How to Spend New Year’s in Cornwall

December 05th, 2018

Stuck for something to do this New Year’s? Treat yourself to a five-star cottage in Cornwall for a fantastic holiday with family and friends, welcoming in the new year in style! Cornwall is a fantastic location, with lots to do throughout the year, and New Year’s Eve is no different. Below we take a look at some of the best events happening in towns and cities near our holiday cottages:

 

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The Ultimate Cornwall – Chosen by you

May 04th, 2016

Calling all families, friend groups and couples who would like to win a four night stay in one of our luxury cottages, amazing daytime activities and experiences plus a unique evening of dining, all here in Cornwall!

We’re launching ‘The Ultimate Cornwall’ competition to highlight some of the incredible adventures this county has to offer.

The most unique part, is that YOU will get a say in what makes up the final prize package!

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be running the competition via our Facebook page and asking you, our followers, to select where you want to eat, an attraction you’d like to visit and a coastal or sea-based experience you’d like to try.

The most popular experience from each category will then be included in the final package for ‘The Ultimate Cornwall’ prize.

All of us here at The Valley absolutely love Cornwall – a county that has something for everyone – so we’re running this amazing campaign to celebrate it.

Potential prizes cover a range of experiences including a trip to The Eden Project, a heritage day at Caerhays Castle & The Lost Gardens of Heligan, A Day of Art at St Ives School of Painting, A Vineyard Tour & Wine Tasting at Polgoon in Penzance, A Waterboat Safari with Orca in Falmouth, surf lessons with King Surf, guided beach horse riding with Cornish Riding Holidays, a choice of activities with Loe Beach Water Sports, dinner at The Falmouth Bay Seafood Cafe in Truro, The Cove Bar & Grill in Maenporth, Lewinnick Lodge in Newquay or a Cornish chef to cook in the comfort of your holiday home.

Make sure you have ‘Liked’ our Facebook page and keep checking back so you can vote for your preferred experiences which will make up ‘The Ultimate Cornwall’ prize bundle. The winner will be announced on the 6th June 2016.

Ts&Cs

1. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.

2. By entering this contest, you agree to a complete release of Facebook from any or all liability in connection with this contest.

3. No responsibility can be accepted for entries not received for whatever reason.
4. No cash alternative to the prize will be offered. The prize is not transferable. Prizes are subject to availability and we reserve the right to substitute any prize with another of equivalent value without giving notice. Prizes must be claimed and used within within 12 months of announcement Excluding the months of July and August
5. The Winner will be chosen at random on Monday 30th May 2016 and notified via a Facebook post asking the winner to private message The Valley’s Facebook page with their details. 
6. The prize bundle will need to be booked in advance to ensure accommodation and reservations for the experiences. 
7. The prize will cover up to 4 people.
8.  Entry into the competition will be deemed as acceptance of these terms and conditions.

 


Enjoy The St. Ives Feast And Hurling The Silver Ball Event This February

December 22nd, 2015

The St Ives Feast is an ancient tradition that celebrates the anniversary of the consecration of the Parish Church of St Eia in 1434 AD, and offers a rare chance to watch the game of Hurling the Silver Ball, a centuries-old form of rugby.
These days, Cornish Hurling has all but disappeared, although it is still played once a year in St Ives and St Columb Major, near Newquay. (more…)


Lap of honour at Royal Cornwall Show for Cornish Rugby heroes

June 02nd, 2015

Cornish rugby fans will be able to show their appreciation to Cornwall’s victorious rugby team when the players mark Sunday’s triumph in the county championship at Twickenham with a lap of honour at the Royal Cornwall Show this week. The Bill Beaumont Cup will be paraded by members of the winning team in the show’s main ring at 3pm on Saturday 6th June.

Secretary of the Royal Cornwall Show, Christopher Riddle said, “Rugby is as much part of the Cornish way of life as the Royal Cornwall Show is. It seems right to bring the two together by inviting the Cornwall team along to the show on Saturday to show off the cup and lap up the deserved applause in the main ring.”

“There should be a big crowd gathered to show them all how proud we are of their achievement.”

Cornwall skipper Kyle Marriott attributed his side’s successful county championship campaign to their rugged defence. In his first trip to Twickenham with the Black and Golds, Marriott lifted the Bill Beaumont trophy after Cornwall defeated Lancashire 18-13 to end a three-year run of disappointment in the competition.

Lancashire defeated Cornwall in both 2013 and 2014 and were looking to make it a third victory on the bounce. As they had last year, they mounted a late assault on the Cornish lines and last year, that worked. This year, however, Cornwall, despite losing full-back Billy Searle to a yellow-card, held firm.

Marriott admitted a few more minutes in a nail-biting game may have made a difference to the final scoreline, which went 18-13 in Cornwall’s favour.

Following Sunday’s victory he said: “We felt we had really good control in the game, but Lancashire are such a dangerous side and with five minutes to go, they got that try, but the strength of our campaign has been our defence and that was the difference today.”

The Royal Cornwall Show starts on Thursday and runs for three days with an attendance of well in excess of 100,000 people expected for the event. The showgrounds are only 40 minutes by car from The Valley’s 5 star cottages in Cornwall, where some late availability remains for arrivals this week.


