travel info
Cornwall has a rich and varied music history, much like many places around the world. There are songs which tell of old Cornish folklore and legend, songs which tell of the history of Cornwall, songs about various parts of Cornish culture and heritage, or even songs which are just about a certain type of food. One of the best ways to get in touch with the real Cornwall is to explore the county through its culture, and one of the easiest (and most fun) ways to immerse yourself fully in Cornish culture is to attend one of the music events or festivals that take place in Cornwall year after year.
Whilst staying in cottages in Cornwall, you could do a lot worse than to take a trip to see one of the folk bands in the county, such as Mummers Plays, or visit one of the towns and villages which regularly have folk music nights, such as Helston or Padstow. These evenings will give you a great feel for the ancient Cornish Celtic heritage that the area has, and can provide very effective demonstration of why many Cornish people think that the county deserves to be devolved and classified as its own nation, just like Wales and Scotland.
For more modern (though by no means recent) history, then there are plenty of brass bands that play throughout the summer all over Cornwall, particularly in the many bandstands and village greens that the county has. Brass on the Grass, as it’s known, gives you an excellent idea of what it would have been like to look for entertainment in Cornwall whilst the county was predominantly focussed on mining. Sitting out on a sunny day and watching the brass band play will transport you back to a slower, more relaxed and simpler time in Cornwall’s history, and one which has had a profound effect on the outlook of those in the county today.
Finally, for those staying in holiday cottages in Cornwall, yet more events occur that can entertain and educate you. Whereas the folk music traditions show how Cornwall has grown out of the Celtic culture, there are Celtic festivals which celebrate the root Celtic culture. These showcase things from all of the Celtic countries, as well as exploring the similar themes across all of them. Bands from Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Cornwall and Brittany are all in attendance, and it’s not just music that you can enjoy. Arts and crafts, storytelling and much, much more is all available.
There are set to be some spectacular scenes over the Devon city of Plymouth this August as once again the city plays host to the British Firework Championships. Over the nights of Tuesday 10th and Wednesday 11th August, six of the nation’s finest firework producers will battle it out with awe-inspiring displays to hoping to be crowned the British Firework Champion.
The event is one of the highlights of the city’s calendar and thousands will gather along Plymouth’s legendary Hoe to see the amazing displays. For all those lucky enough to be staying in one of the wonderful Devon cottages available during the festivities a trip to Plymouth to experience the championships is a must. The amazing views will certainly provide a memorable night during a Devon holiday. Spectators will get to see some of the very finest fireworks displays they will ever get to witness, as thousands and thousands of fireworks light up the harbour.
There aren’t just fireworks on offer though, the fun starts at 6.30pm with entertainment provided by the local radio station as well as fairground rides and plenty of great refreshment stalls. The firework displays start from 9.30pm just as dusk begins to fall over the city.
Plymouth has plenty of other attractions to keep the whole family entertained during the day including the Mayflower Exhibition where visitors can find out more about the cities maritime history and the legendary voyage of the Pilgrim farther to the New World aboard the Mayflower. There are also many other attractions, great shops, fine eateries and even an ice rink, not to mention nearby Dartmoor.
There’s a reason that people in Cornwall always have fresh spearmint breath, and that reason is Mên-an-Tol, what is possibly the largest polo in the world.
Unfortunately, this large polo (large enough for a fully grown adult to fit through the middle in fact) is completely inedible as it is formed of granite. This may upset sweet enthusiasts staying in Cornwall holiday cottages who might have wanted to try a bit for themselves, but its resilience to being eaten has meant that Mên-an-Tol has stood the test of time.
To say that it’s the circular rock with a hole through the middle that makes up Mên-an-Tol is unfair though. There are two pillars of rock as well, one in front and one behind of the central ring, though the reason for them all being there is unknown. It’s speculated that they may be the remnants of an entrance to an ancient tomb that has since disappeared, or part of a calendar system, similar to that which Stonehenge is believed to be. Both of these theories are possible, as there are examples elsewhere in Britain of prehistoric people creating large, elaborate tombs for their dead with carefully constructed entrances, and of carefully planned and implemented stone circles being set up so that the passing of seasons and years can be judged.
