Godrevy Point

Beach at Godrevy

Godrevy Lighthouse

We left Gwinear camp site at 10.50 after a damp morning and stopped at the east end of St Ives Bay. We arrived at 11.30 after an easy drive and parked at the lower car park for Godrevy Point. The weather was now bright with mist in the distance.

rock pools

We walked towards the point and lighthouse. The beach has a dog ban from May to September so we can only enjoy his beach out of season. It was deserted so it became our own private space. We climbed up and walked back along the coast path where we saw a couple of dogs exercising their owners on the beach.

It was still warm when we reached Sally-Van even though there was a fine mist out to sea, so Van-Man decided to have lunch at the cafe. The food was excellent and the helpings generous. My wrap was twice the size of a normal shop bought one and had a generous side salad so I took the second half for tomorrow’s lunch. Van-Man cleared his plate, only leaving a small titbit for Lottie.

Lighthouse island

We set off for Lands End at 1.30 and had a good drive down to Sennon Cove Club site. We arrived an hour later as the weather closed in. We chose a pitch with sea views, a view of Carn Brea beacon and Lands End airport.

Once pitched Van-Man settled down for a brew.

“What shall we do this afternoon?” he asked. The weather decided for us. By the time he’d drink his tea a sea mist had closed in hiding Carn Brea.

deserted beach

Van-Man walked Lottie around the field designated as a dog walk as the damp mist grew thicker.

“Think we’ll just have a relaxing afternoon after all the bustle with the grandchildren,” he said. Lottie spent the first hour out on the grass but came in when the mist was so thick we could not see beyond the site’s hedge. The sea view had gone.

the mist creeps in

Pendennis Castle

Pendennis Castle 

one of the tunnels

It was a nice day with sunshine and cloud. We had an easy drive down to Pendennis Castle and arrived at 11.10. Parking was easy but there was no sign of our family among the few vehicles.

“Let’s walk Lottie around the outside while we wait,” I said.
We followed the moat walk and had reached the castle entrance by the time our daughter phoned to say they were parking.

Gun inspection

 We soon met up and Lottie was more relaxed for having had a leg stretch.

As we entered Pendennis Castle a volunteer let us know that one of the WW2 guns was being fired at 12.00 which would be about five minutes.

“Lottie will hate that,” I said.

inside Pendennis Castle outer wall 

“We’ll head away from the firing area and meet up with you later,” Van-Man replied.

“Can I come with you?” the middle grandchild asked.


“I don’t like guns being fired.”

Leaving the other four children and their parents we walked briskly away. We found a tunnel leading down to a lower level and waited for the gun to be fired. We heard a muffled boom. After five minutes we walked up the tunnel. Boom.

Lottie stopped dead and stared at the sky.

The modern wing

The guns that were fired

“I’m glad we are down here,” she said. “But how will Mummy find us?”

“She will find us easily,” I replied. As we walked up the hill the family appeared, walking towards us. “That’s it,” she confirmed. “Let’s sit on that bench for lunch.”

The oldest children soon finished eating and went to look at one of the gun placements to fill in their trail sheet.

sailing on the estuary

a gun placement

After lunch we explored the castle and grounds filling in the answers to the questions on each sheet. When the pencil was lost through the grating my daughter carried on filling in the numbers with her eye liner.

On entering the main keep Lottie soon decided that this part of the castle was too noisy so Van-Man took her out. Two of the children got separated on a staircase but the older one kept the four year old with her until Daddy found them. I relieved Van-Man and sat with Lottie so he could have a whistle stop tour with the grandchildren.

When we were all reunited the younger children headed for the tunnels again for a last look with Dad before going home.

Looking down at Lottie from the Keep

Van-Man looked wistfully at the WW1 exhibition.

“I’d like to look around that,” he said.

The far shore

“So would I,” my daughter said, and my eldest granddaughter Chloe echoed. “I’ve been learning about World War 1 at school.”

I’ll wait here with Lottie,” I volunteered. “When they come back we will come over to meet you.”

By the time the children had rejoined me and we walked over to the exhibition the three history buffs were coming out of the door.

Time to leave

We headed back to the family home for dinner.

“Chloe enjoyed telling me what she has been learning. I guess she enjoyed having Granddad to herself too.

Chelle cooked for us all using her pasta and garlic bread and took our sausages and added them to the meal.

We left at 18.30 so that they could go to bed ready for school tomorrow.

