Whether you're visiting Cornwall for the first time or a resident wanting to discover something new, here are some ideas to get you started on your itinerary. We've compiled a list of Kernow's must-see beaches, day trips, sights, and other locations to pass away an afternoon or evening.
Are you planning a staycation in Cornwall? Are you expecting your family to arrive for the weekend as soon as the lockdown is lifted and in need of some fresh ideas? Have you exhausted all of your super-local choices and are now searching for something a little more exotic than your regular haunts?
We've combed through the Muddy archives and compiled a list of the best things to do in Cornwall - there's so much great stuff to see and do that this barely scrapes the surface of what's available. Even if you come for a month, you won't be able to see everything!
1. Make Your Way To The Beach
Because it is a coastal peninsula, the beach is always at the top of everyone's agenda. However, with more than 200 beaches to pick from over 400 miles of beautiful coastline, choosing a choice may be difficult.
The absolute finest beaches are those that need a little effort to locate, or at the very least require walking rather than driving up to. Our favorites include Lundy (near Polzeath), Polly Joke, and the wildflower fields at West Pentire, Nanjizal (near Land's End), Gwenver (near Sennen), and Lantic Bay (between Fowey and Polperro), all of which are off the beaten route.
Other favorites include Gunwalloe, Coverack Harbour, Portheras Cove, and Porthoustock on the Lizard, and it's not only because Poldark swam into them that they're so good promise.
2. Learn About Cornwall's Historical Origin
As a result, Cornwall is awash with museums dedicated to the past, which include (but are not limited to) sea farers, smugglers, pirates and sailors, tin miners, and Arthurian tales, among others. Cornwall has a rich and diverse history that is both gritty and mystical.
Some great locations to visit (and not only on rainy days) are as follows:
3. Falmouth is home to the National Maritime Museum
Take a look back in time to when accidental encounters and strange appearances led to fantastic stories about deep marine monsters that have been passed down through generations. Understand why tales like this continue to captivate people's attention, despite the proliferation of false news and conspiracy theories.
4. Falmouth's Pendennis Castle is a must-see
Pendennis Castle, situated on a rocky outcrop with magnificent views out to sea, is one of Henry VIII's most impressive coastal fortifications (English Heritage).
5. Charlestown is home to the Shipwreck Treasure Museum
Shipwreck Treasure Museum in Charlestown, Massachusetts, is a museum of danger and opportunity, where a seabed of rescued tales await your exploration - stories of life and death at sea. This is the allure of the hunt. The discovery is made public.
6. Boscastle's Museum of Witchcraft is a must-see
This small museum on the harbourside in Boscastle, which houses the world's biggest collection of witchcraft-related artifacts, covers the history of witchcraft and magic in Cornwall as well as the rest of the United Kingdom. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please keep in mind that we are presently closed due to Covid.
7. The Porthcurno Telegraph Museum is located in Porthcurno
This communications museum is housed in what was once the world's biggest telegraph station, which is still operational today. The beach in Porthcurno is the main attraction (and it *is* beautiful), but the town has also been the site of a communications revolution since 1870, according to the majority of visitors. There are sub-tropical gardens, subterranean World War II tunnels, and vast exhibits to capture curious minds, so it's a wonderful place to spend a day. Please keep in mind that we are presently closed due to Covid.
8. Geevor Tin Mine is located near Lands End
With its beautiful Cornish shoreline around Pendeen, which is situated in the vast open expanses of Cornwall's Lands End peninsula on the dramatic Atlantic coast, it was formerly at the center of the country's tin and copper mining industry. Geevor Tin Mine provides visitors with the chance to tour a genuine mine and get an understanding of what life was like for a Cornish miner.
9. The Wheal Martyn China Clay Museum is located in St Austell
This is a fascinating look inside the manufacturing of china clay, and it is extremely child-friendly.
10. Tintagel Castle is located in the town of Tintagel
Tintagel Castle, perched high above Cornwall's rocky north coast, is a place to immerse yourself in history, mythology, and breathtaking landscape. For ages, this magnificent castle and shoreline, inextricably connected to the tale of King Arthur, has captured the minds of authors, painters, and even the brother of a king. Your time has come, and the new bridge is now open for business!
