Two bedrooms: 1 x super-king-size bed with en-suite walk-in shower, basin and WC. 1 x super-king-size bed. Shower room with walk-in shower, basin, heated towel rail and WC. Living Kitchen Dining with woodburning stove. Conservatory
Cusgarne (Crane wood in Cornish) is in the parish of Gwennap with the beautiful church of St Wenappa. Cusgarne’s famous resident, James Watt (of the lightbulb) also helped develop the steam engines used in mining in the area in the 1700’s. The Pascoe family have been farming in Cusgarne since 1805, converting to Organic Farming in 1988. Six miles away is the popular village of Portreath which attracts visitors from around the world with its wild and rugged coastline. High cliffs, secluded coves and sandy, surf-washed beaches typify the area while all around are reminders of the area’s rich industrial heritage. Portreath offers a small fishing harbour, shops, a number of pubs, three cafés and a Chinese takeaway, while its safe, sheltered sandy beach is a popular attraction. For a great day out, visit the cathedral city of Truro with its cobbled streets, shopping centre, theatre, museum and great restaurants, just 7 miles away, or travel a few miles along the coast to Gwithian and follow the vast expanse of sandy beach, which leads down to Hayle and on to St Ives. A delightful holiday location.
With its sweeping beaches, rugged moorlands, hidden woodlands, and rolling countryside estates, Cornwall is a superb destination if you want to spend some time bird watching on holiday.
One of the best spots is Hayle Estuary Nature Reserve, managed by the RSPB. This rich wetland habitat attracts a variety of birdlife, including teals, wigeons, and goosanders. While winter offers the highest numbers, spring and early summer also bring migrant waders such as oystercatchers, dunlins, and whimbrels to the tidal pools and marshes.
Marazion Marsh, also managed by the RSPB and overlooking the iconic St Michael’s Mount near Penzance, boasts Cornwall’s largest reedbed. It’s a haven for species like chiffchaffs, Cetti’s warblers, little egrets, and grey herons. Bitterns are regularly recorded here, and birds of prey, including sparrowhawks and buzzards, are often spotted too.
For a variety of songbirds and raptors, head to the Rame Peninsula near Cawsand. This beautiful area of tidal creeks, sandy beaches, and peaceful farmland attracts goldcrests, firecrests, warblers, and buntings. You may also glimpse birds of prey such as hobbies, merlins, peregrine falcons, and, if you’re lucky, the rare hen harrier.
At Stithians Lake, a large reservoir, breeding birds like little grebes, coots, and moorhens are common. Waders such as greenshanks, ruffs, and curlew sandpipers can also be seen foraging along the muddy banks.
Not far from St Ives, St Ives Island, actually a headland between Porthmeor and Porthgwidden beaches, is a top spot for seabird watching, especially in autumn. Huge flocks of skuas, terns, gannets, fulmars, and auks pass by, alongside waders like purple sandpipers, whimbrels, and turnstones.
Finally, no trip to Cornwall would be complete without exploring Bodmin Moor. This dramatic granite moorland, scattered with ancient ruins and rich in wildlife, is especially rewarding in spring and summer, when skylarks, stonechats, wheatears, and sedge warblers arrive to breed. In autumn and winter, the moor plays host to thousands of golden plovers, along with snipes and the more elusive jack snipe.
