Saturday 10 March 2012

My Love Affair with Newquay and The Island

For a lot of people my age, their childhood holidays weren't spent in Spain they were spent on the coast of the UK, whether their parents' preference was Barmouth, Swanage or Skegness. My parents' loved Newquay.

As I was an only child until I was 10, and a very demanding and stroppy child at that, my very patient cousin Zandra was like a sister to me and would come on every single holiday. Whilst she was a tomboy, I was a girly girl. When at home she would climb in trees and I would sit inside and colour but when on holiday this all changed. Holidays were spent paddling in the sea today in our vests and shorts (the concept of swimwear abandoned in haste) and posing on the rocks for pictures pretending to be the Ariel from the Little Mermaid. (Well I did that, Zandra just grinned with a spade in her hand whilst building sandcastles.) The most memorable moments include Zandra reminding us to be careful when in the sea... "Don't go too far out the cherries will get you!" Currents Zandra, currents.

My mom and I paddling in the sea at Newquay

If you've been to Newquay recently you probably won't understand why I love it so much. For me its full of childhood memories but Newquay is now seen more as a place for getting drunk and failing in surf lessons when hungover the next day. My childhood holidays made me love being by the seaside, the sound of the waves, the squawk of seagulls waking me up and the feel of the sand between my toes. 

It's this that has always made me want to live by the sea. I know that if I did I probably wouldn't appreciate it any more but there is something so relaxing about the prospect I can't help but dream that's where I'll end up. Whenever I'd go to Newquay I'd dream of living on The Island House on Towan Beach. Fistral beach was always my favourite but Towan had THE house. There was something magical about the rickety bridge; despite the fact that when the house became a restaurant for a short period and people were finally allowed to cross the bridge I was too scared to get all the way across.


It just so turns out that house is now up for sale and I've been able to look around it - virtually of course. It's not as magical as I expected, there isn't all that much room, the design isn't all that good and the price is ridiculous considering The Island is no doubt slowly crumbling... but someday I'll live by the sea. I have to. Apparently it is currently a B&B so maybe in the meantime I should save up and venture back for the first time in over 10 years and stay in this perfect 'House in the Sea'.

18 comments:

  1. Those pictures are lovely. I'd love to live by the sea too, and go for walks on the beach whenever you felt like it.

    Sophie x

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  2. YES. I freakin love Newquay, I used to go every October with my parents and sister, and we used to stay in a little village named Crantock about 3 miles away. Oh this post has bought back memories!

    xx

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    1. I'm glad :) It's so lovely there. We always used to go in May or September! I loved it. xx

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  3. I used to always go on holiday in this country, we only went abroad when I was about 14, I loved it. It was all so exciting! The waking up at 4 am to set off in the dark and arriving there, we would mainly go to Cornwall. It is very expensive to go away in this country nowadays though isn't it, in comparison with going abroad! Lovely post xxx

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    1. Waking up at 4am was great. We had an arm rest that pulled down from the middle seat and Zandra's head would rest at the back and mine at the front so we could have a little snooze! It is, which is a shame as it'd be nice to see Britain's coast full of families again. It's rare anyone would spend the money when they could go abroad and have almost guaranteed good weather though. xx

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  4. I love this post!! Been to cornwall numerous times!! Loadsa memories...

    XO

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  5. This is a lovely post! I go to Ireland loads, love it xxx

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  6. I love Newquay, a lot of my childhood holidays were spent in Devon & Cornwall :) I went back with friends a couple of years ago too. It's so beautiful round there, I know what you mean I probably prefer Fistral for the beach but love seeing the Island on Towan. I didn't realise it's a B&B!

    Caroline x
    Caroline's Catwalk

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  7. Looks lovely, can't say I had a similar childhood. Most of my fond memories were at my Grandmother's house far inland.

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  8. This is lovely, and sounds like you made some amazing memories :) I know the house you mean too, I've seen and longed for it too! xxx

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  9. Hello love!

    Loving the post... I want to go to Newquay! Never been and I've lived in the the UK for like 17 years?? haha.

    Just wanted to let you know I've moved my blog! Please check it out and if you could refollow my new blog A Whimsy Heart that would be awesome!!

    Thanks!


    Love Txx

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  10. This is such a cute post and it looks lovely xxx

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  11. really nice pictures and I love the post!
    Your new Follower =)
    Check my blog too
    http://glittersmitter5.blogspot.com/

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  12. you can try out The House in The Sea by booking a weekend there through www.uniquehomestays.com- awesome!

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    1. Hi Laura,

      Hope you don't mind me getting in touch, but I look after the marketing here at Unique Home Stays and we'd love to get a copy of the picture you've used of The House In The Sea if possible please- do you have it still? If so, we'd be forever grateful if you could email it to kahdine @ uniquehomestays. com

      Many thanks in advance,

      Kahdine

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    2. Hi Kahdine,

      If you click the caption under the image it takes you to the site where I got the image from but unfortunately it seems that the page is no longer available. It may be that you can contact Atlas Obscura to see if they have a copy of the image?

      Laura

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