Back from Cornwall

Back from a week in Cornwall. Couple more castles crossed off the list. Added a few more little Cornish ports that we want to revisit (dreamily checked out the house prices in the local estate agent’s windows). Experienced wonderful views  that were even more spectacular after several miles of walking! Discovered that the children are better at recognising the different sea gulls than I am. More of all of these later.

Starting with this castle, near Falmouth. It is Pendennis Castle. One of Henry VII’s fortified castles to defend the country from the marauding Spanish of the time.

This castle had more cannons than we have found at the previous castles, so of course the children were drawn like magnets.

There was a yachting fiesta happening in Falmouth. While the grown-ups enjoyed the view, I think the children re-enacted military movements, aiming at the nearest yachts!

Inspiration was to be found inside. With sound effects.

Unlike the other castles we had visited, the area around the castle had been used and improved over the centuries. The team loved this gun. Originally when fired, it retracted down out of sight, so that the enemy would be unlikely to pinpoint where it was located. Also putting the gun in perfect position to be reloaded.

The castle is younger by several centuries than the previous castles (here and here and here) that we have visited and more maintained. It was not destroyed during the Civil War as the others had. Presumably as it was recognised as a strategically important defence site rather than a political gain. The charm was different and much more military.

I’m trying to drag myself back into routine. I have another castle, some nature finds and crafting to show. Oh, and a sweet little coastal port, with oodles of Cornish charm to share.

20 comments

  1. Oh how exciting! My son is always asking me if there are castles here…I can’t wait until we can take him somewhere where there are! Since I have ties to Cornwall (heritage), it’s high on our UK castle tour list. Looking forward to more photos. Welcome home!!

    1. I hope your son can visit a castle before too long. Nothing like traipsing around one and exploring every flight of stairs. A knight for the day!

  2. These castles are just so amazing to me. Our country is so young comparatively! I have to say that I am definitely inspired to do a medieval theme this year. But it won’t be the same without a castle to visit!
    Blessings, Debbie

    1. I hope I’m bringing the castles a little bit nearer! Castle life in medieval times must have been fascinating, although I’m not sure I’d have wanted to live it. 😀

    1. Oh se7en. It feels more like a month since I last posted. Quite out of the rhythm. I’m so glad you like the castle views! There will be more and we have three more weeks, before school starts, to fill! Expect more views.

    1. The children sure loved the military theme of these castles. Probably easier to imagine these castles in their heyday rather than ones with crumbling walls.. (I like crumbling walls)

  3. It sounds like you had a fun time in Cornwall judging from your photos. Cornwall is definately on my list when I visit the U.K. next year.
    Anne xx

  4. oh cheryl thank you for showing us more castles.. i do have a castle trip on my plans some day… so lucky we get to see them here thru your eyes. we are making a paper castle today, i’ll show this one to jack for inspiration!!! love love that fuzzy alpaca i see too…x

  5. Lovely images, an area of our country I love althuogh not yet been to Pendennis castle – must pop it on the list for when we next holiday that way. It was Wales for us this year with their numerous castles!

    Looks like you had a lovely time. Look forward to more of your holiday images x

  6. I love that sea view, Cheryl, this looks just like my kind of holiday, a beautiful coastal place with lots of historical interest.

    Glad you had such a great time.

    lily x

  7. What a lovely surprise – I recognised Pendennis immediately….I grew up just around the corner and castle beach was where I spent a lot of childhood summers. Great seeing it through your eyes, brought back loads of good memories! My lot were in Cornwall last week too, visiting Grandparents, they spent a day at St Mawes, you could have shot cannonballs across to each other! Can’t wait to see where you went next 😀

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.