Thinking of booking a trip to Cornwall? This popular county, located, on the southern tip of England, has so much to offer from rugged coastlines, white sandy beaches, historical sites to tasty pasties! I loved it so much that I visited twice in the span of 6 months – during winter and summer!
It’s the perfect destination for a break from the hustle and bustle and here are my recommendations of the top things to do in Kernow, all year round, along with some suggestions of Coastal cottages in Cornwall to stay at.
If you can drive there, I would strongly suggest doing this as it makes getting around so much easier. Alternatively hire a car.
Getting to Cornwall
Travel to Cornwall by train
GWR operate high speed train services frequently from London Paddington station including the Night Riviera Sleeper Service to Penzance. There are also direct trains daily from Bristol and beyond.
Travel to Cornwall by road
It takes approximately five -six hours to get from London to the heart of Cornwall by either train or car. Drive along the M4 motorway from London, or M6 from Manchester, and then the M5 to Exeter and finally either the A30, that is mostly dual carriageway, or the A38 passing Plymouth and Saltash into South East Cornwall.
Alternatively if you enter Cornwall from North Devon, there is the scenic A39 Atlantic Highway running through Bude, which you can join from Junction 27 on the M5.
Travel to Cornwall by air
Newquay Airport is served by a variety of routes from across the UK and beyond. The Airport offers year-round onward connectivity to the Isles of Scilly with Skybus.
Exeter Airport is also within easy reach of Cornwall via the A30 and A38.
Things to do
Polgoon Vineyard
Something you may not expect to find is a Vineyard but Cornish Wine is wonderful! A visit to Polgoon Vineyard, which is dedicated to producing artisan Cornish Wines, ciders and juices on its family run vineyard orchard in Cornwall, is a must.
Whether you pop in for a cheeky glass with a cheese board or a full blown tasting, it makes for a lovely outing for a few hours!
Address: Rosehill Mdw, Tredarvah, Penzance TR20 8TE
Cornish Seal Sanctuary
Whether you are looking for a family activity, date idea or just want a dose of wholesomeness, The Cornish Seal Sanctuary, located within the picturesque Helford Estuary by the beautiful village of Gweek, is wonderful! It is a designated site of special scientific interest and an area of outstanding natural beauty.
Here they have over 60 years experience in Seal Rescue, Rehabilitation and Release. It all started in the winter of 1958 when a baby seal, only a few hours old, was washed up on the beach at St Agnes.
In addition to the Grey and Common Seals, they have Californian and Patagonian Sea Lions. The Sanctuary also provides a much-needed haven for a variety of other animals, such as Otters, Penguins, Sheep, Ponies and Goats, which you will also see as you wander around the grounds.
It is very dog friendly too so bring your furry friends along!
📍 Gweek, Cornwall, UK, TR12 6UG
Learn how to surf
Surfing is a popular thing to do in Cornwall and Newquay’s Fistral Beach is the best-known for it, whether you are a pro-surfer or want to have a dabble in it.
The breaks are good for surfers of all ages and there are surfing schools that will give you the perfect lesson and taster session.
Even if you’re not a surfer, simply watching the skilful surfers navigate the waves is a real treat whilst relaxing on the beach.
Relax on the beach
Being a coastal peninsular, there are more than 200 beaches to choose from in Cornwall, across 400 miles of spectacular coastline, and all so stunning! Be sure to take some time out to relax on one of them, with a dose of fish and chips for lunch and plenty of sunscreen!
Eden Project
Spend a day visiting The Eden Project, which is the world’s largest rainforest in captivity and a living example of regeneration and sustainable living.
It is dubbed the Eighth Wonder of the World by some. I loved the Rainforest biome, the world’s largest greenhouse, where you can see all the tropical plants that are used to produce everyday products.
The biome replicates four different rainforest environments: South America, Southwest Asia, West Africa and Tropical Islands.
There is also a Mediterranean Biome.
Did you know the centre also has the longest zip wire in the country and lots of other exhilarating activities to do?
Highly recommend a visit here! It has something for all ages.
Address: Bodelva, Par PL24 2SG
Eat a Cornish pasty
You can’t come to Cornwall without trying a pasty. The title of ‘best’ is fiercely contended with there even being an annual Cornish Pasty championships), but to be honest they are all so delicious so try them all!
My personal favourites are cheese and onion flavoured ones.
St Ives
St Ives has got one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen – definitely worth a day trip. You could mistake it for somewhere in the Caribbean.
There are lots of nice cafes and eateries dotted along the beach so you can easily spend a day sunbathing and swimming here.
For restaurant options Carbis Bay Estate has Walter’s on the beach, that also do awesome cocktails, or for a fine dining option Adam Handling’s Ugly Butterfly is a must.
Land’s End
Land’s End is the most westerly point of mainland England. The views are breathtaking and it makes for a lovely walking trail.
It is free to enter but you do need some change to pay for car parking.
Visit a Cyder Farm
Visit Healey’s Cyder Farm to try Rattler Cyder named after the feisty Cornish Rattler apple and blended with Healey’s know-how.
The grounds are huge so you can easily spend hours here going for a tractor ride, tasting cyders and seeing farm animas.
Where to stay in Cornwall
Here are some recommendations of some lovely places to stay that you can book with Classic Cottages to make that Cornwall trip even more special.
No 1 Polvellan, Mousehole
This sleeps 6 so is perfect for a family or friends getaway and is dog friendly, which is a bonus, so your furry best friend can come along too!
It ticks all the boxes in terms of location, views, and is spacious, with an open plan living space, modern kitchen, lounge and a snug area.
There is also a fabulous terrace area which would be perfect for long summer days with a glass of wine in hand admiring the panoramic views.
Find out more and book: https://www.classic.co.uk/holiday-cottage/desc-5079.html
Coastguards, Roseland
For an alternative pretty and quaint place to stay, I recommend Coastguards, which sleeps 4 and is located in the pretty hamlet of Bohortha on the stunning Roseland peninsula. This beautifully restored cottage, typically Cornish in character has views of the gorgeous countryside and also sea views over Porthbeor beach and the western approaches to Falmouth harbour.
Behind the cottage steps you will find an orchard and parking for two cars is located right next to the property. The gardens are lawned and enclosed to the front, making it child friendly and also provides space for the dog to run free.
You can go for gorgeous walks through stunning scenery to Place where you can catch the ferry to the vibrant seaside village of St Mawes.
https://www.classic.co.uk/holiday-cottage/desc-4955.html
Arcus, St Ives
Arcus is a stunning two bedroom ground floor apartment that has views overlooking the crystal-clear waters of Porthminster beach from the balcony! The characterful town of St Ives is nearby and it is a wonderful place to base yourself for a beach holiday.
Find out more and book here: https://www.classic.co.uk/holiday-cottage-2023/desc-5021.html
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