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Cornwall Lands A World Record
June 27, 2011 by karl
Sunday 26th of June saw the end of the Golowan Festival. The festival began in the early 1800s and was one of the last midsummer festivals practiced in Cornwall. In the 1890s, the Penzance government banned the festival because of the rising insurance premiums needed from the town’s business community. This years finale was certainly spectacular with a world record attempt organised on the Penzance promenade.
The challenge was to get the most amount of people dressed as pirates in one place at the same time. The previous record (2010) was held by Hastings in East Sussex were a whooping 6,166 pirates attended.
Penzance had all sorts turn out for the event, from full blown Johnny Depp (Captain Jack Sparrow) lookalikes, kids wearing stripy t-shirts to dogs (although the dogs weren’t counted).
All of the attendees of the event were asked to contribute a small donation that was given to charity.
The sun was beating down and it almost felt like you were really in the Caribbean, a total of 8,734 people in fancy dress assembled on Penzance promenade meaning the Cornish smashed the Hastings record. Organisers of the event have said they’ve gathered evidence of the number of people who took part in the record attempt to send to the Guinness Book of Records organisation in the hope of getting official recognition.
Well done Cornwall and thank you to everyone that attended.
Photo from BBC Spotlight
The Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival
June 16, 2011 by karl
It probably seems like I like talking about Falmouth a lot….which I do, however recently it seems it’s just that time of year when Falmouth puts on loads of events outside in the beautiful weather, and this weekend is no exception.
This week we have The Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival (17th – 19th June 2011). If you are not from a coastal area there is a good chance you won’t know what a ‘Sea Shanty’ is, never fear people, I’ve got the definition of a Sea Shanty right here for you:
Sea shanties are songs that were sung by sailors in rhythm whilst working. The word is thought to derive from the French words chanter meaning “to sing”, which gives rise to the spelling variations “chanty”, “chantey”, “chanties”, and “chanteys”. Another thought as to where the word originated with American loggers, sailors, rail road and dock workers. These migrant workmen typically lived in camps of “shanties” and would spend most of their leisure time drinking, singing and playing music in their camps, and the folk songs that they sang came to be called “shanty songs”.
Sea shanties songs were sung by sailors to ease the burden of hard physical labour. A true sea shanty was sung in rhythm to work on the ship and never during leisure time. Different types of shanties were sung to accompany the various tasks on the ship, for example halyard shanties were sung during the raising and lowering the sails and capstain shanties during the raising or lowering of the anchor.
Check out a preview of a shanty track here…
So now when someone asks you what a Sea Shanty is, or it comes up in a pub quiz you’ll know.
The Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival was founded and is organised by Falmouth Shout (the local shanty group). The continuing work by members of Falmouth Shout, with the support of the RNLI has ensured that it has become a successful and popular annual event. The Festival has three main aims:
* To create an enjoyable event for all involved
* To raise money for the RNLI
* To preserve and promote the maritime heritage of Falmouth and Cornwall
This year there will be more than 25 shanty groups performing at three main stages (and six other venues through out Falmouth).
Main Stages:
Custom House Quay
Events Square
The Moor Piazza
Town Venues:
The Front, The Shipwrights, The Matthew (moored at Custom House Quay Friday and Saturday evenings) Five Degrees West, Watersports Centre, Gylly Café, Maritime Museum.
Times:
The Opening Ceremony starts on Friday (17th) at 6.30pm on Custom House Quay and the singing programme will begin at 7pm on two of the three main stages (Custom House Quay and Events Square) until 10pm, and at several other venues in town until….late!
Saturday’s main programme will begin at 11.00am, with the Moor Piazza main stage opening its programme alongside the other two main stages and again several venues in town.
Sunday will begin with a special service at King Charles the Martyr church in town, at 10.30am, supported by the Sheringham Shantymen. The main singing programme begins at 12.00 midday at all main venues, and continues till 4pm when Treverva Male Voice Choir will close the Festival on Events Square.
I have attended the event for the last few years and have been blown away by the songs these guys sing….they are all a lively bunch and great to have a chat with (when they aren’t singing). I highly recommend grabbing a pint of ale (it is traditional after all), sitting back and relaxing.
Enjoy
Karl
All year round dog-friendly beaches
May 18, 2011 by charlotte
Dog-Friendly Beaches
Bringing your dog on holiday is a lovely experience but it requires forward planning if you wish to take your dog to the beach. A dog can seriously affect the beaches you can visit (especially during the summer holiday season) because most beaches have a seasonal dog ban (Easter-October). Be sure to check for notices at the beach entrance that will detail times and dates and highlight the fines for misconduct. This article aims to a succinct list of beaches which remain open all-year to dogs so that you can fully enjoy the sun, sea and sand whilst on holiday.
As one would expect, the beaches that are dog-friendly may not be the most popular beaches on the coast. The normal laws apply: all fouling must be cleaned up and disposed of in the correct manner (there is nothing worse than finding a ‘doggy bag’ in a rock pool and there is little point in bagging if the product is not put in a bin). Also, please be sensitive to other dog walkers; you may have to keep your dog on a lead for example, and if you know that your dog is feisty then please take extra care when on a beach that has other walkers on. Always err on the side of caution.
