Spring at Laloma, Helford Village

Posted by on | Featured

7 Minutes estimated read time – Updated with dates for 2026 but first published in February 2024.

 Spring at Laloma is glorious

 

Spring at Laloma, Helford Village means abundant Spring flowers in the hedgerows and gardens, beautiful birdsong, a warmer and milder climate and golden daffodil fields tht brighten the journey down into the village at this time of year.

fishing boat in the Helford Estuary
A fishing boat returning to the Creek

 

The primroses in Spring at Laloma are particularly special as they pop up prolifically throughout the lawns and banks alongside daffodils, bluebells, campion, forget me nots and daisies throughout the season.

 

It starts to become a joy to sit outside again to enjoy the quiet sounds of the village and the warmth of the sun, whether on the picnic bench at Laloma overlooking the creek or at the Shipwright’s Arms on the Helford quayside.

Comma butterfly in Helford
The fields above the Helford Creek and Frenchman's Creek
 

 

The woodland walks around Helford come alive with wood anemone and the smell of wild garlic and the seawater starts to feel a little less cold on the toes.

Ox eye daisies at Enys Gardens
Robin in Spring at Laloma

A little further afield here are some of the Spring treats to enjoy around Helford and the surrounding areas:

Places to visit:

Rhododendrons are often a feature in Spring Gardens in Cornwall

(You can visit both Trebah Gardens and Glendurgan Gardens by hopping on the foot ferry from Helford Point, this will take you across to Helford Passage from the 1st of April to the 31st of October.)

Trebah Gardens, Helford Passage – famous for its beautiful gardens that extend right down to the crystal clear waters of the Helford Creek. You can also visit the café, garden centre and private beach here. Open daily from 9.30am.

 

Glendurgan Gardens (National Trust) – Another lovely garden in the Helford Passage. With a famous maze and beautiful wooded valley garden that meanders down to the creek.  Glendurgan also enjoys the benefits of being a National Trust property including a café and a second hand bookshop. 

Dunnock in Helford Village
Bluebells at Enys Gardens

 

Enys Gardens, St Gluvias – A stunning garden for bluebells with an uninterrupted display across open meadow fields , open from April to September on Sundays and Mondays (10am to 5pm) as well as additional days during school holidays . Complete with a little café. You can find out more about Enys Gardens here https://enysgardens.org.uk/

Bluebells and wild garlic at Enys Gardens
Bluebells at Enys Gardens

Cornish Seal Sanctuary – From September to March the seal sanctuary rescues and rehabilitates seal pups at the sanctuary and visitors can catch a glimpse of the pups and learn about their lives. The sanctuary is also a year round home to other animals and seals/sealions that weren’t able to go back to the wild. You can find more about the sanctuary here https://sealsanctuary.sealifetrust.org/en/

Kennack Sands
Little Egret in Gweek Creek

The Beaches

 

 

Many beaches will be quieter in early Spring and allow dogs up until Easter so it is a lovely time to enjoy a walk on the beach with your pets. 

The rockpools are just as enticing as in Summer and the surf is even better!

Kynance Cove

Festivals and events – Spring in Cornwall is filled with events, festivals and special days, including:

 

The Floral/Furry Dance in Helston

Scheduled for 2026 to be on the 8th of May. A spectacular event which is one of Britain’s oldest traditions still practiced today. Read more about the event on the Helston Flora Day website here https://helstonfloraday.org.uk/

 

Porthleven Food Festival 

24th to the 26th April 2026 – A festival filled with food and music in beautiful Porthleven. You can find more information on the food festival’s website here https://www.porthlevenfoodfestival.com/

One Bag Beach Clean at North Helford.

A regular free event organised by the National Trust to help keep the North Helford beaches clean. Aim to arrive at 10.20am, the group will start to move at 10.30am. Carol from the group will have a limited supply of litter pickers, buckets and gloves if you don’t have your own. For more information and dates visit the website here

Low tide in Helford Creek
Some of the many flowers at Laloma

 

There are also many local fairs and markets held at this time of year. Easter is also a brilliant time to visit  Cornwall as many of the National Trust properties and local towns hold events.

