfish' night on a Wednesday. 

Cornwall is really starting to wake up after the sleepy winter season. There is so much to look forward to with lots of feasts and events. Why not tie your visit in with some of the many local events. Mevagissey Feast Week is always one to look forward to. The fireworks over the harbour are some of the best we have seen (and we have seen a lot of fireworks as I love them!). All through the week there are loads of family friendly activities taking place. 

Fowey Regatta is another renown event. The Red Arrows are a huge attraction going a spectacle display through the valley-you almost feel like you couldreachout and 

Not long...

Not long until opening day!  Sorry I have not posted for a while; I am sure you will appreciate we have been pretty busy so I have lots to update with you with.

So firstly the play equipment is in! A tower with a slide and swings; it is taking shape next to the reception building.  The weather was kind to us whilst we had it installed however the recent rain has meant all the fence post holes we dug have become little ponds!  Pictured is John  undertaking the very important role of head slide tester.  We can confirm the slide does indeed slide!

The toilet block has had a lick of paint and looks really nice - we are just waiting for the signs to finish the the job off.  The laundry room now has two shiny new sinks and the washers and dryers will be coming very soon.

When we had brilliant sunshine last week we cracked on and numbered all the pitches - we have 90 in total with a mixture of grass, hard standing and electric and non electric pitches.  Pictured is Jessica helping me move the signs to the right place - her pram was very handy!  We have also had a team in testing all the hook ups making sure they work - thankfully this work is nearly complete now.

If you would like to make a booking or find out more about the site please do give us a call on 01726 843687 or email mail@littlewinnick.co.uk

Come play and stay with us!

Little people who like to play are very welcome on the site. We have spent a lot of time researching our options but the play equipment is now on order-very exciting!  We can't wait to try it out and make sure it is suitable for our little campers! (Well someone has to)

Things are moving fast on site. All the hard standings are nearly complete and a tree surgeon has been on site making all the trees safe. We have also seen a transformation of reception - we are now turning our thoughts to what we will stock in the shop.  Planting troughs are on order to brighten the reception office and work on the sandpit will start very soon.   We have also knocked down the old entrance toilets and are busy rescuing the flowers and plants from the invading brambles.

Perhaps most exciting of all though is the confirmation of our site wardens. Steve and Judy, who were previously wardens for us at River Valley Holiday Park have signed up for the season at Little Winnick Touring Park - we are so pleased to welcome them to the team down here.

Bookings are come in fast for the August Holidays - give us a call to make a booking to avoid any disappointment.

Hard at work on hard standings

The sun made be out but it is bitterly cold.  However this doesn't stop us down at the site.  We have been busy installing twenty five new hard standing pitches along the river bank.  Pictured are Judith & John who own the site and their children Alison and Richard stopping for a well earned coffee!

So far the work is going well - John has only hit one water pipe with his digger!  The reception is really taking shape and the play equipment has been ordered.  We are getting really excited about opening now on the 1st May!

Work well under way

Welcome to our blog about the highs and lows of living the Cornish Dream.  Little Winnick was brought by Judith and John Clemo, my mother and father-in-law in January 2013.  The family already own River Valley Holiday Park and Tregongeeves Farm Cottages just up the road.   Loving a challenge and wanting to breathe new life into the site Judith and John along with daughter Alison, son Richard and me (Heidi) the work has begun. 

Follow this blog to find out about what we have been up to and how the new site is taking shape. 

Since we brought the park we have been hard at work.  We have laid a new patio, trees have been cut back, reception has been gutted, painted and kitted out.  New hard standing pitches will be completed this week, along with testing and sprucing up of the new and old toilet block.  The website is up and running and headed paper, business cards and compliment slips are on order.  It really is all stations go!

Until we were let loose on the plants it was a little bit like the 'The Lost Gardens of Little Winnick'!  However as you can see we have been busy removing all the brambles allowing the plants to breathe again and come back to life.  I have to confess to picking a handful of daffodils for my kitchen table today.  Pictured is our daughter supervising Granny and Ginny the dog fight a bush and a bramble!