It's finally approaching - 4th of July! We really can't wait to welcome guests back to Tamar Valley Cottages. Needless to say, you will notice a few changes. In this post, we offer 6 tips for making the most of your first holiday post-lockdown.
1) Look after your health and safety
First and foremost, no holiday is as important as your health and safety. In the midst of this global pandemic, we must be even more vigilant. As much as we would love to host your holiday, if you are showing any symptoms of covid-19, we ask that you contact us to postpone your holiday without penalty.
Also, please continue to follow government guidance. It is easy to let things slip, particularly on holiday, but it will continue to be important to wash your hands, use sanitiser, and maintain distancing.
To view the extensive precautions that we have implemented, please view the blog post here.
Don't forget that beach safety is also critical at the moment. RNLI are not covering as many beaches as they normally would, so if you are intended to go into the water, either book a lesson with an outdoor activity provider, or visit this page to find out which beaches have lifeguards.
2) Book attractions and eateries in advance
Most attractions are in the process of reopening in some way, but please check in advance to find out what precautions are in place; some attractions are only partially open. Other attractions will have limited ticketed entry, so if there’s something you’re desperate to do while staying here, we suggest you book well in advance.
Similarly, restaurants and cafes have restrictions in place, and all evening dining options will require booking ahead. During the day, most eateries will be operating table service, managed flow of diners, and reduced numbers.
If you have a confirmed booking with us and you would like a list of local attractions and eateries, please contact us.
3) Expect continued restrictions when shopping
Shops in Cornwall are coming to terms with the pandemic in their own ways, but in all cases we must expect precautions to continue for the foreseeable future.
Deliveries are now difficult to arrange, but local supermarkets such as Tesco in Launceston, or Waitrose in Holsworthy, have effective measures in place for people at visiting their stores. Be warned during peak times, this can still involve a short amount of queuing.
4) Be prepared to travel further
There is a real possibility that visitor numbers for North Cornwall will be higher than usual for this time of year. Government advice has demonstrated why maintaining social distancing is important, so it is important to avoid busier areas where at all possible.
Some of our closest beaches (such as Widemouth Bay) are also the area’s most popular. If you visit during low tide, there should be enough space on a wide beach such as this to avoid other visitors. However, if the car park is already full it is a bad sign – we suggest you visit a quieter beach. The beaches in Bude itself (particularly Summerleaze) tend to be busy and are worth avoiding, especially during peak times.
Each cottage has a comprehensive guide which reveals some of the lesser known beaches in the area. Travel this extra bit further and you will find social distancing much easier. However, please bear in mind that the quieter beaches will not have lifeguard cover, so if you intend on entering the sea it is preferable to go to a larger beach at a quieter time of day. (View this page to find out which beaches have lifeguard cover).
Trips to the vast and stunning landscapes of Dartmoor are a great idea. Once parked, in many cases you can walk out in any direction, so avoiding others is relatively easy. As usual, the further you are willing to walk, the more likely you will be able to find a beautiful and remote place far from anyone else.
5) Help us keep Cornwall clean
Like most people, we have been alarmed at the news reports of people elsewhere in the country leaving litter on beaches. We are very proud of our county and we love nothing more than sharing it with others, but please help us look after it. We appreciate that sadly, sometimes the locals can be just as negligent, and our experiences is that our guests are very respectful. We recommend you always pack a binbag when you visit the beach to take away any rubbish, and make sure you leave it as clean (or even cleaner) than when you found it.
6) Ignore the grumblers (but be considerate)
Finally, wee have to admit that we have noticed that a small minority of Cornwall residents displayed hostile reactions to the thought of having visitors back to the county. Although many of their fears are based on the genuine lack of NHS resources in the county, this attitude does not reflect the position of the rest of us.
Obviously, we hope that our visitors are sensitive to the concerns of residents, but rest assured, everyone is welcome. That isn’t just because our tourism and hospitality industries are crying out for a much-needed boost after such a devastating few months – but also, the fact is that when you love somewhere as much as we love Cornwall, it gives pleasure to see others enjoying it too. When we see smiles on the faces of our guests, and hear stories about the wonderful experiences they’ve been having, we get an enormous sense of pride and joy.
