Our guests love to go out for drinks or supper when they’re holidaying at Blue Monkey. With life slowly returning to a new normal, everybody is longing to discover new places/for a change of scenery, so I thought I would find out where you can sit down, relax and enjoy some local food! What’s open in Kingsand and Cawsand? Where can you find the best view? Here is a selection of some of our favourite places to eat locally with the best views in South East Cornwall, along with their opening times.

The Canteen, Maker Heights

Work up an appetite with a brisk 30 minute walk from Blue Monkey to the Canteen at Maker Heights, a popular Sunday lunch destination.  Open daily 9.30 till 16.00 the canteen serves breakfast and lunch but is most famous for it’s delicious Sunday lunch. Very relaxed, dogs are welcome and if you love to sit and gaze out to sea, this is the spot for you!

Top Tip: You need to book in advance for Sunday lunch: 01752 659069

The Bay Bar and Restaurant

A little further down the road from Blue Monkey and situated right on the beach, this new restaurant boasts a view from every table!  A great place for lunch during the week you can eat at one of the tables or get takeaway.

Opening Hours

Mon – Thurs & Sun 10am – 6pm

Fri & Sat 10am – 10pm

The Devonport Inn

Also right on the beach and a little closer to Blue Monkey, The Devonport Inn serves lunch, afternoon tea, supper and takeaways.  On Sundays they have a delicious brunch between 11am and 3pm with live music in the evening to cheer you on.

Have a look at their menu here.

Top Tip: You need to book in advance.

Mount Edgcumbe House and Gardens

The House and Gardens at Mount Edgcumbe are now open again.  Treat yourself with a visit to the Orangery Garden Café or enjoy the beautiful grounds with a takeaway coffee from The Farriers Café. If you’re feeling energetic, you can walk along the coastal path from Blue Monkey all the way to Mount Edgcumbe but it’s a long hike – take some water!

The Country Park is open to the public free of charge every day of the year from 8am – 8pm in the summer and 8am – 6pm in Winter.

The Farriers Cafe is open for lunch.

The Stores

The Stores is our local delicatessen, serving delicious artisan coffee, gluten free cakes, sourdough bread and a range of scrumptious deli products.  The Stores will deliver grazing platters of delicious cheeses and meats to your door or ask Annabel to arrange a picnic hamper for you packed with your favourite focaccia, sourdough bagels or Cornish patrami – yum!

The Rod and Line

Seven miles before Cawsand, on the Saltash side, is the Rod and Line – a rustic Cornish pub renowned locally for its excellent fresh sea food.  The Rod and Line serves a full menu all day every day and describes itself as ‘an unapologetically, back to basics, spit and sawdust pub’ with a warm open fire and friendly natives!

Top Tip: Book in advance: 01752 851912

The Old Bakery Cafe

The Old Bakery sourdough bakehouse, pizzeria and cafe is open from April to October and you will find it on Garrett Street, a stone’s throw from Blue Monkey.  The perfect place to get breakfast pastries and coffee at the weekend, and then wander down to the seashore to eat them.

Opening Hours

Mondays 5.30 to 8pm for take away pizza

Friday, Saturday and Sunday 9am till noon for pastries, bread and coffee etc.

During high season they do take away pizza from 5.30 till 8pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

The Halfway House Inn

Awarded a Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice in 2021, the pub is a just a minute’s walk from Blue Monkey on the corner of Fore Street and Garrett Street.  They have a new seating area and beer garden at the back of the pub where you can grab a table and try one of their delicious meals.  The pub is a pebble’s throw rom the beach and so if it looks too crowded, you can opt for take away fand retire to the beach and stare out to sea – my favourite pastime!

You can check out their menu here.

Free Stuff!

Please make use of the two free Kayaks and paddle boards at the house that we provide for our guests to use, or take a picnic to Penlee Point.

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Looking for a Romantic Break?

Have a look at the exclusive Blue Monkey in Cornwall.

Romance is in the air!  Here at Blue Monkey we’re looking forward to Valentines Day but this year we have to stay closed.  To celebrate online, here are my suggestions for a romantic break at Blue Monkey Cornwall.   This ancient clock tower was erected to commemorate the coronation of King George V and is a great place to gaze out to sea from.  Kingsand and Cawsand are steeped in history – particularly of pirates and smuggling (so romantic!).

There is something so romantic about watching the Sunset.  A romantic break should always include a sunset!  There are many beautiful walks along the coast and local countryside that afford you a fantastic view of the sunset.  A couple of my favourites:

Moon Gazing on a Romantic Break

Gaze at the moon over the sea.  There is nothing more romantic than a moonlit night.  Choose a weekend when the moon is full for your romantic break.  If you are a serious star gazer there are many recommended ‘dark sites’ near Blue Monkey.  Try Kit Hill, near Callington, a recommended ‘dark site’ 45 minutes drive from Blue Monkey.