You can learn more about Laloma and how to book your stay here

You can visit our homepage here

All text and images copyright of B. Woolley

Tags: , , , , , ,

Christmas at Laloma

Posted by on | Featured

Christmas at Laloma

Helford Village at Christmas

Christmas at Laloma, Helford is magical.

In December the village Christmas lights run in a shimmering strand through the village all the way to the Shipwrights Arms pub. The village also erects a metal Christmas tree on Laloma’s car park which sparkles out over the creek.

This makes walking through the village so pretty and cheering in the darker evenings.

The Pub is open for food and drink, (drinks only on Christmas Day and Boxing Day) with stunning creek views and a cosy inner bar. They decorate the outside with lights and illustrated wooden robins and swans.

Helford Village Stores (open reduced hours) – This brilliant shop has a wide range of delicious local food and drink as well as household supplies. The essentials are well covered as well as luxuries and treats like mince pies. It also couldn’t be more convenient as it is just a 1 minute walk away from Laloma’s gate.

Some favourite little treats of ours from the shop include: clotted cream fudge from Roskillys Farm, Vicky’s flapjacks and the Cornish original spiced biscuits. 

There are also three additional lovely local shops which offer local produce, food, drink and essential supplies. Gweek Village Stores; Mawgan Stores and Gear Farm Shop. 

 

Due to the mild micro-climate that the Creek enjoys, the village rarely sees snow at Christmas. So being outside is generally fairly mild and refreshing rather than being icy and crisp.

All the walks that are so lovely in Summer are just as lovely in Winter. There is also the added bonus of being able to see more of the views due to the lack of leaves in the surrounding woodlands.

The once rare Little Egrets now grace the creek all year round and can often be found perching in the trees across the creek from Laloma.

laloma at night, waterside hideaways

Laloma at Christmas

Laloma’s large inglenook fireplace houses a log burner which is perfect for chilly Winter evenings snuggled up on the sofa. There are board games and books in the cottage as well as the TV, radio and internet so cosy evenings and Christmas entertainment are well catered for. 

Laloma’s Christmas tree sits by the desk in the window and with the fire gently crackling away there is no place cosier.

The village lights loop over the path to the entrance and across the front of the cottage, adding an extra prettiness.

The kitchen is well equipped for Christmas cooking and there is a large dining table that seats 8 comfortably.

The stars at Laloma are stunning on a clear night due to the lack of light pollution. You can regularly see the Milky Way,  satellites and meteors. So make yourself a hot drink, wrap up warm and stand outside for a few minutes. The best places are to stand on the lawns or on the car park.

The camellia bushes are starting to flower along the path to the front door. They will continue to bloom into January and February, adding some lovely Winter brightness.

The daffodils fields above the village are also starting to come into flower with the earliest stems for the thriving Cornish daffodil season. once in full bloom they turn the hill above the village yellow.

The robins, sparrows and chaffinches at Laloma are very friendly and often love to visit the picnic table for any mince crumbs you can spare.

The creeks around Helford are famous for their beautiful coastal woodlands. Filled with ancient twisting trees, abundant birdlife and secret paths to explore. The much loved book “Frenchman’s Creek” by Daphne Du Maurier is based on the wild beauty of the real Frenchman’s Creek. This is walking distance walk away from Helford Village and Laloma. 

So what could be lovelier than to sit by Laloma’s log burner in the evenings to read the book about the creek and then go on a magical stroll to explore it the next day.

Laloma at christmas front door

Further Afield

There are many Christmas markets in the surrounding towns and villages, including in Falmouth and Gweek.  

There are also some lovely events and attractions to visit this time of year. From Truro’s City of Lights Parade to watching the rescue seals at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary open their special Christmas stockings.

If you are willing to travel further afield then the famous Mousehole Harbour Lights are worth a visit as is a trip to the Eden Project for their Christmas events.

Thank you so much for reading this blog post, we hope you have a wonderful time exploring Helford at Christmas.

You can learn more about Laloma and how to book your stay here

You can visit our homepage here

All text and images taken/written by and copyright of B. Woolley and Waterside Hideaways.

Autumn at Laloma

Posted by on | Featured

Autumn at Laloma, Helford Village

Autumn at laloma is cosy, glorious and a beautiful time to visit.

Gold and reds start to appear in the Helford woodlands that surround the creeks and woodland walks are accompanied by the satisfying crunch of leaves.

