The financial red flags to watch out for in relationships
The financial red flags to watch out for in relationships

Sarah Gill

Jeanette Madsen and Thora Valdimars on Rotate’s next steps
Jeanette Madsen and Thora Valdimars on Rotate’s next steps

Corina Gaffey

The key trends and style takeaways from Copenhagen Fashion Week
The key trends and style takeaways from Copenhagen Fashion Week

Corina Gaffey

Chef JP McMahon talks Ireland’s food evolution
Chef JP McMahon talks Ireland’s food evolution

IMAGE

Niamh De Brún-Reid: A week in my wardrobe
Niamh De Brún-Reid: A week in my wardrobe

Sarah Finnan

Irish designer Maria McManus on Trump, sustainability, and her AW25 salon presentation
Irish designer Maria McManus on Trump, sustainability, and her AW25 salon presentation

Paul McLauchlan

How women in business can step into their CEO mindset
How women in business can step into their CEO mindset

Niamh Ennis

Copenhagen Fashion Week’s coolest beauty trends
Copenhagen Fashion Week’s coolest beauty trends

Corina Gaffey

Top tips for writing your IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Award nomination
Top tips for writing your IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Award nomination

Leonie Corcoran

How I Got Here: Internationally acclaimed opera singer Celine Byrne
How I Got Here: Internationally acclaimed opera singer Celine Byrne

Lauren Heskin

Image / Editorial

Good Maritimes


By Kate O'Dowd
17th Apr 2014
Good Maritimes

Mawgan Porth beach

See More Photos
When BASH Volume One went to print, Sandra (our Art Director) and I took a little trip to Cornwall, to oversee the printing process – a very romantic honeymoon involving hanging around a cold, man-filled warehouse for the overnight shift. But it wasn’t all bad. Firstly, we got to watch our baby being born – the sight of our very first issue flying off that mammoth printer was quite the thrill.

Secondly, Cornwall is beautiful. I had never been and though I had a vague notion of the area as pretty, I had no idea just how chocolate box picturesque we were talking. It’s all winding boreens (or whatever boreens are called in Cornwall), rolling hills and idyllic seaside villages inhabited by gorgeously weather-kissed locals, who act as poster-people for the benefits of regular fish consumption and exposure to Vitamin D.

We stayed in an eco cottage at Merlin Farms, a sweet agri-tourism property surrounded by fields, with the crash of waves not too far off. Inside, the cottage is pristine boutique hotel luxury, with homebaked shortbread biscuits and clouds of beds. Outside, a donkey peeps into the garden (each cottage has its own – garden, not donkey), which leads to the nearby sandy beach of Mawgan Porth (where there’s also a little village), via a wooded walking track.

We didn’t get to spend nearly enough time in this little haven, which is probably why I find myself thinking of it, so often. Another reason is that it’s the perfect spot for an English toddlermoon – and that’s been occupying my thoughts A LOT lately. Because taking your tiny tyrant on holidays for the first time is daunting. ?WHAT IF THERE ISN?T A HIGH CHAIR??? ?OR A SAFE PLACE FOR HIM TO ROAM ABOUT LIKE A MANIAC?? (these are in All Caps, because I shout them in my mind). Well, Merlin Farms ticks all the new-parent fuss boxes. Most of the cottages are kitted out with everything from mini blenders to toddler toilet seats, the little gardens are gated and surrounded by an outer grassy area complete with mini slide climbing frame thingy – and even just staring at farm animals can take up hours of a toddler’s time.

I’m thinking of booking a proper stay, this summer. I’d like to come back weather-kissed.

merlin-farm-cottages-cornwall.co.uk

@kateodowd is editor of BASH