On the last day of ‘official summer’ we must admit that we are quite looking forward to autumn at Hendra. Cornwall is quieter, the temperatures drop slightly, but it is still mild, and there is nothing more refreshing than a bracing beach walk! As well as the leaves falling so do our prices, as we have some amazing autumn deals on for our short breaks in October, including our centrally heated premium holiday homes. And this September we still have room for camping and touring; it is still warm enough!
Hendra is ideally situated for exploring all of Cornwall, and here is a run down of some food festivals around Cornwall this autumn.
The popular Newquay Fish Festival kicks off the food festival season, on from the 9th – 11th of September right on Hendra’s doorstep, with lots of delicious local delicacies to sample. There are local chefs rustling up some wonderful food, and doing some great demonstrations. There will also be a range of food and craft stalls as well as family entertainment over the weekend at Newquay’s picturesque harbour.
Truro is the venue for the Cornwall Food and Drink Festival which draws in thousands of visitors from the 23rd – 25th of September. This festival is the biggest festival of Cornish food and drink in the county. There will be top chefs here sharing their tips and techniques. Children can enjoy the festival too in the Funky Food Zone, new for this year, and the festival goes on after sunset.
The foodie fun continues into October with the Boscastle Food, Arts and Crafts Festival, with eight highly esteemed chefs demonstrating from some of Cornwall’s top restaurants. These chefs include Nathan Outlaw, proud owner of 2 Michelin Stars from the St Enodoc Hotel, Andy Appleton from Fifteen Cornwall, winner of this year’s desert course from the Great British Menu, chefs from two terrific restaurants in Padstow including Paul Ainsworth from Number 6 and Paul Harwood from Rick Steins St.Petrocs Bistro.
In mid-October, from the 13th – 16th, is the Falmouth Oyster Festival with cookery demonstrations. This festival coincides with the start of the oyster season and celebrates the Falmouth working boats and oyster punts. Local oysters are known for their sweet and delicate flavour, which you can enjoy with live music in a relaxed festival environment.
Back at Hendra we have the Cornish Bluegrass Festival on over the weekend of the 16th of September. The music originates from the American South and is a mix of folk and blues. Artists include Debby McClatchy, born in San Francisco, the UK’s own New Essex Bluegrass Band and Cornwall’s Flats and Sharps, who made a name for themselves busking in Penzance. There are many more so checkout their website. All of this is held in the comfort of Hendra’s five star facilities.
September and October is also ideal for exploring parts of Cornwall that you just could not be bothered with in peak season as it was too crowded, or go to the places that were fully booked – such as one of Cornwall’s top restaurants.
Cornwall has huge selection of restaurants to choose from including the ones mentioned above like Paul Ainsworth’s No. 6, who appeared on the BBC series Great British Menu. No. 6 is in Padstow along with Rick Stein’s Seafood Restaurant and St. Petrocs Bistro. On the subject of famous chefs there is Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen, in Watergate Bay, with a menu of locally sourced ingredients with a distinctive Italian style. There are also plenty of delicious dining experiences within a few miles of Hendra, including Silks in Newquay, which serves locally caught fish and there is a sushi bar. At Porth there is the Beaucliffes restaurant with a wide variety of choices from favourites with a twist such as sausage and mash and beer battered fish and chips, to venison, pan seared tuna steaks and roast salt and peppered duck breast.
We hope that we have wet your appetite for a foodie autumn break, and given you some ideas! Also remember the coastline is still beautiful, the weather is still good, and the National Trust properties and gorgeous gardens are less crowded, so autumn really is one of the most peaceful and perfect times to visit!