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Thursday, March 22 - Wednesday, March 28, 2012 Scunthorpe Telegraph

47

Travel Five-star luxury, surfing... and proper pasties!

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hen youve got to be up before sunrise to travel, you know your holiday is best started with a journey on public transport a chance to get your head down and sleep. And with my first Cornish adventure, I decided to leave my car at home and relax for the seven-hour journey from Doncaster to Redruth to embark on a three-night stay at the five-star, self-catered resort of Gwel an Mor (Cornish for view of the sea). I didnt think it would be possible, nor as easy, to make the trip without having to endure traffic, the mundane re-tuning of the car radio or the numerous tea breaks at motorway services. No wonder my parents avoided the car trip when I was a nipper and public transport was as slow as ever back then. But with East Coast Mainline, which operates an hourly service to the capital, first class travel to London Kings Cross it was full English breakfast and tea as soon as we stepped aboard. For it offers complimentary meals for first class passengers and at 7am breakfast was just the ticket. Just less than two hours later and we were navigating the Tube to Paddington train station before catching our connection service on First Great Western, where we tucked into unlimited refreshments and snacks which was ideal because unlike the teddy bear with the same name, we hadnt packed our marmalade sandwiches. But what was even more enjoyable was that everything ran like clockwork.

BY SELINA MAYCOCK

selina.maycock@gsmg.co.uk

I learnt how to get on a board, watch for waves and paddle through my ride and with just three attempts at standing, Dave had me on my feet for a good 15 seconds. Mission accomplished and my smile was as big as my learner surfboard. The lesson has given me the confidence to learn more and has made me fall in love with the laid back life of a beach babe. After all the hard work, my appetite was ready to tuck into a real Cornish pasty freshly made from the village bakery. An uphill hike back to the resort worked off the calories in time for an afternoon wildlife walk (9 adult /6 child). Gary a resident wildlife expert took us on a two-hour roam of the woods fields in search of water voles. We met the reindeer and then it was back to Feadon Farm wildlife centre where we fed tame rescue foxes and flew a white barn owl to name but a few. Gwel an Mor has DVDs to borrow free of charge which we made use of during our evenings. he on-site Terrace Restaurant served superb quality food from its Mediterranean-inspired menu. I had the Cornish goats cheese in breadcrumbs, followed by 8oz steak, rounded off with chocolate brownie with home-made Cornish clotted cream oozing with naughtiness, it left me full to the brim. After the previous days fun-filled activities it was time to unwind with a treatment at the resorts Well Being spa. There is an extensive selection on offer but I opted for a Mineral Wrap (65) as I hadnt had this before. Eva made me feel like a celebrity with her polished customer service and her treatment techniques took me into complete relaxation. After an exfoliation and rinse, I was covered in mud like a mermaid and wrapped in cling film. While it dried I enjoyed a head, foot and face massage. I then had a moisture massage to finish the treatment. I felt like I had a new skin. Advised to take it easy, we cooked lunch then got the bus to Redruth to browse the antique shops and buy a few holiday keepsakes. After tea at our lodge it was time to sample the Club House gym, pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room (9am-9pm) and then a quick dip in our hot tub before bed. During the day you can laze on the sun loungers and watch the world go by or take in the breath-taking views of the coastal village below. With a 10am check out, we left our luggage at reception to absorb the ocean view one last time and eat at the Atlantic caf bar. Our whole stay at Gwel an Mor was high class. The staff went above and beyond to make our stay perfect no wonder they have the 2011 Gold award for outstanding customer service at the Cornwall Tourism Awards. From the Cornish pasty, clotted cream tea to the Cornish rip-curl waves, our adventure was filled with the best of what Portreath has to offer. And if you love the resort so much, you can inquire about purchasing a share in a holiday home. Email sales@gwelanmor.com

Useful contacts:
Gwel an Mor: call 01209 842354 or gwelanmor.com/scunthorpe Surf school: call 07773 380604 or westcornwalladventure.co.uk For train travel to Cornwall: www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk and www.eastcoast.co.uk www.visitcor nwall.co.uk