As it was made in prehistoric times, meaning the manual has long since been lost, locals have formed their own legends about Mên-an-Tol, or the Crick Stone as they call it. One legend involves the Cornish favourite piskies. Known to be troublesome and meddling, a group of piskies swapped a mother’s baby for a changeling (something that isn’t uncommon in Cornish folklore), but by passing it through the hole in Mên-an-Tol, the mother swapped the changeling back for her real baby.
Another legend is that by passing through the hole in the middle of the central stone seven times on the night of a full moon, a woman can guarantee that she will soon become pregnant. Possible pregnancy is something to bear in mind if you’re planning a stay in Mousehole cottages or any of the other popular holiday locations that are nearby.
There are plenty of other oddities with mysterious origins around Cornwall. The Merry Maidens are a good example, as are the Hurlers on Bodmin moor, and visiting them is interesting not only because of the monuments, but because of the wonderful Cornish landscapes around them. Mên-an-Tol, however, is still one of the best, partly because of how near it is to some of the best holiday locations, and partly because it really is the Rock with the Hole.
Its not just tourists who have been flocking to Cornwall to enjoy the stunning landscape, both TV & film, including Hollywood, have used the county as a beautiful backdrop for countless productions.
Rumours are around that another production could be looking at Cornwall as the perfect location for its upcoming film. This film is no ordinary film though it is one of the most eagerly anticipated films around and is the long awaited follow up to one of the most successful franchises in film history, its none other than Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. The movie has yet to begin filming so whether Cornwall will end up being used as a location is still unknown but if it does Pirates of the Caribbean will be in good company.
A recent record breaking movie that was filmed in the county is Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland which has been delighting cinema audiences around the world. Tim Burton chose to use Antony House in Torpoint and Charlestown Harbour as locations in his blockbusting adaptation of the classic novel.
Previous films to be shot in Cornwall include Die Another Day, the last James Bond film to star Pierce Brosnan, which used the stunning Eden Project; James Bond spoof Johnny English staring Rowan Atkinson and Natalie Imbruglia also filmed in the county as did horror thriller 28 Days Later.
The British TV show Doc Martin is filmed and based in Cornwall and regularly draws thousands to the area to see where this beloved show is filmed. With the success of Alice in Wonderland and the possibility of Pirates of the Caribbean coming to the area its seems like many more film and TV fans will be coming the Cornwall to catch a glimpse of these now familiar back drops.
The next time you are staying in a Holiday Cottage in Cornwall why not take a tour of the county and spot for yourself the location of your favourite TV shows and films.
Wales is not only blessed with natural beauty found throughout its countryside but can also boast plenty areas of man made beauty in the form of glorious gardens. These gardens range in style and design with some being hundreds of years old while others are futuristic yet all of them share one thing in common and that is the love and care that these gardens have been shown which is evident to any who visit them.
Aberglasney Gardens is a garden that time has forgotten but thankfully a group of dedicated gardeners are restoring it to its former glory. The gardens contain a 18th century yew tunnel, a cloister garden parapet, Jacobean garden structures, pools, arches and arcades.
Cae Hir Gardens is more of a modern garden offering a whole variety of different plants as well as its own bonsai garden and water garden. Not only can you marvel at the beautiful garden but you can enjoy the views of the valley the garden is located in.
Llandover Gardens are a huge set of gardens covering fifteen acres of prime Welsh countryside. The garden includes an arboretum featuring streams, canals, cascades, ponds and lawns, and a circular walled garden. There has been almost continuous planting in the garden for hundreds of years and boasts one of the largest collections of Magnolias in Wales.
The National Botanic Garden of Wales is a world class garden on which people have worked tirelessly to conserve threatened plant species and make a wonderful experience for visitors. The Gardens contain the world largest single span glass house which famously appeared in a recent Doctor Who special.
Wales has many beautiful gardens dotted throughout the country all just waiting to be discovered, so next time you are on a short break in Wales make sure you make some time to explore some of these magnificent gardens.
