Winter Walk at Sennen Cove

To show you how lovely West Cornwall can be at any time of year, here is a simple walk along the beach in November - that's me with Molly our bearded collie / poodle cross.

Christmas and looking forward to 2012

As many of us gather together with our families for Christmas, the conversation often turns to holidays and to what everyone has planned for the forthcoming year.

In the six years we have run holiday cottages in St Just, the season has extended further and further from the summer and that just goes to prove how much the area has to offer all the way through from January to December. So I thought I would look at what goes on in some of the 'off-season' months.

October and the dog restriction on beaches is lifted through to Easter, so that gives our dog owning guests a great chance to make the most of even more of our lovely beaches in West Cornwall.

November, sometimes just into October, St Just's Feast is held every year on the first weekend after 31st October to celebrate the dedication of the parish church. The celebration comprises a church service and civic procession on the Sunday, and on the evening and through to Monday a larger scale popular local celebration (in other words a few beers are drunk!) and the local hunt fills the Market Square. This is closely followed for fireworks night in early November by a display at the rugby club.

December is the time for mulled wine and roaring fires in the local pubs, the Christmas lights in St Just were switched on Friday, nearly accompanied by thunder and lightning, and the amazing display in Mousehole is well worth a visit.

In the New Year, forget the sales, the beginning of the year brings acres of fields of daffodils and empty beaches in West Cornwall. And the thing about St Just is that whatever time of the year you visit, because this is a real, working town, shops will be open, and the pubs are welcoming.

And before we know it, it is April and Easter, and the season has started again.

Have a great Christmas and New Year everyone, and we hope to see you in St Just in 2012.

November Sun

It has been the warmest November since I have lived in Cornwall, the grass is still growing and the flowers have been fooled into budding and blooming again. This view is from the churchyard in St Just across Kenidjack Valley on a sunny November afternoon. This time last year we were blanketed in snow ... what a difference!

However, the month is ending with gale force winds and driving rain, so even in Cornwall we don't have it all our own way.

The town is gearing up for Christmas, our neighbours have already pinned up the lights on the outside of their house and a few of the shops have already put up their Christmas decorations. There is plenty to see and do in St Just so if you are in the area, or passing through, park up and stop for a visit.

And on the subject of parking up, for those who are keeping up with the car parking situation in the town (Cornwall Council trying to charge for our car parks in Pendeen and St Just - our Town Council trying to take them over and keep them free) according to The Cornishman this week, discussions are ongoing but far from concluding 

Other news, The Kings Arms is under new management, welcome to Neil and Angie, we are looking forward to popping in for a pint and a meal very soon. They are keeping the pub very dog friendly so that's good news for many of our holiday cottage guests.

Getting back to the festivities, the main light switch on is on the evening of 16 December so here's hoping for some good weather for some great carol singing in the Market Square. Lots of different events are happening from advent fairs to Christmas markets to visits from Santa himself, and you can find our more on the local Chamber website www.landsendchamber.co.uk in the What's On section.