Out and About

Despite the promising start, we had a few sharp showers as we were getting ready to go out. We walked up to the car and plotted our route. We were off to the Godolphin Estate, not far from Helston. The Estate had been acquired by the NT in the 90s and then the House itself was acquired a while later. (We had wondered why we had never been there before - but it clearly wasn’t NT in the years we visited with the girls).

As with all our visits, it started with a trip to the coffee shop and review of the map of the grounds. The Godolphin family had been Cornish land owners who became wealthy as a result of the tin and copper mines on their land. Their influence increased along with their wealth and eventually made their way into High Society.

Once suitably refreshed we wandered out onto the path that took us past the old stable block. Godolphin is famous for introducing one of the three ancestral Arabians that are the genetic roots of all of toady’s race horses. Having said that, there is no evidence that the horse in question was ever stabled there.

The house was built near the Marazion-Penryn road, and when that was re-routed the main driveway to the house faced an unimposing north wall. Godolphin decided to build a more impressive portico to greet visitors and that is what we see today. 

Going through the main entrance you enter a courtyard around which the old house was structured. You can only visit some areas, as others are used for holiday lets. We wandered through and photographed the courtyard and the ruins on the great hall before heading on towards the gardens.

The gardens were delightful - there were wildflower meadows, formal gardens, an orchard, stew ponds, and a dairy. There were photo opportunities at every turn. The Silver Vixen was completely enchanted by the place.

We returned to the car. As the Gorse Fox started to programme the SatNav, the Silver Vixen asked if he had seen her phone! A few moments of panic ensued. Then she remembered that she had put it down while washing her hands. She headed back to the house. Fortunately, someone had found the phone and was walking round asking if anyone had lost a phone. Retrieved!!!

We headed for Marazion and parked by the beach. We didn’t visit St Michael’s Mount during our last couple of trips to Cornwall. This had to be rectified. Every holiday needs a little bit of magic and there can be few places more magical than St Michael’s Mount.

The causeway was clear so we walked across to the island. Being NT members, we didn’t have to have a booking, nor pay to enter. The sun was out and it was lovely and warm. We wouldn’t bother with the castle this time, we would walk round the lower reaches of the garden. The paths and steps in the southern reaches of the garden are very steep and would be a strain for the Silver Vixen.

We have never walked around these lower pathway before. The afford a view up the cliff face to the castle. The cliff face is painted by the wonderful display of shrubs and flowers clinging to exposed surfaces and making the whole experience quite enchanting. When we got to the end of the path, we sat down on a bench and just enjoyed the view across the bay.

Eventually we had to move and we made our way back round the island. A stop at the tea shop seemed appropriate. We sat an watched as visitors rushed to get onto the causeway before it flooded as tide came in. We ignored the rush. We finished our tea then made our way to the harbour and got the boat back to the mainland (after all, we were meant to be on a cruise this week).

Back at the cottage we had a quiet hour before heading out for dinner. Tonight’s destination was “The Chain Locker” which is just the other side of the Quay. We had a nice table at a panoramic window overlooking the harbour and settled down for some delicious steak. It was a very nice restaurant and certainly worth a return trip.

We finished with our customary walk, then settled in for the evening.