The Horseshoe Pub, Hampstead

image: Tourbytransit.com

One of my favourite walks in London is to park the car near Kenwood House and walk from the house and it's ground into Hampstead Heath to admire the view then to drop down into Hampstead High Street for a spot of lunch.

I am always amazed that this very large piece of land remains free and open to the public so close to the centre of London but it does and we should all be very grateful. It really does feel like the lungs of London and the views across the city are breathtaking.

image - thewritingnut.com

Lunch is another matter of course and this time we opted for a table at The Horseshoe Pub. Well it's definitely a gastro-pub serving their own brewed ales and organically sourced meals so it's a move away from the traditional to serve it's Hampstead clientelle. You can even take a brewery tour if that's your thing.

The menu is a bit limited (it's a pub kitchen after all) but came across as modern, British and perfect for a lunchtime snack. According to Time Out you usually need to book (my fleet of foot husband leapt across the road when he saw a table become free through the window) as the lunchtime rush is good value for such good food.

I couldn't resist the venison scotch eggs with a celeriac salad. Not overpoweringly strong the meat was extremely tasty and the eggs really glowing in terms of the bright orange organic yolk. I would never have matched this with celeriac in a creamy mayonnaise sauce but the combination was brilliant!

My husband chose his favourite lunchtime dish, eggs benedict, which was an enormous portion (good job we had to walk back). For those of you who don't know what eggs benedict is, it's an American dish taken lovingly to the hearts of the British palette as it consists of two halves of an English muffin topped with ham, poached eggs and a freshly made Hollandaise sauce. Far too rich for me I confess but my husband adores it!

The decor is all stripped wood floor, large bench tables and a large bar running the length of the pub. A friendly atmosphere, superb food and right in the centre of Hampstead you should give it a try when next passing through.

The Horseshoe, 28 Heath St, London, Greater London NW3 6TE Call 020 7431 7206 to book.

Coverack, Mullion Cove and Falmouth - Cornwall Part One

Coverack Beaches

Staying in The Creamery just outside Truro provided us with the perfect spot for taking in both the South and North coasts and beautiful beaches and a lot in between. Whenever we go away we seem to 'do' everywhere in little under a day - we went to the Isle of Wight and drove completely around the island the first afternoon. I suppose it's because we like to get out bearings and work out what to see and what to skip.

Our first proper day of exploring and trialling our new walking boots took us to Coverack, Mullion Cove and then we drove into Falmouth, famous for it's port and University. I am not a great walker but with scenery like this and taking it at a relatively easy pace it is the best way of exploring the breathtaking scenery of Cornwall.

We started our exploration at Coverack on the southern edge of the Lizard Peninsula. This picturesque fishing village is built on two sides of a rocky peninsula that dramatically juts into the sea. It's ideal for windsurfing and swimming and in the height of summer will be crowded with those taking part in water-sports and snorkeling. We followed the coastal path here above the bay, with spectacular scenery. Hidden along the hillside was a sculpture park with free entry and with a stunning setting for the sea inspired sculptures. Walking for about 3 miles following the coast path you will see hidden coves, glorious plants and sandy beaches and if you are lucky and the weather is fine (ours was) the scenery really can't be beaten anywhere in the world!

Leaving Coverack we headed a little further along the coast to Mullion Cove,the largest village on the Lizard (which isn't saying much it's still pretty small). Jonah and the Whale are carved in rich oak in the 15th century church of St Mellanus and the harbour is still a working one protected by stout sea walls and completed in 1895. This is one of the many villages who lost their livelihood when normally pilchard rich seas were empty - let that be a lesson to us all today!

Mullion Cove, Cornwall

You can imagine smugglers having a field day in this part of Cornwall and Mullion Cove is certainly no exception.

Falmouth Bay

We ended our afternoon with a wander around the ancient streets of Falmouth. I can quite seriously say I could imagine moving to Falmouth one day. Because of the university it is lively all year round and there has obviously been huge grants pumped in from Europe to modernise this bustling port. There is still enough of the old town to keep you interested and we discovered fantastic bars, restaurants, cafes, galleries and even a Rick Stein fish and chip shop! It is also home to the Maritime Museum of Cornwall which comes with a 5 star rating and should be on your tourist places to visit list alongside The Eden Project.

The Maritime Museum, Falmouth

A nautical alleyway, Falmouth

Snowdrop Days at The Chelsea Physic Garden

Okay once this blizzard has abated we may all feel like venturing out and when we do there is so much to do even in the winter months. A visit to The Chelsea Physic Garden is definitely on my to-do list for a wander and I may well target one of their Snowdrop Days which are the first week in February.

The garden doesn't officially open until March 29th, but from 2nd - 10th February they have a series of guided walks to see the snowdrops and to take in a talk or two (there's even one on bee-keeping which I quite fancy, beats chickens in the suburbs anyday). For a full list visit The Chelsea Physic Garden's website for the full list of walks and talks.

The Chelsea Physic Garden is the second oldest botanical garden in England and was founded in 1673 to promote the growth of plants for healing purposes. It is a walled garden in the heart of London and is well worth a visit if you are in the area.

Admission Charges £9.00 for adults and senior citizens £6.00 for students*, unemployed people* and children (5-15 years old)* Free for Friends of the Garden (please remember to bring your membership card to ensure free access) Companions of disabled visitors are admitted free. * Proof required

Visit the Garden year-round - support us and join the Friends of the Garden from £38 per year.

Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road, London SW3 4HS, UK 
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7352 5646  Fax: +44 (0)20 7376 3910   Registered Charity Number 286513