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2026 Season has started!

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 16:34:08 GMT

Well it really started at the beginning of March when we reopened for guests but in reality we haven't stopped all Winter!

Since the last blog at the beginning of February we have been flat out making changes and getting ready to reopen for 2026. March and Easter turned out to be really busy with lots of mini break bookings - definitely a new trend of 3/4/5 night breaks with bookings very much last minute.

We met a lovely family who regularly visit the area and they were telling us about AD Surf in Bude ( Adaptive surfing | AdSurf | Bude | Cornwall ) which is a charity with the aim of including everyone who wants to experience the benefits of the sea and surfing by providing accessible and adaptive surfing to people with disabilities, mental heath conditions and neurodiversity. Joe, who stayed with us, was training to be a volunteer instructor and listening to him talk about it was inspiring. Part of his instructor training was being blindfolded and assisted into the sea so that he could understand how it would be to be blind. What an amazing charity which until now I had not heard about.

Some guests kindly left us a little note on departing along with some clearly very good quality bacon and sausages - which would not have faired well on the journey back 'Up North'. Needless to say it was well received by Guy but as a vegetarian of almost 40 years I didn't partake but I was grateful for the lovely note saying they had a wonderful stay in The Stable.

We (along with our fantastic neighbours Ian and Carolyn) decided to do some major groundwork (well it felt like it to me!) to our boundary which is the main entrance way for our guests. To be honest I was quite happy with the rambling wild boundary which the wildlife loved but I do have to admit the brambles were getting quite out of control and hard to manage. On top of this, as mentioned in my last blog, we had lost a lot of trees along this boundary to Dutch Elm disease. It all looks quite dramatic and bare at the moment (as in the photo) but it has been planted up with native hedge plants (hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel, crab apple and elder) and trees (goat willow) from the Woodland Trust ( UK's Largest Woodland Conservation Charity - Woodland Trust ) with the bank being seeded with hedgerow wildflower and grass mix from South West Seeds | Specialist Seeds | Agricultural Seeds | Amenity Seeds . It was only planted up on 29 March and already we can see little seedlings which is exciting! Hopefully once established it will look native and natural and blend into the surroundings along with providing a valuable resource for wildlife.

I have been busy in the greenhouse planting up seeds. Having been so impressed with the Zinnias last year I have gone a bit crazy planting these. I am hoping they will fair even better being grown in the polytunnel rather than being battered by the wind.

The digital guidebooks I mentioned in my last blog have now been finished and have been emailed out to all guests who booked direct with us. Going forward if you book direct you will get the digital guide as soon as you book, and again two weeks before arriving. I might be biased but they do seem to be very user friendly and offer a helpful search facility and it should mean guests won't need to refer to the hardcopy/PDF version of the House Book but instead can have the app on their phone/tablet. It is much wider than just a House Book and includes a local area guide. Being digital I can amend it far more often. Therefore if you stay with us and find a nice place to eat or visit and it is not in the guide do let me know so I can add it to the guide.

Talking of apps I was recently told of a great app called Merlin Bird ID by my brother-in-law Ben. You just press the 'Sound' button and your phone listens to all the birds around and IDs them! Honestly I have been blown away with how amazing it is. So far it has identified 42 different species including some unusual ones which I didn't know were around here - Dunlin, Linnet, Skylark, Cetti's Warbler, Redwing and a Curlew. I was also delighted to spot last week that the swallows are back again - a sure sign we are definitely now in Spring.

Guy has been busy progressing the potting shed which has turned into a bigger project than I could ever have imagined! If you take a look at our YouTube channel Mill Barn(s) Holiday Accommodation - YouTube you will find a couple of little clips from early March showing the progress.

I am planning on a little sewing season next week (probably assisted by my crafty and talented Mum!) to make a batch of morsbags.com which are proving popular with guests staying with us. It is a really great way of repurposing all the rejected duvet covers.

I am now back to my usual random mix of cleaning, ironing, gardening and office work (for the next 7 months!) with the occasional spot of bargain hunting in charity shops with my Mum - I am on the look out for interesting vases to present flowers to guests but the challenge will be to not keep them myself!

Wishing you all a glorious Spring x

January we saw the Northern Lights! (oh yes and there was rain - a lot!)

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 13:17:48 GMT

January Blues softened by the magical sight of the Northern Lights.

January can be challenging for many with the shorter days and colder weather. If it isn't raining it is windy and if not raining and/or windy it is often cold. The crisp cold night of 19 January meant a fantastic view of the Northern Lights for us here in Widemouth Bay and for many across Cornwall. It was on my bucket list to go and see the Northern Lights and I never imagined being able to see them from home. A nice bonus to cheer up January.

