Cornwall has long been one of the most popular holiday destinations in England. As a result there is a flourishing tourist industry providing a host of accommodation options. It's not just
Cornwall cottages to rent, there are
camp sites,
caravan parks and
cornish holiday cottages to
luxury hotels,
bed & breakfast and
guest houses.
So what brings people back to visit Cornwall time and again?
Well, the climate is certainly the mildest in the UK but our summers aren't the hottest! So it must be a combination of
natural attractions and a renaissance in arts and food in Cornwall.
Cornwall's beaches are unrivalled elswhere in Britain for their beauty and variety. Beach towns such as
Perranporth,
Polzeath and
Newquay are perhaps the best known of these, they are also excellent surfing beaches. In my opinion the most beautiful are the tiny coves that dot the coastline like Coverack and
Porthcurno (home of the Minack Theatre).
Also on the coast are some of the Duchy's most enchanting fishing villages and harbours;
Looe,
Portloe,
Mevagissey,
Tintagel,
Cadgwith,
Zennor and
Mousehole are but a few. It's not just the villages that have something to offer those sightseeing. The towns (and city!) of Cornwall are rich in history and attractions of their own. Take
Padstow with it's picturesque harbour and Rick Stien,
Falmouth - a working port and charming shopping town. There is
Truro, the only city in Cornwall where the cathedral still dominates the skyline.
For industrial herritage
Redruth has few rivals. Once at the centre of the industrial revolution and the mining industry Redruth and
Camborne have spent many years in decline but are finally bouncing back.
Penzance is one of the largest towns in Cornwall and has plenty to do and see. From the sub-tropical Morrab Gardens to the bustling fishing port of
Newlyn you should find something of interest. It is also here that you can take a day trip to the
Isles of Scilly plus it's within walking distance of
Marazion and
St Michael's Mount.
Bored of towns then check out the stately homes and
gardens of Cornwall. The National Trust is very active in Cornwall and along with a host of independently owned tourist attractions you should find plenty to see and do.
Gardens worthy of mention include; The
Lost Gardens of Heligan, The
Eden Project, Trelissick and
Trebah. Stately homes include; Lanhydrock house, Prideaux Place and Pencarrow.
Another unique draw of Cornwall is it's ancient past. The moorland countryside of West Cornwall and
Bodmin Moor are littered with megalithic monuments such as
standing stones, barrows and stone circles. Less ancient ruins that abound in Kernow are the leftovers of the mining industry, in many places these share the same sites the ancients chose to build on creating strange juxtapositions.
Lantallack's Cottages are the perfect base from which to explore all of these places and more...and after a busy day, come back and unwind by the pool with a glass of wine and watch the evening sun set across a beautiful valley.