Working at Language Tree

What is it like to work as an EFL Teacher and Activity Leader at Language Tree?

After working with Language Tree for the last two summers, my perception of English summer schools has completely flipped.

I used to think of uncontrollable groups of students, boring ‘cultural’ trips and super strict timetables. Now, I associate them with adventure, laughter, friendships and even sun!

The way that Language Tree summer schools are planned mean that our students have useful and interactive English language lessons in the morning followed by afternoon excursions all around Cornwall – allowing them to have the perfect balance of education and holiday!

So being a student at summer school sounds amazing, but what is it like to work at one?

For the last two years, I have been the Senior Teacher and Activity Leader at Language Tree’s summer school.

For the most part, my main responsibilities were to make sure our students were working well and understanding in class, staying safe and feeling happy, and most of all, having heaps of fun!

Due to the detailed and cleverly planned schedule of the summer school, my job as activity leader was not as daunting as it might sound.

Essentially, I was in charge of informing students of different details and plans whilst out on the excursions, keeping hold of any tickets, registers and other important necessities, and trying our best to keep to timings!

Having fun in the classroom at Language Tree

My job was definitely made easier with the help of my colleagues, who were all so encouraging, helpful and supportive. The amazing and friendly staff at the school are one of the major highlights of the programme!

Another great thing about Language Tree’s summer school is the diversity of nationalities.

We welcome students from all over the world to come and study with us and it is fantastic to see such a variety of individuals bonding and experiencing new things together, as well as forming great friendships. I have been extremely lucky to have taught some incredible and inspiring groups of people since working at Language Tree which makes it effortless to build rapport and respect with students.

If I haven’t already convinced you, the best thing about the summer school at Language Tree is being given the opportunity to explore and discover Cornwall. I have lived in Cornwall for the majority of my life, and in the last two years working for the school, I have visited so many places that I had never been to before, as well as doing many sporting activities for the first time in my life, all whilst ‘working’. You can’t help but feel proud and very appreciative when you are being told by countless students just how lucky you are to live in such a beautiful place.

School group enjoying a leavers' supper at the Singing Rooster in Penzance

Summer school students relaxing at Treyarnon beach

The excursions, which are a key part of the programme, allow students (and teachers) to see stunning coastal landscapes together with important cultural and historical landmarks whilst continually using and practicing their English to interact with guides, the public and of course, other students.

What more could you want from an immersive language holiday?

On a professional level, the opportunities that I have been given at Language Tree to extend and develop my skills have been great.

Working at the school has been my first face-to-face teaching position since graduating from university and in the short time I have been here my confidence in my teaching ability has increased, I’ve taught students of so many varying levels, completed an additional grammar course and prepared students for prestigious English exams. The experience I have gained from this job has been invaluable and I feel I will always have a tie to Language Tree.

So, if you’re an English teacher looking to work at a fantastic, friendly and innovative school, look no further than Language Tree!

We need you!

Would you like to join our team in 2024?

We offer fantastic rates of pay and a positive working environment.

Drop us a line to find out more:

Email: info@languagetree.co.uk

WhatsApp: +44 7957 497937

How can surfing & watersports support English language learning?

Teenage student enjoying surfing in Newquay

Surfing & English: The power of waves to engage language learning

Teenage students enjoying a surfing lesson at Gwithian

One of the key things to remember about language learning – especially when you are studying at a language school – is that not all learning happens in the classroom 🙂

Of course, the classes are important and provide a perfect place to really examine how a language works, but it is also that time after the lesson when the language is fresh in your mind when you really need to put it into practice.

That is when a study holiday programme really comes into its own. That full immersion in the language. Part structured in the classroom, the other part experimenting with the language while out on adventures around Cornwall.

Whenever we go on excursions, it is fantastic to see our students’ language skills develop in the more relaxed environment outside the classroom. And the place we notice this most is on the ocean.

Whether it’s the relaxing sound and feel of the water, or the exhilaration of catching a wave that helps bring down communication barriers and raise students’ confidence, surfing, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), coasteering and other water sports provide a wonderful location to continue our English language learning outside the classroom.

