Not just a Gypsy caravan: beaches, antiques, real pubs, lush gardens and surfing surround you...

There truly are rambling wild roses, namesakes of a very special Gypsy caravan, in the garden-lover’s paradise surrounding Delancey House. Rambling Rose is tucked away here, in a little corner of Cornwall you can call your own. The caravan itself is Cornish to the core. Built in Penzance in the 1930's, she was restored here by local craftsmen and decorated with pretty scrollwork and floral patterns by your hosts Nick and Freya. Panoramic views spread from her painted steps to the Fowey river valley, with Bodmin Moor in the distance across beautiful rolling countryside. Inside, there’s a pull-out double, traditionally snug (so check the measurements first if you’re tall)! Everything from fresh towels to charcoal for the barbecue is provided.

The enchanting town of Lostwithiel is a hop and a skip down the hill. Rich in history – the medieval Restormel Castle fell in the Civil War – it has regular antiques fairs, good pubs and restaurants and quirky little shops. Hire a wetsuit and board and go surfing, or explore the gardens of Heligan or Lanhydrock – all the delights of Cornwall are within reach, if you can tear yourself away...

• Esentials
• Getting there
• Eating & Drinking
• Things to do
• Booking terms
• Meet your hosts

The essentials

The important stuff

• Check-in is from 4pm
• Check-out is at 10am
• Authentic Gypsy bowtop wagons are by nature cosy - for clarity, the exact measurements of the bed is 6'2 ft x 3'6 ft

Sleeping arrangements

Cooking

• Modern gas hobs
• Campfire with cooking tripod (wood provided)
• BBQ
• Private fridge inside, 15m from Rambling Rose

Washing

• There is a private bathroom with spring water sink, shower and loo approximately 50m from Rambling Rose.

Heating, lighting & bedding

• Linen and towels are provided - but please don't take them to the beach - they're quite happy where they are!
• There is electric power at Rambling Rose: a Twin 13A RCD Socket

Entertainment

• Books
• A radio
• Playing cards
• Wetsuit, surfboard and bodyboard for hire

Getting there

Delancey House, Lostwithiel, Cornwall L22 0HU

Public transport

By bus

The nearest bus station is St Austell.

By train

The nearest train station is Lostwithiel

We're sorry, it's not possible to arrange pick ups.

By car

Take the M5 south from Bristol to Exeter. From Exeter take the A30 west towards Oakhampton, then the exit signposted to Bodmin, Lostwithiel and the A38. Follow signs to the A38 to Plymouth which will take you over the A30. At the next roundabout take the third exit, signposted to Lanhydrock. Carry straight on until the next mini-roundabout, and then turn left.

Follow this road through Trebyan, Maudlin and Sweetshouse until you reach a T-junction. Turn left and you will enter Lostwithiel from the west. As you enter Lostwithiel you will approach a set of traffic lights, directly after turn left up Bodmin Hill. Keep climbing up Bodmin Hill till you start to go out into countryside and you will see a national speed limit sign on the right. Just 50 meters after that is a right hand turn into the Rambling Rose parking area.

Eating & drinking

At Rambling Rose

Nick and Freya supply all guests at Rambling Rose with a welcome hamper containing Cornish spring water, Cornish Biscuits, local sausages, butter and a loaf of bread freshly-baked nearby. Charcoal is provided for the barbecue.

Out and about

For supplies, there is a Co-operative mini supermarket and local shops nearby - the walk is doable but a car more practical.

There are numerous good pubs and restaurants in and around Lostwithiel - here are a few of Nick and Freya's favourites:

The Earl of Chatham A delightful 16th century inn, packed with character and popular with locals and visitors alike. Cask Marque ales on tap: St Austell Brewery ales, Tribute and IPA, and hearty pub food.

The Globe Inn A pub guide favourite, this warm and friendly 13th century free house has excellent food, variety of real ales and a restaurant with daily specials which won "Best Food Pub in the West Country" in 2007. Open Mon to Sat 12-2.30 and 6-11pm; Sundays 12-2.30 and 7-10.30pm. Lunch 12 - 2.00pm, Dinner 6.30 - 9pm Mon to Sat, 7 to 8.30pm Sundays.

