Settling into Autumn
Summer has been and gone, and we’re settling back into the slower rhythm of autumn – routines restored, a little more calm in the air, and time again for making plans.
Winter Projects and Plans
Here at Butterwell Farm, autumn always brings with it a sense of purpose and a time to lay plans. Winter tends to be our time to get ahead with projects, when the pace is gentler. This winter, our big project is Apple Tree Cottage, which will be closed for renovation from the end of October until spring 2026. We can’t wait to share the results with you once it’s complete.
Summer at Butterwell Farm
We were truly blessed with a beautiful Cornish summer this year – almost endless sunshine and warm evenings. Life at Butterwell Farm was full of all the little joys that summer brings: BBQs at Kingfisher Cabin, lazy afternoons in the garden at Apple Tree Cottage, and bike rides along the Camel Trail and nearby forest paths. The Camel Trail, which follows the route of an old railway line from Bodmin to Padstow, remains one of our absolute favourite ways to soak up the scenery. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re pedalling through shaded woodlands or stopping for a well-earned ice cream by the estuary.
On the home front, the hay was made while the sun shone, and the children loved every moment of sitting in the tractor on those golden evenings – truly idyllic.
Royal Cornwall Show
One of our favourite family weekends each year is the Royal Cornwall Show in Wadebridge, just a short drive from Butterwell Farm. It’s one of Cornwall’s biggest and best-loved events, with over a thousand trade stands and three full days of local food, crafts, animals and entertainment. It’s a real celebration of Cornish life, and there’s something for everyone – from livestock displays to fairground rides and live music.
Coastal Adventures
The coast has called us often this year too. Jack took part in two surf life saving competitions – a brilliant sport that combines teamwork, confidence and respect for the sea. It’s such a great thing to be part of, and a reminder of how lucky we are to have the coast so close by.
We have also enjoyed some peaceful evenings exploring the Camel Estuary on our paddle board – such a calm and beautiful way to see the coastline from a different perspective. Afterwards, we treated ourselves to fish and chips from Rock and sat watching the sunset from Daymer Bay – one of those simple pleasures that never gets old.
Birthday Celebrations and Coastal Trips
A little further afield, we ventured down to the Roseland Peninsula for a special 40th birthday celebration for Rachel. We were blessed with perfect weather and stayed in St Mawes, one of Cornwall’s most charming coastal villages. We took the Place Ferry across the water and walked a stretch of the South West Coastal Path to the Hidden Hut at Porthcurnick Beach – a rustic little beach café famous for its locally sourced, hearty food. Their legendary feast nights (which you have to book well in advance) have become something of a Cornish institution.
We visited St Just church and gardens just outside of St Mawes – a magical little spot tucked away in the countryside, where exotic planting and ancient churchyard stonework blend together beautifully. It’s a hidden gem well worth a visit.
That evening we dined at The Watch House soaking up the atmosphere of the lit-up harbour in the evening. On the way home we ended our foodie trip stopping at another long-time bucket list spot – The Cornish Italian. With handmade pasta, family recipes, and the best tiramisu imaginable, it felt like stepping into a slice of Italy.
The birthday celebrations didn’t stop there! On my actual birthday, Sam treated me to a trip to Fern Pit Café at Crantock Beach – a long-time favourite of ours. Crantock is one of the National Trust’s most beautiful beaches, where the Gannel Estuary fills with shimmering turquoise water at high tide. When the tide comes in, a tiny ferry takes you across to the café, which makes the adventure all the more charming. Later that evening, we headed to an Eden Session at the Eden Project to see Texas perform. The Eden Sessions are always a highlight of the Cornish summer, bringing world-class music to the most spectacular of settings.
The final chapter of the birthday season was a lovely family day out in Charlestown, near St Austell – a Georgian harbour famous for featuring in the BBC’s Poldark. We enjoyed lunch at Springtide Seaside Kitchen (great fish dishes) and we always recommend The Longstore in Charlestown for a special meal.
And one last celebration for good measure – a day with friends at the tidal pool at Trevone, near Padstow. It’s the perfect place for a refreshing dip when the weather’s hot, followed by a meal at The Pickled Plate, a brilliant new restaurant serving fresh, creative dishes in a lovely relaxed setting.
For more restaurant recommendations don’t forget to check out our bespoke guide.
