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  • Top Ten Reasons to Visit Cornwall this October

    1. Boscastle Food Festival – 6th – 7th of October

    The annual festival of foods, arts and crafts in Boscastle was born out of the community regeneration after the flash flood in 2004. It is now a popular local and countywide event with great food, great chefs and more.

    www.boscastlefestival.co.uk

     Oysters at Falmouth2. Falmouth Oyster Festival – 11th -14th of October

    Falmouth Oyster Festival celebrates the start of the oyster dredging season and Cornish seafood. The four-day festival is packed with cookery demonstrations by leading local chefs.

    www.falmouthoysterfestival.co.uk

    3. British Stand Up Paddle Championships – Newquay 13th – 14th October

    October sees the two-day stand up paddle surfing tournament. This is an ancient form of surfing, traced back to the early days in Polynesia. Competitors are here to win the desirable ‘Watergate Waterman Trophy’, at Watergate Bay.

    4. Fal River Autumn Walking Festival 19th October – 4th November

    These walks include some of the most beautiful areas along the Fal, where you can pass through areas of outstanding natural beauty and world heritage sites.  Throughout the 17-day festival, over 60 guided and self-guided walks will feature around the beautiful Fal River, from the Roseland peninsula in the east, to Helford in the west and as far inland as Truro. Walk leaders from a range of local organisations – from professional walking companies such as walkitcornwall and the National Trust through to walk sponsors – will be hosting a walk in their grounds.

    www.falriver.co.uk/whats-on/walking-festival

    5. Falmouth Beer Festival – 26th -27th October

    This annual beer festival offers 200 real ales for you to try from all over the country, ciders and alcoholic ginger beers too! If it is your turn to drive there are free soft drinks. The event is held at the Pavilions.

    Wah! Wah! Girls6. Wah! Wah! Girls at The Hall for Cornwall – 2nd – 6th October

    Wah! Wah! Girls is directed by Kneehigh Theatre’s Emma Rice who has directed many critically acclaimed plays for Kneehigh and plays all over the country. Wah! Wah! Girls is inspired by the world of Muija dancers, who for generations have entertained the rich and powerful with a spellbinding mix of dance and song, Wah! Wah! Girls tells a passionate and playful story of love against the odds.
    Set against the vivacious background of the East End in 2012 these unstoppable girls uncover deep secrets and create unexpected dreams.

    www.hallforcornwall.co.uk

    7. Halloweden at The Eden Project- 27th October – 4th November

    For half term there is a winter ice rink and the Wishcraft Tent, beautifully decorated with plenty of magical things to make and do, including pumpkin carving demonstrations, wand and potion making. There is also the Little Monsters’ Ball Halloween Disco – a chance to get your fancy dress on!

    www.edenproject.com

    8. Spooky Night Walk at Trebah Gardens near Falmouth – 30th of October

    Explore the garden in the dead of the night, and find out what lurks in the shadows when the visitors have gone home! You can tiptoe through bushes for a fun filled experience for all of the family.
    It is £5 per adult and free for under 15s. No dogs or pushchairs allowed.

    www.trebahgarden.co.uk

    9. Lanhydrock House, near Bodmin – various spooky events throughout October

    You’re spoilt for choice for spooky goings on at Lanhydrock. On the 19th and 26th there is a ‘pre-electricity’ tour around the House and you will meet some past occupants, and there is a 2 course supper in the restaurant. Booking is essential and tickets are £15.

    For the kids there is a prize trail in the garden with a spooky theme, on the 27th – 31st of October, at 10am – 5pm. Also there are Halloween crafts on the 29th, 30th and 31st of October. Both events have a small charge.

    www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lanhydrock

    Halloween at the Zoo10. Newquay Zoo – Halloween Zoo Boo Party on the 31st of October

    Join the witches, Hubble and Bubble, for spooky tales, have a go at making your own wand, go trick or treating around the Zoo, and receive a goody bag. This ticket only event should be great fun for little terrors! Adults are £9.95 and children £6.95.

    www.newquayzoo.org.uk

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  • Summers Gone… But we love Autumn!

    Autumn at Hendra is one of our favourite and most entertaining times of year, not only is there loads to do in Cornwall but at Hendra too!

    We have plenty to do on site with a full entertainments programme still in full swing, and in September we have the Cornish Bluegrass Festival returning to the Park. Our fabulous Halloween entertainment programme is on in October – so watch this space for more information on that!

    Autumn walksWe love autumn, when the air has just a hint of that crisp winter snap, and long walks in cosy jackets and scarves! There is no better time to visit the beach than autumn, with fewer crowds you will feel like you have it all to your self – and sometimes there is an unexpected few days of beautiful sunny beach weather!