11. Get Some Garden Inspirational Help
With jungle boardwalks, rope bridges, hidden art installations, and swings, the Lost Gardens of Heligan is an excellent day out. If you're looking for garden inspiration, visit the walled gardens and culinary garden, as well as the potting shed of your dreams.
Cornwall's distinct British climate also lends itself to the development of certain exotic gardens, which are mainly found in the county's southern and western regions. Among our favorite places in Cornwall are Trebah (and adjacent Glendurgan) at Mawnan Smith, which has a beautiful beach at the bottom, and Tremenheere Sculpture Garden (above) near Penzance, which seems like you're in California rather than Cornwall at times. In addition to the art, the café and plant store, as well as the panoramic sea views, make it a popular destination.
The National Dahlia Collection produces more than 1600 kinds of dahlias, many of which are also available for sale. It also has a two-acre display garden on the A30, just outside Penzance, with views of St Michael's Mount and the surrounding countryside. The garden is open to the public and is a great place to get inspiration for your own garden. Trenance Gardens in Newquay, which is located further up the north coast, is also a free attraction to visit.
12. Make Changes To Your National Trust Card
- Lanhydrock is a village near Bodmin in Cornwall: The estate has a magnificent late Victorian country home with a garden and a forested garden. Although the mansion is now closed, the estate provides great forest walking opportunities, and the river at Respryn is very quiet if you're looking for someplace inland to unwind.
- Trelissik is located near Truro: The house will be closed, but the large grounds overlooking the Fal estuary and down to the shingle beach are exactly what you need if you're in the vicinity of Truro. This country home and garden is situated on an estate with magnificent marine views and excellent forest walks.
- Cotehele is a village near Saltash: Normally, visitors to Cotehele may tour the evocative Tudor home with Medieval origins, as well as the running mill on a historic quay, but for the time being, you'll have to make do with the magnificent garden with valley views and the vast estate to explore instead.
- St Michael's Mount, near Penzance, off the coast of Marazion: At low tide, you may walk over the causeway from Marazion, "following in the footsteps of giants and pilgrims," and become a part of Cornish mythology that permeates the whole island. The island itself is privately owned, so you'll need to pay to visit or become a member of the National Trust. While you're there, check out the beach and harbor, which are both free to explore - but since there are no public boats operating at the moment, keep an eye on the tide and allow ample time to walk back.
13. Put Your Walking Boots On
All of Cornwall is framed by the Southwest Coast Path, and it's true that any section of it is likely to be enjoyable, especially calm parts where you can take in the various wildflowers and sea birds. Keeping this in mind, some of our favorite stretches include The Rumps (above), near Polzeath, where you can see puffins and razorbills if you bring binoculars, Treen Cliff on the Penwith Peninsula, the dramatic tin mining ruins at Wheal Coates (near St Agnes), and the wildflower meadows at West Pentire (near Newquay), where the entire cliff is ablaze with poppies in the early summer
Other popular walks include Saints Way, a picturesque ramble from Padstow to the charming town of Fowey; St Anthony's Head, at the southernmost tip of the Roseland Peninsula, which passes near the lighthouse and Carrick Roads, one of the world's largest natural harbors; Cape Cornwall and Botallack (near St Just), both of which offer walks along the wild tin coast; and St Anthony's Head, at the southernmost tip of the Roseland Peninsula.
Even if you are dependent on wheels, the level sections of the SW coast route between Falmouth and Penzance, as well as the Bude canal, make for pleasant excursions. Here are several more easily accessible hikes.
Alternatively, on the moors of Bodmin, you may go up against Brown Willy (nothing offensive to see here, simply Cornwall's highest peak!) to an elevation of 420 meters above sea level, providing panoramic views over the county on a clear day. At the top of Kit Hill, Callington, which is located somewhat farther north towards Plymouth, you will find yourself 334 meters above sea level. In return, you'll be rewarded with 360-degree views of Cornwall and Dartmoor; gaze north towards Plymouth and you'll see Devon on your left and Cornwall on your right, separated by the River Tamar.
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