The sea in September is the warmest of the year as it has soaked up all the Summer sun. It is therefore a perfect time for swimming and paddling as well as paddleboarding and rowing.

(All images taken by and copyright of B. Woolley)

Autumn Birdlife

While the swallows and swifts leave Cornwall behind for the Winter, they are replaced by a whole new set of incoming beautiful birds. 

These include redshanks, curlews, dunlins, redwings and fieldfares.

The wetlands in Cornwall fill up with overwintering migrating birds. 

This means Autumn is a brilliant time to visit RSPB sites such as Marazion Marsh and Hayle Estuary. 

Or visit some of the many beautiful local estuaries and mud flats around the Helford, Perranarworthal or Gweek.

Autumnal Wildlife

Autumn is the perfect time to visit The Cornish Seal Sanctuary in Gweek. 

Between September and March the sanctuary takes in over 70 seals/pups a year to heal, rehabilitate and release back into Cornish waters. 

The sanctuary is around a 22 minute drive from Helford Village. As well as the seals the sanctuary has many other animals to visit as well as a cafe, shop and regular events

 

Autumn Walks

The creeks around Helford are famous for their beautiful coastal woodlands. Filled with ancient twisting trees, abundant birdlife and secret paths to explore.

In the Autumn the woodland walks are particularly pretty as the leaves change and crunch underfoot. 

The much loved book “Frenchman’s Creek” by Daphne Du Maurier is based on the wild beauty of the real Frenchman’s Creek which is just a walk away from Helford Village and Laloma. 

So what could be lovelier than to sit by Laloma’s log burner in the evenings to read the book about the creek and then go on a magical stroll to explore it in the morning.

Coastal Walks

The beach dog bans all start to lift in Autumn and the beaches are much quieter after the Summer visitors leave so it is a lovely time to enjoy the beaches with your dog.

The South West Coast-path routes will also be quieter but still just as beautiful and accessible so Autumn is a lovely time to explore. Just check the conditions before you set out and don’t go near cliff edges or walk in gales.

The October storms can be awe inspiring to watch from a safe distance too with thundering waves, frothing seas and gale force winds. 

Especially good if you can watch sitting with a hot drink in your hand! (Always keep away from the water or cliff edges though and watch from a good, safe distance away, it is not worth putting yourself or others in danger for.) 

 

Happy collie at Helford, Waterside Hideaways

Autumn at Laloma and Helford Village

Laloma 2024, waterside hideaways

There is a special cosiness that Autumn brings out in a thatched cottage and Laloma is no exception. 

Its large inglenook fireplace houses a log burner which is perfect for chilly Autumn evenings snuggled up on the sofa. There are board games and books in the cottage as well as the TV, radio and internet so cosy evenings are well catered for. 

At night you can hear owls and the gentle noises of the village going to sleep with the occasional early fisherman setting out. 

The stars at Laloma are stunning on a clear night due to the lack of light pollution. 

You can regularly see the Milky Way, planets, satellites and meteors. 

So make yourself a hot drink and stand outside for a few minutes. The best places are to stand on the lawns or on the car park.

laloma at night, waterside hideaways

Local Shops and Eating Out

If you fancy heading out to eat or drink then the famous Shipwrights Arms pub is just a couple of minutes stroll away.

They also serve a hearty Sunday roast during the Autumn and Winter months. Vegetarian and gluten free options are available. 

The pub has cosy and welcoming  bar and indoor dining areas. 

Alternatively wrap up warm and head to the outside water fronting seating to listen to the gentle sounds of the boats and the twinking of lights across at Treath and Helford Passage.

Helford Village Stores – This brilliant shop has a wide range of delicious local food and drink as well as household supplies. The essentials are well covered as well as luxuries and treats. 

The opening hours may shorten during the Autumn and Winter months.  It also couldn’t be more convenient as it is just a 1 minute walk away from Laloma’s gate.

There are also three additional lovely local shops which offer local produce, food, drink and essential supplies. The independently run Gweek Village Stores; Mawgan Stores and Gear Farm Shop. All these lovely shops are well worth a browse too.

The Holy Mackerel Cafe at the Helford Village car park at the top of the hill stays open for snacks, cakes and drinks until October. The cafe is closed on Thursdays and Fridays.