Shaun the Sheep now at “Lamb’s End”

February 26th, 2015

A new half a million pound interactive Shaun the Sheep experience at Land’s End in Cornwall is now open and welcomed its first visitors over February half term.  The opening of this new attraction just days after Shaun’s big screen debut in Shaun the Sheep The Movie allows fans to immerse themselves in Mossy Bottom Farm, discover the sheer mayhem of the Naughty Pig’s Sty and even try to cure Shirley the Sheep’s hiccups.

The Shaun the Sheep Experience is a joint venture between Aardman Animations and Heritage Great Britain, and includes green screen technology with visitors being able to have their photo taken with Shaun next to a ‘Lamb’s End’ signpost, as well as models and characters from the complete Aardman family including Wallace & Gromit and Morph. The new attraction will also see a ‘ewe-nique’ range of merchandise including Shaun munching on a Cornish pasty. Only an hour by car from The Valley’s 5 star cottages in Cornwall, Lands End is already a popular day trip destination for those visiting the county and those behind the new Shaun the Sheep attraction are convinced that it will attract even more visitors.

David Sproxton CBE, Aardman co-founder said; “The new Shaun the Sheep Experience at Land’s End couldn’t come at a better time launching with the release of the Shaun the sheep movie, a planned Rugby World Cup link-up in Autumn and a new Shaun half hour special for Christmas. I think it’s safe to say that 2015 will truly be Lunar Year of the Sheep!  The new experience offers plenty for people of all ages to enjoy with a chance to star in a real Shaun the Sheep scene, to get involved in making their own models and a chance to meet Wallace & Gromit and Morph.”

Allan Leech, Heritage Great Britain chief executive, added “More than half a million people visit Land’s End every year and the experience is a great addition to what’s already on offer here. Shaun is a global phenomenon, broadcast in 170 countries and we look forward to welcoming visitors from all around the world.”


Abandoned rare black seal pup arrives at Cornish Sanctuary

December 09th, 2014

A rare black seal pup is recovering at Cornwall Seal Sanctuary in Gweek after being found abandoned on Porthellick in the Isles of Scilly. The baby seal, only around 2 weeks old, has been named ‘Badger’ by staff at the sanctuary and arrived in a sorry state with a number of injuries which were probably caused by other seals who rejected him due to his unusual colouring.

The good news is that after as course of antibiotics and plenty of attention from the staff at Gweek, Badger is making a strong recovery  and is now well enough to be moved to the centre’s Nursery Pools where guests staying at The Valley’s 5 Star cottages Cornwall will be able to catch a glimpse when visiting over the Christmas holidays.

Team Supervisor Tamara Cooper is hopeful that the little pup will be fit and independent  enough by March next year to resume life in the wild. Commenting on his unusual colouring she added, “Black pups are very rare and more usually found in the Scottish population. We haven’t had a black pup in Cornwall since 2007.”


Countdown to a Cornish Christmas

November 13th, 2014

With Christmas now just over a month away, more than a few of us have felt our thoughts turning to seasonal pursuits including buying gifts, hunting out decorations, and planning the all important Christmas menu. Are Aldi lobster tails really alright at that price or must it be Waitrose? Will you succumb and buy a Delia Christmas pudding and hide the wrapper?

At Cornwall’s 5 star self catering resort, thoughts are headed in similar directions as Christmas plans take shape. We’ve been hearing about all the fantastic events planned in the local area, here are a few of our favourites:

 City of Lights Parade – Truro: Enormous paper lanterns made by local school children and artists will be paraded through the centre of Truro on November 19th to kick off the festivities including music, dance and art as well as the first late night shopping date of the season – the whole city centre will be pedestrians only from 5.30pm so we would definitely recommend hopping on a park and ride bus.

Robin Hood at The Hall For Cornwall– Truro: This years pantomime is a swag bag full of silliness, surprises and sing along songs and runs from the 7th to the 31st December. They are running a number of child free, audio described, signed and relaxed performances so it really is a panto for all.

Nadelik – A Cornish Christmas – Pendennis Castle, Falmouth: With music, dancing and fireside tales, Pendennis Castle comes to life to celebrate Cornish Christmas traditions. There will be a range of craft and gift stalls, as well as mulled wine and mince pies in the Castle Keep…and guess who will be making a guest appearance to see if you’ve been naughty or nice?


Cornwall to benefit from A303 improvements?

November 04th, 2014

Travelling to 5 star cottages in Cornwall could soon become easier as the Government are looking to publish a ten-year plan to dual the A303.

If the plan goes ahead, no longer will you have to sit in queues for hours with the children complaining and asking the dreaded question of ‘are we nearly there yet.’

Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, has revealed that he will use the Autumn Statement to confirm the plans for re-building sections of the congested A303 which is a vital connection between London and Cornwall.

Speaking to The House magazine, Danny Alexander said: “Our road network has been really neglected since the 1970s. You’ve had thirty or forty years of nothing much happening.

“We set out some pretty chunky sums of money for the roads, growing over the course of the next Parliament and I want to fill out for people what we are going to do with that.

“In the South West, (the A303) is a key economic artery. That route and others around the country, I want to use the Autumn Statement to set out ‘this is what we are going to do over the next five to ten years and this is the vision for what we actually want this route to be’.”