A little haven in Cornwall

I never expected to love Cornwall. I’d never really thought about it much, and knew hardly anything about it before I went there. I knew my husband’s family came from there. That they loved it. I thought of corny beach fashion and blue, white and yellow. I didn’t realise it would be gorgeous blues (either the rich dark stormy blue-grey that I love or a perfect pastel), and a yellow from the beautiful textural growth on old rooftops, and white wash walls that just make the other colours stand out so well. I didn’t realise there would be tiny villages nestled in deep hills with little inlets and ports that looked like pirates would still dock there. I just didn’t realise I would like it so much.

We only spent 10 days there, in the beautiful town my Mother-in-laws family grew up in, but I think I got hooked. I forgot I loved the sea, until I woke up in tiny Gorran Haven, about 20 metres from the ocean to the sound of seagulls (which the locals hate) and the sound of waves. I loved I could just wander on old stone paved alley ways for a few steps until l I could see what the sea was doing - and it was so nice how everyone else seemed to do that too.

I got up early and drew these rooftops… and later the little corners of the streets we stayed on… and the view from the sand, and constantly wished I had more time to draw.

And we walked around the beach track - the south west coastal path - through paddocks filled edged with ripe blackberries and wild headlands to nearby towns. We saw seals and wild horses, and looked hopefully for badgers in the evening (but to no avail). I read the wonderful ‘Salt Path’ by Raynor Winn and fell in love with the place even a little bit more.

We did a day trip to the famous St Ives. Where we shuffled through crowds to get to the town, but still found magic - galleries and hills with perfect rooftop views, and the classic English seaside summer (or how I imagine it anyway.

In just 10 days I totally fell in love with Cornwall. I never expected to, but felt like I could have stayed forever. It helped that we were staying in perhaps the most beautiful house I had ever been in. One of Dave’s (my husband) relatives owns a heritage listed cottage right near the sea with the thickest walls and lovely window seats, views out little windows of the rooftops, and a general feeling about it that made me just want to stay. I didn’t get enough time to draw. Or explore. I knew artists had flocked to Cornwall for centuries - I thought it was just because of the sea - but there is so much more going on than that - and the sea is all the right colours for me. I am already planning how to get myself back there.