The Fat Apples Cafe in St Keverne is very popular with locals and serves snacks, cakes and drinks. Open on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays up until the 3rd of November.

If you fancy exploring the Creeks by water then you can hire a boat, canoe/kayak or paddleboard from Sailaway at St Anthony. This allows you to experience the quietness and magical nature of the creeks. It is often the best way to see some of their unique birds and wildlife.

Places to Visit

Kestle Barton – This ancient series of barns have been converted into an art gallery and event space as well as lovely gardens. They hold exhibitions and events throughout the year, up until late October. You can walk to Kestle Barton from Helford Village.

Trebah Gardens – This magical coastal sub-tropical Garden is on the opposite side of the creek to Laloma. It can be reached either by the passenger ferry or by driving. 

As well as exploring the gardens, Trebah also hold events throughout the year and have a lovely plant shop and cafe. Autumn events coming up include a biofluorescent Night Walk, how to rewild your garden, how gardeners are ecosystem engineers, Autumnal writing workshops and regular yoga workshops.

Glendurgan Gardens – Owned by the National Trust. Another famous sub-tropical garden on the other side of the Creek to Helford.

As well as exploring the gardens, eating in the cafe and getting lost in the maze, Glendurgan also holds workshops and events throughout Autumn. These include orchard talks and half term activities such as exploring Autumn colour with children.

autumn leaves 1 waterside hideaways

Minack Theatre – This stunning open air amphitheatre style theatre sits on the edge of a cliff in a beautiful sub-tropical garden. They hold plays, concerts, workshops and events throughout the year, including in Autumn. Or you can just visit to see the gardens and explore the theatre. 

The National Trust also have Heritage Open Days on the 6th to the 15th of September which allow you to explore their properties for free. Check their website to see which properties are taking part.

Visit the lovely Potager Garden and gardens in Constantine to enjoy delicious fresh foods and explore the garden. They often have Autumnal workshops too.

latte, waterside hideaways

A lovely Autumn idea is to visit those towns and villages that would be packed out in the Summer but are perfect now.

There are so many wonderful places near Helford, here are just a few: Porthleven, Helston, Cadgwith, Coverack, Lizard Point, Goonhilly Downs, St Ives, Falmouth and of course the City of Truro.

Autumn Festivals and Events

St Ives September Festival – 14th to 28th September 2024

Falmouth Beer Festival – 26th to 28th September 2024 

Porthleven Arts Festival – 8th October 2024

Mevagissey Shanty Festival – 11th October 2024

Falmouth Book Festival – 14th to 20th October 2024

Celtic Beer Festival, St Austell Brewery – 30th November 2024

 

birch leaves, waterside hideaways
autumn woodlands, waterside hideaways

Halloween

Newquay Zombie Crawl – 26th October 2024 – This unique family friendly event takes place in Newquay each year. As well as the zombie parade (dress up to take part) there are also workshops to perfect your zombie walk and face painting.

 

National Maritime Museum Cornwall, Falmouth – As well as a brilliant Pirate exhibition, the Maritime Museum are also hosting loads of Halloween and half term workshops for children. This includes workshops on making your own shadow puppets and a Halloween trail. On the 31st they stay open later for more Halloween family activities.

Thank you so much for reading this blog post, we hope you have a wonderful time exploring Helford in Autumn.

You can learn more about Laloma and how to book your stay here

You can visit our homepage here

All images taken by and copyright of B. Woolley and Waterside Hideaways.

beautiful beaches and secret coves near helford village, waterside hideaways

Beautiful beaches and secret coves near Helford Village

Posted by on | Featured

16 minutes estimated read time

Beautiful beaches and secret coves near Helford Village

Cornwall is blessed with an abundance of beautiful coves and beaches and many of them are within an hour of Helford Village.

So here are just a few of the beaches we love or that we know are loved by others.

Please note that whether a beach is good/safe for swimming or surfing depends on the local conditions, your own swimming abilities/health conditions and the weather and water/rip currents at the time you go.

So please do your own research and be aware that any beach can be dangerous in the wrong conditions.

For all of these beaches if you use a Sat Nav please set your starting location as the Helford Village car park. Otherwise it will try to tell you to go up Orchard Lane which is not a suitable route and often leads to vehicles getting stuck and blocking the road.