I have spent much of my time the last few weeks in my office researching and analysing various trends and statistics for the tourist industry. It is probably not a surprise that the number one search criteria when booking a UK holiday is 'pet friendly' with other top criteria being good Wi-Fi and a sea view/close to a beach. All our barns are very pet friendly with outside warm showers, dog crates/beds available, along with dog bowls, towels, blankets and treats being provided. It also helps tremendously that all the barns have slate floors and leather sofas. Sea View (as the name suggests!) has a fantastic view over the bay and all barns are within walking distance of the beach via a bridleway (see 'Contact & Find Us' for a map showing the route). We have also invested in the installation of Starlink Wi-Fi.

I have also been building a digital Guide Book for guests which will replace the PDF/hard copy of the 'House Book' for each barn and will provide an awful lot of information about the local area. This should hopefully be completed in early February. Being in digital format means that I can add to it and make amendments/updates very easily. Guests will be able to access it on their phone or computer. No doubt it will need some tweaks once feedback from guests comes in but it is a start.

Work on the allotment, polytunnel and new greenhouse has continued to be slow progress because of the horrendous weather that we have had in January. It has been an exceptionally wet January with double the normal monthly rainfall and it has resulted in Cornwall's wettest January since 1836! We were also struck with three named storms.

We have had J F Tree Care ( Tree Care Experts - West Devon ) here for a few days this month as we sadly had a number of dead trees that had succumbed to Dutch Elm disease and one by one they were falling and created a risk issue. Thankfully with Joe and Theo's advice and expertise we have kept some of the larger trees which, although they are Elm, are in fact so old that they are resistant to Dutch Elm disease. Amazing news. A bit of pruning/tidying of these has meant these magnificent trees are now safe (and in fact should now thrive) as it was always a worry watching them rattle and sway in the wind. There will now need to be a tree replanting and hedge creation exercise done but again this is weather dependent and might have to be delayed until next Winter. Suffice to say it will be native and wild species that will be planted.

Now that we are into February it will be full steam ahead with getting everything ready and set up for season 2026!

Where did November and December go?!?

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 14:57:49 GMT

After October Half Term I have to say I am ready for a rest after a very busy year and yet November and December always seem so busy they fly by. So what has been going on.....

Even before we close over Winter I have a long list of 'things to do' and have already scheduled in tradesmen to carry out various work in November and December. This year we engaged a new team of electricians who were absolutely amazing and changed the complex Wi-Fi to Starlink (hopefully this will improve stability and speed especially during peak season weeks); installed a surge protector; Ring door bell; conducted all the necessary PAT testing and renewed our EICR certificates. The Chimneys were swept, ovens professionally cleaned, all plumbing systems serviced, Automist systems serviced; fire risk assessments conducted and both The Stable and Swallows Nest were repainted throughout - no small task given the beamed ceilings! We are really lucky to have such an amazing team.

In between overseeing everyone coming and going (making cups of tea!) I was busy updating and amending House Books, Terms and Conditions, the website, listing the properties on various marketing platforms, checking regulations and working through PASC briefing papers. The usual end of season list of 'things to do' were done including ensuring all appliances were thoroughly cleaned and checked.

On a much more enjoyable note work started on moving the polytunnel, creating a new base for a greenhouse and building a large covered shed area. The idea is also to have a number of small manageable raised beds and a dedicated compost area - rather than a massive pile that sprawls to cover a vast area that seems to spreads like lava! As many of you know I try to grow all the flowers for the barns and having the allotment area well designed will make life so much easier and enjoyable. It will also mean I can take cutting and grow on plants for the gardens. However, work on the allotment area has been slowed by the weather (it feels like we had four seasons in two months!) and it was literally like being in a bog when we started in November but the dogs loved it as evidenced by all the dirty paw prints on my slate floors!

Over Christmas thankfully we had some dry weather and Guy and the digger were back to work clearing the area. Those of you who know Guy and have seen the stunning job he has done renovating the barns will know that he doesn't do half a job! Once finished I will do a blog on it.

Now that we are into January I start to work through my pre-season to do list. I will also be keeping an eye on changes going on in the tourism sector as we believe that the government is going to introduce a statutory registration scheme for short term lets and this will mean that even if you jump out of your own house over the peak Summer weeks and list it on Airbnb you will need to evidence compliance with the regulations to be registered and to enable you to list the property. It is really hoped that the introduction of a registration scheme will ensure the safety of all guests, make all lets legal and compliant and also create a level playing field in the sector and weed out the bad eggs. As always the devil will be in the detail of the scheme.

Wishing you all a happy and healthy 2026 x

Sloes, Slowing down and accepting a little untidiness!

