Page 159 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - England's South Coast

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Founder Cecil Williamson chose The Elizabethan manor house
Boscastle because of its proximity Prideaux Place has been home
to the sacred prehistoric site of to the Prideaux-Brune family
Rocky Valley, where an 18-m since 1592. The family’s ancestors
(59-ft) waterfall plunges into a include famous figures such as
natural basin, and where ancient William the Conqueror and Jane
occult rock carvings, including Austen (see p92). The house, with
two taking the form of circular its richly furnished rooms and
labyrinths, have been found. superb plasterwork, has been
The museum has informative used as a location for many films
displays, and also organizes and TV series, ranging from
workshops, candlelit visits and adaptations of Rosamunde
folklore and magic walks. Pilcher to Trevor Nunn’s Twelfth
The novelist Thomas Hardy Night (1996). The dramatic
worked briefly as an architect in headland of Stepper Point, on
Boscastle. He met his wife Emma the Prideaux estate, also featured
in 1870 while working on the Ornate furnishings in the Grenville Room prominently in the popular TV
restoration of St Juliot church. at the Elizabethan manor Prideaux Place series Poldark (2015).
A Pair of Blue Eyes is set here,
and the poem “Castle Boterel” 4 Padstow O National Lobster Hatchery
records a visit he made to the Cornwall. Map B5. * 3,000. @ South Quay. Tel 01841 533877.
village as an old man. A 5-km- n North Quay; 01841 533449. Open 10am–4pm daily (to 7pm
(3-mile-) long path leads from ∑ padstowlive.com in summer). Closed 25 Dec.
Boscastle to the church through ∑ nationallobsterhatchery.co.uk
the beautiful Valency Valley. A picturesque little fishing E Padstow Museum
To fully appreciate the port on the sheltered estuary Market Pl. Tel 01841 532752.
stunning beauty of this stretch of the River Camel, chic Padstow Open Easter–Oct: 10:30am–4:30pm
of coast, follow the South West is a magnet for foodies, as well Mon–Fri, 10:30am–1pm Sat.
Coast Path 5 km (3 miles) along as having several wonderful ∑ padstowmuseum.co.uk
the clifftops to Crackington sandy beaches nearby. The P Prideaux Place
Haven. At low tide, look out for gastronomic revolution was Padstow. Tel 01841 532411.
the blowhole beneath Penally triggered by celebrity chef Rick Open House: 1:30–4pm Sun–
Point, known as the Devil’s Stein, who opened his first Thu. Grounds & Tearoom: 12:30–
Bellows, which can shoot water restaurant in the village over 5pm Sun–Thu. & 8 -
right across the harbour entrance. 40 years ago (see p191) and has ∑ prideauxplace.co.uk
since devoted much energy
E Boscastle Visitor Centre to shining the spotlight on Environs
The Harbour. Tel 01840 250010. Cornish produce. He now has From Padstow, a bike and
Open 10am–4pm daily. five eateries here, as well as a walking trail follows the route
Closed 25 & 26 Dec. cooking school. Other chefs of a disused railway (much
E Museum of Witchcraft have followed in his wake, admired by the celebrated
and Magic making Padstow the undisputed English poet Sir John Betjeman).
The Harbour. Tel 01840 250111. gourmet capital of Cornwall. The trail runs for 27 km
Open 10:30am–6pm Mon–Sat, The heart and soul of the (17 miles) across vast tidal
11:30am–6pm Sun (last adm: village is the quayside, where mudflats, and then through
5:30pm). Closed 5 Nov–26 Dec. the daily catch is landed, while wooded valleys, following
7 = ∑ museumofwitchcraft the photogenic, labyrinthine the River Camel to St Breward
andmagic.co.uk cobbled streets are studded on the edge of Bodmin Moor.
with boutiques, art galleries A passenger ferry crosses
and delicatessens. At the the estuary to the village of
National Lobster Hatchery, Rock – even more upmarket
you can see lobsters, crabs than Padstow, with regular
and crustaceans up close – visitors such as Prince Harry
and even adopt a baby lobster. and Hugh Grant.
The little Padstow Museum Wine connoisseurs should
displays a range of artifacts, visit the award-winning Camel
including archaeological Valley Vineyard for guided
finds, items recovered from tours with wine-tastings.
shipwrecks, historic shipbuilding
and fishing equipment, and  Camel Valley Vineyard
costumes from the annual Obby Nanstallon, Bodmin. Tel 01208 77959.
Oss (Hobby Horse) celebration, Open Easter–Sep: 10am–5pm Mon–
The exterior of the Museum of Witchcraft an ancient May Day ritual with Sat; Oct–Easter: 10am–5pm Mon–Fri.
and Magic in Boscastle pagan origins (see p28). ∑ camelvalley.com

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