All images taken by and copyright of B. Woolley and Waterside Hideaways.

Perranporth Beach, waterside hideaways
Perranporth Beach

Local beaches near Helford Village

Penarvon Cove

A lovely little pebbly beach within the Helford River and only a 10-15 minute walk from Laloma Cottage. You can paddle and swim here (no lifeguard) but the main beauty is in listening to the birdsong and the swish of the waves and looking out into the Helford River Creek. The cove is entirely surrounded by ancient woodland and is a perfect spot for a beach picnic, as always just take away everything and leave no rubbish. Dogs are also allowed on the beach all year round.

The woodland walks around the cove also lead you past a lovely little chapel that commemorates St Francis and his love of all animals and birds. The chapel is kept open for visitors to enter and there is a guest book if you want to leave a message.

Penarvon Cove
Bosahan Cove
Bosahan Cove

A gorgeous little sand and shingle cove surrounded by the woodland of the Bosahan Estate.

The cove is only accessible in three ways – first is via the Coast Path, you can walk there from Laloma or park at the Helford Village car park at the top of the hill and walk, it will be around a 30 minute walk from the car park.

The second way is to enter the cove using a dingy or small boat.

The third and shortest route (in Summer) is to go through Bosahan Gardens (a small fee applies), you can also park here when it is open.

Dogs are allowed on the beach, there is no lifeguard.

Helford Passage Beach

Just opposite Helford Village on the other side of the River is Helford Passage with its famous Ferryboat Inn. From Helford Village you can take the foot ferry from the Helford point (Seasonal) or drive round the creeks to get there.

The beach is a mix of shingle and sand, just watch out for boats and other river craft as it is a very busy launching point.

There is no lifeguard and dogs aren’t allowed on the beach between Easter and the end of September. As well as the pub there is a shop and toilets.

helford passage waterside hideaways
Helford Passage
Polgwidden Cove at Trebah Gardens

The cove is open from 9.30am to 4.30pm and is only accessible through Trebah Gardens on the opposite side of the River to Helford Village. Trebah Gardens should be on your list to visit anyway with its stunning gardens and history.

The beach itself is lovely with a mix of sand and pebbles, there are also rockpools to explore. As well as natural beauty, Polgwidden Cove also has a fascinating history. In WWII the cove was used as a D-Day embarkation point for American troops as part of Operation Overlord, the largest amphibious landing in history.

Today the beach allows dogs on leads and has a beach café which serves snacks, hot and cold drinks and Roskilly’s ice creams.

https://www.trebahgarden.co.uk/beach

Durgan Beach at Glendurgan Gardens

This lovely beach has a mix of sand and shingle as well as rockpools to explore. It sits at the bottom of the valley that contains the National Trust owned Glendurgan Gardens and Durgan Village and can be accessed via a ½ mile track with a carpark at the top of the valley.

There is no lifeguard and Durgan Beach.

The beach is fairly sheltered from the wind and has beautiful views of the Helford River. Dogs are allowed on the beach.

Glendurgan Gardens, National Trust

Beaches within 30 minutes of Helford Village

Kennack Sands, Kuggar

A very popular sandy beach for both families, rock-pools and surfing/body boarding. There are two beach cafes, a toilet block and a car park. You can also spot beautiful pebbles of serpentine rock.

At high tide the beach itself is actually split into two with a rocky hill (The Caeverracks) separating the two areas into Kennack Sands West and Kennack Sands East.

Kennack Sands West is nearest the car park and cafes and is definitely the more popular side, it also has a lifeguard in the Summer months. Just be careful at low tide as rip currents can appear occasionally, as with any beach.

Dogs are allowed on the East beach and it is much quieter. There are the remains of WWII defences at the back of the beach and there are pill boxes and an anti-tank wall too.

At the back of the beach is a nature reserve with a little stream, ponds and lots of coastal grassland species of plants, birds and animals.

Kennack Sands is about a 25 minute drive from Helford Village.

https://www.visitcornwall.com/things-to-do/beaches/kennack-sands-beach

Kennack Sands
Coverack Beach

This is a beautiful beach with a very special geological history. Situated in the middle of the village of Coverack, the sand and pebble beach is popular for paddling, swimming, diving, walking and kayaking. There is a lifeguard during set times.

