Newquay - A Useful Small Airport

My original booking to visit Holmfirth was on the outskirts of Huddersfield because none of the websites offered a handicapped accessible room with wi-fi and parking in the actual town of Holmfirth. I thought it would be close enough to Holmfirth that we could drive in. So after I wrote up our graving trip with John Brown yesterday, I decided to try to put the route to the hotel in Huddersfield into the GPS. No can do- the GPS would not recognize the address. So I went to the hotel website and wrote down the directions which had about 13 different roads and intersections listed. Bob was asleep but when he got up about 10 pm I showed him the route and it completely spooked him because he thought the flight was 4 to 6. (It was really 1400 to 1600.) If the plane had been landing at 6, it would have been dark and he was unwilling to drive in the dark, fearing that it would be like the first time we went to St. Croix. He was very upset and couldn't sleep

So in the morning, he demanded that I change the reservations. And I did, but I was somewhat distracted. I went to the bathroom and reached for the mouthwash which was up on a high shelf and knocked Bob's mechanical toothbrush off, and that hit the glass in the holder beside the sink and knocked it to the floor where it broke. Bob cleaned it up and I told them what had happened.

We went down to breakfast at 8 before the hot breakfast was available and had cereal and juice, and then Bob let me in the room and went to the car park to get the car. I finished up the arrangements on the computer. We are staying at Coddy's Farm Bed & Breakfast, Lower Whitegate Farm, Whitegate Road, Holmfirth, HD9 2TH, United Kingdom
Phone: +447714588822
(with slow internet) but free parking and of course breakfast for the next two nights. Then we are coming back to the Holiday Inn Express for the 23rd. We made that reservation when we were there the first night.

Bob started carrying luggage down to the car. I was dressed but not packed. Eventually he jammed stuff into the suitcase, and helped me put on one sock and then we got down and got into the car.

On the way out, we had to go through some narrow village lanes and in two cases there was an extension ladder across the street with someone at the top painting the wall on the second floor and they had to come down and move the ladder so we could pass.

At 9:20, we stopped at the Co-op on the way out to get my GPS out of the computer bag. I had MY GPS set to go back to the Enterprise car rental and I told the one in the car to go Home, thinking that it would be the same.

Gas station

Getting gas

We stopped for gas at a Shell station in Wadebridge at 9:45. There was an eclipse, but I was afraid to look at it because I didn't have any special glasses. It did get a little darker and then the sun noticeably 'came out'.

Road in the eclipse

We were able to avoid all the narrow lanes that we came in on, and were traveling on regular roads with at least two lanes. At one point the GPS tried to get us to turn off, but we resisted firmly.

Road work

When we got to Truro, the rental car GPS wasn't happy with us going back to the Enterprise place, but my GPS got us there. When we got there, I used the bathroom which was in a trailer.

Towel in the Enterprise bathroom

I was worried about getting to the airport in a timely manner since I now knew it was 2 instead of 4 and I wanted to be there well in advance because of the scooter. We got to Enterprise about 10:30

Driving to Newquay

Windmills near the airport. Cornwall is very windy

and they dropped us at the airport at 11:15 in plenty of time.

Airport building

The girl dropped us off some distance from the airport in the parking lot. Bob put the scooter together and then wrestled with the rest of the luggage. I followed the directional signs and went in the correct door. Bob took another route. It is a small airport. We soon found each other.

Lounge window

Inside there wasn't much going on. I had not been able to print boarding passes. A lady helped me put my passport in the kiosk and get boarding passes. She said that the counter wouldn't be open until 12:45. I thought we might get something to eat

Food counter that was not open - pre check in

but the sign said to get food in the departures lounge. In order to get there, we had to go through security. Which we couldn't do yet. (We did try, but since we weren't checked in, they wouldn't let us through.)

So I got the computer out and logged onto the airport wi-fi for a bit. Then a man came to check on the scooter. Bob folded it up for him and as usual it caused admiration and surprise. I told him it weighed 55 lbs (Bob thought it weighted more like 70 lbs as it does weigh around 80 lbs in the suitcase.) So they took and weighed it and it was 26 kilos (57 lbs) with the battery in it. They decided to take me in a wheelchair and put the scooter on the plane without the battery (Bob would take the battery and put it in his carryon). They didn't put it in with the conveyor luggage, but afterward.

We checked our luggage. They weighed all the bags. There was a 20 kilo limit on checked bags and 10 kilos for the carry ons. Bob's suitcase was the heaviest at 18.2.