Romantic Beach

Paddle in the sea together at one of the local beaches.  Stay until sunset and roast marshmallows around a fire.  The seaside is the best place for a romantic break!

Romance on the Ferry!

Take the ferry across to Plymouth and spot the dolphins on the way.  The local ferry runs from Easter to the end of October from Cawsand Beach to a landing stage at the Barbican.

Top Tip: £5 per adult and dogs, prams and bicycles are allowed on board.

Romantic Walk

Penlee Point is a wonderfully romantic walk with breath-taking views at the end of the Rame Peninsula.

And of course Cornwall is a wonderful place to get married so if your romantic break at Blue Monkey Cornwall inspires you, we have some wonderful wedding venues within 10 minutes drive and you can read more about them here.

Let us know about your favourite romantic memory on our Facebook page.

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I am always looking for exciting things to entertain our guests when they come and stay at Blue Monkey and I recently had a request for a day’s scuba diving. I was amazed to find that there are many companies who offer exciting underwater adventures and there is even a retired war ship that was sunk off Whitsand Bay specifically to entice visitors to come Scuba diving in Cornwall.

We have two free kayaks and paddle boards (with life jackets) for our guests to use and our free Concierge service is there to suggest added extras to enhance your stay. Please ask Annabel to provide you with details.

HMS Scylla

This British Naval frigate was built in 1968 and in service until 1993. In 2004 she was sunk off the coast of Whitsand Bay so that anybody scuba diving in Cornwall has somewhere exciting to explore.

The wreck of the Scylla is 113 metres long, with a 13-metre beam and you will need to dive down 11m to reach the deck of the bow. You can see Exocet and SeaWolf missile launchers and there are many openings to allow divers to explore into her hull.

Top Tip: Whitsand Bay is only 10 minutes’ drive from Blue Monkey so if you are interested in a dive, please contact Annabel at enquiries@bluemonkeycornwall.com

Hatt Rock

17 miles offshore from Plymouth is reputedly one of the best dive sites in the UK – Hatt Rock. A flat top pinnacle at 25m this is for experienced divers. A 55m wall will take you down to the seabed below where you will find a jungle of marine life including pink sea fans, plumrose anemones, soft corals, sea urchins and shoals of fish. If you plan on scuba diving in Cornwall, this should be on your list.

Talland Bay

Beginners will enjoy this dive site as there are many exciting things to see and explore at only 10m down. You can dive from the shore and it’s also a great place to snorkel. Talland Bay lies between Looe and Polperro and home to 3 wrecks. The Marguerite lies in shallow water between the two main beaches. Harder to find are the Tregothic, which sank in 1786, and the Ester which sank in 1885. If you are a beginner scuba diving in Cornwall, then this is the perfect site as you can see so much within the sweep of the bay.

Top Tip: you can learn diving here: http://plymouthdivingcentre.co.uk/

Available Dates

We still have 5 nights free in 2020 and we are taking bookings for 2021 and 2022:

7 to 12 December 2020: £749

Book Now on our secure Online Booking Page

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There are many Gourmet Restaurants in Cornwall, and there are some fantastic gourmet restaurants near Blue Monkey, not to mention our own personal chef who can prepare a meal in advance of your arrival or even provide a catered dinner party during your stay.  But many of our guests are gourmet enthusiasts and so here is a list of some of the best local restaurants.

The Barbican Kitchen, Plymouth

One of my favourite gourmet restaurants near Blue Monkey.  Acclaimed chefs and restauranteurs Chris and James Tanner’s own this hugely successful and popular casual dining brasserie in the Plymouth Gin Distillery.  The Tanner brothers have won many an award for their high quality food and ethos of local sourcing and seasonal flavours.  The Barbican Kitchen state that their aim is to ‘deliver fresh local food at a realistic price’ and kids under 5 eat for free!  Have a look at the menu which you can see here.

Salumi Bar and Eatery

Another fabulous gourmet restaurant near Blue Monkey is the newly opened Salumi.  The owner and chef, Dave Jenkins recently won the Sharp’s Brewery Best Chef 2019 award – need I say more!  The Salumi has a beautiful interior and exterior seating for hot summer nights and a BBQ at the end of each month during summer.

Have a look at their menus here.

Top Tip: Vegan options

The Greedy Goose, Plymouth

This gourmet restaurant near Blue Monkey is owned by Ben and Francesca Palmer.  Ben has worked with many award winning chefs and was himself a quarter finalist in MasterChefs: The Professionals, in 2011.  The restaurant is in the beautiful and romantic Prysten House, one of Plymouth’s oldest buildings with its own well.  They have lots on offer to tempt you to visit: Taster Tuesdays, BYOB Wednesdays, family friendly Sunday brunches and a very reasonable price of £15 for 3 courses.

