Photo Diary

July 27, 2025 - Vicki Leave a comment

Back in 2020 / 2021 I really fell back in love with Cornwall, before that I thought I was over living here, it felt too remote (it still does at times), and I was yearning for city life. Being unable to leave the county for so long made us appreciate what we have right on our doorstep. We made the most of Cornwall being quiet (again) by exploring the local area and getting out walking. I noticed throughout 2021/2022 that I was going out less and less, to a point where I was avoiding leaving the house. So I made a pact with myself that, even if it was just a short walk around my neighbourhood, that I would try to get out as often as I could. Not setting any set rules or even committing to going out daily, just that I would try very hard to leave the house as regularly as I could.

Photography gave me that reason to go out, I had forgotten how much I loved taking pictures, and being stuck at home had taken away the joy for me, but on my walks I started to take my camera with me, and it worked, I stayed out longer than I thought I would, and I began to appreciate my local area.

The photos in this post were taken on my journey to better mental health. Although as I write this in my mental health is not 100%, and I still find it hard some days to leave the house, but I know that I’m not alone in feeling like that. My camera is still my creative outlet, and I need to remember just to do my best and when the world starts to feel too busy those are the moments that I need to remember to slow down and not take in all the negative noise.

Some things that make me happy are, the Flamingo ice cream van at the top of Fistral beach in Newquay which has the best vegan raspberry ripple! I can’t resist, it is well worth a visit if you’re ever in the neighbourhood. Oh, & Sprout Health Food Shop has the cutest courtyard where you can have a coffee, and they serve amazing Vegan food. It is such a peaceful space, and it feels like you’re on the Amalfi Coast not Newquay.

I do pop up to Manchester to see family, It’s nice to have an excuse to leave the county and enjoy one of my favourite cities. We always try to visit a couple of times a year, we always squeeze in a trip in August, as we got married in Manchester 17 years ago (and lived there for many years). We love visiting all our favourite places and seeing how the city has changed in the last 20+ years.

It is a place that always gets my creative juices flowing, and I leave feeling energised and full of ideas. Although the drive up from Cornwall can be a trek, it is always well worth braving the M5/M6! Especially knowing that my favourite tea shop, Bird and Blend is there, as well as Fig & Sparrow ( the best Matcha Latte in Manchester!). I soak up all the hustle and bustle, visit every coffee shop, museum, and bar that I have time for. Then by the time I leave to head back to the quietness of Cornwall, I am ready for the peace and quiet (and a beach). Best of both worlds .

I think it is impossible to take a bad photo of Cornwall, its landscapes, pretty towns and villages and stunning coastline make for an endless subject. I never get bored with taking pictures of the same cottages, beaches, and coffee shops. But there is nothing like not being able to go further than your local area for discovering hidden gems that you might have overlooked before. Even after living here for 10 years, there are still so many places on my list that I have not visited yet, and this Summer I fully intend to tick some off. Cornwall has so many secret spots to swim, and also river swimming is popular, and I want to do more of both this year.

If you have any recommendations of things to do in Cornwall that are a little different or not to be missed. I would love to hear them.

Gorran Haven Cornwall

January 31, 2023April 1, 2026 - Vicki Leave a comment

Having lived in Cornwall for almost 8 years now, you would have thought I’d explored quite a lot of it. I have been to so many beautiful places, but there is still so much to see. I have been making it a priority to get out more and be a tourist in my own backyard (or County). So a few weeks ago, in what Cornwall would term “out of season”, I headed for the coastal village of Gorran Haven.

Gorran Haven is just a few miles around the coast from where I live and very close to the neighbouring harbour town of Mevagissey. Gorran Haven is much more sleepy, quaint and unspoilt than many other small coastal villages in Cornwall. I did visit during the Winter, which meant it was very peaceful. The car park is great, you can’t miss it & from there you just walk down the hill to the sea. Gorran Haven was a very busy and important fishing port from the 12th century right up until the 19th century. It was known for its pilchards, crabs and lobsters, but now the harbour has very few commercial fisherman and more holidaymakers.

