Your Ultimate Travel Guide To Cornwall & The Cornish Coast

Cornwall is one of my all-time favourite Staycation destinations in the whole of the UK. It seems somewhat detached from the rest of the UK, down South, surrounded by beautiful sandy beaches and turquoise azure waters it could be mistaken for a Mediterranean vacay. It boasts some of the most exquisite seafood in all of the land, with scenic backdrops and mile high waves for surfing, Cornwall has something for everyone. This post is for anyone contemplating a little #staycay in England this summer, this is a summary of my Reasons why you must visit the Cornish Coast…

Walk along part of the South West Coast Path

The South West Coast path, stretching for 630 miles is England's longest waymarked long-distance footpath and a National Trail. The ‘Cornish Trail’ is one of the highlights from Cape Cornwall To Helford with magnificent beaches, secret coves and almost forgotten fishing villages, this trail walk includes some of the most enchanting sections of the South West Coast Path.

Beautiful Beaches

Cornwall is known for its quality and variety of beaches, from its secluded coves and turquoise azure waters to its world-class surfing beaches, dotted all along the Cornish Coast, you could spend an entire trip just checking out the beaches and soaking up the sun. My personal favourites are Constantine Bay or Sennen Cove. For more info and inspo on Cornwall’s Best beaches check out my other post on The Best Beaches to visit in Cornwall on the Cornish Riviera.

Kynance Cove

Follow in the footsteps of nineteenth century visitors at Lands End

Land's End is a headland in western Cornwall, situated within the Penwith peninsula, close to Penzance. It is a historic site of interest as you can walk the same road 19th C visitors took who would travel to The First & Last Inn before making the final stage of the journey to ‘Penn-an-Wlas’ [Lands End] on horseback or foot along the narrow lanes. The back drop is stunning, to the east is the English Channel, and to the west the Celtic Sea.

Lands End, Cornwall

St, Michael’s Mount

Mystical St. Michael’s Mount is one of the top visitor attractions in Cornwall and is a small, rocky island situated in St. Mounts bay, connected to the land at low-tide. Owned by the National Trust, the mount has a castle, a chapel, and some lovely gardens to explore. It is possible to combine visiting this hideaway with a walk along the South West costal path to nearby Penzance.

Fresh seafood in abundance

Cornwall is home to some renown UK celebrity chefs such as Rick Stein, Paul Ainsworth and Nathan Outlaw to name a few who have put Cornwall on the map with their seafood restaurants and exquisite fresh seafood cuisine. The good news is you don’t have to go to a Michelin Star restaurant in Cornwall to have a mouth-watering seafood experience. Even the local fish and chippies along the harbour are divine. For more info on where to dine in Cornwall check out my other blog post on The Best Seafood Restaurants in Cornwall.

Where to find the best seafood in Cornwall

Take a scenic drive

With the stunning scenic backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean and Rugged Cliff edges, there are a number of wonderful drives you can take to explore the Cornish Coast by car. My personal favourite is the drive from Newquay to Padstow along the breathtakingly beautiful coastal roads which connect Newquay and Padstow. Stop off at Bedruthan Steps to take photos of the sea stacks before taking a slight detour to discover the infamous Seven Bays nearby; Porthcothan, Treyarnon, Constantine, Booby’s, Mother Ivey’s and Harlyn and Trevone. My favourite thing to do is pack a picnic hamper full of delicious snacks and stock up the cool bag with some nice wine and if you are luck enough not to be the designated driver you can sit back, vino in hand and take in the views.

Surfs Up

This is big surfing country and home to internationally recognised surfing competitions including the Boardmasters surf and music festival which is held in August each year at Fistral Beach in Newquay. Wave chasers from all over the UK descend on Cornwall every summer to take advantage of its impressive Atlantic swell. Polzeath in north Cornwall is a good option for all levels – including bodyboarders and kids – and Newquay is for the party crowd.

Port Issac

Located on the north coast not far from St Endellion, a trip around the fishing village of Port Isaac should be on everyone’s Cornwall bucket list. The setting for one of the UK’s most famous television series - Doc Martin, its narrow, winding streets are lined with old white-washed cottages and traditional granite, slate-fronted Cornish houses, many of which are listed as of architectural or historic importance.

Get Lost in the Gardens of Heligan

The Lost Gardens of Heligan is a botanical garden located near Mevagissey. Step back in time and lose yourself in Europe’s largest garden restoration; a world of romance, nostalgia and adventure awaits your discovery.

Celebrate with a Cream Tea

Cornwall is world-famous for its cream teas and no trip to the county is complete without spending a leisurely afternoon enjoying the tasty treat and admiring the views. For one of the best places in Cornwall to enjoy scones, jam and lashings of clotted cream check out the Royal Duchy Hotel in Falmouth. This historical building's Sun Terrace is the perfect place to sit and enjoy an al fresco afternoon tea with views overlooking Falmouth Bay. The hotel can provide a classic Cornish cream tea as well as a full afternoon tea and a champagne afternoon tea.

Seafront Accommodation

The accommodation in Cornwall is a mixed bag, catering for all budgets, but you don’t have to splash the cash to get the stunning sea views. The St. Enodoc Hotel in Rock is possibly one of the best with views looking out across the harbour. They also have a stunning spa and alfresco dining. For an alternative stay try Cedar Lodge on Carbis Bay, think New England style houses but with sea views or there are plenty of quirky listings on Air B n B to cater for all budgets, but you want to book early to get your top pick!

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