Sun, 07 Sep 2025 17:56:43 GMT

We are now nearing the end of peak holiday season and things are generally slowing down including the garden and me!

It has been a real battle watering the plants this Summer and even though we are a business and are exempt from any hosepipe ban that might have been in place it doesn’t sit well with me watering raised beds not only from a water usage point of view but also cost. As such the herb garden has badly suffered and even the mint suddenly succumbed to the heat and dry conditions a few weeks ago. The mint will recover but other herbs will need replacing. I will definitely need to do more research into drought tolerant plants but not only drought tolerant but also wind and salt tolerant. As I have said previously the conditions are challenging and I am still learning. I am thinking coastal Mediterranean conditions but we will see what develops.

On a massive positive the Geraniums proved absolutely fantastic in the end despite looking really sad and stunted at the start in May/June and I feared they would come to nothing and I even dug up two large beds and ran off to the supermarket a few times to fill them (the upcoming wedding of my step son in June had added pressure!). I left the tiny Geraniums tossed in a pile as a failure with others in pots just hoping they would at least show one flower. It was probably down to lack of rain even though they were actually getting watered it’s just not the same as steady rainfall. I am going to attempt to dig them up and overwinter them for next year as they really have been such a success.

The Cosmos continue to be battered by the winds over the last few days and I might have to reconsider growing or find a better location. It is a shame as I do like to use them in vases for guests and they have a long growing season. The Zinnias are still flowering and really have been the star of the vase this Summer.

Today, and indeed the last couple of weeks, has seen torrential rain at times which has been a real shame for our guests but the garden has really welcomed it. I took a quiet moment away from cleaning, gardening (definitely not the weather today!) and paperwork this morning to just sit in the porch and listen to the rain on the roof and watch the abundance of birds foraging in the secret wildflower garden. The binoculars, I thought were broken as only one side worked, seem to have miraculously repaired - perhaps that was the knock they had yesterday when I was cleaning the porch!

It was great to see lots of different finches and even Willow Warblers feeding off the teasel seed heads and foraging on the ground amongst the ‘gone over’ wildflowers. Over the last couple of weeks I have looked at this area and have viewed it as a bit of a mess and even a little embarrassing that it is not a neat and manicured area that some perhaps think it should be for a holiday accommodation entrance way. However, today I feel proud of the area for what it gives to our wildlife as they need it left as it is for food and I just need to accept a certain ‘untidiness’ at times as it serves a purpose.

The Swallows are still here but no doubt they are starting to think about their upcoming vacation to Africa. When the Swallows leave there’s a real sense of silence and a feeling the season is almost over. Things really do go into hibernation then. For the moment they seem happy to stay and take advantage of the flying insects over the secret garden area and beyond.

The Swallows might like a Winter vacation but I will stay put here in Widemouth Bay. I am often asked do I take a holiday over the Winter and we don’t. We really love where we live and don’t feel the need to. The last holiday abroad we took was in 2015 and the last mini break was 2018 to Mawgan Porth just 30 miles away for a couple of nights. The thought of flights, queues and checks, not to mention the apprehension and anxiety about a holiday abroad just doesn’t make it relaxing for us. Oh and did I mention my passport expired some years ago?!

In between the rain today I walked up Combe Lane and foraged myself for the sloes I had spotted a couple weeks ago when out walking my dog Molly and hadn’t made time to pick until now. I will pop back out for some blackberries very soon. I am sure my neighbours had a laugh at me almost falling into the hedge and getting tangled up in brambles but hopefully when I offer them a glass of sloe gin at Christmas they will see it was all worth it. Foraging is a great thing to do when you’re on holiday and you can very easily make sloe gin whilst on holiday and take it home with you to store for Christmas. Recently I have joined a great Facebook Group UK Wild Food Larder which is all about learning about foraging.

For now if you fancy ‘staycation snacking’ (yes that is a real term for having lots of mini holidays in the UK rather than one long abroad holiday - don’t say you don’t learn from my blogs!) then pop on our website and book a mini break before we hibernate on 1 November for maintenance/repairs/annual checks etc. If you can’t find the dates you want drop us an email and we will look into it for you.

For now sending you all love and warm wishes x

Flowers, House Sparrows and Horseflies!

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 15:10:17 GMT

Who doesn't love flowers, birds and wildlife? I certainly do but oh my goodness Horseflies definitely do not get my love.

