Details of folkdance + seaside + walking weekends organised by Gittisham Folk Dance Club
This page is now of 'historical' interest being centred upon the 2014/5 dance weekends. The Ponsmere hotel closed in October 2015, in preparation for its demolition and redevelopment into housing. It was one of a 'dying breed' of old, somewhat dilapidated hotels where all rooms were of a uniform basic standard and charged accordingly. Few modern or refurbished hotels work on this model - so finding replacements for hotels like the Ponsmere may be increasingly problematic.
The provisional dates for 2016 were 17, 18, 19 June 2016. For the latest position on a 2016 event (obviously at a different venue) please click here.
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FOLKDANCE + SEASIDE ACTIVITY WEEKEND JUNE 2014/5, Perranporth, Cornwall.
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There are many 'specialist'
dance weekends for people who want to 'dance dance dance' all weekend. Instead, these weekends combined some dances and workshops and with time to explore the town and its beautiful setting or walk along parts of the south west coast path. Our band was Jigs for Gigs from Somerset - they play regularly and to great acclaim for folk dancers. PROGRAMME:The final (2014) programme is here this pdf file. |
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If you live locally and would like to come just for one or both of the evening dances please get in touch (see bottom of page). The cost of evening dances was £6 (£10 for both). The ballroom could hold 50/55 dancers (70 at a pinch). Perranporth remains a delightful little town on the rugged north Cornwall coast and on the south-west coastal path. The Ponsmere Hotel was right on the beach and hosted a number of other 'activity' weekends during the year including the Lowender Peran Music Festival. This has now transferred to Newquay, to a more expensive venue. |
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Pilgrims continue to follow
the banner of St Piran across the dunes above Perranporth - extract of an article in the Western
Morning News of 14 February 2014. Followers of Cornwall’s favourite saint will be donning their boots and raising their shovels as the operation to unearth St Piran’s Oratory from the dunes gets under way. The 2014 week-long project by a team of
volunteers led by archaeologists, is the culmination of a 15-year campaign by St Piran
Trust. Buried “for its own protection” in 1980, the 5th century stone structure
set in sand dunes above Perranporth is claimed by some historians to be the oldest
Christian building in Britain. |
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Perranporth is approximately
90 miles from Exeter. Allow 2 hours
from Exeter along the A30, as shown. Once in Perranporth it is only another 20 miles to Penzance or 30 miles to Land's End. The hotel was also close to Perranporth flying club - their website has some aerial photos of the area. Another attraction is excavation of St Piran's Oratory. The nearest rail stations are Newquay, approx. 9 miles by road from Perranporth or Truro which is on the main line from Exeter and also 9 miles away. Cheap coach tickets (for example £7 each way Exeter - Newquay) but usually at very inconvenient times, may be bookable via megabus. |
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Map of the hotel location. If travelling along the A30 from Exeter, take the B3285 signed to Perranporth. |
Enquiries. |
Email contact - stevewozniak42 (AT)
hotmail.com Of course you replace (AT) by @ Phone contact - Gill Spence (01404) 813129 Once you have paid and a room has been allocated, no monies are refundable unless we can find a substitute person/couple. No insurance cover is provided and you are advised to make your own arrangements. |