Cornwall is one of Britain’s favourite holiday spots. Here are a few tips that hopefully will help your holiday trip.
If you are travelling down to Cornwall by car, then why not break your journey at one of the excellent National Trust properties. If you take the A30 there is the unusual Castle Drogo, the spectacular Lydford Gorge or Finch Foundry all in Devon but within striking distance of the Cornish Riviera. It’s even better if you are a National Trust card holder.
There are some excellent train deals from major cities in the UK. GWR have some good advanced prices from various destinations and so do Cross Country who also service the Southwest.
Remember, once in Cornwall the roads can be extremely narrow and often bordered by stone walls. There can be some very tight bends and twisty lanes so drop your speed and take care. In some places you will come across open areas where you will find sheep and other creatures roaming freely so be careful especially at night.
There are some excellent bus routes around the county including the 21, 93 and 95. These serve a number of destinations including St Austell, Newquay and Truro. If you are a bus pass holder most of the trips will be free within certain hours but do check.
Many of the beaches are superb and ideal for surfing however be careful of rip tides and take note of tide times. The sea can sometimes come in very quickly and you can easily be cut off. Newquay is famous for its surfing venues including Fistral Beach, Towan Beach, Perranporth, Watergate Bay and Mawgan Porth.
Many of the seaside villages are at the bottom of very steep hills with little or no parking. In most cases there will be a car park at the top so pack a good pair of walking shoes! Be careful to abide by the rules as there are plenty of parking officials ready to swoop when you depart. Parking on the grass in prescribed car parks is often an offence so be careful.
Cornish pasties are a real treat as are cream teas. Chough’s Bakery found in Padstow or Port Isaac have won awards. Cornish cream teas involve putting the jam on before the cream, unlike Devon cream teas where the cream goes on first. For a real treat ask for the local clotted cream which is delicious. Other delights are the many regional beers and the fresh crabs and fish which are usually caught daily.
If you are going to spend any time on the beach on a sunny day remember the Australian rhyme ‘slip slop slap’. Slip on a t shirt, slop on some sunscreen and slap on a hat as the sun can get very hot.
There are some excellent wildlife trips along the coast in search of dolphins, whales, seals and seabirds. Try Padstow Sealife Safaris. Another idea is to spend some time walking along the south west coastal path where you are very likely to spot a number of different seabirds and maybe a seal or two.
Images courtesy of Godfrey Hall
