Last month I slipped out the house at 6am and whizzed down the coast, over the border and into the wilds of Cornwall to attend the Port Eliot festival.
After a few soggy days I arrived on the Saturday to sunshine and to spend the day with Vickie of Dilli Grey on her stall. First job – GLITTER.
After setting up for a day of selling, we took a walk with a coffee as the site woke up, how’s this for a glamping spot?!
The showers came and went, so we ducked into the orangery and main house – how mind-blowing are these faux flower installations?!
As a first-timer at Port Eliot what I loved was how it felt like lots of little festivals in one – it’s definitely a ‘high brow’ affair, with literary talks, poetry and performing arts (it started as an ‘alternative’ literary festival in the 80s).
Yet it’s got a strong family vibe too – with a big top and loads of kids workshops and entertainment (there is a dedicated family campsite so the hardcore revellers don’t keep the younger festival goers up).
There’s the usual festival live music stage, but comedy and film, too.
I didn’t get a chance to attend any of the workshops – they book up quickly – but wild cocktail making, aerial yoga and sourdough bread making all looked brilliant. My favourite area was down by the river Tiddy – the banks were groaning with gourmet foodie trucks (sustainable crab mac and cheese anyone?!) and the glorious Sipsmith tent with branded deckchairs along the river’s edge. The *best* people watching spot in the whole festival (Teri Hatcher, Damien Lewis and Dawn French since you asked).
Growing up wild swimming in the rivers and lakes of South West France I couldn’t resist a dip in the Tiddy. How many festivals can you say that about!?
As naff as it sounds, the best part of the day was hanging out with this business boss babe; working together on her ethical, Indian inspired fashion and lifestyle brand is a ‘pinch-me’ dream job – but working remotely from each other is tough and getting to spend the day rambling and brainstorming and just sparking off each other was mega. She’s mega.
Why do festivals make you so hungry?! Is it all the walking or the fact that temptation like this exists:
I’m 100% heading back next year with the boys for the full 3-day, camping experience. I loved it!
Here are my tips:
- Take your swimmers – wild swimming in the River Tiddy was the absolute highlight.
- Book workshops early and get organised. Getting from one side of the site to the other takes time and we missed a few talks because we were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
- Take mozzie spray! I swear they breed them bigger in Cornwall – we got eaten alive.
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