Journey home

Decided to stay with plan A and drive along the coast until I got bored and then turn left and head for home.  Was nice when I set out and I managed to stop in Torquay itself to take a few photos.

Torquay photo album

From then on the weather seemed to be against me, although nowhere near as bad as Friday, there were quite a lot of heavy showers and they all seemed to hit just as I arrived somewhere and wanted to get out of the car.  Sidmouth looked really nice but it was way too wet for me to venture out of the car.

From there I carried on along the coast, visiting Weymouth and Bournemouth before deciding it was time to turn left and head for home.

Horrendous weather coming up the M3 but fortunately traffic wasn't too bad and got home around 5pm

Saturday

Last morning and its not raining yet! Forecast says it will be soon though.

Good nights  sleep although a bit noisy, room 190. Breakfast was nice but I have been spoilt at the Royal Duchy.

The Headland Hotel and Spa

Headland Hotel photo album

Well, although not such a prestigious hotel as the last one, it's not bad! 

The pool is a hydra pool so you have to turn on the jets in order to be able to swim against the current.  Would be good if only the temperature was not that of a hot bath!

Just had a six course meal for  £19.95 which was delicious so probably a good thing I'm not staying longer.

Even the rain has finally stopped and it turned into quite a nice evening.

Torquay

Still thought I'd find a pub or somewhere to have lunch on the way but nope, nothing appealed.

Ended up snacking on the bits and pieces in the car.

Finally after 4 1/2 hours driving I reached the Headland Hotel and checked in to room 190.  If I hadn't been committed to paying for it I would probably have come home!

Headland hotel photo album

Looe

Persevered on my quest thinking I'd at least find somewhere to have lunch but after a long and slow drive still didn't find anywhere I fancied and still too much rain to tempt me out of the car.

Next stop Torquay.

St Stephen

I decided to go the road route to  Looe which took me through St Austell so decided to divert through St Stephen and see if I could find 12 Fore Street.  Well I think I found it but the rain was too heavy to even contemplate getting out of the car! I had to go through what looked like a river just to get into the village. If I hadn't watched smaller cars than me cross it I might have turned back.

St Stephen photo album

Friday

Rain, rain and more rain. Definitely the worst day for weather so far. Not sure what my plan is now.

Decided to change my plans based on the weather today. No point heading to St Mawes in weather like this, it's like a river running along the front.

Cherries

Decided to stop on my way home to buy some fresh cherries to eat on my journey tomorrow and was surprised to see they came from Kent! And they must transport them in a Rolls Royce or something because they're twice the price they are in Kent!!!!!!

Porthmeor

Final port of call for today was another surfing beach, Porthmeor. Sat on the front for a while trying to get action shots of the surfers.

Porthmeor photo album

Portreath

Just what I was looking for a small village on the beach. Had coffee and an ice cream  (Salted Caramel Eileen) and spent a couple of hours taking pictures of the waves and the surfers.

Portreath photo album

Perranporth

Just down the coast I came to Perranporth, a typical Cornish surfing beach. I stopped to take in the views and make use of the facilities but no coffee shop so only a quick visit.

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Newquay

Well Newquay was my target today and in retrospect not a good choice.  Too much driving, what with traffic and roadworks and nowhere nice to park when I finally got there. Decided to move on to somewhere else.

Thursday

Woke up to a much better morning. The sun is shining and the hotel have even put cushions on the seats so they must think the weather will be better today.  Followed my normal routine of swim then breakfast - still had the pool to myself!

Dinner

Finally got a crab sandwich. Not the usual choice for dinner but I had to have one at some point and it was delicious!

Penzance

Final stop of the day I think. At the harbour in Penzance looking at St Michael's Mount from the back. The wind is picking up and it's getting quite dark so I guess another downpour is on the way.

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Sennen Cove

Sennen Cove is basically Lands End without the parking charges. Spent a couple of hours wandering along the front from bench to bench. Sun tried hard to come out but was interrupted by the odd shower. The only one that was serious was while I was driving so no worries about that.

Click here for more photos

Marazion

Made it to Marazion via a very convoluted route thanks to my sat nav and I am now sitting in a nice car park cafe opposite St Michael's Mount enjoying my morning coffee.  Can just about see it through the mist and cloud.

Marazion photo album

Weather report

Much better morning in that the wind has dropped but it is very overcast although quite warm.  Interesting to watch the hotel staff putting all the furniture and plants back to their rightful locations.

Wednesday

Woke up to a very misty morning and headed down for my swim about 8am. Had the pool all to myself again! Then off to breakfast.  Poached egg on toast with bacon on the side.

Porthleven

Headed along the coast to Porthleven and I managed to find a nice parking space just across the harbour from Rick Stein's restaurant.  Really nice place to sit, wander and take pictures.  

Porthleven photo album

Cream tea

Stopped for lunch at Mullion and decided that as they wanted  £11.95 for a crab sandwich this might be the opportunity to try out a cream tea. Well you have to in Cornwall don't you.

Very nice. Rain has cleared up and sun starting to shine through.

Heading south

For my first day out I decided to drive around Falmouth and then head south. The weather forecast suggests rain from about 1pm. Found out about boat trips from the tourist information centre and now need to study the timetables to plan a route.

Set off for the Lizard around 11am and drove around the various coves. Kennack Cove would have been lovely to spend the afternoon but unfortunately the heavens opened as I arrived and there was nowhere to sit undercover.

Breakfast

Good nights sleep and in the pool by 8.  Breakfast at 9. Bit breezy at the moment although still warm but thunderstorms predicted for later.  Just need to decide what I'm going to do today........

Bedtime

Wonder of wonders, I'm in bed 6 hours earlier than Saturday night. AND Mama Mia is on the box to send me to sleep.

Dinner time

It's been an interesting evening.  Went to the bar for dinner and ordered a glass of cabernet sauvignon.  Along came a glass of white! Got that changed and ordered my dinner, crab and prawn linguine.  This time I got fishcakes! Could make for an interesting week.

Just arrived

Had a very good journey down from Maidenhead, left at midday and arrived at the Royal Duchy Hotel in Falmouth at around 4.30 with a short stop at the second services on the M5 - as recommended by Sue and Jos.

Checked in to a very nice room (210) and went off to investigate the pool. Bit on the small side but adequate.

Now, after a quick g and t feel nicely refreshed and off to checkout the hotel.

Royal Duchy Hotel photo album