Dogs are allowed on the beach all year round but must be on leads during June, July and August. You can get drinks, meals or snacks from a number of places within the village, including from the village shop, Cafés, pubs or chip shop. There are also public toilets available.

The beach at Coverack is special geologically because it is one of the only places you can see evidence of the boundary (Moho) between the Earth’s mantle and crust. If you walk across the beach you can see the serpentine that makes up the Earth’s upper mantle layer and then the gabbro that makes up its lower crust. Both were once molten and have cooled into the rocks you can see there today. Other special rocks you can see here include peridotite and troctolite.

Coverack Beach is about 25 minutes drive from Helford Village. The postcode is TR12 6SP.

https://coverack.org.uk/

https://www.geographysouthwest.co.uk/visit-sw/places-to-visit/coverack-beach/

Coverack Beach
Poldhu Cove (also known as Black Pool Cove)

A popular sandy cove for swimming and surfing. There are lifeguards here in the Summer months but just be careful at low tide.

Dogs are allowed on the beach between 1st September and 30th June.

The beach is owned by the National Trust and is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This area is also home to the famous Marconi wireless communication centre.

There is a beach café, car park and toilets.

Poldhu Cove is about 25 minutes drive from Helford Village.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cornwall/poldhu-cove

Within 40 minutes of Helford Village

Kynance Cove

An iconic beach with turquoise waters and towering rock formations of serpentinite. This beach is probably better to explore on foot or to paddle rather than for swimming as there are strong currents and no lifeguard. It is such a beautiful beach though and well worth a visit just for its natural beauty.

There are also two blowholes in the cove. The first is names the Post office because it has so much suction that letters can be sucked down it. The other is on Asparagus Island and is called the Devil’s Bellows which makes a snorting sound at half-tide.

There is a beach café in the cove along with toilets when the café is open. There is a car park on the cliffs to the east of the Cove but it is small car park and fills up quickly, you access the cove via the south West Coast Path or walk from Lizard Town.

The cove recently featured in the Netflix series House of the Dragon as the battleground site on the Stepstones.

Kynance Cove is around 37 minutes drive from Helford Village. The Postcode is TR12 7PJ

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cornwall/kynance-cove

https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/GeositesKynance

 

Kynance Cove
Marazion Beach

A sandy beach with a stunning view of St Michael’s Mount directly in front. At low tide you can walk across the uncovered road to the island and explore.

The beach is popular for families and swimming and is large enough to not get too crowded. There is a lifeguard service in the Summer months.

There are cafes and toilets as well as car parks. It is also only a short walk into the centre of Marazion for more options.

Dogs aren’t allowed from Easter week to the 1st of October.

The postcode is TR17 0EG and it is about a 40 minute drive from Helford Village.

marazion beach, waterside hideaways
Marazion Beach

Within an hour of Helford Village

Gyllyngvase Beach (known as Gylly Beach), Falmouth 

A very popular sand and pebble beach in Falmouth. Gylly is the largest beach in Falmouth and is enjoyed by students, families, swimmers and paddleboarders. There are also lots of rockpools to explore too.

There are lovely views of Penndennis Point from the beach and it is a brilliant place to watch the large ships that moor in the bay or those leaving Falmouth Docks.

Swimming is very popular at the beach, it has a blue flag award and during the Summer months there is a lifeguard.

Dogs are allowed on the beach between 1st October to 14th May or after 6pm out of those dates.

There is a beach café and restaurant as well as toilets and showers. There is now a Co-Op shop opposite as well for snacks.

The beach has a level access and disabled toilets for those with mobility issues and a sand chair can be hired from the beach café.

Gylly Beach is around a 46 minute drive from Helford Village. The postcode for Gylly Beach is TR11 4NA.

https://www.visitcornwall.com/things-to-do/beaches/gyllyngvase-beach

https://www.falmouthharbour.co.uk/shipping-and-harbour-operations/shipping-movements/

gylly beach waterside hideaways
Gylly Beach, Falmouth
gylly beach waterside hideaways
Castle Beach, Falmouth 

Although swimming is possible here at higher tide it is probably a better beach for rock-pooling at low tide which is excellent here. There are also the remains of a wartime wreck which becomes exposed at low tide. The entire beach can become covered at high tide so you need to be aware and not get cut off.

