Cornwall, a place of epic landscapes and dramatic coastlines.
I'm Caroline Quentin and I'm travelling west
to a county that really does showcase the best of Britain's natural beauty.
So come with me on my Cornish adventure.
It's a land that's dear to my heart, where beaches meet moors...
It is, I think, the best part of the British Isles. It's absolutely stunning. I'll stay here forever.
Where would you want to be anywhere better? Sun in my face.
The clean, blue air coming in off the ocean. Heaven on earth.
...and cliffs surrender to the mighty Atlantic.
It's a magical place. It really is.
I look at it every day and I tell myself, 'Do not ever take this for granted.' It's beautiful.
Therapeutic qualities of living with the water and being by the sea,
it's just amazing, awesome.
Come along for the ride as I take in the sights...
That is awesome! That's awesome.
...the sounds... ♪ White stockings, she wore
...and the stories...
It's just so exhilarating. When you're swooshing along, it's wonderful.
...of a Cornish summer.
So enjoy the views. I know I will.
Welcome to one of the most beautiful counties in the British Isles.
I am in Cornwall, in St Mawes.
And the chances of your finding me
in a town named after a saint are pretty high because so many of them are.
There's St Mawes, St Just-in-Roseland, St Ives, and this is all thanks to the Celtic missionaries
who brought Christianity to Cornwall.
St Mawes is named after St Maudez.
I wonder what the chances are of them naming a town after me,
St Caroline.
St Cazza.
Yes, that's got a ring to it.
Mm.
OK, so that's unlikely, but we will be meeting some rather saintly characters:
The villagers of St Issey, who are going for gold this summer.
The gardens have become tidier and tidier and tidier.
It's wonderful.
And one country home owner
hopes to secure business with an exclusive holiday lets company.
They're quite fussy about who they take on
and my understanding is that they don't take on everybody.
Fingers crossed. We'll see what they say.
Just four miles from the north Cornish coast, this is the peaceful village of St Issey
but, today, it's far from tranquil.
Village veteran and social secretary Brenda Wright
is waging a community campaign to bring the village out of the gloom and into bloom.
We really lost touch with one another for a little while
because, all within about 18 months, the Post Office closed,
the two shops, two garages and suddenly we had nothing.
We'd lost our soul a little
and over a glass of wine one evening, in the Ring o' Bells,
talking to Chris, we said, 'We need to do something about it'
and St Issey In Bloom was born.
A resident of St Issey for 28 years,
Brenda has entered the village into Cornwall's first In Bloom competition.
It's a week before the judges descend, so it's all hands on deck.
There are just 600 or so residents in St Issey
and the Ring o'Bells pub is now their last remaining social hub.
Brenda's new venture has brought people through the doors and reignited village pride.
Isn't that lovely?
We're seeing everybody meeting in the pub, having a cup of tea, a sandwich,
having a look at all the portfolios put together.
Yeah, couldn't be better, really. Brilliant.
Hey, it's quite good fun, browsing through, though, isn't it, eh?
- Reminds me of the school reunion. - Our WI, look.
People have begun talking and helping,
where they hadn't made the connections before, so it's great.
And the gardens have become tidier and tidier and tidier.
Brooms are appearing from nowhere.
Everybody cares about their homes, cares about their gardens,
but there's been that extra effort in the last week.
I've seen people out at nine o'clock at night, weeding outside their hedges and things.
And a good job too. Before the judges arrive, the village must be spotless.
- Do you want to share your bucket? - They crack the whip, these women.
Brenda has certainly galvanised the villagers.
Everybody is lending their support...
...but there's always time for a tea break.
I was bored and then I started doing this and now I haven't got a minute to live.
You need someone to do something like that,
because, let's face it, most of us can't be bothered, really,
until someone comes up with an idea, then we all suffer.
I'm excited one moment, then my tummy's going over and over the next.
Well, I just hope we win, because so much effort has gone into it.
I think we might have a few glasses of wine at the Ring o' Bells.
A must, I think. Definitely.
I hope all that hard work pays off.