Have a look at the menu here.

Availability and Special Offers

30 March to 4th April reduced from £599 to £549
18 to 24 April reduced from £624 to £549
10 to 15 May reduced from £1,099 to £999

We still have 1 week available in July 18th to 25th
We still have the first week of August free

Book Now to avoid disappointment on our secure online booking page

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The Rame Peninsula Micro Climate

Christmas at Blue Monkey is truly relaxing.  The twin fishing villages of Kingsand and Cawsand seem undisturbed by the chaos of modern life and even have their own mild micro climate, making it the perfect place to relax and unwind by the sea.  Here is how I would spend a seaside Christmas on the Rame Peninsula…

The Coastal Path to Mount Edgcumbe

A magical walk along the West Coastal Path, with strange shaped trees and fabulous views.  You and your dog will feel very well exercised by the end of this 5 mile walk, so make sure you take a bottle of water with you.  Along the walk you will come across eighteenth century follies, seats and fountains to lead you to the fabulous Mount Edgcumbe House and Gardens where you can collapse in the cafe and have a cup of tea.  You will go back home feeling that you have captured the very essence of Christmas on the Rame Peninsula.

Beautiful Local Beaches

Beaches-Rame-Peninsula

There are many beaches within a stone’s throw from Blue Monkey and you only need to step outside the house to hear the sea, and walk a few yards to the end of Garrett Street to see it.  There are many more secret beaches like this one, along the shoreline of the Plymouth Sound.  Dogs are allowed to run around off their leads on the beaches from the beginning of October – that’s why dogs love to spend Christmas on the Rame Peninsula!

Watching the Boats

Situated just across the water from the naval base at Plymouth, there are always lots of fascinating boats to watch sailing around the peninsula.  If you’re feeling brave and the water is warm enough, we have 2 paddle boards and 2 kayaks FREE for our guests to use.

 

 

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October is the perfect month for a relaxing break in Cornwall.  The weather is still warm enough to enjoy long walks along the beautiful coastal paths near Blue Monkey and dogs are allowed off their leads on the beach.  There is also lots of fun to be had!  Here are four exciting reasons to take an October break in Cornwall.

Oktober Fest, Plymouth

5th October 2019: have some fun at the Oktoberfest Beer festival held at Plymouth City Guildhall, celebrating German beers and sausage meat with varieties of special sausages for the enthusiastic connoisseurs PLUS there are vegan options.  Gamers Ahoy!!  Yes it’s true – there’s a games area where you can take part in traditional German games, arcades where you can muscle up against other enthusiasts… and all this is accompanied by special guest Oompah bands from Germany, Belgium and Holland.

Top Tip: Tickets from £10.45 and you can book a table for 8 for £95.40 for the evening here

Plymouth 5K and 10K Marathon

Sunday 6 October: Ever run a marathon?  It’s been said that you gain just as many health benefits from watching a sport as you do from taking part so here is your chance!  The Plymouth 10K and 5K marathons begin from the centre of Plymouth on Princess Street and run out of the city towards the embankment over the river Plym.  Getting fit for winter is a great reason to take an October break in Cornwall!

Top Tip: Get a feel for it via this video.

Queen Adelaide’s Grotto

Dog owners often choose to take an October break in Cornwall because from the end of September, dogs are allowed off the lead on the beaches around Kingsand and Cawsand.  One walk that I highly recommend is up the south West Coastal Path to Penlee Point.  The area is steeped in history, and one of the attractions that I feel doesn’t get the attention it deserves is Penlee grotto, dedicated to Princess Adelaide after she visited in 1827, four years before she was crowned Queen consort.  Housed in a cave below Penlee Point, the fabulous views from the grotto made it an excellent look out post and it also bears some interesting historic wall art.

Whacker Quay

Another fabulous walk for you and your dog to enjoy is along the Lynher Estuary to Whacker Quay.  Railway enthusiasts! You will pass the remains of an old railway, with turntables, an engine house and old sidings.  The quay is also a popular bird watching site where you can see waders and duck, egrets and spoonbills, especially in migration season as they stop to refuel along the river.  If you’re feeling energetic, grab the kayaks and paddle boards from Blue Monkey and explore the many secret side creeks around the river.

Top Tip: if kayaking, make sure to plan around the small tidal window.  We also have two paddle boards for our guests to use at Blue Monkey – here is one of our guests in action!!

Availability

4 to 11 October 2019: £499 for 7 nights
We are offering 10% off Available Dates in November and December 2019
Christmas is still FREE!  Book NOW to avoid disappointment
21st to 28th December £2,250

Book Securely Online Here and NOW to avoid disappointment!
If you are taking advantage of 4 to 11 October discount, please enter code OCT at checkout.

