Brian's Place

Some Places To Enjoy Life... In England

My American cousin's daughter enjoying life at the Hare Inn, Scawton, near Helmsley, North Yorkshire

• Cornwall - Helford Estuary, Near Truro
• Forthcoming sections (links only at present):
• The English Lake District
• Audley End House & Gardens (English Heritage)
• Epping Forest
• Marlow-on-Thames
• Midhurst and The South Downs

• If you follow the links in the right hand panel, you will hopefully find a lot of useful or interesting information. The first (reddish-brown) link will take you to a map of England marked up with our favourite sites, restaurants, hotels etc.
• Links in that panel will generally open in a new window.

Cornwall - Helford Estuary, Near Truro

I visited Cornwall for the very first time at the end of March this year (2007). My wife and I were invited by our in-laws to join them for a long weekend at one of their favourite places, the Budock Vean Hotel.

I'm very glad that we went! Cornwall seems to me like Devon, only more so. Although it is part of England it has its own language and a separate identity (in the same way that Brittany does in France).

I can strongly recommend the hotel, particularly at this time of year when it is still off-season but so many flowers and blossoms are out.

The hotel itself has large, attractive grounds sloping down to the Helford Estuary, a quiet (at this time of year), secluded place ideal for walking and boating. Within walking distance of the hotel there is a pub on the beach and two public gardens, of which we think Trebah Garden (see the picture below) is the best. We were also lucky enough to be able to visit the gardens of Penwarne Manor on one of the rare occasions that it is open to the public (but I understand that you can see those gardens if you stay at Penwarne Lodge).

The hotel has its own golf course, free to residents, and a very pleasant indoor pool, sauna and health spa, as well as an outdoor hot tub. It also has one of the best hotel restaurants that I have ever experienced, serving excellent local produce (and thankfully not presenting the food in the over-pretentious way that seems fashionable nowadays).

It's a long drive to Cornwall. If you want to break the journey (either for a meal or to stay the night) we can really recommend the Bearslake Inn, just off the A30 near Okehampton.