Cornwall in Three Bottles!
Cornwall in a Bottle
Of all the opportunities to enjoy and unexpected discoveries to make, have you ever considered a tour of North Cornwall’s local breweries, cider mills or vineyards? It’s a pleasantly refreshing and intriguing way to spend a day or two when overcast skies rule out time on the beach.
It’s probably entirely appropriate that a county with a long and fascinating history of smuggling should now boast a thriving (and legitimate) brewing industry, achieving standards resulting in the accumulation of awards from across the globe. Here are three of Cornwall’s finest that welcome visitors, along with some recommended holiday cottages in which to stay.
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Healeys Cornish Cyder Farm
A Cyder Press at Healeys Cyder
Location: Penhallow, Truro, TR4 9LW
Visitor Opening Hours: Year-Round 0.900-20.00 daily.
Website: https://healeyscyder.co.uk
Phone: 01872 573356
Description
Not to be outdone by their neighbours in Devon and Somerset, Healeys has grown to become Cornwall’s largest cyder maker because it is… (hic!)… very good cyder! Don’t just go for the cyder. The other reason to visit is that it distils excellent cyder whiskey and cyder brandy. Visitors can enjoy watching apples crushed in a traditional press, indulge in a little tasting in a cobbled cellar, scoff Cornish cream teas (jam on first or risk deportation back across The Tamar) and have a chance for an afternoon snooze in the apple orchard. As well as some liquid refreshments to take home, pick up some of Healeys’ delicious jams and chutneys.
Where to Stay:
Turnstones
A large and luxurious Cornish house with a ‘media room’ on the Fal River between Falmouth and Truro. Turnstones sleeps ten guests in five bedrooms (with four bathrooms) and lies within walking distance of a beach and watersports centre. Click here to view Turnstones.
Nightingale House
View from Nightingale House, a fabulous waterfront holiday cottage with unrivalled harbour and estuary views. Sleeps 8 in 4 bedrooms. Pets welcome. Click here to view more images and information about Nightingale House.
To view other cottages in the area, click below:
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St Austell Brewery in St Austell
Location: 63 Trevarthian Rd, St Austell, PL25 4BY
Visitor Opening hours: All year round. 09.00-17.30 Daily
Website: www.staustellbrewery.co.uk
Phone: 01726 66022
Description:
Walter Hicks founded St Austell Brewery in 1851, so it has a long heritage which today has resulted in fine ales such as Tribute, Proper Job and Mena Dhu Stout (it’s about time stout came back into fashion). The current brewery is built as a four-storey tower building that dates back to 1893 and offers a classic brewery tour that includes a complimentary Cornish pasty. There’s an interactive brewing exhibition for CAMRA fans, a shop, a bar (naturally), and a restaurant.
Sleep off your tasting experience on the beach at the lovely fishing village of Charlestown, a short drive from St Austell.
Where to stay:
The Vean near St. Austell
Perfect for large gatherings in a luxurious Georgian house on the Cadhay Estate that sleeps 16 in 8 bedrooms- all en suite. Click here to view more information about The Vean.
The Shippen in Fowey
The Shippen is a beautiful stone-built and delightfully furnished holiday cottage where an idyllic traffic-free woodland walk will take you down to Ready-Money Cove. Click here to view more information about The Shippen.
Click to find more places to stay in:
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Sharps Brewery in St. Minver near Rock
While Sharps beer may not be a household name, its award-winning Doom Bar certainly is. Named after a sand bar in the Camel Estuary opposite Rock, the beer has won countless national and international awards - as have other lesser-known but equally tasteful beers. Visit to discover the source of this fabulous ale, and you’ll find it hard to leave without slipping a mixed case in your car boot.
Location: St.Minver, Lowlands, Rock, Wadebridge, PL27 6NU
Visitor Opening hours: All year round, 0.900-17.00 daily
Website: www.sharpsbrewery.co.uk
Phone: 01580 862121
Where to Stay
Stargazy in Padstow
A bijou seaside bolthole for couples in the heart of the pretty harbour town of Padstow, this cottage is beautifully furnished with features such as a wood-burning stove, hand-made king-size bed and underfloor heating. Click here to read more about Stargazy.
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The Camel Valley Vineyard
Location: Nanstallon, Bodmin, PL30 5LG
Visitor Opening hours: Mon-Fri, Apr-Sep 10.00-17.00
Website: www.camelvalley.com
Phone: 01208 77959
Description: If you’ve ever doubted the ability of English vineyards to produce top-quality wines, then a visit to the Camel Valley Vineyard will put paid to that myth. Since it was established in 1989, the owners have won a succession of international wine competitions with sparkling wines made from vines planted on the south-facing slopes of an 82-acre farm. There are no interactive tours, museums or visitor centres here: just a gorgeous sun terrace to sample the vineyard’s wines while enjoying stunning rural views across the Camel Valley. It beats browsing indoors in an off-licence any day!
Where to stay
Head up to the North Cornwall coast, which is an easy drive from Bodmin, and stay in one of these delightful coastal cottages.
Mineshop Holiday Cottages in Crackington Haven
This converted milking parlour is tucked into a wooded hillside on the banks of a stream above the secluded beach at Crackington Haven on the ruggedly beautiful North Cornwall coast. The Old Shippon is a pet-friendly coastal cottage sleeping 6 in 3 bedrooms, converted from an old milking parlour.
The Barn, Lanhydrock, near Bodmin
The Barn is sympathetically restored and beautifully refurbished and is a short walk from the impressive Lanhydrock Estate. This pet-friendly cottage features a host of original fittings, including oak beams and a wood-burning stove, all complemented by contemporary features such as an oak dining table and a well-equipped kitchen. The Barn sleeps 6 in 3 bedrooms, each with a bathroom, and is perfect for families or friends. It welcomes two pets, so it is ideal for dog owners.
Click here to find more holiday cottages in North Cornwall.