Classic Air Force Opening Weekend

Wow what a fabulous opening day at the Classic Air Force. We were itching to get up there on Good Friday, we had cottage changeovers do do first and were being teased by seeing and hearing all the air activity and managed to get up there by about 3 o'clock !

It was heartwarming to see just how many people turned up to support this new Cornish tourist attraction, a couple of thousand I believe averaging each day over the Easter Weekend !

A lot had changed since our sneak preview just 13 days before, new aircraft, restored aircraft, a cinema, a great cafe and shop (which we hadn't seen first time round) and as we arrived the Dakota flew over which was a fantastic welcome !

We saw lots of people we knew and stopped and chatted whilst the kids were entertained by the cinema film, karts, bouncy castle, lazer tag and simulator. They were also given an aircraft themed quiz to keep them busy and they were delighted to earn a goody bag at the end. Darrel was interviewed by BBC radio Cornwall, giving his thoughts on the new attraction and recounting memories of original RAF St Mawgan Air day's.

Saturday evening was spent up at the Hanger Bash, a great band and hog roast. Again, a fantastic atmosphere and great to see so many supporters. The kids were happy to do everything they had done the day before and we literally had to drag them out of the hangar at the end of the night !

In the last week we have enjoyed being kept up to date by The Classic Air Forces Facebook page, real time information on which aircraft are flying, we have leaped out the house many times with the camera, they fly past Merlin Farm so it is very exciting for us !

We wish the Classic Air Force continued success !

Written by Ruben: On Good Friday we went to the opening day up at st.morgan.last time we talked about me going there 13 days before it opened and a few of the things coming up,ok now you can be exited because I'm going to finish of what I talked about last time (the hog roast and the new arrivals)but I'm also going to finish my blog posts,give me a boo, but I will do some talk about some more little things that might pop up at the hanger.lets talk about some things that don't involve sadness and sorrow,now as I was talking about there is one new plane witch is the second dragon Rapide but most of the planes have been re painted and re built,also there was a lot of stuff for the kids like the go karts and the lazer tag but there was also a bouncy castle,a simulator,a hog roast and a band.I truly think it was an amazing time writing and seeing the true history of wwII and I would like to rate it five star,so now you go and see for your self at the classic Air Force museum.

Classic Air Force

Written by Ruben (age 9)

On Sunday the seventeenth of march we visited the newly created 'classic air craft museum'. Let's go back a couple of years, remember that R.A.F station hanger(404) well it's now a place where you can see 10 classic air planes and even fly in 3 of them, awesome! And the fun doesn't stop there, 8 more air craft are on their way and also a delicious hog roast for the opening day. Ok you may be thinking why in the world would I be there 13 day's before it open's. It's a long long story well maybe not that long, even though its the seventeenth of march it's also my grand dad's birth day so as a surprise my mum arranged that we'd go for a sneak peak before it opened and so on.........Coincidentally my grand dad also used to work on nimrods when he was at R.A.F St Mawgan, so it was a familiar sight for him and a great surprise. I was also very interested about all this history and being the little photographer I am, I captured many great photo's and these are the names of the planes I took.

Vampire

Sea Devon

Sea Hawk

Jet Provost

Hawker Hunter

Dakota

Percival Proctor

Varsity

Auster

Dragon Rapide

I will tell you about the 8 new planes in my next blog post and about the delicious hog roast yum...yum...yum...

http://www.classicairforce.com/

Winter Beaches in Cornwall

Beautiful winter beaches is the inspiration for today's post. It had only occurred to me this morning that we pass THREE stunning beaches on the school run each morning and afternoon ! Mawgan Porth, Watergate Bay and Porth, and they are just the ones visible from the road, we also pass Whipsiderry and Beacon Cove.

Watergate Bay 12.3.13

Whipsiderry 12.3.13

Mawgan Porth 8.3.13

Mawgan Porth 8.3.13

I can not recommend enough visiting Cornwall in the Winter, you get a sense of exclusivity, the beaches are all yours quite literally ! We are often the only people on the beach. There is nothing better than embracing a cold and blustery beach and rewarding yourself with a hot chocolate in front of the logburner in your holiday cottage or ending up in a cosy Cornish Pub ! Here are a few recommendations for places to go following an invigorating winter beach walk:

Mawgan Porth: The Merrymoor Inn, just a stones throw from the beach with fabulous views.

Watergate Bay: The Beach Hut, right on the beach. Try the Extreme Hot Chocolate topped with marshmallows, jazzies and cream !

Bedruthan Steps: Carnewas Tea Rooms nestled on top of the cliffs above Bedruthan Steps Beach. Best Cream Tea in Cornwall ! A consistent supply of scones always fresh out the oven !

Check out this inspiration video from Visit Cornwall: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acCFZ7agPRs&sns=em

Spring is coming !

Latest News from Merlin Farm 4/3/13 

 

We have reached March and I am getting a little excited about Spring approaching ! The days are getting longer and with the milder weather we have been trying to get out and about as much as we can and experience our lovely County. 

 

 

Taking a little walk around the farm today we were shocked at how much our little sustainable forest has grown, seedlings were planted out only three years ago !

 

 

With all the fine dry weather Denzel has been delighted to have had more walks than usual ! It's such a wonderful experience walking along deserted beaches. Just leaving the office for half an hour and getting some fresh air feels so refreshing. This was Mawgan Porth this morning, the tide just going out. I must try not to forget how lucky we are living so close to this beautiful beach !

 

 

When the sun shines I just can't help but crave Cornish Cream Teas ! Last Sunday we went back to Cardinham Woods near Bodmin for a walk and popped into Woods Cafe for Lunch, as you can see they did not disappoint ! And yes it tasted as good as it looks ! (we actually sat outsde !) Cardinham Woods and the Cafe always seem busy, it's a very popular place and I can see why. There are a number of leisurly walks through lush woodland and alongside a river and a lovely children's adventure playground. For those wanting more of a challenge, there is a new Cross Country Track - The Bodmin Beast cycle trail, 12km of single track, with climbs, descents and technical features (you’ll need a good level of fitness to complete the route).

 

 

When the sun shines, Merlin Farm's Hens will lay !

With eggs a plenty I find myself cooking up culinary delights like this Eggs Benedict, just look at how orange the yolks are ! Merlin Farm guests recieve fresh free range eggs on arrival (subject to availability). Come the Summer the Hens don't lay as well, they love to lay in the Spring. Our Ducks which were born last Summer have also now started laying huge blue eggs and shortly the geese will be laying, book a stay with us and come and have a try !

 

 

If you've ever driven down to Cornwall, you would have passed over Bodmin Moor on the A30, but probably never noticed nor appreciated it's true beauty. We visited our friends that live on Bodmin Moor last weekend and took a snapshot looking across to the South Coast. Bodmin Moor is a wonderful place, it's worth just stopping to have a short wander around or a picnic and the kids love looking for the wild ponies ! Try to get as high as you can to experience a 360 degree view of Cornwall.

 

And Finally.............

 

Easter is fast approching, if you fancy escaping to Cornwall for the holidays take a look at our Easter page, full of things to do, Easter themed activities and if you book a stay at Merlin Farm from 29th March - 5th April the Children recieve an Easter Gift Hamper on arrival !

http://www.merlin-farm-cottages-cornwall.co.uk/#!easter-breaks-cornwall/c1qen