For our blog this week, we are focusing on surfing, with its invigorating blend of adrenaline and connection to nature, it has become synonymous with the coastal cool of Cornwall. This southwestern corner of England boasts a rich history of wave riding, making it a mecca for surfers from all corners of the globe.

A Look Back in Time: The Early Days

The roots of surfing in Cornwall can be traced back to the 1920s when intrepid souls started experimenting with wooden boards, testing the waters of Newquay’s Fistral & Great Western beaches. These pioneers laid the foundation for what would evolve into a vibrant surf culture. By the 1960s, the sport gained significant traction, becoming an integral part of the coastal lifestyle.

Find out more about the history of surfing in Cornwall on the Cornish Wave website…

Surf lesson and nice waves at Great Western Beach

Why is Cornwall such a fantastic location for surfing?

The peninsula’s jutting coastline makes it a perfect spot to the receive the endless Atlantic Ocean swells that bring waves across the ocean to the UK & Europe. Plus, the North Atlantic Drift, a warm ocean current, ensures that the waters here are far milder than they should be at this latitude. This unique combination of factors creates consistent, high-quality waves that surfers dream about.

Students looking at the waves at Gwenver beach

The best surfing spots in Cornwall & choosing the right one

When it comes to choosing the right spot for your surfing adventure, Cornwall offers a true dilemma: there are so many beaches to choose from and, depending on the conditions, different beaches will be better on different days. This is where are local experience and wide range of surf partners really comes into play. We love taking you to different beaches all across Cornwall and we work closely with lots of amazing surf schools who love welcoming our students into their surf lessons.

Here are our favourite surf (and water sports) schools that we love working with across Cornwall:

Shore Surf at Gwithian & Godrevy Beach. Situated slightly further south than our other two suggestions, these beaches are perfect for beginners. They make up part of the long sandy stretch of Hayle’s ‘3 Miles of Golden Sands’, providing ample space to practice and learn.
St Ives Surf School at Porthmeor. Porthmeor is one of 4 beaches in St Ives and is one of the best surfing beaches in Cornwall. It is in a fantastic location right next to the Tate St Ives art gallery.
Newquay Surf School at Great Western Beach. The consistent waves of Great Western Beach and its long surfing history make it one of the coolest places to learn to surf. Plus, it is in the centre of Newquay, so you are in the right place to soak up all the surf culture after your lesson too.
Fistral Beach Surf School in Newquay. Known as the surf capital of the UK, Fistral Beach offers consistent waves and a bustling surf culture. It’s a hotspot for both beginners and advanced surfers.
Smart Surf School at Sennen. Sennen Beach is situated on the southwestern tip of Cornwall, not far from the iconic landmark Land’s End. It consistently receives powerful Atlantic swells that create excellent waves, making it a magnet for surfers of all skill levels. The waves can be quite powerful, so it’s a favorite spot for experienced surfers looking for challenging breaks.

Whichever place we might go to, there is something special about getting in the ocean and enjoying water sports. It invigorates the soul in a way that not many other sports do. By doing this, it also provides a special atmosphere for quality language learning. It is for reasons like this that Cornwall offers such a special location for an immersive Surfing & English language & culture experience.

If you’re looking for a unique English language learning experience… look no further!

Megan, at Language Tree

Surf lesson in Gwithian with group of summer school students

Teenage students enjoying a surfing lesson

Students jumping for joy after surf lesson

Sunset Chasing in West Cornwall

Sunset Chasing in West Cornwall:

A Coastal Odyssey from Portreath to Hayle

Watching the evening ebb on Gwithian beach

It has been a while since our last blog post! Since March, we have been flat out on adventures with our students around Cornwall.

However, we finally have some time to rekindle our blog posts, and we are very pleased to introduce Megan who is working with us to share our Language Tree stories of language, culture and adventure.