Scale showing bag weight

All of the bags were within limits. A sign on the check-in counter said we could not carry hot drinks on any Flybe aircraft.

Sign on the check-in counter

Which didn't apply to us as we don't usually drink hot drinks. They asked me several times if I could do the steps, and I said I could do that many steps. Just so that you know- there was an ADF (AIrport Development Fee) for Newquay at the following rates: £5 per passenger aged 16 years and above

From Newquay website:
How do I pay for the ADF ticket?

Payment machines are located in the airport's terminal building. These machines will accept cash or credit/debit cards payment and will produce a ticket which will allow you to pass through security into the departure lounge.

Why is the ADF fee not included in my ticket price?

Newquay Cornwall Airport has decided to collect the ADF in an open and transparent manner, and all airlines operating from the airport are aware of its existence as a charge payable locally in addition to the flight ticket costs and associated taxes / charges.

What happens if I do not pay the ADF?

The Airport reserves the right to refuse to handle any passengers who do not pay the ADF. All departing passengers must pay the fee and be in possession of a valid ADF ticket to enter the departure lounge at the airport. Your ADF ticket will be checked by security staff as you enter the search area.

What happens if my flight is cancelled after I have paid the ADF?

If your flight is cancelled you are entitled to a refund. Please ask at the information desk for details.

Is the ADF unique to Newquay Cornwall Airport?

No, the ADF is also in operation at Norwich International Airport, Blackpool International Airport and Durham Tees Valley Airport.

We went through security. The wheelchair guy said that there were five of us that needed wheelchairs. I went to the bathroom

Bathroom selfie

Dispensing machine in the ladies room

Sink

and we could now get something to eat.

Newstand area and drinks

I got an

Egg salad and cress sandwich

and a

Dessert bar

Box

and Bob had a ham and cheese.

Sandwich box

One of the planes was apparently so small that they gathered people for the pre-flight safety briefing in the corner of the lounge before they went on the plane.

Plane propellers

Dash 8 model

Our plane was a DASH 8 -400 with curved propeller blades. The plane was full.

Surf on the beach from above

Coast

We arrived five minutes early in a drizzle.

Landing - Manchester

Got all the luggage, and went out to get the bus to the rental car place. When I made my plane reservations on Flybe, they gave me an option to rent a car at the same time. It looked like the car rental place was right within the airport so it would be convenient. This turned out to be mostly true. We landed, got all the luggage, and went out to get the bus to the rental car place.

Car rental bus stop at the airport

Surprise!! the bus had a little ramp for me to just ride onto it like they did at Disney. And there was a nice place for me to park on the scooter. Bob got to sit in a seat

Bob in the rental car bus

We allowed them to upsell us to a diesel Hyundai - black. It doesn't have an ignition key. You step on the brake and push a start button. This was a very big car, and we didn't really need such a big car. We should not have allowed the guy to fast talk us into it.

On the way to the hotel, we took a wrong turn twice. One time we ended up back at the airport, and the second time we went the correct direction but were on the wrong side of the street to get to the hotel. We just went all the way around the roundabout to get back to it. So we are in Manchester about 0.2 miles from the airport as the crow flies at the Holiday Inn Express which is satisfactory but the architecture is like communist Germany- it was devoid of any interest. And maybe the ominous hotel facade should have given us a clue about their business practices. But it did not.

Hotel from the parking lot

I also canceled the reservation at the Woodman Inn which cost £90 as it was less than 24 hours. It probably wasn't a good idea to try to get from Port Isaac to Holmfrith all in one day anyway.

We are on the 3rd floor overlooking the car park. Of course that means we are really on the 4th floor. The hotel has two elevators and they are just about big enough for me and the scooter and Bob. With luggage we have to go separately. I only took in the computer bag and my pocketbook last night. There are charges for the airport shuttle (£5 each person) and for £5 parking in their parking lot.

Hotel parking lot

Window warning

We stayed here twice. The first time I made the reservation through Booking.com and the rate was £59. They charged my credit card with an open charge.

Bed

Tea making set-up

We have a TV and a shower and plenty of room.

TV

shower

We had dinner at the hotel.

Dinner menu

You sit at a table, decide what you want and then go to the bar and order

Bob putting in the order

People eating in the restaurant

and they bring you your food. I had

Scampi and chips with mushy peas

Bob had

Salmon

I also had

Bread pudding for dessert

and Bob had

Chocolate cake

I've put the directions in the GPS. Bob is asleep and I hope he stays that way this time.