Asquiths Restaurant Modern British food with seasonally changing menu, using produce sourced locally such as sea vegetables from nearby coastline, dairy products from closeby Trewithen dairy and fish from Cornish waters. Open Tues to Sat 7 - 9 pm.

Country Fryer This busy local attracts visitors from far and wide, clamoring for restaurant tables or a handy takeaway.

Terra Nova Bar/brassiere open every morning for coffee, tea and pastries or full-blown brunch. Lunch and dinner served every day.

Trewithen Restaurant Imaginative local dishes all freshly prepared with the greatest attention to detail. The highly acclaimed wine list includes an extensive selection of classic and modern wines. Open Tues-Sat for brunch from 11am (Bucks Fizz anyone?) Have lunch in the courtyard garden 12-2, dinner served 6.30-9pm.

Things to do

At Rambling Rose

There are books, a radio, and playing cards for quieter evenings. Alternatively, put your skills to the test: Delancey House offers bushcraft and survival workshops, £35 pp for a 3-4 hour course.

Outdoors and active

Walks around the area are a must - guides are provided by your hosts. Lostwithiel even has its own Wild Food School holding foraging courses, talks and walks. courses last half day, 1 day or 2 days, day courses £35-£85.

Rachel Lambert will guide you through a fascinating world of historical plant lore, plant uses and their health benefits on a foraging walk.

Cornwall is famous for its surfing - if you want to find out why, hire a wetsuit, bodyboard or surfboard from Delancey House and head for the beach! Kayaking, canoeing, and sailing are also popular watersports in the area. Try Encounter Cornwall for specialist instruction and equipment hire.

Places to visit

Restormel Castle is an impressive sight which you can't miss as it's visible from the steps of Rambling Rose. One of the four chief Norman castles in Cornwall, it has a perfect circular design. Once residence to the Earl of Cornwall, the castle became ruined following the Civil War in 1644 and is now in the care of the English Heritage and open to the public.

The Eden Project's iconic domes will keep you entertained for hours. Concerts are staged from time to time.

Bring your National Trust card for Lanhydrock, where you may drop in on a bat patrol evening or wildlife watch, a murder mystery evening, 'Upstairs Downstairs' evening, or even a summer outdoor theatre performance.

Heligan Gardens will delight keen gardeners and enthusiasts alike - also worth a visit are Pencarrow House, Hidden Valley Gardens, Marsh Villa Gardens and Headland.

Bocconoc holds an annual flower show, steam rally, opera and more!

Meet your hosts

Delancey House is the family home of Nick, Freya and Poppy - and now Rambling Rose as well. Originally built in Penzance in the 1930s, this Romany caravan has been lovingly restored to its former glory by a talented Cornish craftsman using traditional methods passed down through generations. It contains many beautiful authentic features - some of the original paintwork can still be seen on the original pot box at the back of the wagon. Nick and Freya have touched up the wagon using traditional art techniques to show stunning scroll work and rambling roses, saying, "it has been a real joy to do and we are so pleased with the result!"

The beautiful gardens of Delancey are a sight to behold, with an abundance of colour on all sides and throughout all seasons. They are well established, with old apple trees, hedges of lavender, rambling wild roses and the prize-winning “Azalea Walk” which is truly a sight to behold in early May. From your garden and the paddock in front of you (which also belongs to Delancey House) you will see stunning and far-reaching views over the Fowey River Valley, with the meandering Fowey River and the beautiful town of Lostwithiel spreading out before you. To the left there is a panoramic view across beautiful rolling countryside, with distant views of Bodmin Moor and in the foreground the medieval Restormel Castle.

Lostwithiel in the Fowey River Valley is rich with history and has a lively and vibrant community. It's perfectly positioned for discovering the many unspoiled beaches of Cornwall - if you can tear yourself away! Check the 'Local Activities' section for all that Lostwithiel and the surrounding region has to offer.

Wildlife & Environment

The bathroom at Rambling Rose (private for guests) has an innovative spring water shower and loo.

A walk around the nearby countryside will reveal an abundance of wildlife: from deer, badgers, foxes and owls to the occasional (unverified!) glimpse of the Beast of Bodmin Moor...