From the Cornish pasty to the rip-curl waves, our adventure was filled with the best of what Portreath has to offer

GINGERBREAD HOUSE-LIKE: A Tregea lodge at the Gwel an Mor resort in Cornwall, where Selina Maycock stayed in five-star luxury

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COMFORT: The lounge inside one of the lodges Theres so much more to see when you dont have the hassle of driving. We arrived at Redruth on time and waiting to collect us was the resorts minibus and staff who let us stop off at the village shop for groceries. Alternatively you can take your own food and organise supermarket deliveries to the resort (however you must be on site at the time to sign for the delivery). Our detached Tregea VIP lodge (from 449 off-peak short break/up to 1,549 peak) resembled a gingerbread house. It sleeps up to six, with sundeck, kingsize en-suite bedroom plus two double-size twin bedrooms, family-size bathroom, kitchen, dining and open plan living area with a hot tub and all mod-cons and furnishings plus robes, and logs for the wood burner. The resort located on the hill tops of Portreath village had spectacular ocean views so good in fact it was worth sitting on our balcony to eat breakfast. My first sample of Cornwall was a mid-day session down on the beach with surf instructor Dave Green of West Coast Adventure. With just one hour of a one-to-one lesson it was straight down to basics and I put them to the test when surf was up. We had the ocean to ourselves and

Value holidays by coach

Pick up points: Grimsby, Cleethorpes, Barton, Brigg, Gainsborough, Lincoln, Messingham, Scotter, Scunthorpe, Winterton, Epworth & Haxey

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SURFS UP: Selina Maycock with instructor Dave Green of West Cornwall Adventure during her surfing lesson

APRIL days price Fri 6 London at Easter 4 269 Fri 6 Bristol & Bath at Easter 4 249 Sat 14 Air Nostalgia 2 109 Mon 23 Scotland - Perthshire, Drams & Flings 5 239 Mon 30 Ostend in the Spring 5 299 JUNE Fri 1 Queens Jubilee - London 3 189 Sat 2 Midsummer in the Western Cotswolds 4 209 Sun 10 Gems of the Peak District 2 99 Fri 22 Chester & Port Sunlight 3 165 Sat 30 London & the Olympic Park 2 119 JULY Sun 1 Midsummer Mystery 2 89 Sat 7 Isle of Wight 7 449 Fri 20 Royal Ascot Summer Party 2 149 Sat 21 Tatton Park Flower Show & Manchester 2 109 August Sat 4 Mid summer Mystery 2 89 Fri 10 Peak District & Cheshire 3 139 Sun 19 Liverpool 3 159 Mon 20 Ostend in the summer 5 329 Thu 23 Edinburgh Tattoo 3 239 Fri 24 London inc. Buckingham Palace 3 219 Tue 28 Blackpool Luxury 4 235 September Tue 4 Scottish Lochs & Waterways 5 289 Mon 17 Llandudno Entertainment Break 5 319 Fri 21 London Weekender 3 199 NOVEMBER & DECEMBER THURSFORD DATES NOW OUT RING FOR OUR FULL COLOUR BROCHURE Also book at Bookings HORNSBY TRAVEL many local & Enquiries:-Tel:- 01724 282255 travel agents Visa/Access accepted

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2012

Staying at the Plaza Hotel Tallaght, Dublin 4-star for four nights dinner bed & breakfast Door to Door Home Collection Service Medieval, Georgian and modern architecture provide a backdrop to a friendly bustling port where the cosmopolitan & charming meet in the delightful city that is Dublin. Enjoy a guided city tour, plus plenty of free time to explore at your leisure. Also included is an excursion to Glendalough and the Bressington Lakes.
Subject to availability. Includes return sailings & Door to Door - ask for details. Supplements may apply. For Terms & Conditions see Applebys Summer 2012 brochure

Sunday 6 May 5 days from 329

Call Reservations Direct on 0845

Also at Golden Hind, Cleethorpes 01472 602499 and Althams Travel at Scunthorpe and Barton upon Humber

or visit your local btg Travel Agency GRIMSBY 01472 355964 IMMINGHAM 01469 572595 BRIGG 01652 650409

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