Cornwall
“It’s hard not to fall in love with Cornwall.” Nicole Baker
There’s so much we could tell you about the fine golden sand and the clear blue ocean, the way the sunlight flickers over the cottages and quays, about the galleries, the gardens, the cafes and wonderful places to stay. Would you like to know about the ancient sites and stones, the famous people and buildings? We could tell you how easy it is to travel here and how Cornwall’s wonders are all close by.
“Fine golden sand,
crystal clear water”
St Ives, the most famous of Cornish holiday towns, loved for generations, is easy to reach by road or by air and easy by train, too, along one of the most spectacular railway journeys in Britain to crystal blue waters, golden sands and a warm welcome. We nearly forgot the mild sub-tropical climate,
warmed y e a r round by the Gulf Stream! Life here is cradled around the harbour where boats still land good catches of freshest fish for the local restaurants to nourish you with. Brought ashore on the ancient granite quays, the catch is of the highest quality for your dinner plate or for the tables of some of Britain’s finest restaurants. A maze of tiny cobbled streets to wander through, lined by fishermen’s cottages, with a breathtaking seaside vista to greet you at the end of each one.
Take a leisurely walk along the coastal footpath, perhaps, south to Lelant with the opportunity to return by branch line train or opt for a more energetic hike west towards Zennor and Gurnards Head. Soak up the sounds and images of the mythical and rugged land.
MEVAGISSEY Narrow streets and steep valley sides lead down to the centre of old Mevagissey where the distinctive twin harbour provides a safe haven for the many fishing boats that land their daily catch of skate, lobster, plaice and sole. In typical picture postcard style, pubs, cafes, galleries and shops cluster around the harbour walls and line the pretty streets. Named after two Irish saints, St Meva and St Issey, the village dates back to at least 1313 and during the 1800s Mevagissey prospered on the back of the abundant source of pilchards out to sea. Around the maze of streets you’ll find plenty of seafood restaurants and there is nothing more sublimely Cornish than tucking into some local scallops or mackerel and ending the evening with a walk along the harbour wall with lights of the village twinkling on the water. Nearby are The Lost Gardens of Heligan which underwent a famous restoration after decades of neglect and now brims with an amazing array of subtropical flowers, trees and plants and the Pentewan trail, an easy-going 5 mile round trip from the beach at Pentewan to the village of London Apprentice and back. The trail runs along the bed of an old narrow gauge railway which once took clay and tin ore to the harbour at Pentewan until it silted up and the railway ceased operation in 1916.
COVE
SENNEN
Sennen Cove boasts one of the finest stretches of sand in Cornwall. Whitesands Beach is a large crescent of sand that faces out onto Atlantic Ocean, so it experiences the full force of the Atlantic swell, making Whitesands Bay a popular spot for surfers. There is a well equipped lifeguard service in operation during the main holiday season
when it is generally safe to swim. At the western edge of the beach, sheltering in the lee of the Pedn-men-du headland is the village and small harbour. Sennen still retains much of the atmosphere of an old fishing village, with a small number of local fishing boats plying their trade from thee harbour. The small harbour has a working lifeboat station.
Land’s End is Britain’s most South Westerly point and one of Britain’s best loved landmarks, famous for its beautiful scenery and unique location in West Cornwall. Immerse yourself in one of the UK’s most beautiful coastal landscapes by strolling along family-friendly paths above cliffs carved out by the waves of the mighty Atlantic Ocean. A place of stunning scenery and natural beauty. Located at the most south-westerly point of mainland Britain, Land’s End is the legendary Cornish destination
that has inspired people since ancient Greek times when it was referred to as ‘Belerion’ – place of the sun. Whether you’re starved of culture and heritage or hungry for new experiences, quench your thirst for adventure at Land’s End and follow in the footsteps of early nineteenth century visitors who would travel to the First and Last Inn before making the final stage of the journey to ‘Penn-an-Wlas’ (Land’s End in Cornish) on horseback or foot along the narrow lanes.
Kynance Cove
If stunning had a big sister then Kynance Cove would be her. Located on the west side of the Lizard and probably the most photographed and painted location in Cornwall, the contrast between the cove’s white sand beach and the dark red and green serpentine rock produces a breathtaking sight. There’s a steep 10-15 minute walk down to the cove but that doesn’t stop visitors who head to the beach for a family day out, a romantic stroll along the sand or to photograph the moment when in the sunlight on the sea turns a brilliant turquoise colour. At low tide you can explore the towering rocks stacks and the caves with names such as The
ecnanyK evoC
Parlour and The Drawing Room and located just above the beach is an eco-friendly café selling Cornish pasties, fresh sandwiches, baguettes, homemade cakes and cream teas along with beach goods. From Kynance there is a fantastic 2 mile scenic walk around the coast to Lizard Point, mainland UK’s most southerly point. The Lizard peninsula, the most southerly part of the British mainland, is a place apart. Well known for its rare and unusual flora and where the famous call of the Cornish chough is never far away. The BBC has described Kynance Cove as “one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in the South West.”
Boscastle village lies within the parish of Forrabury and Minster on the North Cornish Coast 14 miles south from Bude and 5 miles from Tintagel, a conservation area amongst some of the most beautiful countryside within the British Isles, and is one of the few remaining unspoilt harbour villages in Cornwall. Designated an Area of Outstanding beauty, the National Trust own and care for the beautiful medieval harbour and surrounding coastline. The small harbour now hosts a number of little fishing boats but was once a hive of activity with trade taking place between Wales, Bristol and the south of England. Here too a lovely valley heads inland, a path follows a fast flowing burbling stream which leads to several hidden churches allowing you to discover the little known connection between North Cornwall and Thomas Hardy.
Boscastle.
- a medieval harbour and villiage hidden in a steep sided valley.