It is one of those things that is just done isn't it? Be it a vase of flowers in a hotel reception, on a table in a restaurant or, in our case, a vase welcoming our guests on arrival. I always have had a love of flowers and over the years and my passion for growing them has grown over the years. My first garden was a very sheltered garden of my town house in Bude where I felt I could almost plant whatever I wanted to grow. However, since moving to Widemouth Bay in 2016 I have been somewhat challenged by the remarkably different growing conditions here and it sort of knocked me back as whatever I seemed to grow wouldn't survive. We are often battered by very strong winds (if you know you know!) and salty air not only in the Winter but often in the Summer as well just when everything is green and flowering. Most recently the strong winds battered my Achillea and I see the Cosmos have also struggled with the wind. I am slowly learning to work with the conditions and rather than trying to plant what I want I am instead adapting to planting what the garden wants. It is still a learning curve but working with the garden and the conditions rather than fighting it is showing rewards for us, our guests and nature.

A newly created raised brick edged bed (see photo) in a delightful sheltered spot saw me reaching for the packets of out of date Zinnias I bought many years ago when getting over excited when buying seeds on Sarah Raven's website. I never found a suitable location to plant them and there they sat in my seed box until this year. With a 'sow by' date of 2022 I didn't hold out much hope of them germinating but to my surprise they all did. They are now flourishing and brighten up my day when I first step out into the garden. Some may say it is a shame to cut flowers from the garden (my dad would!), but which is more of a shame - buying flowers from a supermarket that have most likely been flown many miles or at the very least been driven miles? Or picking them and walking a few steps to pop them in the barns for our guests to share the joy of them? In my mind reduced air miles is a definite positive and means we as a business can do our tiny little bit to help the environment.

What I have also noticed this year, having planted a lot more wildflowers and grasses earlier this year, is the abundance of birds, insects and wildlife generally. I read an RSPB article only yesterday saying House Sparrows were added to the Red List in 2002 having dropped in numbers by 60% in the last 45 years with almost 30 million having vanished from the UK since 1970. I am pleased to say we have seen a significant increase in House Sparrows which I believe is down to the increased food availability (insects) in our garden this year. We have also been blessed this year with Red Kites flying over us along with a Spotted Woodpecker who has taken to an old dead tree in search of a meal - another reason to not clean up and remove all things that we might think are unsightly or untidy.

On a less positive note the last month has seen the return of the Horsefly. Those of you that know me will know I suffer from a reaction from a Horsefly bite. I am often heard asking Guy - ' Have you seen any Horseflies yet? ' My first 'meeting' with a Horsefly this year was June 16th whilst cutting the grass. It wasn't a pleasant meeting and I have now invested in denim dungarees so if you see me wondering around in the heat with these on then you know why! I have also taken to hanging the washing out wrapped in my dressing gown over my clothes to avoid getting bitten - not a great look but one hopefully no one will see! I am sure Horseflies have a reason to exist, like fleas, ticks and mosquitos, but I am afraid that I struggle to accept their existence as they really hinder my enjoyment of gardening in the months they are active.

So, Zinnias will be definitely be on my seed shopping list for next year and my browsing for flower seeds over the Winter will be viewed with an eye to what should grow in the garden given the conditions rather than ' oh they look pretty '. No doubt Horseflies will be there next year as well despite them not being on my shopping list!

Walks - enjoying this glorious weather!

Wed, 14 May 2025 17:58:47 GMT

Although gardeners (including me!), and farmers, no doubt wish for more rain at times, right now I can't deny having really enjoyed the last few weeks of the most glorious weather

If you come and stay with us you will find many fantastic walks with or without your four legged friend. My mum and I had a most enjoyable walk to Northcott Mouth at the end of April. It was bordering on slightly too hot so we just had to cut our walk to Sandymouth short (any excuse!) and stop at Sip & Sea at Northcott Mouth for a coffee and a well deserved cake (we were good and shared!). What a friendly welcome from the lovely ladies running it. Highly recommended.

We walked from Bude to Northcott along the cliffs and back along the beach - first time taking my winter walking boots off and airing those feet! If you haven't ventured onto the beach bare foot walking in the breaking waves then it's something you really must do - such a fantastic feeling.

Closer to home we are lucky enough to have a bridleway right on our doorstep. No need to jump in the car. I like to get out and do a circular loop, which is usually around 30 minutes depending on your pace. However, if you stop to take in the view, or in my case as I did today venture onto Black Rock (Widemouth Bay) beach in search of sea glass it can be a relaxing hour or more walk. It is a great option if you want to walk your dog early before the heat, or before you head out for day leaving your dog quietly crated in your barn dreaming of all they have encountered during their walk. I honestly can't believe just how much a one hour walk can tire a dog out! If you do do the circular loop which takes you up to The Widemouth Manor you will need to walk on the road for a couple of minutes but early in the morning the traffic is quiet and visibility is good.

