 By Eve Hartridge- Follow Eve here
My father once remarked that there is no better place to be than England when the sun shines, and I think he is right. Cornwall in particular conjures up nostalgic images of balmy summer days, melting ice creams and long sandy beaches; blissful days tinged in sepia in the days before smartphone apps made photographs warm and fuzzy.
Early summer is a lovely time to visit as the schools have not finished for the summer holidays and the roads are relatively clear, meaning you only run a small risk of torrential rain... and flooding! However, I would advise you make the trip to Mousehole, come rain or shine as it’s a risk worth taking.
Mousehole is a small fishing port 6 miles south of Penzance, retaining Cornish charm and cultural allure. The village is packed with fantastic eateries, including some wonderful cafes with delicious homemade cakes, and a number of galleries exhibiting work from mainly local artists. Julia Mills is a local glass artist who has a gallery and workshop selling stunning framed stained glass pieces close to the pier, a few doors away from The Little Picture Gallery selling gorgeous prints and paintings of the local area.
Where to Stay:
Boutique Retreats is the ideal home from home option for those who love quirky bespoke hotels, adore luxury but would prefer the flexibility of self-catering. I stayed at the exquisite Kittiwake cottage which is ideal for a romantic get away.
The cottage is restored to an extremely high specification from granite work surfaces in the kitchen, plasma TVs, crisp cotton bed linen, fluffy white towels and a wonderful roll top bath. The downstairs snug is perfectly cosy and the bedroom is light and airy, with stunning views of the bay and St Michael’s Mount.
There is a small garden and summer house, which means that the outside area can be enjoyed come rain or shine, even if 2012 doesn’t look like a heat wave year. On arrival, the cottage was well stocked with essentials including a bottle of champagne, ready to chill and enjoy.
Where to Eat:
The Cornish Range is located a few yards away from Kittiwake and became my favourite place to eat. The building was originally a Pilchard press and this Michelin recommended restaurant specialises in seafood although all dishes are superb and used where possible with local produce from the West Country. I would recommend the locally caught lobster and smoked salmon salad with chili dressing and the lemon sole, for seafood lovers it is food heaven!
http://www.cornishrange.co.uk/
http://www.boutique-retreats.co.uk/luxury-cottages-cornwall/mousehole/kittiwake-6.html
http://www.juliamillsgallery.co.uk/
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