http://www.volkswagencamper.co.ukTRAVEL^57
Helford River
camping
Looe Saves
the Day festival
in full swing
Polperro
Talland BayMartin stayed at and would particularly recommend the following
campsites
http://www.salcombe-regis.co.uk
http://www.ashbournewoods.com
Treloan farm : http://www.coastalfarmholidays.co.uk
http://www.helfordrivercamping.co.ukwelcomed storm Ali ashore. It was definitely a night
to bring down the pop top, shut the slider and open a
bottle of red wine as the night gave a new meaning to
‘rock’n’roll bed!
After a few days exploring the coves and creeks of the
Roseland Peninsula I crossed the River Fal on the King
Harry chain ferry and headed for Helford River Camping,
a tiny certified site high up on the side of the valley.
It was getting toward the end of September and the
welcoming and sociable owner, Simon, reported that I
was his last customer of the year, before he shut the gates
for winter and headed in his motorhome to Portugal until
next Easter. Not that I was envious....
Nearby Helford is a quaint village of white houses
set on the river side, and a great starting point for
walking the coast on the eastern side of the Lizard.
I could have stayed longer but for once I had an
appointment – three days of music and new friends in
the stunning surroundings of Looe. The ‘proper’ music
festival had sadly been cancelled about a month before
as the company running it had gone bust. The locals
got together to try and rescue the situation, given the
importance of the late summer income to the town.
They organised a free festival, christened ‘Looe Saves the
Day,’ crowd funding over£40,000 in three weeks. It was
amazing. A main stage overlooking the harbour and every
pub with music of all kinds wafting from the windows, it
was an astounding success. It’ll make a perfect feel good
movie in the mould of the Full Monty or Calendar Girls.
I had one last day to recover from all the merriment,
taking an actual bus along the coast to Polperro, and a
final coastal walk back to Looe. The sun still shone but
there was a definite Autumnal nip in the air as I drunk a
final pint with a sea view. It was time to head homeward.
Racking up some 800 miles, the bus never missed a
beat. Life in the slow lane was pure enjoyment including
numerous of those brief conversations with passing
strangers. You can be on your own but you’re never lonely
driving an old VW.