There are so many fantastic walks around here that I could go on and on! If you come and stay with us and want to chat about walks and options (or cake and coffee!), or if you need to borrow any maps or books on walks, then just contact me.

We just love sharing where we live with you all and we really want you to get the most out of your stay with us.

Here is to more walks, more sunshine, more coffee and of course cake!!!

Spring has most definitely arrived!

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 16:25:21 GMT

Spring is the season of rebirth, renewal and love. A time to shed old burdens and embrace new beginnings.

It's that time of year when everything is waking up - including my Dad's pet tortoise Peter! I absolutely love this time of year. There is so much to do and each day there is something to delight us, be it spotting the trees that you thought had died over Winter are in fact alive and starting to blossom, or a little robin singing - I like to think he is simply pleased to be in the gorgeous evening sunlight. Did I mention the much longer evenings? The sun won't set tonight until 8:28pm - what a change from the likes of darkness at 4:30pm! It is such a pleasure to feel there is time to get things done in the evening (in daylight!) or simply sit and enjoy the garden.

Here at Mill Barns Holiday Accommodation we don't fully hibernate like a tortoise over the Winter but it does curb the tasks that can get done when it is blowing a gale and lashing down with rain. I have a lot of young plants coming along nicely (Although I think I have overdone the number of geraniums!). Thanks to J. Parker's - Garden Plants & Bulbs for the great variety of geraniums which I am so looking forward to seeing flower and I really hope the guests will also enjoy them.

We are now full steam ahead with the new holiday season and we were absolutely delighted to welcome back repeat guests at the beginning of April. They clearly took full advantage of the fabulous weather they had this year visiting Clovelly and they kindly gave me permission to use their photo (above). I think you will agree you wouldn't get much better in Greece! No passport queues or cancelled flights getting to Widemouth Bay in Cornwall! They also visited the @NationalTrust 'Rocky Valley' near Tintagel (the blog link photo is from our guests walk) which is somewhere I had forgotten would be a great recommendation to guests. The link below will give you more info. It is a gentle, dog friendly, valley walk following a stream and ending near Bossiney Bay.

Rocky Valley walk | Cornwall | National Trust

Each year we make a few tweaks and changes and this year we are offering short breaks in The Stable and Swallows Nest. Sometimes you just need a quick getaway to lift your spirits. A brisk refreshing walk on the beach or simply enjoying the comfort of your accommodation to peacefully read a book. Why not pop away for a weekend, slow the pace down and take time to just wander around and take in the beauty of nature. However, I must confess in my case, to relax, I just love a mooch around the charity shops in town with my Mum on my day off from running the holiday business. My challenge is stopping myself from buying more jigsaws when I still have loads to do!

Our booking system, via this website, allows you to book 3 or 4 nights but if you have specific dates/requirements do drop us an email, text or feel free to give us a call for a chat and we will see what we can do to accommodate your needs. We really look forward to welcoming back previous guests and meeting new ones who have only just discovered us.

Breakfast

Sat, 12 Oct 2024 16:25:36 GMT

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and it can be more exciting than porridge when you are on holiday!

When you are on holiday (like I was this week) it is nice to treat yourself. I don't jet off to far flung places when I am on holiday and instead I think myself lucky enough to live in one of the most beautiful parts of the country (if not world!). Therefore I do like to have a treat or two feeling chuffed with myself for not having paid out for flights and parking, and also having saved all those travel miles and helped the planet.

Highly rerecommended for a smashing breakfast is Cornish Coasts Cafe less than 5 minutes drive from Widemouth Bay. Dog-friendly cafe in Bude — Cornish Coasts Holiday Park, Farmshop & Cafe North Cornwall

Before getting there I had my mind set on the 'Veggie Breakfast' but on being presented with the specials board I was so torn! Poached eggs on sourdough toast with smashed avocado and vine tomatoes (as pictured). It was a tough one, and risky in my mind as I knew how good their 'Veggie Breakfast' was! Well a decision was made and it proved not to disappoint at all. The poached eggs were just perfect in every way. Needless to say my husband Guy went for the 'Full English Breakfast' and I had to be quick with the photo before he tucked in!

As we are in mid October I didn't book a table but not long after we arrived it became packed which is testament to how good the place is. Therefore I would definitely recommend you book in advance via their website.

Another great choice for breakfast is some pastries from the ELECTRIC BAKERY in Bude (not right in the town centre so it is easy to access). This week I tried their almond and chocolate croissant and it was fantastic! All ingredients are locally sourced where possible. They make all their bread and pastry dough in-house using traditional methods. Do please note that they are closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

As a special treat we took my parents to The Farmers Arms Woolsery | Devon Dining Pub for Sunday Roast. Booking well in advance is recommended. A relaxed 'family' meal approach is taken which is a great experience as you all get stuck into a compilation of dishes served family style.

