Marli and Me and our trip down to the mineral tramway, Portreath

As Marli and I sashay nonchalantly down the mineral tramway to Portreath (me rather more than him), I for one am always struck by the beauty of this path that follows the valley towards the sea. Depending on the time of year, there are any number of wild flowers to be seen – honeysuckle, red campion, celandine or bluebells for instance and of course, in the summer there is the ever present coconut aroma of the gorse. This is a popular path although there is plenty of space for cyclists, horse riders, joggers and indeed dog walkers like me, all happy to share in the relative peace of this trail.

Marli and I join the path at Bridge which is just a tennis ball’s throw, or two from the beach but for the more intrepid, if you were to turn right instead of left, you would be able to enjoy the changing landscape as you go through the old industrial heartland of Cornwall to Devoran on the south coast.

Indeed it is not that easy to envisage this area when it was the centre of tin and copper production in the world. The leafy path that we use today was at one time, the main route from the mines, carrying ore to Portreath where in turn it was taken to Wales. The trail would have been choked full of mule trains - imagine the pong of such a dense population of hard working equines, with the sea breeze ensuring that the only fresh air would ever have been beside the harbour! I suspect that with this in mind, traffic jams could well have been invented in Cornwall although unlike other parts of the country, I like to think that we have rather outgrown those now! And the fact that this activity has captured the imagination elsewhere in the country paradoxically is I suspect one of the reasons that brings people down on holiday to Cornwall these days. Here at Rayle Farm we cater to those people keen to recharge their batteries and get away from the hustle and bustle for a while. And although it is peaceful, this does not mean that there is little to do. Obviously, a great many visitors use us as a base to try out the various coves and beaches in the immediate vicinity of the farm for swimming and surfing. However, at the other end of the tramway, around Devoran and beyond, the south coast of Cornwall is more closely associated with activities like sailing or fishing. Located close to us at Cambrose is Elm Farm Cycle Centre that hires bicycles to the more energetic of our guests who then can explore south of here.

Remember on a hot summer’s day, if you are tempted by this, you are likely to be a bit hot and sweaty. You will however be positively fragrant compared to any fresh fish you might purchase in Falmouth, place in your backpack and want to bring back with you. You know who you are Simon and Laura! Not even Marli would go near your purchases but I am hopeful that this year’s roses just might benefit from your folly!

But I digress. The mineral tramway and indeed the coastal path is all close at hand and if you can avoid being either downwind of mule trains or the Pattersons, it will be memorable outing for all the right reasons!

For more information on Holiday Cottages in Cornwall, visit the Rayle Farm website.

Dog Friendly Holidays

A while ago, the young daughter of some friends of mine lost Gerald the giraffe while out on a shopping trip.  The little girl was inconsolable and you might think that such a loss would only encourage her to take a lot more care of her belongings in future, certainly the more precious ones.  Her doting parents though were less brutal and felt that it was important to find the little long necked rascal but having been unable to do so, replaced him.  Their two year old was delighted of course to see the return of Gerald but even she was a tad suspicious given that he looked quite a bit different and didn't have as many legs.  It is quite an accomplishment to pass off an emu as a giraffe but amazingly my friends appear to have got away with it!

When it comes to man's best friend though it is a completely different matter.  It's not that they wouldn't notice such things generally speaking; it seems that they simply don't care.  I have holiday cottages in Portreath, or in fact just down the road if we are being pedantic and when someone Goggles "dog friendly holiday cottages Cornwall" the chances are, they will see my website and if I have availability will come and visit Rayle Farm together with Betty, Muffin, Pippin or Fenton (well OK, he's not been here yet, despite regular sightings of munchak deer!). 

Nearly all of these furry friends will bring some toys with them and to see them playing with their owners, you would think that they wouldn't part with that deflated football or chewed up plaster bone for love nor money.  Not so - when it is time to leave, clearly wishing to travel only with carry on and have nothing stowed in the hold, they leap into the back of the car and they are off, leaving a number of toys discarded on the lawns and beside the hedgerows. 

Almost poignant I know, were it not for the fact that Marli, the resident Australian cattle dog just can't wait for change over day to go and see how his toy collection is to be supplemented.  This week it was a tennis ball that has seen better days, a weird blue spiky thing that had lost its squeak and an odd Peperami themed toy  that looks like you are supposed to swing your dog around your head with it once he or she is clamped on.  Marli can think again if he expects me to become involved with such shenanigans!   A great believer in finders’ keepers is Marli but I just know that I can and will be able to dispose of the less desirable specimens in his toy collection when his back is turned and he won't bat an eyelid.

 
 So what's the moral of this story?  I'm not terribly sure  really but I do know that when you come to visit Marli and me at Rayle Farm, your children will make sure that they take their toys home with them.  Your dogs though, maybe not. Therefore, may I ask you that when you visit us, you impress upon all in your party that belonging, especially those that once contained a squeak should remain about one's person at all times, readily available for an impromptu game or a good chew.  Inevitably, this will disappoint  Marli but I would rather he concentrated more on the root vegetables that he has taken a liking to - it makes his breath smell just that little bit nicer and it will be one less thing to potentially trip me over in the kitchen!