We start this week, with one of Megan’s favourite coast walks. It’s perhaps a little longer than one of our Language Tree coast walks, but hopefully gives you a fantastic little glimpse of a little corner of the South West Coast Path

Portreath: Our Starting Point

At 3:30pm, a tranquil ambiance sets the stage for our captivating journey along the stunning Cornish coastline. The goal: a 12-mile walk from Portreath to Hayle, a quest designed to reach its crescendo with the sun’s descent at 8pm. As late August and September paint the horizon, this coastal odyssey guarantees an intimate rendezvous with the ever-shifting sea. Moreover, it offers an opportunity to indulge in a seafood feast or a hearty pub roast in Hayle, as twilight gradually claims the day.

Our expedition embarks from Portreath, a charming harbour village where the cries of seagulls intertwine with the inviting scent of the ocean. Following a path that winds along the cliff tops, the rhythm of crashing waves accompanies our steps. For a change of scenery, you can even begin your journey on the beach itself, starting from the carpark and ascending to the clifftop on the left-hand side of the beach. Here, the unmistakable South West Coast Path acorn signs guide you towards the North Cliffs, protected by the National Trust.

En route to the North Cliffs, a captivating array of wildlife captures your attention.

This area is under the watchful care of the local wildlife reserve, which tracks creatures ranging from shrews and field mice to sea birds and even the elusive adder – one of the UK’s few venomous snakes. Guided by the trail’s twists and turns, the journey unfolds over heather-strewn coastlands adorned with shades of purple and gold. Against the backdrop of the sun’s fading rays, sea birds take flight across the sky. Whenever, I am on these walks, my mind drifts over all the people that have walked this land and in particular the daring, dangerous lives of the many smugglers and pirates that used these coves.

The path swiftly leads to Basset’s Cove and Red Head Cove – bet there was once pirates hiding down there!

Continuing onward you’ll encounter one of Cornwall’s most dramatic coastal marvels – Hells Mouth.

True to its name, the cove drops 300 feet below, a spectacle not for the faint of heart. While exercising caution near the edge is vital, the panoramic view justifies a brief pause. This is also the perfect spot to grab a slice of cake or a refreshing drink at Hells Mouth Coffee House, a lovely spot just opposite the mighty cliff-drop!

As you move ahead from Hells Mouth, Godrevy Lighthouse emerges on the horizon. Keep watch for seals, as this location is among their cherished haunts in the county. In fact, treat Godrevy Point as your next milestone. It stands as a scenic wonder amid the coastal trail.

Your descent leads you to Godrevy Beach, a segment where the trail levels out. You’ll traverse St Gothian Sands, a captivating natural reserve that doubles as a haven for bird enthusiasts. And for those who like a coffee stop (like us), we can never walk past the wonderful Godrevy Café.

Grey Seals in Mutton Cove near Godrevy Point

An evening swim at low water on Godrevy beach

Dunes & beach at Phillack Towans, Godrevy Point and Island in the distance

The remainder of the walk waltzes along Hayle’s famed ‘Three Miles of Golden Sands,’ encompassing Gwithian, Uptown Towans, and Mexico Towans Beaches. These sandy gems promise a refreshing swim, accompanied by stunning towans and abundant wildlife. The journey culminates at Hayle Beach, where the true celebration begins – the time has come to reward your 12-mile endeavour with a sumptuous dinner.

Enter The Bluff, an exceptional choice for classic pub fare, alternatively, near Hayle Harbour, the Black Lobster stands ready with its fresh local seafood, shellfish, and delectable tacos.

If you like the sound of this adventure, we hope you might consider joining us on one of our English language excursions. Engage in conversation, learn new vocabulary and idioms, all while basking in Cornwall’s natural wonder during our Language Experiences. [click on the link to visit our website to learn more]

Happy Hiking!

– Megan, from Language Tree

Explore Cornwall’s Great Gardens

Tree tunnel at the Lost Gardens of Heligan

Cornwall’s Great Gardens

Do you dream of walking barefoot on a perfect lawn?

To to be surrounded by magnolias as the wonder of spring bursts out from winter?

Or to go dog walking in woodlands covered in a carpet of bluebells?