There is a beach café and toilets. Dogs are allowed on the beach after 6pm in the Summer months and at any time between 1st September and 30th June.

Castle Beach is about a 48 minute drive from Helford Village. The Postcode for the beach is TR11 4NZ

https://www.falmouth.co.uk/see-and-do/beaches/castle-beach/

Castle Beach, Falmouth
Swanpool Beach, Falmouth

This lovely white pebbly beach is just a short walk over the coast path from Gylly Beach in Falmouth and has a beach cafe, car park and toilet block.

Swanpool also has a beautiful lake and nature reserve behind it as well as a crazygolf course and kayak hire.

Dogs are allowed on the beach after 6pm in the Summer months and then at anytime between the 1st of September and 30th of June.

Swanpool is about a 43 minute drive from Helford Village and the postcode is TR11 5BG.

https://swanpoolbeach.co.uk/

swanpool beach waterside hideaways
Swanpool Beach, Falmouth
swanpool beach waterside hideaways
Swanpool beach waterside hideaways
Maenporth Beach, Falmouth

This pretty and sandy beach is only a 2 mile walk from Falmouth or there is a car park, toilets and beach café on site.

You can hire kayaks and paddleboards from the beach café or just paddle and sunbathe. There can be strong currents here and there is no lifeguard on this beach.

Dogs aren’t allowed on the beach from 1st July to 31st August (10am to 6pm).

Maenporth Beach is around a 41 minute drive from Helford Village. The postcode is TR11 5HN.

https://www.falmouth.co.uk/see-and-do/beaches/maenporth-beach/

Porthminster Beach, St Ives

A lovely sandy beach that is popular with families for sandcastle building, paddling and playing games. It is also popular with artists as the colour of the sea, golden sand and skies are often so vibrant. It is also popular with swimmers and has been awarded the blue flag award regularly, the beach has a Summer season lifeguard service.

The is a beach café and mini golf course and like most of the other beaches in St Ives, the town wraps around the beach and means that other snacks, drinks and toilets are close by.

Helford Village is about 48 minutes drive away from Porthminster Beach.

https://www.stives-cornwall.co.uk/best-beaches-when-you-visit-the-st-ives-area/

Porthmeor Beach, St Ives

One of the most popular and dramatic sandy beaches around St Ives, it has a beach café, bakery and toilets.

The beach is also near to all the cafes, restaurants and art galleries that St Ives is famous for, including the Tate Gallery.

You can learn to surf here as there is a surf school and there is also a lifeguard service from Easter through to October. The beach has often been awarded the blue flag too.

Dogs are allowed on the beach after 6pm or at anytime from the 1st of October to the 14th May.

Porthmeor beach is around 51 minutes drive from Helford Village. 

https://www.cornwall-beaches.co.uk/west-cornwall/porthmeor.htm

https://www.stives-cornwall.co.uk/best-beaches-when-you-visit-the-st-ives-area/

Perranporth Beach

A famous beach that combines with its neighbour Penhale Sands at low tide to create an expanse of sand that is one of the largest pieces of unbroken sandy beach on the North Coast.

Dogs are allowed on the beach all year round but must be on a lead in the months of July and August between the hours of 9am to 5pm.

The beach is sandy so good for sandcastles and games and is well known for surfing and swimming. 

There is a bar actually on the beach and the access to the beach is level and easy.

Sunsets are stunning here and it often attracts a crowd to watch.

The postcode is TR6 0AQ. It is about a 58 minute drive from Helford Village.

https://www.visitcornwall.com/things-to-do/beaches/perranporth-beach

Perranporth Beach, waterside hideaways
Perranporth Beach at sunset
perranporth beach, waterside hideaways
perranporth beach, waterside Hideaways
Thank you so much for reading this blog post, we hope you have a wonderful time exploring Cornwall’s beaches.

You can learn more about Laloma and how to book your stay here

You can visit our homepage here

All images taken by and copyright of B. Woolley and Waterside Hideaways.

 

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Summer at Laloma

Posted by on | Featured

Summer at Laloma Cottage means...

