This weekend we rashly packed a bag and made a break for the Cornish coast!

We arrived in the charming seaside village of Rock and checked in at the St Moritz Hotel. Surrounded by wispy tufts of beach grass, the blanched white Art Deco resort serenely overlooks the headland and Atlantic Ocean in the distance.

After enjoying a welcome drink in the bar, we whipped on our coats and set off down the hill toward the beach.

We followed the coastal path north towards the bay of Polzeath, looking down from the grassy bluffs on those enjoying the beaches at low tide below.

Despite the constant winds battering the coast, this area of England remains resolutely green and brimming with the most delicate little flowers.

When Polzeath came into sight up ahead, we could see the surf was dotted with hoards of people in their wetsuits hoping to catch a wave. From long boarders to boogie boarders, young and old, it was quite a surprise to see so many surfers braving the cold swells.

Even though it’s October and you have to wrap up a bit, it still feels good to walk in the sand and find a cute little beachside cafe to pause for a bit.

Surfside is the coolest beach shack ever with a simple (but classic) menu of tasty surfer grub – every dish equally tempting. I mean, how am I supposed to choose between a lobster roll and lobster mac n’ cheese? It’s impossible! And that’s not even taking into consideration the crab sandwich with chili mayo!

So we ordered all three – passing the enamel dishes back and forth across the table for “just one more bite.”

After lunch, we sat for a while watching sand-flecked children and shaggy coated doggies whir by in fits of giggles and tail-wagging. There’s something about the excitement of the beach, no matter the season, that makes you feel a bit like a kid again. So we rounded up our friends for a round of crazy golf.

My swing was a little bit rusty but I felt like I’d just won the green jacket when I expertly sunk a hole in one!

Then a few holes on, my opponent battled back with one of his own!

We love a bit of friendly competition, but this time we actually didn’t keep score.

I think this once it was simply enough to have a cheerful playmate to walk the sandy path back home with after a fun-filled day at the beach.