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Three miles of sand stretch from Rame Head in the East to Portwrinkle in the West.  These are the beautiful beaches of Whitsand Bay with glistening white sand, rock pools and waves.  Great for paddle boarding, surfing, ideal for an early morning jog, peaceful to picnic on and exciting to explore.

Rame Peninsula’s beaches are bordered by high cliffs steeped in history and drama.  Whitsand Bay is overlooked by the ruins of a 14^th century chapel dedicated to St Michael at the pinnacle of the peninsula.

In 1874 a hermit called Lugger dug himself out a cave at Sharrow Point and inscribed secret verses on the ceiling to keep himself entertained.  It is also popular with divers: in 1914 a submarine sank it Whitsand Bay and in 2004 it was joined by HMS Scylla to provide an artificial underwater reef.

Defenders of the Realm!  Rame Peninsula’s beaches have played their part.  In 1859 the Polhawn Battery was built to shore up our shores as Plymouth was considered to be a weak point in our defences.  Polhawn Battery and Polhawn Fort now play a different role in our culture as their beautiful views have transformed the fort into a popular wedding venue.

Whitsand Bay is one of the many beautiful beaches close to Blue Monkey Cornwall.  Follow my blog to learn more.

Top Tips: Whitsand Bay is dog friendly and has 3 coastguards on duty between May and September.  Beware the strong currents and steep descent down rocky paths to the beach.

Useful Links:

Where to Eat

Surfing and Coasteering

Weddings

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Easter Fun!

The Rame Peninsula is the perfect place to spend an Easter Break in Cornwall.  There are beaches, coastal walks with breath-taking views and lots of family entertainments planned.  Here are three of our favourites right on Blue Monkey’s doorstep:

Easter at Eden

From the 6^th to 25^th of April the Eden Project is running a very special Easter event.  There are indoor and outdoor games and activities for families to try (phew no need to worry about the rain!).  Have fun herding farmyard animals into their pens, win some golden eggs and learn about growing crops with the Eden farmers.

Top Tip: Free with Eden Admission

Plymouth Easter Egg Hunt

Plymouth is full of exciting things to see and do and there’s always something happening to entertain all ages.  If you are planning an Easter break in Cornwall, your children will be delighted to hear that they can join the free chocolate mini egg hunt in Plymouth City Centre.  Follow a map to find the giant eggs and claim your eggs!

Top Tip: The best way to get to Plymouth is to take the ferry from Cawsand Beach to Barbican Landing Stage and spot dolphins on the way.

Mount Edgcumbe House

Five minutes from Blue Monkey is the ancestral home of the Earls of Mount Edgcumbe.  Full of history, art and three 16^th century tapestries, the house is well worth a visit and opens for the season from 1^st April to the end of September, Sunday through Thursday from 11am to 4.30pm.

If you don’t want to visit the house, the country park is free of charge and open every day from 8am to 8pm. This is a fun day out for the family, with Adventure Segway, Golf, cycles, archery and many more things to do and explore.

Top Tip: Dogs on leads are welcome.  Family Ticket price: £12.50

April Offer

6th to 13th April is still available and we are offering 15% off listed Price
Please enter code APR at checkout on our secure online payment page here.

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Here at Blue Monkey…

…we’re excited to see that the sun is beginning to shine and the daffodils are already carpeting the forests!  So if you’re feeling the need for a fortifying breath of sea air, why not take a March mini break in Cornwall?  Life is beginning again down here as castles dust off their cobwebs, pigs are racing and even the birds are up to something…

The Devon Bird of Prey Centre

Just over an hour’s drive from Blue Monkey you can book in for an experience day and learn to fly a falcon!  You can try a 1-hour taster session, book a day with a falconer and learn how to fly the birds yourself, or you can just spectate.

Berry Pomeroy Castle

Just over the border in Devon, this castle was built in the 1560s and was intended to be a huge and wonderful place – Devon’s answer to Longleat.  But the project was never completed, and it is now a famously haunted romantic old ruin.  Definitely worth adding to your mini break in Cornwall schedule!

Pig Racing at Pennywell Farm

Pennywell Farm has opened up its gates for the Spring, and as horse racing doesn’t start until Easter, the pigs have decided to take the limelight with their own special Races.  This is a day out for families and the farm runs activities, free rides and different displays every half hour.  The farm is a very healthy way to entertain your children on a mini break in Cornwall.

Staring out to Sea

They say the best things in life are free… and maybe the best thing to do on a mini break in Cornwall is just to sit and enjoy the wonderful views of the Rame Peninsula.

Availability

Please check out our availability page here or email us at enquiries@bluemonkeycornwall.com

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