Cornwall has it all in its great gardens. From the Alice in Wonderland gardens of Antony (near Plymouth – Alice in Wonderland was actually filmed here!) to Tresco’s Tropical Abbey gardens (on the Isles of Scilly),

Cornwall’s gardens are truly something special and there are so many to see, each with their own special story and history.

Tropical jungle at the Lost Gardens of Heligan

Melon House at the Lost Gardens of Heligan

Sculpture at the Lost Gardens of Heligan

One of the most poignant stories is that of the Lost Gardens of Heligan.

Rediscovered in the 1990’s by Tim Smit, the story of this garden is a story reflected through the many gardens in Cornwall and beyond.

When Tim Smit wandered into the garden in 1990 – it was completed overgrown and ‘lost’. Those who had created the original garden had gone off to fight in the first world war and had never come back. The garden had literally been lost and reclaimed by nature until that day Tim Smit found their names carved into the wall in a toilet block.

In the years that have followed, the garden has been painstakingly restored. Amazingly the garden’s heart was there all along, just waiting to be pruned back and revealed for us all to see. The magic of a gardener’s green fingers have brought this garden back to life and made it one of the county’s finest gardens to explore with a rope bridge through the tropical valley, a pineapple house and fantastic rhododendrons.

Through the restoration of Heligan, all the gardens of Cornwall have been enhanced and elevated. In a way, they have all been a little bit hidden (and some of the best ones continue to be so!)

We will only tell you about a few here. Firstly, because we want to whet your appetite and secondly because there are so many it is just impossible to introduce you to them all.

We have lived here for 45 years and we are still visiting and finding new gardens to explore around Cornwall!

In our current climate emergency, there has never been a more pertinent time to focus on and enjoy the wonder of the garden.

Of course, in many ways, everything that English gardens have aspired to do have been shaped by colonialism and there is a massive contradiction between the wonder of these gardens and the methods by which the plants have been brought to the UK. Yet on the other hand, they promote biodiversity and provide a museum of plants from around the world. It was such an interesting concept that the Victorian gardeners wanted to create.

The breadth and depth of the gardens in Cornwall is down to another great contradiction as they have been built on the massive wealth created through tin mining in Cornwall. At one point, Cornwall was one of the richest places on earth due to its massive mineral wealth. It was at this time that these landowners created their paradise gardens to enjoy.

Lanhydrock, Trelissick, Trengwainton and Glendurgan – gardens full of the most spectacular trees and plants and each with their own idiosyncracies.

From, the national magnolia collection at Caerhays, to the rhododendrons, ferns and camellias at Trengwainton. Walking through the fern forest at Trengwainton, you feel like you could be in a prehistoric land.

The climate in Cornwall just happens to be perfect for these gardens. With steep sided coastal valleys creating mini rainforests. The Atlantic gulf stream ensures fairly constant temperatures all year round. Yes, of course, we all know it can rain a bit in England – but then that is why it is so green!

One of the greatest things we have discovered through taking our students to wonderful gardens around Cornwall is that it is not just for adults!

All ages love exploring these gardens, we all love what nature provides – that fresh air, the grass between our toes, picnics in the sunshine.

Language Experience to Lanhydrock House for a small group of language students

Join one of our Great Garden adventures…

Book now for Summer 2023

Wonderful St Ives

Looking down on St Ives town and harbour from the hill

Art, culture, food & beach heaven!

From our point of view at Language Tree, St Ives is definitely the most fun town to explore in Cornwall!

Its narrow little streets create a wonderful maze of hidden shops, art spaces, cafes, pubs and restaurants.

We have been coming to St Ives since we were children and there are still little nooks and crannies that we discover whenever we visit the town!

One thing you can always guarantee on a trip to St Ives is an incredible variety of food and drink options! From the tastiest Cornish pasties to fine dining and fresh seafood.

