As part of our staycation guide find our favourite destinations to stay and visit in Cornwall, including suggested activities and attractions. All of these places have a wealth of amazing small businesses that need your support from; cafes and restaurants to artists to surf schools to B&Bs to bakers to handmade accessories, gifts, candles and food you name it.
Booking self catered accommodation is most peoples go to in Cornwall, and there's some beautiful homes out there! Be wary most change over dates fall on a Friday or Saturday and it gets very busy on these days, especially for parking!
Polzeath
One of the UK's top surfing beaches. Not up for surfing, go bodyboarding or swimming, or try other watersports like coasteering, stand up paddle boarding or sailing. Want to stay dry? There's still plenty to do, this area of Cornwall has some great walks with views over the Camel Estuary. Fancy something more tranquil try a yoga class or book yourself a treatment at the cowshed spa or visit some of the hidden coves. To top it off theres some great food on your doorstep and spectacular sunsets. A full guide to Polzeath can be found here.
Porthleven
The most storm battered town in Britain. When a storm hits the news, and you see the photos flick up, usually at least one is of this Cornish seaside town. You think we're joking, the pub on the hill, repeat, the hill, has waves come crashing down on it, stopping anyone from getting in or out, not that you'd want to! From my experience Porthleven is much less busy than the likes of St Ives, Padstow and Falmouth that appear on this list, apart from during its Food festival or RNLI lifeboat day. It may not be as well known but it is gaining traction as a foodie destination. It is the only place on the list you'll find a rocky beach, despite, it arguably holds the title for the best surf in West Cornwall, so grab your wetsuit and get in, alternatively, wander the quant seaside town and harbour.
St Ives
Yes it gets very busy there's no point avoiding the fact. So, why still visit, well, it's the embodiment of a classic Cornish seaside town, white or granite houses with slate roofs run along cobbled streets, fish and chip and ice cream shops run along the harbour front. There's several beaches to choose form meaning there's something for everyone, Porthminister, Porthmeor, Porthgwidden and during low tide you'll find families on the beach in the harbour front. Explore the streets that run behind the harbour, St Ives is predominantly filled with independent businesses, so there plenty of little shops to roam and cafes to grab a bite to eat. Want to escape the crowds take a walk along the coastal path. A full guide to St Ives can be found here.
Falmouth
Take a trip to Pendennis castle, a coastal fort commissioned by King Henry VIII in 1540, expanded during the Spanish Armada, and updated during the Napolionic, First and Second World Wars, it breathes history. Discover more about Falmouth's seafaring heritage at the National Maritime Museum, including boatbuilding, slave trade and shipwrecks, and immerse yourself in stories of notable maritime feats. There's plenty great food in Falmouth including some great cafes for afternoon tea, like most of Cornwall Falmouth also has some great beaches and walks.
Padstow
Did you know Padstow is at least as old as the Domesday Book (1086). It's another quintessential Cornish seaside town, sitting at the head of the Camel Estuary. On a warm summers day sit at the harbour front, amongst the colourful former fishermen's and sea merchants houses, with an ice cream or Cornish pasty in hand, watch as many go crabbing in the harbour. It's one of the foodie capitals of Cornwall, this might be at least partially due to the take over of much of the towns restaurants by famed chef Rick Stein.
Marazion
Our favourite reason to visit Marazion is St Micheals Mount. A rocky tidal island in Mounts Bay, at low tide you can walk across the causeway, but don't cut it too fine, otherwise you'll get very wet, once the tide is high enough the boat starts to the island. On the island you'll find a medieval castle dating back to the 12th century and colourful gardens to explore. An adult ticket costs £8.50 (2020) unless you're a member of the national trust it's free! It's such a unique place and a must visit.
Tintagel
Reasons to visit Tintagel need no more explanation than Tintagel island where you'll find the ruins of Tintagel Castle, situated on the rugged North Cornwall coast, with some great views. An Adult ticket costs £14.30 (2020) unless you're an English Heritage Member then it's free! Up until recently to reach Tintagel Castle, you had to navigate a series of hundreds of steps winding up and down, along narrow passages. In 2019 a new, much more accessible bridge opened. The island used to be connected by a natural land bridge, this fell somewhere between the 14th and 17th centuries, therefore this bridge recreates the historical crossing from the mainland to the headland, but if you've got a fear of heights you might have preferred the hundreds of steps, if you can brave looking down there's some of the bluest waters I've seen in Cornwall! Once you cross learn and explore the 1500+ year old history, from Roman occupation to the local folklore and literacy legend surrounding King Arthur and Tintagel to the Middle Ages. One more thing, expect it to be windy!
Special Mention to The Eden Project
Located near St Austell, the Eden Project is not just a botanical garden. The Eden Project is situated in an old china clay pit and is comprised of 2 biomes, the Rainforest biome and Mediterranean biome, each encompassed in several domes, along with a wide expanse of outdoor gardens, totalling over 2 million plants and 30 acres of gardens. Eden was created as a charity designed to educate about plants, waste and climate change. an educational building and cafe link the 2 biomes, a zip-line also runs above the pit so you can see the project form a whole different angle and in the summer they host concerts. A lot of the work the Eden Project does funds sustainability, health and wellbeing and conservation initiatives both in the UK and the developing world.
Travelling back from a holiday in Cornwall don't stop for lunch at the services, depending on which direction your headed, stop at one of the following; Lynton and Lynmouth for lunch at Charlie Fridays Cafe or the Picnic Box, Okehampton at toast coffee house or at the quay in Exeter. For more things Cornwall check out the www.thecornishlife.co.uk
Other Cornwall Guides to check out;
Socks and Sandals
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