Launching on Tuesday 4 August, CAST’s programme of creative activities for families will take place outdoors this summer. Lucy Grant has devised a CAST-OFF trail exploring the Cober valley and the grounds of Penrose and teamed up with some of the CAST studio artists to offer a range of off-site creative activities in the natural environments surrounding Helston. There is a special map suggesting self-guided, creative things to do and discover, and on Tuesdays and Saturdays throughout August there will be artists popping up along the way to inspire imaginative and inventive activities.
The map is available from CAST, with free sketchbooks and pencils, and there will be prizes for children who fill their books most creatively.
Saturday 22 August 10am-12 noon and 2-4pm
Visit Cober Camp for boat building and games of pooh sticks with Lucy Grant, learn to see with your ears in the meadow by Carminowe Creek with Bronwen Buckeridge or join Ben Sanderson at Ben’s Den. Find out more here.
Tuesday 25 August 10am-12 noon and 2-4pm
Make paints and inks using natural materials with Nina Royle at Penrose or make a flag at Ben’s Den. Due to the forecast other activities have been postponed until Saturday 29 August. Find out more here
Saturday 29 August 10am-12 noon and 2-4pm
This will be a bonanza CAST-Off Round-Off, with boat-building, flag making, granite shaping and dressing demonstrations, and natural pigment paint and ink making. Lucy Grant will also be at Penrose to encourage a bonanza session of drawing, mapping and making, so children can fill their sketchbooks and claim their CAST-Off prizes. Find out more here.
Approximate distances and walking times for different sections of the trail. Walking times are fairly generous, to allow for the pace of small children.
The walk from the Fairground Car Park to Loe Bar via the the Penrose Stables is tarmac all the way to the Stables, and hard surface thereafter – all well adapted to push chairs etc.
The walk from the Fairground Car Park to Loe Bar via Degibna Woods and Carminowe Creek involves rougher surfaces and can have muddy places in wet weather.
The walk from Lowertown to St John’s Bridge via Ben’s Den and Cober Camp starts with stepping stones and is rough in parts. It can become muddy in wet weather.
Distances:
The overall walking distance from the stepping stones in Lowertown to Loe Bar via Ben’s Den, Cober Camp, Coronation Park, the recreation ground and the Stables at Penrose is approximately 7 kilometres (four and a half miles).
Lowertown stepping stones to Ben’s Den: 0.4 km, quarter of a mile. Walking time: 10 mins
Lowertown stepping stones to Cober Camp: 1.4 km, a bit under a mile. Walking time: 30 minutes
Ben’s Den to Cober Camp: 0.9km, a bit more than half a mile. Walking time: 20 min
Cober Camp to St Johns bridge: 0.4 km, quarter of a mile. Walking time 10 mins
Lowertown stepping stones to St Johns Bridge: 1.7km, just over a mile. Walking time : 40 mins
Cober Camp to Coronation Park: 0.6km, approx one third of a mile. Walking time 20 minutes (allowing for road crossing)
Coronation Park to Fairground Car Park: 0.4km, quarter of a mile. Walking time 10 mins
Cober Camp to Fairground Car Park: 1km, 3/5 of a mile. Walking time 20 – 25 mins (allowing for road crossing)
Fairground Car Park to Penrose Stables: 2.4km, one and a half miles. Walking time 45 minutes
Penrose Stables to Loe Bar (on the west side of the lake): 1.9km, a mile and a bit. Walking time 40 minutes
Fairground to Loe Bar via Penrose Stables: 4.3km, just over two miles. Walking time 1 hour 20 minutes.
Fairground to Loe Bar via Degibna Woods and Carminowe Creek: 5.8km, just over three and a half miles. Walking time 1 hour 45 mins
Degibna Woods to Carminowe Creek: 2km, one and a bit miles. Walking time: 35 mins
Carminowe Creek to Loe Bar: 1.7km, approx one mile. Walking time: 30 mins
The CAST-Off programme is presented with the generous support of The Garcia Family Foundation, with assistance from Arts Council England, Cornwall Heritage Trust, Feast and Little Parc Owles Trust.