The weather is warming up at last and we can truly say that Spring has arrived in all its glory. The gorse is beginning to explode with golden flowers at last and the hedgerows are decorated with clumps of pale lemon primroses, though everything is a tad late this year. Out in the meadow the wild daffodils are nodding their heads in the breeze. They’re such a welcome sight, and – with their short, strong stems – a much better choice than their more blowsy cousins the hybrids because they don’t fall over in the wind.
We’ve had a couple of almost perfect sunny spring days recently and it’s just the weather to stroll along the beach, perhaps making the most of a walk with the dog before the summer ban (though there are at least three local beaches that stay dog-friendly all year – Summerleaze at Bude, Trebarwith near Tintagel and Watergate Bay near Newquay). You may want to save the bikini for June, but in the meantime there is plenty of fun to be had on any of our gorgeous Cornish beaches. Exploring rock pools is an interesting and fun way to get up close and personal with the local wildlife and see who can spot the most unusual rockpool creatures. Try to get to the beach for low tide as it’s the best time to look for sea creatures such as sea anemone, hermit and shore crabs.
North Cornwall is also famous for its surfing of course, an increasingly popular sport which can be incredibly rewarding. And if the sun stays around long enough what better way to unwind after a brisk stroll along the sand than to visit one of Cornwall’s many bars overlooking the beach, most of which do food as well as serve drinks. And there’s quite a few to choose from within easy reach of Rooks or Robin’s Nest, starting with the Combe Barton Inn at Crackington Haven, which is right on the beach and under its new owners has been getting a bit of name for its hearty food.
If you wanted to build up an appetite you could do worse than walk the coastal path from Crackington Haven to Widemouth Bay though it’s a challenging walk rather than a short stroll. Beach House, overlooking Widemouth bay has private beach access from the bottom of the garden onto one and a half miles of golden sand, and claims to have one of the best locations in Bude if not North Cornwall. Its beach bar and kitchen re-opened just in time for Easter and is a good spot to watch the surfers and body-boarders.
Coming back down the coast from Crackington, and just the other side of Tintagel, the Port William pub overlooks Trebarwith Strand and is a good place for a welcome pint. Time your arrival by the tide as the beach is hidden either side of high water, but when the tide is right you’ve got an excellent beach of fine yellow sand, rocks to scramble over, a cave or two to explore and rock pools galore. Whatever the season and whatever the weather, take the kids, take the dog, Have fun.