Mother Ivy's

The dunes at Holywell

Let's go this way

It was a lovely sunny morning once the chill had left the air. After Breakfast we went to Holywell beach. The car park was nearly empty when we arrived. We walked over the dunes which was hard going in the soft sand. Lottie galloped up the steep slopes effortlessly making me envy her four paw drive. We found a path down onto the beach and returned to the river without having to climb again. The tide was out giving us a wide expanse to explore.

down to the sea

As we headed past the life guards station Lottie saw some people with food and went to search for scraps and scrounge treats. Van-Man called her back but she trotted on making him sprint after her. She had already introduced herself to the family but fortunately they seemed charmed by the large Lurcher. Van-Man put her on the lead until we were away from everybody. She paddled in the stream as we headed back to Sally-Van and crossed over cutting off the corner.

going back along the srream

As I was barefoot I waded across and told Van-Man to go around via the bridge but he took off his shoes and followed me complaining that the water was cold. Lottie didn’t seem to think it was chilly as she sat down to let the water cool her tummy.

We boarded Sally-Van and drove to my daughter’s house arriving just as she was putting lunch together. Both Van-Man and Lottie queued up for lunch so the fresh air had developed their appetites.

In the afternoon we headed to Mother Ivy’s beach, as we had discovered the grandchildren had not visited it yet, whereas we had found it last year.

Life boat station beyond Mother Ivy’s 

It was a ten minute walk from the car park but the two year old managed the distance easily. At one point the coast path had crumbled into the sea but a sturdy fence blocked our path. An arrow directed us safely around behind the hedge. We descended down a gentle slope with a few rock steps and were on the beach.

The oldest girls went straight into the water, enjoying the space without other bathers and the lack of crashing surf. We set off to walk along the beach but the tide was coming in so we couldn’t go beyond the first rocky outcrop. Lottie went for a dip in the sea before we returned to the grandchildren. The oldest were swimming on the calm water and the others playing on the edge.

checking the rock pools

After scrounging for food Lottie settled down on the beach. We left at 5.15 after almost two hours on the beach with happy children. They visit lots of beaches but always enjoy somewhere new.

Van-Man treated the family to Fish and Chips from the popular Port and Starboard. Everyone enjoyed it. We left at 8.00 having arranged to meet at Pendennis Castle tomorrow.

Mother Ivy’s 

Its a long drive to Cornwall.

Having packed most things yesterday I transferred the contents of the fridge and our toothbrushes to Sally-Van while Van-Man walked Lottie.

We set out at 10.00 but Van-Man’s delight was short lived. We avoided the road works in East Grinstead but the rod we chose was blocked by an accident. We could see people walking in the road and gesticulating so Van-Man did a three point turn. I was impressed that he could swing Sally-Van around so easily but then she is less than 6 metres long.

We carried on via Copthorne and found the M23 flowing smoothly. As we arrived at Cobham services the traffic on the M25 began queuing.

“Great,” I said ironically. “I’ll be practicing my low gears.” I still find it hard changing down as the intervals are closer than in our car.

After a comfort break I drove into the slow moving queue on the M25. By the time I reached the M3 we had been on the road 2 hours, twice as long as normal. The 303 was better but was slower than normal due to the heavy traffic. We changed drivers in a lay-by before Solstice services.

As we went around the roundabout before Stonehenge the queue to the single file road had backed up around the corner.

Van-Man took the next junction to divert around the problem.

“Let’s eat at Woodhenge,” I suggested.

By the fishing lake

“Good idea,” Van-Man replied. “It’s nearly 1.00.” there was no space in the tiny car park so we stopped on the verge behind another van. Van-Man gave Lottie a quick walk enjoying the sunshine while I prepared cheese crackers.

“A family were interested to know what sort of dog she was,” Van-Man said on his return. “Lottie promptly searched them for food.”

After a short lunch stop Van-Man drove off again. “We’ve already lost a lot of time,” he said. “I told the site I’d be there by 5.00.”

It was busy by-passing the Stonehenge stretch but we had to queue to rejoin the A303. It looked very slow moving. It was slow all the way to Honiton. Normally we can cruise Sally-Van at 60 to 65 mph but we were down to 50 with long queues at each roundabout and queues to filter into each single track stretch between dual carriageways. It took 2 hours to reach the M5.

I drove from Honiton with Van-Man fretting about the time. Fortunately I was able to cruise at 65 after crawling along to join the M5.

Van-Man phoned the campsite but was told reception would be open until 6.00pm. We swapped in a lay-by near Victoria junction. Even though the traffic was heavy through Quintrell Downs we arrived at the campsite at 5.40.

Evening Ducks

There was nobody there but a message instructed Van-Man to call the tackle shop where the owner of the campsite was working. We fed Lottie while waiting for somebody to arrive. The site was small but in excellent condition. Eventually the owner arrived, apologising. His wife was on maternity leave so he was working alone. We were not the last to arrive he told us, a camper van had phoned to say they were running late. Van-Man picked a level site which had water as well as electricity.

After pitching we walked Lottie around the field and past the fishing lake. It looks a quiet site. Tomorrow we will see the grandchildren so peace will be welcome tonight.  The camper Van arrived at 10.30. It was a long day for the owner.

