Read this blog: The one where we experience a whiteout in a helicopter Saturday 19th to Monday 21st September 2026 In contrast to the outward journey which took place in clear skies and sunshine, the helicopter flight back to the mainland was beset by fog. The pilot completed several circles just off the coast by Penzance hoping the fog would clear. A gap in the clouds did eventually open up and, after a few nerve-wracking minutes when we thought we might have to divert to another airport or even return to Tresco, we were thankfully able to touch down in Penzance where we said farewell to Sue and Henry. Over the years we have regularly passed Hardy Exotics on the road into Penzance and Matilda has been yearning to visit. This year we had planned a leisurely journey home with two overnight stays and agreed we would drop in on our way. When we arrived, the owner stressed that this was not a traditional garden centre. Walking round was indeed more like taking a stroll through the Tresco Abbey Gardens or an RHS property. From here we decided to go to Trerice. This Elizabethan manor is a National Trust property […]
2026 Tresco
Read this blog: The one where we party 20 feet under the sea Tuesday 8th to Saturday 18th September 2026 The journey to Tresco is always part of the adventure: this year the skies were clear and the helicopter left on time. The views were, as always, impressive and particularly so with the sun reflecting off the sea. On our visit this year, for the first time ever, we were blessed with three consecutive days of low tides: Friday, Saturday and Sunday were all designated as being “walkable’. On the first of these we walked across to Bryher with Liz and Martin. A Low Tide Event was scheduled for the next day. Although some of our visits have coincided with these in the past, they have always previously been cancelled due to bad weather. This year the forecast was good and the sun was shining when we woke. We decided to go to the Abbey Gardens to watch the red squirrels being fed: Robert had spoken to the chief squirrel feeder and confirmed the time in advance. From here we walked to Flood Hatch to start the walk. A Low Tide Event is a rare occurrence which lasts for just […]
Read this blog: The one where we learn about the London Quarter Saturday 5th to Monday 7th September 2026 Although Robert enjoys researching and organising our longer holidays, he assigns Matilda responsibility for planning the places to visit and stopover on our annual trip down to Penzance to catch the helicopter to Tresco. This allows her to make the most of her life membership of the National Trust. Our first stop was Hinton Ampner – see feature photo. When Ralph Dutton, the eighth Lord Sherborne, inherited Hinton Ampner in 1935 he immediately embarked upon a schedule of renovation and redecoration. Because of the date of this, Matilda had been expecting an Art Deco extravaganza and had sold it to Robert on this basis. However, it transpired that Ralph Dutton‘s vision for his home was, according to the National Trust ‘a Neo-Georgian house combining classical inspired interiors with the elegant gardens and parkland’. It was not what we had expected but was nevertheless both grand and ornate. Sadly the building suffered a devastating fire in 1960 but has been largely painstakingly rebuilt since. Fire damage was to become a recurrent theme on this trip. It was undoubtedly beautiful in the autumn […]