(plus, there’s the best coffee and ice-cream shacks dotted around the harbour. But beware! When snacking around the harbour, the seagulls will swoop and nick your treats if you are not careful 😉

Once you leave the harbour to explore a little winding, cobbled street, you are back in the maze of St Ives. If you’re clever you can find 4, possibly even 5, different beaches to enjoy – each with their own special atmosphere.

At the bottom end of town (from where you can walk the coast path to Zennor if you join our South-West Coast path adventure), you find Porthmeor beach. On a good day, it is one of the finest surf beaches in Cornwall. And with the backdrop of Tate St Ives, it is a perfect place to hang out and explore.

Art & St Ives

At the start of the 20^th century, with the arrival of the railway, an important modern art movement developed in St Ives.

Linked closely to similar movements in Spain and France at the same time, a group of artists were drawn to the special light in St Ives as a muse to develop their art. At its core was Barbara Hepworth and Ben Nicholson – much of their art and those who inspired and worked with them is shown at Tate St Ives. Plus, hidden a little further into the town is Barbara Hepworth’s sculpture garden. This was actually her home and studio in the centre of St Ives. It is a magical, peaceful place to visit. Her garden is full of her wonderful sculptures and you can see her workshop where she created these amazing pieces.

Learn more about St Ives

Once you have visited the sculpture garden, you are in the perfect spot to get lost down some more cobbled streets!

Take your time wandering in and out of shops, have a drink in a café, find some of the many mini art galleries that you can browse.

For kids and teenagers, the arcade is a must 🙂 – they have a brilliant selection of video games and machines that teenagers love – and you are right next to the best ice-cream in town too.

One of the nicest ways to arrive in the St Ives is by train. It is a 15 min train ride from St Erth. Even though it is short, it is one of the UK’s most scenic train journeys as you roll along the tracks around Carbis Bay.

After the short journey, you arrive in the top end of St Ives, right next to Porthminster Beach – this beach has a more relaxed atmosphere compared to the centre of town. The sea here is normally crystal clear and calm making it the perfect spot for a dip in the sea or even some paddleboarding. Then, after your refreshing dip, there is nothing better than lying on the golden sand to watch the world go by. And with a beach café and restaurant within 100m what more could you need!

St Ives is the town for all ages – there really is something here for everyone!

Amazing water sports around Cornwall

Adult language students enjoying a SUP adventure around St Michael's Mount

Probably the best place in the world for a watersports holiday!

I know we are blowing our own trumpet and we are undoubtedly completely biased!

However…

Please show me somewhere in the world that can beat Cornwall for its range of coastal locations for different types of watersports?!

There is nowhere better to come and enjoy a watersports holiday full of variety and fun. We have our wonderful north coast, facing the Atlantic Ocean with headlands and bays pointing in different directions to ensure there are nearly always some surfable waves somewhere.

As you travel along this coastline, you find stretches with cliffs towering 200 feet from the beach up to fields above where you can gaze out and wonder at the distant lands out there beyond the horizon.

Then, there are the glorious sandy beaches, some 5km long that are just perfect for meditative walks…

…or even horse riding!

(For those who dream of galloping along a deserted beach at low tide early in the morning, click here for a beautiful horse riding video on Perranporth beach.)

All along this coastline, we have developed partnerships with local companies who we know and trust to provide a fantastic day out for our students.

At Watergate Bay, we work with Westcountry Surf School. Here, you can literally get off the plane at Newquay and be surfing in the sea within 15 minutes of your arrival!

Then in Newquay – the UK’s capital of surfing – there is Fistral Beach Surf School who have provided many great afternoons of surfing for our students on Cornwall’s most famous surfing beach.

Just around the corner is the Big Green Surf School who can offer both surfing and paddleboarding on the beautiful Crantock beach and the Gannel estuary depending on the conditions.

Summer school students enjoying horse-riding on Perranporth beach

Junior school group enjoying a surf lesson with Shore Surf in Gwithian

Learning to stand up on surfboard in Newquay

Adult students on a coast walking experience near Perranporth

Summer school students enjoying a SUP lesson at Swanpool beach, Falmouth

One of our main go-to locations is St Ives bay with Godrevy beach at one end and the beautiful picturesque town of St Ives at the other.

