West Country
MOUNT GARDENS
The new Explore The Gardens event throws a spotlight on the unique gardens of St Michael’s Mount, where exotic plants have thrived since 1780. Visitors have a chance to meet one of the gardening team, including head gardener Lottie Allen, and hear about the garden’s history and current design. Tours run daily at 1pm from 20 April until the end of June. Situated in Mount’s Bay, St Michael’s Mount is an iconic Cornish landmark and a popular tourist destination in the South West.
01736-710265, www.stmichaelsmount.co.uk
VIKING VOYAGERS
The National Maritime Museum Cornwall, Falmouth, is staging a new exhibition where visitors experience Viking life as it was more than 1,000 years ago and even climb aboard a fullscale (14m) replica Viking ship. There’s also jewellery, clothing, an armoury, toys and games, coins, grave goods and many other artefacts on loan from the British Museum. Also, a sixmetre Norwegian Faering, Does Poldark have you pining for the West Country? Here’s some great things to do in the spectacular South West built by students from Falmouth Marine School, is the centrepiece of a ‘touch and feel’ boat-builder’s yard. Viking Voyagers runs until 22 February 2017.
01326-313388, www.nmmc.co.uk
OTTER FUN
One of my favourite places to visit in Cornwall is the Tamar Otter & Wildlife Centre, North Petherwin. Here you will see delightful British and Asian short-clawed otters playing and being fed, providing great photo opportunities. There are also fallow deer in a woodland enclosure, wallabies and muntjac deer roaming around the 21-acre grounds, and several species of owl and other birds of prey. The tea shop is also worth a visit for the choice of homemade cakes.
01566-785646, www.tamarotters.co.uk
SHEEP THRILLS
The new Shaun the Sheep Experience at Land’s End sees the famous landmark’s signpost rebranded as ‘Lamb’s End’, and features original sets, models and characters from the awardwinning productions. Visitors can see Mossy Bottom Farm, the mayhem in the Naughty Pig’s Sty and try to cure Shirley the Sheep’s hiccups. There is also an opportunity to star in a real Shaun the Sheep scene using greenscreen technology, and meet other characters, including Wallace and Gromit.
0871-720 0044, www.landsend-landmark.co.uk and 01872-322900, www.visitcornwall.com
HORSE TRAILS
Liberty Trails has partnered with Bovey Castle in Devon to offer a horseback adventure on Dartmoor, from £1,500 per person for three days. Lead by a local guide, guests explore heather-clad hills, moorland, ancient woodland, wild rivers and world-famous granite tors. Riders can take their own horse and use Liberty’s stables, or hire one. You will stay at Bovey Castle and the price includes English breakfast, most meals, plus two spa treatments and livery for guests’ own horse or two days’ horse hire.
07967-823674, www.boveyadventure.com
EGG HUNT
The Great Eden Egg Hunt (28 March to 12 April) at the Eden Project, St Austell, enables visitors to travel the world without leaving the country, as they follow clues through Eden’s giant dome greenhouses with different habitats. You can also take a walk among the treetops on the Rainforest Canopy Walkway. There will also be art to admire and an educational centre. Plan to spend the day there – there’s plenty to see and do.
01726-811911, www.edenproject.com
FOODIE HEAVEN
Manna from Devon Cooking School’s spring and summer offerings include a range of courses using wood-fired ovens, ideal for cooking marinated meats, fish and vegetable dishes but also pizzas and appetising flatbreads. The new Sweet Dough course teaches the art of baking flawless croissants, fruit breads, brioche and festival breads. The school is in Kingswear, South Devon.
01803-752943, www.mannafromdevon.com
Contact Wendy at wendy.gomersall@lady.co.uk
Prices are correct at the time of going to press.
The new Explore The Gardens event throws a spotlight on the unique gardens of St Michael’s Mount, where exotic plants have thrived since 1780. Visitors have a chance to meet one of the gardening team, including head gardener Lottie Allen, and hear about the garden’s history and current design. Tours run daily at 1pm from 20 April until the end of June. Situated in Mount’s Bay, St Michael’s Mount is an iconic Cornish landmark and a popular tourist destination in the South West.
01736-710265, www.stmichaelsmount.co.uk
VIKING VOYAGERS
The National Maritime Museum Cornwall, Falmouth, is staging a new exhibition where visitors experience Viking life as it was more than 1,000 years ago and even climb aboard a fullscale (14m) replica Viking ship. There’s also jewellery, clothing, an armoury, toys and games, coins, grave goods and many other artefacts on loan from the British Museum. Also, a sixmetre Norwegian Faering, Does Poldark have you pining for the West Country? Here’s some great things to do in the spectacular South West built by students from Falmouth Marine School, is the centrepiece of a ‘touch and feel’ boat-builder’s yard. Viking Voyagers runs until 22 February 2017.
01326-313388, www.nmmc.co.uk
OTTER FUN
One of my favourite places to visit in Cornwall is the Tamar Otter & Wildlife Centre, North Petherwin. Here you will see delightful British and Asian short-clawed otters playing and being fed, providing great photo opportunities. There are also fallow deer in a woodland enclosure, wallabies and muntjac deer roaming around the 21-acre grounds, and several species of owl and other birds of prey. The tea shop is also worth a visit for the choice of homemade cakes.
01566-785646, www.tamarotters.co.uk
SHEEP THRILLS
The new Shaun the Sheep Experience at Land’s End sees the famous landmark’s signpost rebranded as ‘Lamb’s End’, and features original sets, models and characters from the awardwinning productions. Visitors can see Mossy Bottom Farm, the mayhem in the Naughty Pig’s Sty and try to cure Shirley the Sheep’s hiccups. There is also an opportunity to star in a real Shaun the Sheep scene using greenscreen technology, and meet other characters, including Wallace and Gromit.
0871-720 0044, www.landsend-landmark.co.uk and 01872-322900, www.visitcornwall.com
HORSE TRAILS
Liberty Trails has partnered with Bovey Castle in Devon to offer a horseback adventure on Dartmoor, from £1,500 per person for three days. Lead by a local guide, guests explore heather-clad hills, moorland, ancient woodland, wild rivers and world-famous granite tors. Riders can take their own horse and use Liberty’s stables, or hire one. You will stay at Bovey Castle and the price includes English breakfast, most meals, plus two spa treatments and livery for guests’ own horse or two days’ horse hire.
07967-823674, www.boveyadventure.com
EGG HUNT
The Great Eden Egg Hunt (28 March to 12 April) at the Eden Project, St Austell, enables visitors to travel the world without leaving the country, as they follow clues through Eden’s giant dome greenhouses with different habitats. You can also take a walk among the treetops on the Rainforest Canopy Walkway. There will also be art to admire and an educational centre. Plan to spend the day there – there’s plenty to see and do.
01726-811911, www.edenproject.com
FOODIE HEAVEN
Manna from Devon Cooking School’s spring and summer offerings include a range of courses using wood-fired ovens, ideal for cooking marinated meats, fish and vegetable dishes but also pizzas and appetising flatbreads. The new Sweet Dough course teaches the art of baking flawless croissants, fruit breads, brioche and festival breads. The school is in Kingswear, South Devon.
01803-752943, www.mannafromdevon.com
Contact Wendy at wendy.gomersall@lady.co.uk
Prices are correct at the time of going to press.