Trenderway Farm

On holiday with Susan, you can experience an entire lifetime, moments both big and small and everything in-between and she finds beauty in all of it.

What can I say about this farm situated near Looe, who calls a town Looe? The farm, quiet, is the best way to describe it. No other guests and barring the odd person to serve breakfast, quiet. Just to put the place we are staying in, in perspective, it is tucked away from everywhere, with nothing around it for miles.

As it is a B&B, we do get a full English, nothing to write home about but keeps you going through the day. Our room is quite big and the shower does what it should. I am a hotel person, with a lounge, a steady supply of food and drink, with the ordinary and not so ordinary guests to entertain me, when I sit and write.

Susan is loving it and even her asthma does not dampen her spirits, she forgot her ventilator at home and the pollen count is off the scale, she did power through this morning, gasping for every breath and smiling. Incredible human being, but after her swim, she did feel better. I, on the other hand, have hurt my left knee and find the powering thing a little daunting, Cornwall is all about walking. Let me warn all those who want to visit this area of England, if you cannot walk, you better stay at home.

The first morning we woke to glorious sunshine and blue skies. After breakfast, we planned our days of sightseeing. We had been told that Looe’s west beach was a popular place to swim and it was dog friendly. We were slightly restricted by my lack of mobility and Jenson, all the places had to be easily accessible and dog friendly.

Looe west beach was another one of those rocky, down the steps and onto the beach, did not look very appealing but Jenson was straight in, dodging the seaweed. There was a good-looking beach cafe and Looe Island, also known as St George’s island, was just off the shore.

Susan walked down to the shoreline and tested the water. Despite not being able to get to the island it was an amazing view. A wonderful, peaceful place for anyone interested in gazing at the harbour mouth and the sea. Susan did not seem overwhelmed by the water.

We both noticed the difference in the landscape and the vegetation. It seemed greener and fuller than our native Dorset. I often wonder why we have the potential to destroy or restore the natural world.

The next stop was Seaton, a small beach town about 15 minutes drive from Looe. Being dog friendly and easily accessible, we parked the car and hit the waves, well not really, a little swim in very clear water was more like our style. The beach is stony and a dark grey, not that great to walk on but better than having to cross rocks to get to the water.

Coffee at the Beach Cafe was the best I have tasted in a while and we were quite happy to sit and watch the world go by for a while.

Next was Fowey, pronounced Foy, like Joy, after an hour's drive we arrived in the harbour town which is renown for its famous writers. Daphne du Maurier is the most well-known and they say she was very happy there. I do find that a little strange as she wrote suspense and horror, must have been countryside. The poet Robert Bridges described Fowey as “the most poetic-looking place in England” and Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows – he is said to have modelled Toad Hall on Fowey Hall. St Fimbarrus Church, we saw from a distance but again we were foiled in our attempt to see the harbour or the town and it is closed to normal traffic and the 15-minute walk from the car park is downhill to the town.

Slightly grumpy we drove back to Treadaway Farm. Stopped on the way to Antony House, a National Trust property, hoping for something to eat and drink. No dogs are allowed so Susan bought a coffee cake for herself and a sausage roll for me, with takeaway coffee. We parked in the staff area and it was not long before we had staff saying hello and telling us about the house and the farm. One thing that really stood out was the friendliness of all those Cornish people, always ready to engage in chat and information. The Cornish are small in stature, a short tribe really, that would account for all the low ceilings and doorways.

On the second day we decided to take it easy, we did go to Seaton for a swim and then went to Polperro to see what all the fuss was about. Driving down to the seaside village looked promising but the Cornish foiled us again. Half a mile from the beach and the sign said ‘Access only’ and low and behold a big car park right next to the sign. Fowey all over again. £6 per hour and another sign ‘Beach 1 mile’. We gave up, Polperro would have to do without our company this time.

I have been to Cornwall a mere three times in my life and am still trying to find what the attraction is, with the exception of those that want to walk. With my knee not at its normal fitness, I am very frustrated at not being able to walk a mere 2 to 300 yards. I do fear this has been damping on what we could have done and seen.

The food you ask, slim pickings, Susan bought antipasto for night 1, Pizza for night 2 and Fish and Chips for night 3. Our accommodation does not have a basic food preparation facility, it does have a kettle to make the odd beverage and that is as far as it goes. Looe, the nearest town has a convenience store and that is the Co-op.