At Godrevy, we have one our favourite partners – Shore Surf – who provide surfing lessons along the beach at Godrevy and Gwithian. Then, right in the centre of St Ives, is St Ives Surf School where students can enjoy an afternoon surfing alongside visiting the Tate Art Gallery and the town of St Ives.

Learn more about St Ives

As you get closer to Land’s End – the UK’s most westerly point, the cliffs are at their most dramatic – on a clear day you can actually see the Isles of Scilly in the distance.

Here there are special hidden beaches like Nanjizal, with its famous Song of the Sea cave, where you can bathe in crystal clear waters!

OK, we know the water is chilly 🙂 But once you relax your mind to accept the cold water, you will understand its special healing & cleansing power!

Keep going a few miles around this spectacular coastline and you reach the magical Minack Theatre – while we digress slightly from watersports – it is nonetheless part of one of our beach days out.

From Porthcurno onwards, we are now on the south coast of Cornwall. The beaches along this part of the coastline are far more sheltered, but no less spectacular. From Penzance with St Michael’s Mount in the bay to Kynance Cove – Cornwall’s most photographed beach for magazine covers and Instagram posts – these beaches are wonderful for sea swimming, paddleboarding and sailing. On a calm day, there is nothing better than paddleboarding around St Michael’s Mount with Ocean High, our partner watersports school in Marazion.

Further along the south coast, Falmouth is the main town and harbour. With a long and illustrious maritime history, it is home to one of our summer school centres on the Falmouth University campus. It is such a great location both on and off the water. The vibrant town centre is home to the National Maritime Museum where you can learn about the rich maritime history of this region.

This stretch of water has been the training ground for many British Olympic champions for rowing and sailing. Carrick Roads, the river estuary that leads from Falmouth to Truro is renowned as one of the world’s best places for sailing with perfect conditions for enjoying days on the water.

Swim in song of the sea pool at Nanjizal

Beautiful sunset during a show at the Minack Theatre

Sunset photo of St Michael's Mount with reflections on the water

Beautiful summer's day looking down on Kynance Cove

School group jumping in the sea at Swanpool - coasteering adventure

It is also home to another of our favourite watersports partners, Elemental UK!

From their base on Swanpool beach near Falmouth, they offer brilliant afternoons on the water with their amazing team of staff.

Whether it’s paddleboarding or coasteering their team are inspiring at giving students the confidence to try new things on the water in a safe, engaging way.

And this is the key to all our watersports activities: safe & fun!

We want to help develop the confidence and skills of our students through trying new things in a safe and fun way.

We have carefully chosen all the partners we work with to ensure their staff provide this high quality service.

All our watersports partners are fully insured and they provide the highest quality equipment for the sports the students will enjoy. We take our time to understand any additional needs our students have, so we do not put anyone in a situation where they do not feel comfortable.

Family summer programme - surf lesson at Gwithian beach

While all of these watersports are on the open sea all around Cornwall, there is one more amazing provider of watersports in Cornwall that we use and that is Kernow Adventure Park!

Situated in an old quarry a few miles inland from Falmouth, there is an amazing lake full of inflatables that students love to climb up and jump off.

We hope you’re amazed and excited about all the watersports on offer here in Cornwall! We’ve only scratched the surface of what is available in the region. There is sailing galore, gig rowing, kite surfing, foil and windsurfing, to name just a few.

Make Cornwall the destination for your next watersports holiday 🙂

Follow in the footsteps of King Arthur

A magical excursion to the legendary birthplace of King Arthur at Tintagel Castle

When we talk about legendary characters, they don’t come much bigger than King Arthur!

The legend and stories of King Arthur are so quintessentially English, they are so embedded in our history.

When visiting the castles and places associated with King Arthur there is a magical feeling of travelling through time. And one of the most atmospheric castle locations in the UK has got to be Tintagel Castle on Cornwall’s north coast.

There has been a castle perched on the jagged cliffs at Tintagel since at least the 5^th Century. The legend goes that it was here that King Arthur was born and living in the cave under the castle was Merlin himself.