Our 'go to' take aways when we don't fancy cooking are:

La Bocca Pizza Kitchen | Bude | Eat In | Delivery - if you call for delivery ensure you mention EX23 0DE is just outside the delivery zone but they have delivered to us numerous times. Their signature La Bocca Nera is definitely worth a try made with light black dough.

(1) Belly Rumbles Food Truck | Facebook now located at The Crescent car park in Bude. Check out their facebook page for their 'Smash Burger Menu'. Locally sourced meat from Swannacott Manor. Do ensure you 'add-on' their Rumble Slaw which is the best coleslaw I have ever tasted!

I can't wait for my next holiday so I can venture out (or stay in!) and try more places to eat to ensure that they are suitable to recommend to our guests. All in the name of market research of course!

The Sea - A Force of Nature

Sun, 25 Aug 2024 13:06:04 GMT

The coastline and sea - unquestionably a majestic place to visit - but one that commands respect

The sea and coast can be a fantastic place to have fun, relax and exercise. However, it can be a dangerous and unpredictable place. Sadly we have lost too many lives to the sea this year. Accidents happen and for those that know me I am prone to more than my fair share! Although this is usually down to my clumsiness and rushing around trying to do too much too quickly! When venturing out to the coast there are few things we can do to ensure we keep ourselves, our family and furry friends safe so that we can all return home together to enjoy a well earned beer or G&T after a great day out.

I was recently contacted by Ryan Blundell the Founder of Tideschart.com and having looked at his website I have added the link on our 'Around the Area' page to assist our guests: Bude Tide Times, Tides for Fishing, High Tide and Low Tide Tables - Cornwall - England - United Kingdom (tideschart.com) This website is a really good starting point before you head out to the coast. It gives you loads of info on tide times, sunset/sunrise, weather, surf report and much more.

It is also worth familiarising yourself with ocean conditions if you are intending to enter the sea be it for surfing, diving, sailing or just a splash around on the edge of the sea. Kernow Weather Team (KWT) ( Accurate Weather Forecasts | Kernow Weather Team (kernow-weather-team.co.uk ) are an independently run weather team based in Cornwall and I always keep an eye on their Facebook page for alerts and warnings.

I was recently made aware of KWTs Oceanic Wave website by my mum who, like me, spends a lot of time on the beach and coast. We are always deeply saddened when we hear of a tragedy at sea and on our twice weekly walks over this Summer it feels like not a walk has gone by without us reflecting on the latest loss as we sit on a bench looking out to sea. It was my mum's suggestion that a good blog would be to provide helpful informative information and links to ensure our guests can plan their ventures out and about and stay safe.

It is hard not to be writing this blog without feeling like I am coming across as all doom and gloom about the coast and sea but I feel that I cannot make an apology for writing such an important blog. I would prefer to ensure all my guests and their furry friends went home together at the end of their stay. Too many families visiting Cornwall this year have gone home without a loved one or a cherished furry friend.

KWTs Oceanic Wave Home: Your Ultimate Hub for Ocean Data and Insights (oceanic-wave.com) has real time information on wave conditions, swell forecasts, currents and wind patterns. It also has a very helpful page on the hot topic of Bathing Water Quality. Don't forget we also have a great team of RNLI Lifeguards manning many of our beaches. In my previous blog 'Dog Friendly Beaches' I provided the link to a Cornwall Beach Guide which will tell you if the beach you plan to visit has lifeguard cover. Widemouth Bay has lifeguard cover Easter bank holiday, weekends during April and then daily from 5 May to 30 September. Ensuring you visit a lifeguard manned beach really will make your visit a lot more relaxing and reassuring for you.

HM Coastguard has a detailed website with great tips and advice specific to your watersport: Sea safety | HM Coastguard UK and also provides beach safety tips, a summary of the beach flags and signs you will see when visiting the beach. It also has information and a video about rip currents which are a major cause of accidental drowning. Many years ago my father and an off duty lifeguard prevented what could have been a tragedy by rescuing a group of school children visiting Bude who had been swept out out sea by what some claim to be the 7th wave, being much larger than all others, but in reality and quite simply - waves are just very unpredictable (Many a time have I had water in my shoes when I had my back turned to the waves!). All were no doubt very shocked by what had occurred but at least they all returned home safely to their parents.

It would be remiss of me not to mention our furry friends and keeping them safe. Remember just like us humans, some swim some don't. If unsure keep them away from the edge of the sea. They also don't have flip flops on and the sand can get extremely hot in the Summer. If you can't walk bare foot then it is too hot for them too.