So please, come down and see us.
First and foremost, no holiday is as important as your health and safety. In the midst of this global pandemic, we must be even more vigilant. As much as we would love to host your holiday, if you are showing any symptoms of covid-19, we ask that you contact us to postpone your holiday without penalty.
Also, please continue to follow government guidance. It is easy to let things slip, particularly on holiday, but it will continue to be important to wash your hands, use sanitiser, and maintain distancing.
To view the extensive precautions that we have implemented, please view the blog post here.
Don't forget that beach safety is also critical at the moment. RNLI are not covering as many beaches as they normally would, so if you are intended to go into the water, either book a lesson with an outdoor activity provider, or visit this page to find out which beaches have lifeguards.
2) Book attractions and eateries in advance
Most attractions are in the process of reopening in some way, but please check in advance to find out what precautions are in place; some attractions are only partially open. Other attractions will have limited ticketed entry, so if there’s something you’re desperate to do while staying here, we suggest you book well in advance.
Similarly, restaurants and cafes have restrictions in place, and all evening dining options will require booking ahead. During the day, most eateries will be operating table service, managed flow of diners, and reduced numbers.
If you have a confirmed booking with us and you would like a list of local attractions and eateries, please contact us.
3) Expect continued restrictions when shopping
Shops in Cornwall are coming to terms with the pandemic in their own ways, but in all cases we must expect precautions to continue for the foreseeable future.
Deliveries are now difficult to arrange, but local supermarkets such as Tesco in Launceston, or Waitrose in Holsworthy, have effective measures in place for people at visiting their stores. Be warned during peak times, this can still involve a short amount of queuing.
4) Be prepared to travel further
There is a real possibility that visitor numbers for North Cornwall will be higher than usual for this time of year. Government advice has demonstrated why maintaining social distancing is important, so it is important to avoid busier areas where at all possible.
Some of our closest beaches (such as Widemouth Bay) are also the area’s most popular. If you visit during low tide, there should be enough space on a wide beach such as this to avoid other visitors. However, if the car park is already full it is a bad sign – we suggest you visit a quieter beach. The beaches in Bude itself (particularly Summerleaze) tend to be busy and are worth avoiding, especially during peak times.
Each cottage has a comprehensive guide which reveals some of the lesser known beaches in the area. Travel this extra bit further and you will find social distancing much easier. However, please bear in mind that the quieter beaches will not have lifeguard cover, so if you intend on entering the sea it is preferable to go to a larger beach at a quieter time of day. (View this page to find out which beaches have lifeguard cover).
Trips to the vast and stunning landscapes of Dartmoor are a great idea. Once parked, in many cases you can walk out in any direction, so avoiding others is relatively easy. As usual, the further you are willing to walk, the more likely you will be able to find a beautiful and remote place far from anyone else.
5) Help us keep Cornwall clean
Like most people, we have been alarmed at the news reports of people elsewhere in the country leaving litter on beaches. We are very proud of our county and we love nothing more than sharing it with others, but please help us look after it. We appreciate that sadly, sometimes the locals can be just as negligent, and our experiences is that our guests are very respectful. We recommend you always pack a binbag when you visit the beach to take away any rubbish, and make sure you leave it as clean (or even cleaner) than when you found it.
6) Ignore the grumblers (but be considerate)
Finally, wee have to admit that we have noticed that a small minority of Cornwall residents displayed hostile reactions to the thought of having visitors back to the county. Although many of their fears are based on the genuine lack of NHS resources in the county, this attitude does not reflect the position of the rest of us.
Obviously, we hope that our visitors are sensitive to the concerns of residents, but rest assured, everyone is welcome. That isn’t just because our tourism and hospitality industries are crying out for a much-needed boost after such a devastating few months – but also, the fact is that when you love somewhere as much as we love Cornwall, it gives pleasure to see others enjoying it too. When we see smiles on the faces of our guests, and hear stories about the wonderful experiences they’ve been having, we get an enormous sense of pride and joy.
So please, come down and see us.
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