Over the years relics have been found, but like so much of history during the Dark Ages, it is only fragments that have ever been discovered. The rest is filled in with myth and legend.

We will let you decide if you think this is the birthplace of King Arthur when you visit the castle yourself.

Learn more about the history of King Arthur – English Heritage website

Regardless of how much of the legend you believe to be true, we hope you will agree when you set foot in Tintagel that you are in a special place.

Firstly, the landscape is dramatic: huge cliffs topped with fantastic ruins, views out across the Atlantic Ocean, waves crashing against the rocks and ancient pathways to guide you around the remains of the castle and village.

Then, there is the energy in the air and the light – you get a feeling of the history and why a castle was sited in this amazing location.

We love to visit Tintagel Castle with our students all year round with each season bringing a different atmosphere.

On sunny days, we will find a perfect place to enjoy our picnic on the island and soak up the views and atmosphere.

On chillier days, we will wander back into the ancient town of Tintagel to wander through its brilliant shops full of magic and wizardry. Perfect for those who enjoy little magic trinkets, semi-precious stones or healing scents and candles.

Like most Cornish towns, Tintagel has a couple of great pasty shops where we can get a delicious Cornish pasty and a cake to enjoy. It’s a fun and quirky town to walk through with references to King Arthur all around.

International students enjoying a trip to Tintagel Castle

Alongside our trip to Tintagel Castle, we also like to include an extra little walk to St Nectan’s Glen.

It is the perfect accompaniment to the visit to the castle and the town.

As you delve deeper into the ancient woodland, you can hear the waterfall in the distance.

It is such a special waterfall to enjoy. There is time to dip your toes in the healing water and take photos of the waterfall as it cascades down the hillside and through a stone hole.

Like Tintagel, St Nectan’s Glen is also full of legend and magic and people put their wishes on special ribbons next to the waterfall.

It is a perfect end to our day trip to Tintagel.

Learn more about St Nectan’s Glen

The rebirth of Bodmin Jail

From ‘modern’ Victorian gaol, to derelict ruins…

…and now one of Cornwall’s most fascinating tourist attractions.

A vivid memory I have from growing up in Cornwall was a school trip to Bodmin Jail! It was one of the worst school trips we ever had.

The place was dreary, damp and dark. The building was derelict. There was basically nothing there – what an awful school trip it was 🙁

However, a couple of years ago, I heard that the Jail had been renovated into a spectacular new visitor attraction which included a luxury hotel.

I couldn’t quite believe it and wondered why anyone would think about reconstructing that dreadful place?

However, someone obviously had a wonderful vision for what Bodmin Jail could be because the renovated site is absolutely amazing!

Before Summer 2022, I took my family on a recce to see what this new Bodmin Jail could be like. Could it really be an interesting new destination on our excursion programme?!

The answer was a resounding yes!

My teenage kids can be hard to please, but they loved the tour of Bodmin Jail and learning about its fascinating history – they had also been victim of the previously awful school trip – but now it is something altogether different.

Visit the Bodmin Jail website

The reconstruction of the jail has been done so methodically and completely that no stone has been unturned in returning the jail to its former ‘glory’.

Bodmin Jail was actually one of the first prisons in the world to be designed around the principles of the Howard Penal Reforms which strove to move jails beyond being a dungeon of pure misery into a place where prisoners were treated with a semblance of humanity and their time in prison was designed to be productive in some way.

The luxury hotel part of the prison allows you to stay in former cells to relive the prison experience?! While this is definitely not my cup of tea, we had a little peek around the hotel and it is truly amazing. It is like staying in the Ritz within the walls of a prison.

With a price tag of around £300 per night, a stay in the hotel is definitely not part of our excursion programme. However, the new Bodmin Jail tour most certainly is!

The interactive tour provides a fascinating window back in time as you follow the journey of four criminals from Victorian Britain. You learn about their crimes, the judicial process and their punishments at Bodmin Jail – these are all true stories brought vividly to life through the tour.