  • Cozy cottage nights

  • Stargazing on Laloma’s lawn, spotting constellations and looking for meteors

  • Salty skin after days spent on the beach

  • Lunch at the Shipwrights Arms, 2 minutes walk from Laloma

  • Picnics in the woods and fields overlooking Frenchman’s Creek

  • Crabbing and paddling at the Helford Point

  • Beautiful dog walks straight from the gate

  • Ice creams from Helford Stores 

  • Abundant wildflowers in the hedgerows and verges

Each season has its high points and joys but Summer at Laloma is particularly special

  • The beaches around are waiting with crisp, clear waters.

  • This provides many chances to rock-pool, surf, swim, kayak, paddle-board and snorkle. Or hire a boat for the day and explore the creeks. 

  • The weather in Cornwall is at its best with wide deep blue skies, bright cheering sunlight. The turquoise seas make you feel like you could be in the Mediterranean.
  • Excluding the obvious water-based activities and glorious walking chances – There is so much more to do as well. You could see a play at the famous Minack theatre or take a local wildlife tour to see if you can spot dolphins. You can also go shopping at the many galleries and independent shops throughout the area and eat fresh seafood or local ice creams.

  • The cafes and restaurants are bustling and at their most vibrant.

  • The wildflowers and hedgerows in Summer are stunning. With campion, ox-eye daisies, cow parsley and so many others crowding the sides of the roads. All bringing vibrant pinks, whites and yellows to an otherwise lush green. 

At Laloma the wildflowers are blooming and campion, daisies, forget me nots, red valerian, speedwell and scarlet pimpernel have replaced the spring flowers. The trees and hedges around the cottage support chattering sparrows and friendly robins that love to investigate what you might have for them at the picnic table.

In the day the skies above are full of swifts and martins as well as seagulls, buzzards and jackdaws. At night you can hear the owls calling across the creek to each other. Or lie on the lawn to stargaze and hopefully see a meteor or two.

The stars at Laloma are stunning on a clear night due to the lack of light pollution and you can regularly see the Milky Way, planets, satellites and meteors. Make yourself a hot drink and either lie on a picnic blanket on the lawn, stand on the carpark by the creek or sit on the picnic bench for the best stargazing experiences.

On a clear night you can see meteors here all year round. However the best times in Summer (weather permitting) are during the most well-known meteor showers in July and August.

Delta Aquariids – mid July to late August – 25 meteors per/h
Perseids – mid July to late August – 100 meteors per/h

In the Helford Creek

There are often little egrets perched in the trees across the creek from Laloma, their bright white plumage making them unmistakeable while they scavenge while the tide is out. Flocks of turnstones scurry across the rocks while oyster catchers and curlews give their characteristic calls. Dolphins and porpoise can also occasionally be spotted at the entrance to the Creek.

Laloma is a perfect spot for nature lovers to explore, relax and enjoy the sights that Summer brings to Cornwall.

Summer around Helford Village

If you like to paddleboard, canoe or kayak then there is a slipway right next to the pub where you can enter the creek.

This is only a 2 minute walk from Laloma and you are very welcome to store your kayaks or paddleboards on Laloma’s triangle lawn as you enter the gate to the cottage, so they are ready to use.

The Helford Point is only about a 5 to 8 minute walk from Laloma and is lovely for paddling, crabbing, rock-pooling and catching the foot ferry across to Helford Passage. The views are also stunning and you can see right out the Creek to the open sea.

There are many walks that you can access directly from Laloma’s gate. Most through beautiful ancient woodland and following coastal footpaths. This includes walks to Frenchman’s creek, made famous by the Daphne Du Maurier book of the same name.

The Shipwrights Arms is just a 2 minute walk from Laloma and serves drinks, lunches and evening meals. You can sit inside but the real treat is to sit outside and enjoy the views. The Shipwrights Arms website is:

https://www.shipwrights-helford.co.uk/

The Holy Mackerel cafe sits as you enter the village (next to the village car park at the top of the hill) and is open during the Summer serving light lunches, cakes and drinks.

The Helford Stores has a wonderful selection of food and drinks as well as everyday essentials. It also serves ice creams and pasties, perfect for a treat at the end of a walk.

Thank you for reading, you can learn more about Laloma and how to book your stay here

You can visit our homepage here

All images copyright of B. Woolley

Tags: , , , , , ,