It is also important to keep our furry family member on a lead on the cliffs, not only for their safety but for safety of livestock. I also find it very helpful to give my Molly her own pack to carry her own water, collapsible bowl, treats, poo bags etc., if I am heading out for bit more than a short local stroll. @ruffwear do some really great quality ones Dog Packs | Backpacks & Saddlebags | Ruffwear I added a little light to Molly's pack just in case it take me longer to get home and I start to lose light - or in case something worse should happen and we get separated.

A few minutes preparation for a day out will make it so much more enjoyable, relaxing and most importantly safe. Those of you that know me will know I am often heard saying ' Fail to Prepare, Prepare to Fail '.

I really do hope that this blog helps at least one person and I wish you all an enjoyable visit to our beautiful coastline.

Dog Friendly Beaches

Sun, 04 Aug 2024 16:54:06 GMT

I am often asked (and of course delighted to assist) with the question: 'Which beaches are dog friendly?' Read on to find out!

As a dog owner myself I always end up having to check the beach restrictions if I end up venturing further afield than my local Widemouth Bay Beach (South beach known as 'Black Rock').

Black Rock is year round dog friendly with no restrictions at all - how lucky is that for us and our guests! This is the ideal beach for our guests to quickly pop down for an impromptu stroll and perhaps even a cup of coffee at the Black Rock Cafe (also very dog friendly - they even do doggie ice cream).

There is no clear line between the South and North part of Widemouth Beach but it is generally considered the division is where the cliff is at its highest in the middle where the cliff juts out. Be careful not to stray onto the North side accidently between 10am and 6pm 15 May - 30 September as dogs are banned from the beach during this time. It is very easily done if you have entered the beach from Black Rock and aren't aware of the restrictions and I have a lot of sympathy when I see this happening as it is far from clear when you are actually on the beach itself. Don't be surprised if someone or a lifeguard quietly has a word with you (we are very proud of our Blue Flag status) which is far better than a fine from the Dog Warden!! I myself have been 'caught out' by this accidentally happening when a flock of seagulls were seen to be fair game by Molly who took off to see them off the beach!! Thankfully it was a brief crime that was committed and with the help of the whistle and a tasty treat she was back on 'legal land' again.

Just North of Widemouth Bay is the main town of Bude where you will find Summerleaze Beach (as pictured) and Crooklets Beach. Summerleaze Beach allows dogs all year but they must be kept on a lead between 15 May - 30 September 10am-6pm. Crooklets Beach has a dog ban between 15 May - 30 September 10am-6pm.

I came across a very helpful website Cornwall Beaches - Cornish Beach Guide (cornwall-beaches.co.uk) which list all the beaches in Cornwall and provides information about the beach, whether it is lifeguarded, whether it is dog friendly and what restrictions there are, what facilities are provided, car parking, tide times, map, postcode and much much more. It is well worth looking at if you want to explore further afield.

We recently had guests who visited Holywell Bay (just South of Newquay) and when they mentioned it to me it immediately came to me that this is a fantastic beach but one that I had completely forgotten about when they had asked me about the best sandy dog friendly beach to visit. This is what triggered writing this blog - so thank you. I always love hearing where our guests have visited as it really helps me to help future guests. Feel free to 'catch me' for a chat if you want or drop me a message with your 'great places to visit' or even suggest future blog topics that you would like to see.

One of my favourites is Saunton Sands up the coast in Devon Saunton Sands Beach | Saunton Beach This beach has an amazing 3 mile stretch of golden sand and is perfect if you all have different 'wants' from a beach day. It will take you about an hour to get there but it is well worth it.

Wishing you all great exploring of our fantastic beaches!

Herb Garden - the revamp of 'the dressing up bed'!

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 18:38:17 GMT

Guests - Please snip away and save those pesky plastic supermarket packets of herbs!

We built this raised bed back in 2020 and it was filled with random plants we had lying around the place, mainly in pots that looked fairly sorry for themselves. I nicknamed it ‘the dressing up bed’ as it reminded me of the dressing up box I had as a child - full of random mismatched clothes that were just perfect for children to play kings and queens with! Or in my case quite often it was ‘shopkeepers and customers’ which usually meant emptying the kitchen cupboards of stuff and then learning to give the correct change (to my dad!!!) - very stealth maths lessons!!! But it was fun learning on a rainy day.

Anyway, I digress. So I decided the time had come for ‘the dressing up bed’ to ‘grow up’ (!) - it needed refining and it had to have a useful purpose. Quite frankly it had turned into a mess and I just used to stare at it wondering what to do with it and where to start with it.