    Our other favourite thing about autumn is all the food festivals. We are big foodies at Hendra and we love nothing more than sampling local Cornish produce. In autumn you are spoilt for choice with food festivals. The Newquay Fish Festival kicks off the foodie season on the 14th of September. The Fish Festival is now in its 10th year and is getting more popular every year; it is now one of Newquay’s top events. There are free samples, entertainment and demonstrations. The Truro Food Festival is the big one, on the 28th and 29th of September, with every food you can think of on sale. There will be top chefs here sharing their tips and techniques. Children can enjoy the festival too in the Funky Food Zone, and the festival goes on after sunset.

    Beer Festival In October more food festivals fill the month! There is the Boscastle Food Festival on the 6th and 7th which showcases some of Cornwall’s top restaurants. Then the Falmouth Oyster Festival is on the 11th and 12th with seafood, wine and local ale.  If you want to ditch the food then the Falmouth Beer Festival, on the 26th and 27th of October, is the place for you! There’s over 200 real ales for you to try from all over the country, ciders and alcoholic ginger beers too! Who needs Oktoberfest?!

    We hope this blog wets your appetite for an amazing autumn! We can’t wait! 

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  • Top Ten Reasons to Visit Cornwall this September

    1. Newquay Fish Festival – 14th – 16th September

    It is Newquay Fish Festival’s tenth anniversary this year so expect it to be a big one! 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.

    www.newquayfishfestival.co.uk

    Cornwall Food Festival2. Cornwall Food and Drink Festival 28th – 29th 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 and the festival goes on after sunset.

    www.cornwallfoodanddrink.co.uk

    3. Cornish Bluegrass Festival at Hendra Holiday Park – 14th -16th September

    The music originates from the American South and is a mix of folk and blues, and will be at Hendra Holiday Park. Artists include Amy Harrison and the Secondhand String Band, Barcelona Bluegrass Band, and Whitetop Mountain Band.

    www.cornishbluegrass.co.uk

    4. Stomp at the Hall For Cornwall from 17th – 22nd September

    Stomp, the British theatrical sensation, comes to the Hall for Cornwall this September. Stomp has a unique combination of theatre, dance, comedy, and percussion. Eight performers use boots, bins, brooms and everything including the kitchen sink to hammer out an explosively feel good rhythm.

    www.hallforcornwall.co.uk

    5. Gllyngdune Tea Festival – Falmouth September 2ndTea Festival Falmouth

    This Festival celebrates Britain’s love for tea, along with art, music, and lots of fun held at the Gyllngdune gardens. There will be arts and crafts stalls, tea tastings, tea talks and tea dances – and whatever other tea activities you can think of! 

    6. ThunderCat Racing Watergate Bay 15th – 16th September

    Watch this adrenaline fuelled sport as the ThunderCats compete and rip through the water, all at the beautiful Watergate Bay.

    For more information: www.thundercatracing.co.uk

    7. Cornish Pasty Festival – Redruth 21st – 23rd September

    Come and celebrate Cornwall’s staple food - the Cornish pasty! Saturday is Pasty Day where you can enjoy high-quality Cornish food and drink. Children can take part in the ‘make your own pasty’ activity.

    8. Fistral Beach Zapcat Grand Prix – 28th -29th September

    Zapcats Racing Tour is a great spectator sport at Fistral – enjoy the views and have a drink at the Beach Bar!

    www.zapcat-racing.com

    9. European Pro Longboard Tour – 29th – 30th of September

    Watergate Bay is host to Europe’s top long boarders as they battle it out for points to become the European long boarding champion.

    www.watergatebay.co.uk/events.htm

    Looe Music Festival10. Looe Music Festival – 21st – 23rd September

    Head to Looe to eat local pasties and drink local beer with music by the Levellers, The Stranglers, and The Skints. There are over 40 bands playing over the weekend so there will be something for everyone.

    www.looemusic.co.uk

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  • Smiling with the Hill family

    Hendra met the second winners of the Smile for Hendra competition, the Hill family from Swindon, who came down on our final half-term week, which was packed with Halloween fun and end of season celebrations! The competition ran at the beginning of the year to find models for our 2012 Hendra brochure, and after sifting through many entries we couldn’t just pick one so we picked two, and you may remember the Crome family from July.

    The Hill family on Fistral beachThe winners won a weeks’ holiday in our top-of-the-range Watergate holiday home.Tony Hill, along with his wife, Barbara, and two children Lara and Rhian were all really pleased to win, Tony said:  “We were all really excited about winning the competition, as we have visited Hendra for the last two years camping, so it was nice to stay in a luxury holiday home for a change.”

    The shoot involved photos on Fistral beach, at the arcade, reception and in the accommodation. Sara Cross, who organised the competition and is Hendra’s Marketing Manager, said: “It was lovely to work with a family that were happy and so patient, as photo shoots can sometimes get a bit trying!”

    A big thank you to the Hill family! Look out for both families by requesting a 2012 brochure, or viewing the brochure online!

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  • Awesome autumn

    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.

     

    Newquay Fish Festival

     

    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.

     

    Falmouth Oyster Festival

     

    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.

     

    Bluegrass at Hendra

     

    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.

     

    Silks, Newquay

     

    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!

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