For the Children
Of course, the summer wouldn’t be complete without something for the children. A highlight for them was a day out at Strawberry Fields Lifton, just over half an hour from Butterwell Farm. It’s a wonderful family-run destination that hosts all sorts of seasonal events – strawberry picking in summer, pumpkin patches in autumn, and plenty of delicious food in their café and farm shop. The strawberry picking was a huge hit, and we came home with punnets full for making our own strawberry sorbet!
Nature on the Farm
Back home on the farm, nature has been as lively as ever. We spotted a rare Little Arboreal Ladybird in our ancient woodland – a reminder of how special this little pocket of temperate rainforest really is. Our small orchard behind Kingfisher Cabin has given us a bumper apple harvest this year, and pressing apple juice on a sunny afternoon was a real treat. And perhaps the most exciting moment of all – a visit from BBC Countryfile to film the release of two rehabilitated otters from the UK Wild Otter Trust. Watching them slip back into the wild was magical, and guests have since been lucky enough to catch glimpses of them at dawn and dusk. If you didn’t catch the episode you can catch up on BBC iplayer here.
Guest Reviews and Thanks
As always, we want to say a heartfelt thank you to all our guests for taking the time to leave a review after their stay. Your feedback helps us keep Butterwell Farm thriving and allows us to share this special place with visitors from all over the world. If you have a moment, we’d love it if you could leave us a review on Facebook too – it really does make such a big difference to us.
Review of the Summer
Our favourite summer review comes from Gary Moorcroft who stayed in Buzzard Barn:
“Wow!!! What a beautiful place, stunning location and amazing views. The cottage was way better than we expected, from the large bedrooms, relaxing lounge with the amazing view, large kitchen with everything you need. Along the beautiful river where you can stroll to your own access to the Camel Trail! First class communication with the hosts, any questions we had were dealt with promptly. Some lovely touches also, a selection of tea coffee and some lovely biscuits were very welcome on our arrival! I honestly can’t fault a single thing about our stay and all my family felt really sad when we had to leave! If you can book it as soon as you can you won’t regret it!”
Thank you so much Gary!
Would you like to experience at stay in Buzzard Barn? Book online here.
Looking Ahead
Bookings for 2026 are filling up fast, and our prices and availability for 2027 are also now live. If you like to plan ahead, this is a great time to secure your favourite property for future stays. You can book online or drop us an email any time.
River Report
Finally, our latest report from the River Camel is out now. It’s been a rewarding sea-trout season, which closed at the end of August, and the daytime salmon season began on 1st September with some wonderful early catches. This report also includes a tribute to the previous owner of Butterwell, Tyson Jackson – well worth a read.
For more day-to-day updates on fishing and the estate management at Butterwell Farm, follow Sam on Instagram @butterwell_sam
Butterwell Remembers Tyson Jackson
It is with great sadness that all of us at Butterwell mark the passing of Tyson Jackson.
Tyson owned Butterwell for more than 30 years, until his retirement in 2014, and played a central role in shaping it into the place it is today. His deep passion for nature—especially for the River Camel’s sea-trout and salmon—left a lasting mark on countless conservationists and fly fishers. His dedication and love for the river will never be forgotten.
We will always be grateful for the legacy Tyson left at Butterwell, and for the inspiration he gave to so many.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to Tyson’s family and friends.
18th September 2025
The past few weeks here at Butterwell have brought a welcome change to conditions here on the River Camel. After a long spell of low water, the weather has turned more unsettled, giving us some much-needed lifts in the river. A few heavy freshets coloured things up, but once the water cleared, we were treated to some ideal conditions for daytime fishing.
The tail end of August still produced a bit of classic night sport, with Rob Fidgen managing a couple of sea-trout on the fly in the dark. Overall, angling pressure hasn’t been particularly high this past month, but those who have made the effort to get out have often been rewarded with action.
Salmon have been showing themselves more readily—several have been seen jumping and a few moved to the fly as well. We’re pleased to report that Michael Lochland landed the first salmon of the season from the Butterwell beats, a fine start to what we hope will be a productive autumn run.
At the time of writing, the river is sitting in perfect ply and with word of fish being caught and seen elsewhere in the river system spirits are high. With fresh fish moving and the water looking just right, there’s plenty to look forward to on the rods in the weeks ahead.
Wishing you all a cosy, colourful autumn full of good walks, good company and plenty of time to unwind. We hope to see you again soon here at Butterwell Farm.
Don’t forget to check out our latest updates and wildlife videos on Instagram and Facebook.
Warm wishes,
Rachel & Sam x
Butterwell Farm, Cornwall