I'm still around, but won't be on quite so much as we're finally starting our business! x
I'm still around, but won't be on quite so much as we're finally starting our business! x
Member since:04.01.2007
Reviews:40
Members who trust:14
Cornwall is a place I hold very close to my heart. I was born there 23 years ago and lived there up until winter 2006 when the awful work/house price situation finally moved us a little further up the country. I lived in two of the main tourist favourites; Penzance and St. Ives.
Cornwall is like a treasure chest. Pictures in brochures do not do it justice. Three sides of the county are surrounded by breathtaking coast-line, golden stretches of sand, clean blue sea and quaint coastal towns and villages. When you pass over the river Tamar you know you're in Cornwall because it has a distinctive feel. North Cornwall is more luscious and green than the south, it is a little more country than coastal but boasts just as many tourist must-see sites, such as Bodmin Moor and St Agnes. It is ideal for walkers and people who simply love to be surrounded by nature in its most raw form.
The South of Cornwall is the 'famous' part. It has so many beautiful, golden beaches that rival those in Spain and the Carribbean. St Ives is a small coastal town on the west side which has one of the most beautiful harbours you'll ever see, and several beaches which attract thousands of surfers and sun-worshippers annually. It feels unreal and you fall in love with it instantly. St Ives has an 'island'; this is not really an island but it is the best way to describe the large mound of sudden steep land that sits at the edge of
the town. You are able to walk around this and its steep cliff-edge trails leave you a little breathless! You can see nearby town Carbis Bay from here as well as Hayle, Godreavy Point and more, beautiful beaches. The town itself is small and hilly. Cobble streets and granite buildings make it feel like you're in a storybook. St Ives is famous for luring artists, especially marine artists, to its shores and this indeed happened to my own grandfather who moved there after a holiday which he simply couldn't forget. It has been said that St Ives has a different light which is why people love it so much; makes them feel geat. The shops in St Ives really now only cater for tourists in the summer which is a terrible shame as in winter it feels like a very sad place; desolate beaches, closed up shops and empty art galleries (of which there are several, including the Tate and Barbara Hepworth's Sculpture Museam). It has some trendy resturants and bars which are nice enough but over-priced. In the summer there is nowhere else like it: it's vibrant, beautiful, everything is open, people adorn the beaches and there are lots of activities available on the wharfside, such as dolphin watching, fishing and parascending, to name a few. The locals adorn their homes with hanging baskets full of colourful hues which add to the picturesque quality to the little costal town. It has a railway which was voted as the most scenic route in the UK (from St. Ives to nearby Carbis Bay) that takes you close to the cliff edge, through green hills and overlooking endless coastline.
Penzance is another favourite. It is larger than St Ives and has a better town. The shops do not cater simply for tourists which is why so many locals like it. It has a promenade that looks out onto pebble beaches but the real spectacle is St Micheals Mount. This is a tidal peninsula so when the tide is in you have to get a boat to it as it becomes an island; when the tide is out you can walk across the causeway. This is located in Marazion, an ancient market town just outside of Penzance (about 2 miles) and is really worth a visit. It hosts some lovely gardens which you walk up through until you reach the historical church at the top. Penzance has a few trendy bars but feels more like a regular town. There are a couple of decent nightclubs there too. It has a picturesque marina and docks, an outside lido pool and some rocks to climb on (called Battery Rocks). It is about one and a half miles away from the tiny fishing village of Newlyn, another must-see, quintessentially Cornish village. Penzance caters for the art lover too, and is home to several marine museums and local artist work, displayed in Penlee Park Museum and Newlyn Art Gallery. These are well worth a look in, though entrance fees do apply. Chapel Street in Penzance offers a great place for kids: it's a pirate museum set in an actual pirate ship! It's educational and fun, and admission it about £2.
Just outside of Newlyn, Penzance, is an even tinier village called Mousehole. This is a windy, cobbled wonderland of local art shops and beutiful harbour. The Christmas lights are world-famous and quite something.
Lands End is said to be most furthest point of England, yet The Lizard Point, on the south-east side, is actually the most southern point. That doesn't detract from how amazing and awe-inspiring Lands End is, though. It's great scenery, especially at sunset or in a wild storm watching the waves batter the cliffs. It is a truly awe-inspiring natural place and there is no other coastline like that of Land's End, and it will leave a premanent impression on you. There are activities for children there, such as amusments and farm animals to stroke, and some fantastic coastal walks for different abilities which will leave you wind-swept and full of the sea breeze.
The Lizard point is a sun-trap and also exhibits some amazing coastline. On the way you may notice a place called Goonhilly, which is home to the largest satellite earth station in the world! You won't miss it as the satellites can be seen from as far away as Penzance.
Local cuisine is the now famous Cornish Pasty, but if you go to Cornwall try one: they are so different from the shop-bought rip-offs you can now get even in the USA! Also try some Cornish Clotted Cream on scones, Cornish Fairing biscuits, fudge and of course Cornish Ice Cream! The local fish is also excellent, as is the organic vegetables, available on stalls alongside the country roads. There are loads of great country pubs which serve good, local food and cold, Cornish ale! If that doesn't whet your appetite you could go to Padstow, a tiny fishing village home to Rick Stein, who lives and owns a famous Michellin star seafood resturant there. Or perhaps you may prefer the culinary skills of Jamie Oliver and his 15 resturant, which opened in Newquay (beach and surfers heaven) recently? I prefer good old local fair, which uses local ingredients, and recommend that to you above all.
There is so much to write about this amazing place, from its history (Cornwall had it's own celtic language), the mines, the castles, the Minack Theatre (an outdoor theatre calved into the cliffside in Porthcurnow), the coast, the marshes, the animal life...I could write for hours. Just go...it will take your breath away, but don't just go to the tourist hot-spots, try asking some local people about great places to visit as there are hundreds, literally.
Warnings:
Be careful of high prices. Cornwall relies heavily on summer tourism so B&B's, hotels, resturants are all quite over-priced. You shouldn't have to pay more than about £45 per person per night, even in high season. Also, traffic is terrible so set aside plenty of time when visiting places. The sea in Cornwall is volatile so take heed of the flags on the beach as many people have died by ignoring them. Cliff walks are great and there are loads to be taken in Cornwall but be careful of concealed cliff edges. Local people can seem a little hostile but that's just because of the economy problems tourism has brought along with the benefits. Take it in your stride. Do visit!
My friend goes to Cornwall a lot and loves it. . . i've never been though ♥
baeswoman 25.02.2007 12:44
I used to love going to Cornwall but it has really priced itself out of the market for holidays for me. When you can fly half way round the world for the price of a week's accomodation and then you getted ripped off everywhere you go a place can lose it's appeal. Andi
sallysmith1973 22.02.2007 17:43
Nice review there - we've always holidayed in Cornwall, we love it. We're off to Widemouth Bay in May, our new favourite place! Thanks, Sal x
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Advantages: Buses are more frequent than they used to be and new routes have been introduced. Disadvantages: They often break down and aren't waterproof in the rain!
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