The olive trees were thriving, probably because of the poor dry soil, and in fact had grown quite nicely into a centre piece. They had to stay. They will be tamed in time once the herbs below have benefitted from their shelter from the harsh winds and when they have fully established themselves.

I can’t claim to have done the hard work of clearing it all out, but I have now planted it up with 65 different varieties of herbs.

Guests are more than welcome to grab their scissors and snip away to add mint to their mojitos or Pimms. Staple herbs such as rosemary, thyme, sage and marjoram are there which I’m sure will come in handy for BBQs, pasta and pizzas and more for you budding chefs - both hobby and professional @ChefSargie !! The garlic chives in my mind would be a fantastic addition to a warm potato salad. I also have a great simple recipe for butter bean, garlic and rosemary dip - if you want it just message me!

If, like me, you love mint tea then there are 12 different types of mint from pineapple, lime, ginger, blackcurrant, grapefruit, orange and Swiss. For those that haven’t had fresh mint tea before it’s an absolute game changer compared to the packet mint tea bags you buy. Simply rinse the sprigs, pop in a mug, poor on boiling water, leave for 5-7 mins (or if like me longer because you get distracted!) and then take the leaves out. You really won’t want to go back to bought bagged tea. Fantastically refreshing and great cold in Summer. Also the cost of a little mint plant, that grows and grows, is so much cheaper than a box from a supermarket.

All have pebble labels, not taken from the beach but reclaimed from the floor of our barns prior to restoration, are each written with the herb variety. The pebbles originally came from Wanson - just a stones throw away from here and a great quiet little beach well worth a visit. I wonder how many people have handled each pebble?

So please save on those pesky little plastic packets of herbs from the supermarkets, grab your scissors, and get snipping!

Thank you @NorfolkHerbs for the fantastic selection of herbs on your website, delivered sustainably packaged and in tip top condition.

What goes on in closed season? Read on to find out!

Sat, 18 May 2024 17:04:59 GMT

Like many holiday businesses we use closed season to take stock and make improvements

Closed season of 2023/24 was no different to most closed seasons for us and we set about making some small, and some big, changes and improvements to our barns.

The biggest changes this year were made to Sea View where we added a sympathetic porch to the front door and as a result the outside shower area (& dog washing) gained a sweet little sheltered area with some pretty festoon lights. We are quite chuffed with how it turned out and hope our guests love it as much as we do.

I have to admit I was a little nervous when the suggestion was made to add a porch - will it spoil the barn? will it look like it had been stuck on? However, I put my trust in my Husband (Guy) and as always he did an amazing job - along with his son Charlie and friend Ian. We also got rid of the chipping and paved the path and seating area, along with replacing the table and chairs.

Our plans for next closed season will be to work on the seating areas for The Stable and Swallows Nest, and hopefully replace the table and chairs. For now we are feeling confident that these improvements to Sea View will make ours guests stay far more enjoyable and comfortable.

For those that wonder what I do over the closed season (given building work isn't in my job description) I take stock in the Laundry Room, sort all the linen out - replace/add to and generally order various things to stock up before the next season, along with clear out cupboards, striping down and cleaning the washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers etc., Plus I update/amend the website and other booking portals - bored reading yet?!? I could go on as there is always masses to be done behind the scenes. This year I was also lucky enough to spend some precious time with my very talented Mother (Felicity) making new patchwork cushions for all the barns from all the shrunken cushion covers - now that is upcycling.

I, along with our gardener Adam (Garden Nurture) set about making use of what I felt was a wasted grassed area to make it into a 'Secret Rustic Garden' with seating area which can be used by all guests but especially by those staying in The Stable and Swallows Nest. More on this in another Blog!

Fingers crossed for a gloriously hot Summer with lots of magical sunsets! You might even get to see the North Lights!

Well Hello Sunshine! Good to see you back.

Sun, 14 Apr 2024 10:25:38 GMT

Now is the perfect time to think about booking a holiday

It is fair to say that bookings across the hospitality sector have got off to a slow start, mainly due to the awful weather we have had - and oh my goodness just so much rain! Many in the sector have delayed opening until May. However the last few days has seen the sun shining and there is a general feeling of spirits being lifted as a result. People are happier, the birds are singing and there is an overall air of positivity.

There is nothing better than booking a holiday to give you something to look forward to, and a holiday by the sea breathing in the Cornish sea air, will definitely give you that well earned R&R you need after the long Winter we have had.

You can book via our website and if you have any queries, as always, do just contact us and we will be more than happy to help.

Here is hoping for a great Summer and we look forward to welcoming you here at Mill Barns Holiday Accommodation at Widemouth Bay in Cornwall.