This small village has a beautiful beach, its sandy shoreline and cove make it protected from the wind and a popular swimming spot. Even in the winter, you will see local residents taking a dip & wild swimming has had such a resurgence over the past few years. Although I do like to swim in the sea, I am not brave enough to go in when it is cold outside.

We visited on a bright, but chilly day and just had a lovely stroll up and down the tiny streets, and along the beach. Apart from the village Post Office, which also sells tea & cake, there was nothing else open. Not even the chip shop, that is the problem with Cornwall in the Winter, so many businesses and amenities either close fully until the end of March or they open for only a short time. If they were open, there is a café on the beach called Mermaid Café and The Beachcomber Café just on the hill overlooking the beach. The Beachcomber Café used to be a boat building shed, and the Mermaid Café used to be in part, The Ship Inn Pub.

There are so many lovely traditional Cornish cottages in this village & so much history down every street. The whitewashed cottages with pretty painted doors and windows are my favourite. They always look so quaint and homely. When I visited the streets were so quiet, and it is not a village that has a lot of traffic, with the streets being so narrow it is almost impossible to get a car through. So it means it is peaceful and the perfect place to soak in the sea air and enjoy the views.

I am sure if you visited from April – October the cafés and shops would be open, and there would be a little more hustle and bustle. I must admit that I like going during the “off season” as it feels calm, and you get time to yourself, so you can amble up and down the deserted streets. On the way home, we did stop into the larger harbour town of Mevagissey, which is only a few miles from Gorran Haven. It is somewhere that is well worth a visit. It has more amenities and I took quite a few photos, so make sure to keep an eye out for a post all about another pretty fishing town.

Lostwithiel Cornwall

January 19, 2023April 1, 2026 - Vicki Leave a comment

The town of Lostwithiel is just 3 miles from where I live, it has such a rich and vibrant history, and it dates back as far as the 12th century. It is set in the most stunning countryside and is right on the bank of the river Fowey, and at one point in history it was a very busy port, mostly for tin. The river is not as deep as it once was, but is still very popular to swim in and kayak. I love to sit on the river bank and enjoy a picnic in the Summer months.

This small town boasts beautiful country walks, stunning woodlands and lots of places to stop for a coffee/lunch or browse the many antique shops. It even has a castle named Restormel Castle which dates back to 14th century and the views from there are stunning, over the valley and the ancient medieval town of Lostwithiel.

There are so many historical houses, cottages, and buildings dotted around the town. One of my favourite things to do is just walk up and down all the tiny cobbled backstreets to see all the old cottages, medieval passages, and beautiful buildings. I take so many photos every time I go (which is at least once a week).

The main church, St Bartholomew’s has a 13th century steeple, and the stone bridge over the river Fowey is impressive and dates back to the 15th century, but there has been a crossing at this point for centuries. This is a town very rich in history and if you’re there on a day the tiny museum is open (which has free entry) then you have to pop in.

The river bank is a popular place to picnic, and the water is shallow and a nice spot to swim, if you like wild swimming. A lot of people also go to the chippy and get fish & chips to eat in the evening at the picnic tables along the riverbank. There are also quite a few charming pubs, with great food options. Can’t beat a good pub lunch.

I love the cottages with pretty coloured front doors and windows, I have so many favourites and daydream about what it would be like to live in one. There are so many hidden gems that are just off the main streets, tucked away down small windy lanes. Lostwithiel is quite hilly, but it’s well worth venturing up them to see the views and the pretty buildings.

The Mess Hall is quite a new café in Lostwithiel, they serve lovely coffee. It has a very welcoming feel and the decor is bright and calm. A very enjoyable place for lunch and if you manage to visit on a nice sunny day their outdoor patio area is charming.

I also love to take photos of pretty/intriguing classic cars & Lostwithiel is a great place to do that, the cute Figaro is always parked there and is just so sweet. Cornwall is a Mecca for VW vans, and I do like it when they look like they’ve been used and loved. I also like a business who uses a classic van, and the Morris Minor I spotted was very cute indeed. Also you just can’t beat a nice Land Rover Defender.