We'll be back later on judging day, to find out if the sun is shining on Brenda and the villagers
in their quest to become an award-winning village. Good luck, St Issey.
Over the course of the summer, the fields of Treloan campsite,
on the cliffs of the Roseland Peninsula, have been the destination of 2,000 holidaymakers
exploring the Cornish coast.
It's been the mission of owner Debs to ensure
that they all leave rested, relaxed, and with happy memories.
Let's face it, with views like these, that can't be too difficult.
It's meant a busy summer for Debs so, with 10 things on the go as usual this morning,
I thought I'd drop in and lend a hand.
Cos you haven't always run a campsite, have you?
I was very lucky. When I was at school, I was very good at PE and sports.
That's all I went to school for, really, and I had a wonderful PE teacher called Jill
and she marched me up the Army Careers Office, took me in and said to the careers guy,
'This girl needs to be in the army. She'd make a brilliant PE teacher
but, academically, she hasn't got it.'
So you got into the army?
So I got into the army, did 13 years, became a PTI, which was great.
So how come suddenly you're here in Cornwall, running a campsite? How did that happen?
We came here on holiday.
We had a lovely mobile home, which we used to drive around Cornwall,
and we found this place by accident.
And we heard it was for sale.
We went, 'Let's do it. Let's do it.'
- How long have you been here? - We've been here, as a campsite,
this is our fourth summer, but we've been here three years.
So you've made a big impact locally, even though you're very recent incomers, aren't you?
When I moved here, they had a very bad reputation, it was extremely rundown,
so Peter and I had a lot of work to say to the community, 'The campsite's a good place.
We're bringing people in.'
So we had a lot of work to do.
Obviously, we met people in the pub, having drinks, which is great.
I also started a youth club, because there's nothing for the children in the village.
I used to play netball, but I've injured myself again,
so that's why I've joined the Coastguards now.
- Cos you didn't have enough to do? - No.
- Fill in that extra 20 minutes you've got a week. - Yeah.
I really admire the way that Debs has thrown herself into the close-knit community
in this part of Cornwall.
With little welcoming touches all around the site,
she's made a bit impact in such a short space of time.
The Cornish have a reputation of being fairly standoffish to foreigners, don't they?
It has been a challenge, but we've done it because we wanted to.
- Yeah. - And there's something about this area
and this field, really, I know it's a weird thing to say.
I don't think it is weird. I believe some places do have a really wonderful atmosphere.
- Do you find that here? - Yeah.
- I'm very at home here. - Yeah, cos it suits you, doesn't it?
Yeah, and I like the way of life. I like everything's done "dreckly".
It's one thing that the campers have to get from the beginning when they come.
- Stuff here isn't done like that straightaway. - No. No.
It's done at a much slower pace. If it gets done, it gets done.
If it doesn't, then OK, maybe tomorrow.
- A great service. You're a wonderful woman. - Oh, I don't mean to be.
I'm not just saying that, cos there are buns there, though it is part of it.
Yeah, and they're for tomorrow's fête.
- Have you counted them? - Yeah.
Debs'contentment seems to rub off on everyone here.
Even the dogs are happy.
She's a smiley girl. She's a smiley girl.
She's a smiley girl. Give us a big smile.
- Give me a big smile. Come on, then. - Oh, God, that's so sweet.
That's absolutely marvellous. You're adorable.
What a happy place.
OK, so I didn't manage to scrounge a cake, but they are for the fête, I suppose.
Anyway, I'd best let Debs get on. She's got coastguard training later.
Cornwall has over 700 kilometres of coastline...
...and I've found myself a real, little gem here.
This is Porthcurnick, on the beautiful Roseland Peninsula.
At one time, the community behind me, Portscatho, and here,
were linked by a cart track, but that was washed away by the sea long ago.
So now, if you come here, you're completely marooned.
Oh, well.
I can think of worse places to be stranded.
Earlier in the series, I met a couple of girls who run an exclusive holiday lettings company
and cater to the traveller who wants it all.
Are they tricky people? Are they demanding?
- "Discerning" I would say is the best word. - Good.
To maintain such high standards, it's the job of Kahdine to visit prospective new properties
and ensure they get the Unique stamp of approval.
