1 ROCK AND ROLLS
You’d be hard-pressed to find a more picturesque location for a food and drink festival than the Camel Estuary on the North Cornish coast. This is the setting for the four-day Rock Oyster Festival with lashings of local food and drink to a soundtrack supplied by some great music acts including a DJ set from Groove Armada, Nile Rodgers and Chic and Sophie Ellis Bextor.
This year they are getting into the party spirit early with the gates opening on a Thursday and a special evening event – a Paella Pop-Up from the chefs at the extraordinary Hidden Hut which overlooks the beach at Porthcurnick. A Cornish seafood paella comes with wild rocket and roasted garlic aioli, served up campfire style. It will certainly whet the appetite for what follows. There are chef demos all weekend with a host of familiar names from local heroes to Michelin stars and some TV favourites.
The line-up includes Jack Stein from Padstow, Emily Scott from Watergate Bay, Jude Kereama from Porthleven, River Cottage founder Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Mark Hix, Olia Hercules who won a Fortnum and Mason award for her debut cookbook and host of The Great British Menu, Andi Oliver.
There’s open fire cooking at Mussel Beach and a Masterclass Tipi to pick up some specialist skills. Street food traders will ensure you never go hungry or thirsty.
For information on Rock Oyster Festival (July 27-30) go to rockoysterfestival.co.uk.
The Poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman moved to century St Enodoc Church. An area rich in history, there was a Celtic saint’s shrine here in the fifth century which was repeatedly buried in sand, according to legend, by the curse of an angry mermaid. Take the scenic four-mile Betjeman Walk around the coast through the dunes from Rock to the church and enjoy the wildlife and the far-reaching views. More information at .
