22/05/2026
Journey today from Exeter to Falmouth, with some wonderful unexpected stops along the way.
One of the highlights was an unplanned visit to the Emily Hobhouse experience at Saint Ive near Liskeard. Far more than a museum, it’s an immersive look into the life of an extraordinary Cornish woman whose humanitarian work during the Anglo-Boer War challenged the attitudes of her time. The restored Victorian Rectory, the atmospheric War Rooms, and the storytelling through film, installations, and artefacts made it a surprisingly moving and thought-provoking visit. Even lunch carried the South African influence — delicious food in beautiful surroundings.
From there we carried on to see if we could find the Lost Gardens of Heligan! The gardens were lovely but we are still a little early for roses and many herbaceous plants — winding paths, giant ferns, hidden corners, old stone buildings, and ponds with tadpoles. A place that feels peaceful, timeless, and slightly magical.
Then on to Mevagissey for coffee and ice cream beside the harbour. Fishing boats resting at low tide, calm reflections on the water, pastel cottages climbing the hillside, and that soft Cornish light that makes everything look like a painting.
One of those days where the unexpected stops became the memorable ones.
