Casting clouts

After a winter so long and cold that I swear it was a set from Game of Thrones, today was a revelation. Firstly, there's something really satisfying about bank holidays and then a sunny day too was simply joyous.

My son and I went up to Wensleydale which was glorious in the sun. The first place was Bolton Castle, home of the Scropes and famous for being where Mary Queen of Scots was held. It's a great castle: they have archery displays, birds of prey talks and a maze. My son loved it.














Mary Queen of Scot's bedroom




The views of Wensledale
















Afterwards, we went to Aysgarth Falls which were stunning in the spring warmth













Our final stop, and our favourite, was The Forbidden Corner and I'm going to be very circumspect about it. You must go and you must not know what to expect. It's utterly magical.

Four Seasons in one day

Today's post could have been named after two different 80s classics: 'Weather with you' or 'Heaven is a place on earth'. We were at Bedruthan Steps and it was gorgeous. Being Britain, we arrived in mist; climbed down to the beach to an absolutely drenching downpour; walked along the beach under a chilly drizzle; then when we got to the end of the beach the sun come out and we were treated to a blazing summer's day. At that point my son stripped off and paddled in the rock pools. Ten minutes later it was raining again. However, I'm glad the day was like that as we got to see all the faces of one of the most stunningly beautiful places that I have ever been.
























































And we finished our last day in Cornwall with the only appropriate lunch.




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Home thoughts from abroad

One of the primary objectives of this trip to Cornwall was to go to Tate St Ives. I have a particular love of Ben Nicholson and the opportunity to come to the town which inspired him and Barbara Hepworth was a real draw.
Our first stop was at the Hepworth Sculpture Garden where she had her studio. I love the grand Hepworth gallery in Wakefield but this was particularly wonderful with the works seeming so at home in their garden setting.
















Afterwards we went to the main Tate St Ives gallery which was showing the centennial exhibition by William Scott and a photography exhibition of Peter Fraser. Fraser's work is all in colour and his latest work is about London as an imaginary city. This led to a wonderful workshop in the children's room where my son got to contribute to creating an imaginary city. His sculpture was based on reading The Two Towers the past couple of days.












Then we wandered town and saw the pier built by John Smeaton, an engineer who originated from the same area of Leeds as my son.




And went in the glorious St Ives Museum which is one of those brilliant local history museums stuffed to the gills with all sorts of photos, memorabilia, bric-a-brac, oddments and assortments.




At the end of the day I drove the winding road from St Ives through the desolate moorland, seascape and mining ruins that is the Lizard Peninsula to get to Land's End. The weather there was hilarious: non-specifically wet and incredibly windy. We got drenched and laughed a lot.








At 6pm, back in the car park I put John'o'Groats into the satnav and it claimed we would arrive




Surely, you can't do Land's End to John'O'Groats in 15 hours? Does this mean 9am the day after tomorrow?

North of Eden

So often you can visit famous places and end up feeling a bit underwhelmed. The Eden Project doesn't fall into that category at all. My son must have said 'awesome' fifty times today and has made the Eden Project one of the top places he's ever visited and I would have to agree. It's a very special place and the only major drawback is what the humidity in the Rainforest Biome does to naturally curly hair that takes 40 minutes to straighten...

Obviously the most iconic feature of the Eden Project are the biomes: superlative in size, appearance, vision and planting. At once so alien in the landscape yet somehow organic and appropriate, especially when inside.













What was unexpected for me was how well the Eden Project combines science, education and art alongside making a fun experience for all ages. I adored the art and installations which also entertained my son.













And he was completely entertained: there was a child focused exhibition called Freaky Nature which taught the lifecycle of plants via crazy golf and a velcro suit wall to demonstrated that velcro is based on burdock. In the Mediterranean biome was a brilliant science show explaining the science behind squirting cucumbers, Himalayan balsam and puffballs. My son ended up getting involved in showing how a catapult demonstrates the propulsive action of Himalayan balsam seeds.










The main Rainforest Biome is over 50 metres high and there is a suspended platform from which you can survey the whole space. The thing is, it sways and is constructed of metal honeycomb you can see straight through. My son had to go up alone as my fear of heights couldn't take that.










Finally, the Eden project is beautiful. Simply beautiful.








Afterwards we drove to Mevagissey for a walk round the harbour and the only appropriate dinner after such a great day.











Then back to the hotel where I found that my son and I are the very last people on this video which is a trailer for the novelist, Matt Haig's novel, The Humans. Do watch the video, the advice for humanity is ace.