We are very lucky at The Collective at Woolsery to be only 10 miles from the Cornwall border. A perfect day’s itinerary is to pop down and explore this magical place, with it’s heritage sites, beautiful beaches, quirky villages and fabulous food spots.
To start the day right, head to Bude and pop into the Electric Bakery for amazing coffees and matchas and a pile of the best sweet and savoury pastries around. Or load up on their sourdough to take back with you. On a sunny morning there is nothing better than soaking up the rays with all the locals. Be prepared to stand in line if you get there on the opening dot!
You can continue up the coast to our next stop, or if this is enough of an adventure, then take your pastry stash to Summerleaze Beach in the center of Bude, take a dip in their tidal sea pool and take a wander around the great collection of shops in town.
But, if you are a medieval legends buff, you won’t want to miss our next stop.
Just a beautiful 30 minute drive from Bude lies the historic English Heritage site of Tintagel Castle. With evidence dating it back to the 3rd century with Roman occupation, the moment you cross the suspension bridge onto the headland you can imagine you are turning back time. From the 5th century, when it was a stronghold of Cornish and Devonian Kings (or Dumnonia as it was known then), to the 13th century when Richard, the Earl of Cornwall, built his castle, there are still remnants of those times to be seen. But the real fun comes with the legend; King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, Merlin the Magician, Uther Pendragon…how much is folklore and how much is fiction? That depends on what you believe.
After a windswept walk and working up your appetite, head over to the adorable village of Boscastle, just a 10 minute drive away. We have yet to meet anyone who doesn’t dream of dropping everything and moving to this charming spot after just one visit. Tucked into a little valley, with an ocean harbour, it has a history of being home to many authors, artists and witches….but more on that later.
First, a delicious lunch at an exceptional restaurant; The Rocket Store. Much like us here at The Collective, they are champions of the fresh and local with fish from their own day boat right in the harbour and meat they rear themselves at a farm just down the road. Their small plates menu changes daily and can be found written on the chalkboard; it’s hard not to order every dish (which is exactly what we did on our recent visit!). Although they say they are a “fish restaurant”, they have plenty for veggie and meat eaters too.
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Then on to our final destination….The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic. Not for the young or faint of heart, because this is not your Harry Potter story, or the world of friendly fairies, but a true history of witchcraft and magic practiced in the British Isles for centuries. Begun in the 1950’s by Cecil Williamson, the museum came to rest in Boscastle in 1960 (after some false starts in other villages that weren’t so receptive). It has amassed an amazing collection; from voodoo dolls, to tarot cards, to an impressive assortment of phallic and fertility symbols, it is truly something special to behold.
After a full day of exploring, it’s just an hours drive back to Woolsery, to rest and recover before your next big North Devon adventure. And a well deserved drink in the pub.