February is a wonderful time to visit The Tamar Valley. Not only is Cornwall famed for its early camellias, many of which will be in full bloom, but there’s the added attraction of snowdrops. Here are a few suggestions for some of the best places to see them. Formal Gardens Cotehele National Trust property Cotehele has marvellous […]
New Year’s resolutions. Who needs them?
I couldn’t write a new year’s column without making some reference to resolutions. We all tend to make and break them. I resolved not to do new year resolutions a few years ago. However I do still give time for reflection, and think about the person I would like to be. I want to do […]
How to keep resources in the circular economy, Railholiday style
We live on a planet with finite resources, but we often behave as though our resources are infinite. A circular economy is an important cog in the tools we need to keep our planet healthy for generations to come. But what does circular economy actually mean? The term circular economy relates to resources. Once a product is […]
Why we should be giving away our billions
Or at least spending it locally… Inequality is a massive issue when it comes to climate change and social unrest. The wealthy, through their powerful media channels, are great at scapegoating the lower echelons of society. The truth is that the wealthiest are most likely to have the highest carbon footprint, through greater energy costs, […]
How to be a safe outdoor swimmer, with top tips on the best bathing spots
I have been outdoor swimming (mainly in the sea) all year round since November 2017. Outdoor swimming is wonderful; in my experience it has improved my immune system, helped me negotiate hard times and made me feel very alive. However it is not without risks; and sadly these risks have been at the fore in […]
How to tackle plastic pollution
What weather we have been having! The stormy seas and full rivers have bought in large quantities of plastic beach waste, so over the last few weeks I’ve been filling bags with rubbish. A sizeable portion of the rubbish is fishing waste; broken lobster pots, ghost nets, filament and fish boxes. There’s bits of cut […]
How to build an empire – our first carriage, The Old Luggage Van
We became owners of a holiday business by complete chance, but if we have anyone to thank or blame it is probably our friend Mike from Bristol, who used to (and still does) regularly stay with us from time to time. The original plan was that the station would have one bedroom, and that a […]
How to explore Rame Head, Cawsand, Kingsand and Penlee Point
The area around Rame is stunning and perfect to explore by foot. The coastal footpath joins Mount Edgecumbe at Cremyll to Kingsand, then continues onwards to Rame and Whitsand Bay. This is complimented by a double decker bus (the number 70) that follows the coast road, before heading onwards to Torpoint, making it easy to […]
How to be a community player
We are so lucky in our area of Cornwall to have such vibrant communities. For me, being a part of the community is one of the greatest joys of living in a village. Being part of a community can lead to wonderful experiences, from playing at being a shop-keeper in the community shop, or pasty […]
How to build an empire. The story of Railholiday Part 2 – Unforeseen Challenges
The station was finally ours on the 4th of May 1992. Because we were getting married on the 18th of July and intended to move in on our wedding night, there was no time to lose in preparations. The day we completed the purchase we slept in sleeping bags on the floor of what would […]
How to build a railway empire. The story of Railholiday part 1 – All Enquiries for St Germans Station
Although the story of Railholiday officially began on the 20th June, 1998, when we welcomed our first guests into The Old Luggage Van, the true beginnings came much earlier than. Perhaps the story starts in April 1996 when Dave, on a train trip to Truro, spied a derelict carriage in a builder’s yard in Liskeard. Perhaps it starts […]
Love local and keep our town centres alive
Several years ago I decided to give up supermarkets for lent, then found it was so convenient I’ve stuck to it ever since. I have never regretted it, although I do allow myself some flexibility on special occasions if there’s something I simply cannot source anywhere else. This rarely happens. The majority of our food […]