If you are an early-riser then you may find that you can walk on the beach before 7am and after 7pm, even if they are officially banned all year.
On returning to your cottage, as a plea from caretakers all over the county, try to ensure that your dog is as clean as possible before re-entering the house. Saltwater prevents material drying properly (it also smells) and sand is notorious for getting into every crease and for evading vacuum cleaners. A quick freshwater rinse usually does the trick, so please try to find a stream or hose pipe and give your dog a brief splash.
There are four designated dog-friendly beaches in this area:
1. Summerleaze Beach, Bude
2. Daymer Bay, Wadebridge (access via steps)
3. Northcott Mouth, Bude (no facilities)
4. Rock, Rock
According to a web-search there are only two dog-friendly beaches in the area: Carne Beach and Portholland Beach both found at Veryan. There are plenty of other walks and gardens open to the public in the area though so do not be put off the area by this statistic.
It is disappointing to find that there are apparently no dog-friendly beaches in the area at all. However, as this is mostly river-side beaches and small coves it is not surprising. It is possible to walk your dog on the coast paths without a lead (do remember that dogs do not understand about cliff edges, and do not have the view that you do to tell where the edge is) and if you come across a small cove that is traversable then check for other users before you venture onto the beach with a loose dog. Some of the coast and other paths can be fantastic for dog-walking as they have plenty of smells and areas to roam around. If you are careful and sensitive then do let the dog off the lead.
Similarly to the Falmouth and North Helford area, South Helford does not have any ‘dog-friendly’ beaches. However, this is not strictly accurate as there are plenty of coves and seasonal beaches where you are able to take the dog. In general, if the beach has no other users and you do not leave any litter behind, you are able to take the dog on the beach without the lead unless there are instructions to the contrary.
There are two beaches where dogs are allowed: Coverack Beach and Mullion Cove. Coverack is only accessible by descending some steps and both of the beaches are tidal so please make sure that you are up-to-date with the tide times before you visit.
The area has some fantastic coastal walks where you will come across small beaches so if you do come across one that is accessible (it is easier to get a dog down onto the beach, but not so easy to carry them back up a cliff)then enjoy it if it is safe and permissive.
Loe Bar at Porthleven allows dogs all year. This is a lovely beach for walkers as it is on the coast path, accessible from both the East and West coast path as well as from the Penrose Estate walk to the North. It is a short walk to the quaint fishing village of Porthleven where there are pubs with beer gardens and cafes with outdoor seating; remember to always ask before you take your dog inside a cafe or public house and be sensitive to other customers.
This area has many sandy and popular beaches which are completely full in the summer months. These beaches are extremely unlikely to allow dogs to go on them in the peak season and some disallow dogs all year. However there are three which do not have a ban:
1. Cape Cornwall, Penzance
2. Piskies Cove, Prussia cove (difficult access and no facilities)
3. Porthkidney Sands, St Ives (limited parking and no facilities)
These beaches and coves are less popular than the others due to the limited car parking and facilities nearby. Piskies Cove is also difficult to access. As such, the reason for dogs being allowed may be because they cannot actually access the beach in the first place unless they are carried down or because families are unlikely to visit themselves.
There is only one beach in the area which allows dog at all times of year called Portheras Cove at St Just. It is accessible from the coast path.
There is an abundance of beaches on this coastline so it is highly recommended that you stay in the area if you have a dog that you want to take to the beach on a regular basis. The beaches are mostly sandy and as such, popular with surfers and families.
1. Boobies and Constantine Bay, Padstow
2. Bossiney Have, Tintagel (difficult access)
3. Chapel Porth, St Agnes
4. Crantock, Newquay
5. Fistral, Newquay
6. Harlyn Bay, Padstow
7. Holywell Bay, Newquay
8. Mawgan Port, Newquay
9. Nanjizal Bay, Newquay (no facilities)
10. Perranporth Beach
11. Sandy Mouth, Bude
12. Towan Beach, Newquay
13. Trevaunance Cove, St Agnes (steep road access)
14. Treyarnon Bay, Padstow
15. Watergate Bay, Newquay
This area of coast is often overlooked for its beaches as they are on the south coast. This is a shame as there is such an abundance and variation of beach that rivals its north coast counterpart. From sandy and long, to rocky and secluded there is a beach that will suit all tastes.
1. Downderry, Looe
2. Gorran Haven (aka Vault Beach), St Austell
3. Hannafore Point, Looe
4. Hemmick Beach, St Austell
5. Lansallos Cove, Looe (difficult access)
6. Lantic Bay, St Austell (difficult access)
7. Par Sands, Par
8. Pendower Beach, Looe (dogs on leads at all times)
9. Plaidy Cove (difficult access and no facilities)
10. Polridmouth, Par (difficult access and no facilities)
11. Porthcuthan, St Eval
12. Portheras Cove, St Just (coastpath access)
13. Seaton, Torpoint
14. Talland Bay, Looe
15. Whitsand Bay, Torpoint (steep slope and steps to access)