Click here to get a feel for what it is like on the immersive tour!

It is a brilliant experience, with brilliant guides. A perfect mix of education, culture and history. Absolutely perfect for our summer school programme.

Of course, before arriving, the focus on Cornish history is a perfect topic for us in class to bring the excursion to life for the students and help them to fully enjoy the experience of visiting Bodmin Jail.

original keys for the cells at Bodmin Jail

Organising a school group at Bodmin Jail

Just to top off our visit to Bodmin Jail, we also make full use of the fact that it is located on the Camel Trail.

This is one of the most popular cycle trails in the UK. It is completely safe and off-road. We join the cycle trail at Wadebridge and then make the final journey to the Jail by bike. It is a 45min cycle on level ground through beautiful woods and following the river all the way to Bodmin Jail.

Find out more about the Camel Trail

A day trip to St Michael’s Mount

Where better to start our 2023 blog than at St Michael’s Mount!

Group walking across the beach to St Michael's Mount

It is one of Cornwall’s most famous landmarks and is one of our favourite destinations with our students.

On all our excursions, you will always be accompanied by our experienced guides. We love sharing the adventure with you and we organise everything so you can just enjoy the amazing places we will visit.

If you are studying an English course with us, we will also delve deeper into the places we visit in class before the excursion. Cornwall has such a rich and interesting history and it really brings the destinations to life to study them in class before the excursion.

So to St Michael’s Mount…

Situated in Mount’s Bay, St Michael’s Mount has a long history rich in legend and with links to its sister island Mont St Michel, 200 miles away off the coast of France.

Both sites were said to have been visited by St Michael and are part of a long tradition of early churches and monasteries being located in isolated places with their origins going back over thousands of years.

St Michael’s Mount is a tidal island which creates an ever-changing landscape to navigate across the 200 metres to the island.

At low tide, you can walk along the causeway to reach the Mount. And then, as the tide comes in, there is a regular boat service to carry you across the short stretch of water. For those who like a little more of a challenge, it is fun to walk the causeway as the tide comes in with the water around your feet!

Visit the National Trust website

Students having fun wading through the incoming tide on the causeway - St Michael's Mount

Once on the mount, the target is the Chapel of St Michael.

This is the oldest building on the island and dates back to at least the 15^th Century. Over the years, the castle like house has been built around the chapel. Walking around its rooms is fascinating and there are always new stories to discover. Throughout the building, you will find National Trust guides who love telling you stories of what has happened in these rooms over the past 500+ years.

In its history it has been visited by kings and queens, including Queen Elizabeth II in 2013. In fact, her footprints have been left in gold near the harbour so you can follow in her footsteps!

The journey up to the castle takes you up an ancient pathway, you feel like you are stepping back in time as you pass through the garden up to the mount.

For those with keen eyes, look out for the Giant’s Heart, embedded in the rocky path.

Legend has it that this is the heart of Cormoran the Giant who caused havoc with the local community in Penzance and Marazion. Eventually, a local lad – Jack the Giant Killer – sorted out the giant once and for all and the people could live in peace again. (Read more about Jack & Cormoran here: https://cornishbirdblog.com/a-giants-heart/)

Once you’re past the giant’s heart, it is not much further to get to the top of the Mount. The amazing views across the bay open up. With Penzance in the distance, it is one of the most beautiful views in the world. Relax and soak it all in. While exploring the house, look out of the windows to see how the views change. And then at the top of the castle, of course, the best views of all.

View from St Michael's Mount across Mount's Bay

Looking for the heart stone at St Michael's Mount

Our tour of St Michael’s Mount takes around four hours. This gives you plenty of time to walk around the Mount, explore the castle and also enjoy an ice-cream in the garden.

There’s also time to relax on the beach and enjoy a little wander around Marazion if you would like to.

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For those who are interested, we also offer an additional Stand Up-Paddleboarding (SUP) session (+2 hours). On a fine, sunny day, this is an amazing way to experience the mount from a different perspective and enjoy some time on the water. There will be a blog about this one day too!