Japanese Water Deer

Fallow deer

It was a soggy start to the day but Van-Man managed to walk Lottie when the rain ceased for fifteen minutes. When we were ready to leave the weather had cheered up. We headed to nearby Roman Camp to give Lottie a decent walk before the long journey home. The heather covered hill was lovely. As I looked across I saw a movement to one side. A deer and her youngster were stood watching us. They were almost invisible; it was only the slight movement of the young deer’s head that helped me spot them. They waited immobile until Lottie had passed below them then they vanished into the hillside. It is wonderful to see then so healthy and alert. Back at Sally-Van an information board showed that Japanese Water Deer inhabit the hill; so this was a rare sight as we only have Roe, Sika, Fallow and Muntjack back home.

Muntjack Deer

Soon after leaving the rain returned and a strong wind developed making me glad Van-Man was driving. It took 1½ hours to reach the picnic area south of Lakenheath where we gave Lottie a short stroll then ate lunch.

I was nervous when I started driving in the rain but the wind did not push Sally-Van around too much. Soon the sun came out making it easier. I arrived at the services ant Bishop’s Stortford more confident at driving a motor home in gusting winds. Van-Man drove home without any hold ups on the motorways so we parked up just after 3.00

East Runton

It was a nice clear morning but Van-Man was not keen to drive far as we have a long drive tomorrow. We have visited all the nearest attractions apart from Cromer pier, and most of the beaches are no dogs this time of year. He eventually suggested that we go for a walk from the site. “Cromer is only 35 minutes away,” he announced after some research. “That doesn’t seem long enough.” He then studied the online OS map.

“We can walk to the cliff walks at East Runton.”

We left at 11.00 in sunshine with me carrying our lunch. He was carrying his camera and telephoto lens. Thankfully a lot of the walk was in the shade as the sun was hot. It took 40 minutes to reach the cliff edge but when we got there the coast path had been eroded away so that the path we had followed stopped abruptly at the cliffs.

Van-Man consulted the online OS map again. “Oh it does show this as a dead end,” he admitted. We retraced our steps until we passed the railway then looped around Ickborough Hill. We got back to Sally-Van at 1.00 and ate the lunch I had carried around with me. It wasn’t the best walk but the view from the cliffs was lovely. This ended the day’s excursion; we turned to in van entertainment such as reading and puzzles as we have no TV.

There are no pictures for today as Van-Man accidentally deleted them.

Blickling Estate

walking around the lake

Blickling Estate

Van-Man walked the large Lurcher on the hill and returned for breakfast as rain began to fall. The rain soon passed over so we drove to Blickling Estate. As it was National Trust Van-Man was confident he could park Sally-Van.

We decided to walk around the lake as dogs were not allowed in the formal gardens or the house. When there was nobody around Van-Man let Lottie off the lead and she trotted down to the lake.

Blickling House across the lake

The imposing residence

“This sign says no dogs in the lake,” I cried, as Lottie sat down n the cool water. She wouldn’t come out when Van-Man called her, but lapped up the water slowly as if saying

“No hurry, I’m just having a drink.” I don’t see what damage she could have caused by having a quiet paddle but we got her on the lead before any walkers spotted our crime. The lake was soon fenced off from canine trespassers so Lottie had a few more minutes of exploration off the lead. As we walked on every gate had a sign saying keep dogs on leads so Lottie was fortunate to have her five minutes of freedom.

the Tower

looking back across the field to the tower

On the far side of the lake we overtook a couple of ladies with five assorted children. The large Lurcher’s peace was disturbed by two noisy children constantly overtaking us, hiding and jumping out. From her superior expression I felt she only tolerates that sort of behaviour from our Cornish grandchildren.

the mausoleum

“I prefer Felbrigg,” Van-Man said as we passed the formal gardens. Back at Sally-Van we had a leisurely lunch. Afterwards we looked at the Blickling Estate map and decided to drive to a car park on the far side as it seemed better for walkers, and neither of us felt like taking it in turns to walk round the formal gardens and house while the other dog sat.

We walked to the tower with Lottie trotting ahead along a wooded trail. After looking around the outside of the tower we walked across the fields towards the mausoleum as there were no cattle in sight. We only met one couple walking; otherwise we had the whole estate to ourselves until we reached the cycle track where two weary cyclists were resting.

through the woods ...

By then it had grown hot but the walk to the mausoleum was in shady woodland. After the mausoleum we carried on through the woods and followed a track along the edge of the field back to Sally-Van. The large Lurcher lay down in the van straight away thus declaring herself satisfied with the afternoons exercise. She didn’t move when Van-Man stopped to fill with diesel and slept all evening after wolfing down her food.

and along the edge of the field