Winter and Summer in Padstow Harbour

The latest Atlantic Storm "Diana" arrived yesterday

and is scheduled to be with us for another few days.

Depending on its direction when it hits the North Cornwall coast, this narrow, cobbled alley 

in Padstow, will probably funnel the wind and increase its apparent speed.

The storm has passed through

But conditions are still pretty gloomy in Padstow harbour..
This another painting by Yannick Tonnelier from his Storm series.

Padstow Harbour  Yannick Tonnelier                      

Acrylic on board  56ins x 28ins       

Stormbound in Padstow harbour.

Yesterday the coastlines of Devon and Cornwall was battered once again.

The high winds, combined with very high tides, created some extremely dangerous sea conditions.

Safely alongside in Padstow Harbour,

as the first major storm of the season, "Abigail", 

moved in from the Atlantic.

 

The weather may be windy and wet,

but in Padstow you're never far from a hot and tasty Cornish Pasty.

A splash of colour

to brighten up a rainy, grey day in the Harbour at Padstow.

 

The Camel Estuary

The view from The Camel Trail looking towards the Atlantic,

with the beautiful town of Padstow on the left,

and the fashionable village of Rock , on the right.

Roses round the door

There are 26,000 second homes in the Counties of Cornwall and Devon.

In some attractive coastal villages more than 40% of the houses are empty for most of the year.

Very, very early one morning.

This is Padstow harbour, on the North coast of Cornwall, about fifty miles from Plymouth.

It is a very popular destination for visitors to Cornwall, which is why this is a very rare image indeed.

There is only one person in this shot. Apart from me, he is the only other very early bird.

Can you spot him?

Early Morning Meditation

A tiny figure sat motionless on the rocks at Constantine Bay very early on a chilly, late September morning.

Constatine Bay is about fifty miles from Plymouth, on the North Cornwall coast, near Padstow.

The Judges' verdict is final.

The judges  reveal their scores in the "Most Attractive Harbour in the Known World" contest.

Once again, Padstow is the winner.

Lemon Sole in Padstow

On Saturday we had a truly splendid lunch in Rick Stein's Seafood Restaurant, on the quayside, in Padstow.

An attractive, airy and relaxed dining room, 

genuinely welcoming and professional front of house staff, 

with a superb meal from the kitchen brigade.

What's in a name?

Early on Saturday morning the speed boats were doing a brisk trade but I'm not sure that all the customers really understood just how fast and bouncy their ride was going to be once they left the calm of the harbour and entered the choppy, windswept waters of the estuary.

But the clue is clearly in the name of the craft.

Neither, from the way they were dressed, did they seem aware of just wet they were likely to get.

Gone Fishin'

Even if the kids have lost interest, dad refuses to give up without netting something.

An impressive hirsute appendage

This fine "soup-strainer" belongs to the well known TV programme maker Dick Strawbridge,

who, like me, was enjoying the beautiful weather in Padstow on Thursday.

The Camel Estuary near Padstow

The weather forecasters are promising an improvement, starting today. 

Perhaps the Jet Stream will move back north to its normal track and summer can start at last. 

Hopefully this view over River Camel, from the famous village of Padstow back up river towards the beautiful town of Wadebridge, will once again be bathed in warm sunshine.

Maybe the footpaths through the Camel Valley will get the chance to dry out and cease to be muddy steams.

Well maybe.

Padstow Harbour

It was 0800hrs on Wednesday 3rd August, and many crews were making ready to motor out through the lock gate into the estuary, to sail with the tide on the next leg of their journey along the Atlantic coast of North Cornwall.

 

Sun, Sea and a Shrimp Net

Early morning fishing on the slipway in the inner harbour at Padstow, in North Cornwall.

This beautiful village is just under fifty miles from Plymouth.

It is a more rugged setting, three miles along the coast, at Constantine but this age old holiday activity still captures the imagination of children.

More from this area over the next few days.