Things to Do…
Whether you want a relaxing holiday in this stunning part of Cornwall, have an action packed time in the water on it’s legendary beaches or soak up its historic & cultural landmarks then you’ll certainly not be short of things to do…
Walking
After a quick glance at the local Ordnance Survey Map (Explorer 102) it becomes very clear that The Milk House really is the perfect base for a walking holiday.
A whole network of public footpaths converge on Trebarvah. One of the footpaths actually goes past the front door & leads you on a short walk in to the lovely village (& pub!) of Perranuthnoe and on to Marazion & St Michael’s Mount. In the other direction it takes you out to the windswept Cudden Point & on to the sheltered beauty of Prussia Cove. With a dramatic section of the South West Coastal Path only a 2 min walk away there is certainly no shortage of great hiking. This means that even in the height of the summer holidays, when the roads in Cornwall can get a little busy, you can just leave the car at the Milk House!!!
If you do fancy exploring a tiny bit further afield, the topography of this part of Cornwall means that there is an incredible variety of landscapes within a 10 mile radius of the barn – from the high Penwith Moors, endless breathtaking coastal paths towards Lands End & Lizard Point, to the gorgeous creeks & wooded valleys of the Helford Passage.
Wildlife & Bird Watching
Due to its location sticking out in to the Atlantic, the area has a wealth of Wildlife that isn’t found in much of the rest of the UK.
In the rich ocean surrounding Cornwall sightings of seals, dolphins, porpoises and even whales are a relatively common sight for those who take the time to look. Last year there were sightings of Humpback Whales in Mounts Bay & Hayle Estuary & there was even an extremely rare sighting of a Bowhead Whale which came in close to St Michaels Mount.
A great way of hosting your chances of seeing something special is by joining one of the wildlife watching boat trips with the Penzance based Marine Discovery. Go to their website to find out more – www.marinediscovery.co.uk . There are also regular dive charters from Penzance to explore the stunning reefs, wrecks and marine wildlife in the clear waters around these coasts.
Cornwall & The Isles of Scilly are renowned amongst bird watchers for rare species. This particularly in the Spring & Autumn when you often get a lot of breeds blown off course on migration.
Cornwall is also the only place in England that you can see the enigmatic Chough that had, disappeared until 2001 when they reintroduced themselves from Ireland. The Chough is particulary important to Cornwall as it features in the Cornish coat of arms, proudly flanked by a Fisherman & a Tin Miner. They are regularly seen a short walk from the barn & there is a breeding site a little way down the coast.
Outdoor Pursuits
For those looking for a bit more excitement, this part of Cornwall is a playground for adventure sports, both on & off the water.
There are many fantastic surfing, paddle boarding, windsurfing and kitesurfing beaches, the canoeing and kayaking in the clear waters around this rugged coast is stunning, as is the coasteering, snorkelling and scuba diving. Perranuthnoe is also a favoured spot by many fishermen, who fish off the rocky gullies or offshore on charter boats from Penzance. There are also plenty of dry options such as rock climbing, trail running, and mountain biking.
Other Attractions
This area of Cornwall is not short of other cultural, historic & artistic attractions.
The most prominent (especially from the Milk House) is the majestic St Michael’s Mount that dominates the bay. The iconic landmark is home to a medieval castle, priory, village, harbour & extensive sub-tropical gardens. It can only be reached by foot once the tide drops though there is a small passenger ferry in the holiday seasons. If you want to explore the Mount fully it is best to check the National Trust website to check opening times & prices. www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Other local highlights include the wonderful cliffside Minack Theatre which hosts a range of theatrical productions and concerts, exploring Cornwall’s mining heritage at Botallack, stately homes & gardens of Trengwainton, Godolphin & Glendurgan, the lively artistic scene of St Ives & of course the countless beautiful fishing villages that dot the coast locally such as Mousehole, Lamorna, Penberth and Sennen Cove. The area has also gained a reputation for exceptional seafood such as Porthleven, home to one of Rick Stein’s restaurants.