A bit of a cushy job, looking around some of the most beautiful properties in Cornwall.
It's one of the most enjoyable parts of the job. You meet lots of different people,
see some beautiful properties and see a lot of the country as well.
But getting your property onto their books is no mean feat.
Kahdine and the team have set the bar high,
with over 95% of people applying being turned away.
Today, Kahdine is off to revisit a newly converted barn in the north Cornish countryside.
She's already carried out an initial assessment with owners Simon and Sue,
at an earlier stage in the renovations.
So this is the main bedroom. There's an en suite just here...
But success rests on the all-important sleek finish.
Simon and Sue have spent £100,000 on this conversion, so there's a lot at stake,
but Kahdine has got to be objective and scrutinise the place inside and out.
After you. They're quite fussy, I think, about who they take on
and my understanding is that they don't take on everybody.
Will they, won't they like the progress that we've made? Fingers crossed, we'll see what they say.
It's looking fantastic, but Kahdine's got a few character-enhancing suggestions.
Simon, you mentioned before that you were thinking about putting a bookcase over here.
- Yeah, small bookcase. - Yeah.
You would have just a selection of books along the top of the shelf.
- That's not a bad idea, actually. I like that too. - That might be quite good.
And a really nice, kind of worn leather, comfy chair,
- and, you know, get a really nice rug. - You're spending my money again.
Take us through.
This is the master bedroom. It's not huge.
- But it's got everything you want. - It's a good size.
- Quality mattress. - What kind of linens have you gone for?
Very fine cotton.
After a thorough tour, it's up to Kahdine to deliver the news.
Based on everything we have seen today, certainly we'd like to have you on board with us.
- Have we passed the test? - Yes.
- Flying colours? - I think it'd appeal.
- We'd like to take you on board. - Excellent.
Great result, even though Sue quite fancied the place for herself.
- So we're not moving in now? - You can't move in, no.
You have to stay put.
Simon and Sue have invested so much time and money renovating this beautiful barn,
but now there's money to be made.
In terms of the finish of the property, it is to a really high standard.
It's a brilliant barn conversion, so they'll have a great season ahead of them next year.
Let's hope this is the beginning of a successful working relationship
and Cornwall has gained another luxury let.
- Cornwall's got a huge amount to offer people. - Yes, it has.
The joy of sharing it with our customers, I think that's just icing on the cake, really.
And well done to Simon and Sue for becoming one of the lucky 5% to make the grade.
Can I be first to come and stay?
Charismatic campsite owner Debs Walker has had an action-packed summer.
Animal feeding time!
Among the highlights, she skippered her handmade canoe to victory
in the Portscatho regatta.
Today, you'll be glad to hear she's posing no threat to shipping.
Right, what's next? What's next?
What next indeed?
Debs spent 13 years in the army
and, with the campsite and village life all in working order,
she's decided to take on yet another challenge.
Coastguard training tonight, Wednesday nights.
I've got all my new clothes on, all the gear, no idea today.
I'm looking forward to this, getting out the campsite.
- I've heard the residents are, as well. - Yeah, you've got it.
There are 3,500 coastguard volunteers nationwide.
Here in Portscatho, station officer Alan Collins is welcoming Debs as their newest recruit.
There isn't anybody in the village that doesn't know of her.
She's larger than life.
She's on a 12-month probation. There's some competencies that she will need to learn.
After that 12 months, she will be assessed, so it's an ongoing training process.
The Coastguard nationally covers some 1.25 million square nautical miles of sea
and over 10.5 thousand nautical miles of coastline.
With Cornwall's reputation as a playground for nearly five million tourists every summer,
accidents along the cliffs are commonplace.
It makes the job of the coastguards vital.
Obviously, I'm doing it for other people, but also for myself.
It's gonna be great again, being part of a team. I miss that.
Living by the coast, I think it's important for everyone to give something back.
Cliff rescues can be extremely dangerous
and with her campsite just minutes from the coastal path,
this evening, Debs is putting in the hours to learn some of the basics.