In terms of shopping, you might think being a small town it would be lacking, but this is a bustling community and a place well known for its antique shops. Although a few closed after the pandemic, there are still plenty to browse, I always come away with the most random mix of items. There is a fantastic General Store, called Watts Trading, it has a vintage, classic vibe and sells so many lovely food items, local gifts and sustainable home wears. I like to get lots of my Xmas gifts in here as it has so many thoughtful/environmentally friendly items.

Lostwithiel is not short on cafés and places to grab a Cornish pasty or a cream tea. We like to go to Q. Street Coffee, on Queen Street. They do a wonderful selection of Vegan and Gluten Free cakes a well as milk alternatives. I like to have their granola and yoghurt or breakfast or a vegan sausage sandwich. The menu is good, and they use local produce and bake many of their own cakes.

I love to visit Alice In Scandiland who sells beautiful Scandinavian home wear as well as lots of Cornish handmade artisan products too. The stock changes up quite regularly, so if you see something you like in there make sure you snap it up as chances are you will miss out. I guarantee if you pop in you will make a purchase, I have left with the most eclectic selection of products, everything from magazines, candles, handwash to a wooden bench and even a massive bunch of Eucalyptus (at Xmas).

I think some lesser known places in Cornwall are well worth a visit, if you’re staying near Looe, Fowey or heading to the Eden Project then Lostwithiel is close by. If you have a couple of hours to spare, it is a great place for a peaceful walk, coffee, and a browse of the independent shops. Great destination if you want a day away from the beach and the crowds. It is super friendly, a real community feel and compared to many towns, villages in Cornwall there are many people still resident there, so not just Airbnb or holiday lets.

Fowey Cornwall – Goodbye Summer

October 11, 2020 - Vicki Leave a comment

We are well into October now & the weather has turned colder. Autumn is in full swing, I look forward to this time of year, it is my birthday month (always a plus) and I love the changing colours and the cosy darker evenings. That being said I am sad to say goodbye to Summer. 2020 has been an odd year to say the least and this Summer has felt up and down. I didn’t do very much at all, staying very close to home. I am lucky to call Cornwall home and although it has been so much busier this year with people holidaying in Britain & doing their staycation, I still managed to get out and enjoy what is essentially my own backyard. Nothing like a pandemic to force you into being a tourist in your local area.

I have been browsing through the photos I took over the past few months, April – Sept and thought I would share them almost like a photo diary of some beautiful places we visited. Cornwall did not let us down, the weather was exceptionally warm this year, and I am so thankful for that. The sunshine made such a positive impact on my mood and helped me feel less isolated and cooped up.

Make sure you head off the beaten track a little, the high street is of course worth a visit but the small, pedestrianised backstreets are quiet and beautiful. Winding streets are everywhere, lined with classic Cornish cottages which are often painted in lovely pastel colours & will make you daydream about packing in the 9-5 and moving to the peace and quiet.

Also, Fowey river is a popular place to kayak, sail and enjoy the water. They have guided boat tours or you can hire a small boat or kayak and explore the river yourself, or head out around the coast.

One of our favourite places to stop in Fowey, is Readymoney. It is a beautiful sandy cove and if you time it right it can feel like your own private beach. The beach shop is incredible too, you can get a coffee and treat yourself to a slice of cake, ice cream or even a locally made sausage roll. They have a number of vegan options, which is always fantastic to see. They also have a lot of lovely gift ideas and mementoes, mostly locally made. The beach & shop are well worth the short walk from the village, along the river. I always have to get a tub of the vegan ice cream.

Fowey is a charming, small harbour town and over the past 5 years we have seen a number of quality restaurants and independent shops and cafés open. Less classic seaside beach tat and more locally made, handcrafted quality goods and wonderful food. Fitzroy, Bufala Pizzeria and Brown Sugar are amongst our top places to get food. Although if you want something quick and Cornish, Fowey has quite a few Bakeries, so you will be spoilt for choice.