The Changing Seasons at Parnacott
Parnacott changes month by month as the year unfolds. Each month brings its own joys and revelations. Read on and let us share them with you.
May
Sunshine for a whole week and it really felt like summer! Now we have rain and sun. Nevertheless, it is very beautiful here and the hot tub is up and looking good.
Our half-term family is very excited about their forthcoming holiday - understandably so.
Walls are being power washed and repainted. Everything is looking brighter. It's all good, very good!
Stop Press
Crooklets and Summerleaze, both beaches in Bude, have just been awarded Blue Flag status for water quality. This is the highest possible award for water quality. (Blue Flag is the international quality mark for beaches.) Widemouth, just down the coast from Bude, has also been awarded Blue Flag status.
Seaside Awards have gone to Crackington Haven, Widemouth Bay, Crooklets and Summerleaze.
All these beaches are within easy driving distance of Parnacott.
June
As we approach this beautiful month, we learn that the weather will get warmer. At Parnacott it is the time of roses and even more hydrangeas.
The traditional charcoal BBQ is already in action. Next will be croquet on the lawn, Pimm's and, of course, strawberries and clotted Cornish cream.
Half way through June now and we are enjoying sun and some showers. The roses are coming into flower and the American Pillar is putting on a good show.
Our woodpeckers are stocking up on the peanuts - a lovely sight.
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July
July came to us in at least two very different parts! From rain and wind via sunny intervals and more wind to full summer days. The swallows arrived, very unexpectedly, fed their brood and then we saw them fledge. Now they have gone but how we hope they will return next year! Our bird population is growing and we can hear at least one barn owlet hissing away of an evening in one of our barns.
A badger has been spotted down the lane but, sadly, not by me.
August
Our busiest month at Parnacott and one that is rich in children and adults alike all having fun outside on the spacious front lawns. This year exploring the Wilderness Garden has also been on the agenda and camps have been set up. Our visiting dogs have really enjoyed the space and the smells outside and since we lost our much beloved Wilfie in June and our hearts broke, I've loved being able to make a fuss of holidaymakers' dogs. It's worth noting that the whole area is definitely dog friendly.
Croquet and Badminton well into the summer evenings allowed friendly rivalry to blossom, and the hot tub was also well used.
As expected the coast has been extremely popular and Sandy Mouth seems to be the favourite beach with Black rock Beach down at Widemouth Bay coming second. Parents with very young children have found the Sea Pool on Bude's Summerleaze Beach a firm favourite.
September
September is blessing us with much fine weather this year and that is not unusual. As I type the sun is shining down and the afternoon will be just perfect. It really is the ideal month for families whose children are no longer in school, and groups of friends to come and stay.
The sea is much warmer than in early summer and the surf is usually very good. there is much splendid walking along the cliff tops and out on the moors.
The month bowed out with one whole week of glorious sunshine followed by a weekend of high winds and rain!
October
October is here and with it sunshine - so welcome so uplifting. Happily the house is booked for the weekend with a family coming back for their eleventh visit.
It is very warm in the sunshine, the sky is very blue and there are still some blackberries around. The Parnacott grapes are ripening satisfyingly.
November
As we
December
As we