And there's nothing like a bit of role-play for the information to sink in. Concentrate, Debs.
So Richard's gonna be the casualty
and the rope that you can just see in the grass is the cliff edge.
So he's guiding him back now to the edge of the cliff.
A little bit further. Go on.
There goes the cliff back, here.
Good job that's not a real cliff.
- This comes off? - No, that stays on there. That's on.
Yeah. See you!
She's turned the wrong one off!
- I'd have gone with you. - Oh, well, that's all right, then, Debs.
Next up, roles are reversed, and Debs is getting into character.
I'm gonna be rescued now, so I'm going over the edge - the pretend edge today. Help! Help!
It's a lot to remember and it's crazy but it's good. Getting there. You know, it sinks in.
Did you hear that?
He reckons it's just to come and flirt with the locals.
Well... possibly 50/50, but that's what I tell my husband, anyway,
buddy-buddy systems, and all that.
Yeah, it's great.
Because you never know, we might need it one day.
I feel that there can't be anything worse than if you're in trouble and nobody's coming to help.
It is that reward of saving somebody, possibly saving someone's life.
I think that's what drives all of us.
These guys are a real inspiration and it's reassuring to know they're out there,
as long as Debs puts in a bit more practice.
A new day has dawned in north Cornwall
and the sea breeze has brought a spell of dreary weather,
to the villagers of St Issey's dismay.
After a busy year of pruning, weeding and brightening up the village,
judging day for their first ever Cornwall In Bloom contest has finally arrived.
Conditions have put a bit of a dampener on proceedings.
It's blowing in from the sea and it's mizzle and it's quite cold for July,
and um... yeah, it's damp, very, very damp.
Desperate not to let the Cornish weather dampen spirits.
It's up to village stalwart Brenda to look on the bright side.
Well, we've decided we can't do anything about the weather, so we've got to be positive.
It's made the colours come out, hasn't it?
A bit apprehensive this morning, knowing that the judges are coming
but, at the end of the day, it's brought the village together
and, really, we've had a whale of a time.
Stiff upper lip, Brenda.
Anyway, looks like you've got bigger problems than the rain to contend with.
It's rubbish collection day today.
If people haven't taken their dustbins in, they'll be thrown over the fence.
There's nothing for it. Time to implement operation garbage.
Brenda doesn't want her village to lose any marks on the score sheet,
so she's leaving nothing to chance - and I mean nothing.
Out of the way for today.
What the eyes can't see...
Mm. I'm sensing a competitive streak there, Brenda.
Why take part if you're not going to win?
So we're out to win.
With the judges'arrival imminent, Brenda and her fellow villagers
can only take shelter and wait, with nervous anticipation.
Slight issue, though.
Well, we've lost the landlord, at the moment.
- We're waiting for Chris. - Yeah.
He said, 'I'll be there. I'll be there.'
This is Chris coming up.
That's a relief, cos he knows the names of all the flowers.
I thought, 'If they ask me what this is called, I'm lost.'
It'd be 'A yellow one', or 'A green one.'
Phew! That was cutting it fine.
Without further ado, let judging commence. First up, a tour.
It's worked really well.
- Beetroot there. Courgettes there. - Yeah, I've seen the size of them in there.
That's what I love about this village.
Even in the pouring rain, everybody has turned out to show their support.
Don't look too close, otherwise...
You can always find a bit of banter in St Issey. Always.
No matter where you go.
We go to lots of places. Unfortunately, sometimes, we miss the community,
but to see the school, and what they've done in 12 months, it's just amazing, really.
Gosh. That's sounding positive.
Could the villagers be in with a chance?
With the walk around done, there's just time to dry off at the Ring o'Bells,
and take a look at Brenda's sterling efforts to illustrate the village community spirit.
Yeah, that really is a good idea.
For St Issey In Bloom, we feel the word bloom means the village blooming.
That's what happening at the moment, because they're taking part and they want to take part.
So will the St Issey villagers prove victorious? You'll have to wait and see.
Blooming good effort, though.
Ripped & Corrected By mstoll March 2017
Ripped & Corrected By mstoll Released on www.Addic7ed.com