Cornwall Travel Guide

Cornwall has idyllic seaside villages with pretty whitewashed seaside cottages, pristine sandy beaches, rugged high cliffs, wild moors and lush green countryside to explore. It is a fantastic place to visit, full of natural, scenic attractions and historical assets such as castles and Celtic ruins. And now with a plethora of fantastic tourist attractions and facilities, this makes Cornwall one of the UK’s top tourism destinations.

The climate is milder in this remote, south westerly part of Great Britain. Therefore the Cornish peninsula boasts subtropical gardens which inspire and enthral visitors. Its steep cliffs are natural attractions worth the trip alone. With its location at the very fringes of mainland Britain, this finger of land is almost surrounded by the wild Atlantic Ocean and bordered on its north eastern edge by the River Tamar, making it feel almost like an island of its own. This helps to give Cornwall it’s own character and culture, and a real sense of pride and independence in its people.

All this makes Cornwall a unique and much loved holiday destination for tourists from the UK and many countries world-wide. it is regularly voted the UK’s top tourist destination and for good reason. It’s a stunningly beautiful destination with its own laid-back culture and dreamy atmosphere. The local tourist board here is VisitCornwall which is a useful source of information when planning a trip to Cornwall.

Cornwall has rich Celtic heritage with many standing stones and monuments from its days as a remote area far away from English power and rule. It is here at Tintagel where the legend of King Arthur was born. And there are Celtic crosses and monuments to visit everywhere.

During the industrial revolution Cornwall became one of the country’s most important assets as its production of tin and clay were exported worldwide for the production of industrial materials. The remnants of these industries can be seen dotted around the landscape. The unmistakable outlines of tin mining engine houses are seemingly everywhere and synonymous with the county of Cornwall. And it’s this human interaction with the landscape and environment that is now protected in many UNESCO World Heritage Sites around the county.

But despite it’s industrial past, Cornwall remains a rural and unspoiled destination. There are still wild, wilderness areas and beautiful countryside to explore and farming remains a large part of the economy here. If you step away from the towns and villages, and busy beaches, to explore the interior, you will find yourself in a landscape untouched by time and raw and powerful in its breathtaking beauty.

Although it is a rural location with a laid-back atmosphere, you shouldn’t be mistaken four thinking Cornwall is stuck in the past. Recently Cornwall has undergone a bit of a resurgence and become a bit of a trendy destination, with a wide range of stylish hotels, smart restaurants, contrary art galleries, cool shops and hip bars, cafe’s and restaurants opening up in all corners of Cornwall. Celebrity chef Rick Stein has pioneered the culinary revolution in Cornwall, now followed by other Michelin starred restaurants and fine eateries up and down the county.

There are many great places to stay in Cornwall whatever your budget or preference. There are great hotels , B&Bs, self catering lodges and thousands of Cornwall holiday cottages where you can base yourselves and explore everything Cornwall has to offer. For those people looking to get a bitt closer to nature, there are many fine campsites in Cornwall to choose from.

Newquay is one of the main holiday destinations in Cornwall and is world-famous for the sport of  surfing. The beaches in Newquay and across Cornwall regularly produce fantastic waves to be enjoyed by all standards of surfing. Together with kite surfing and other modern adventure activities, surfing has helped to put Cornwall on the map as a cool place to visit and engage in all kinds of outdoor pursuits.

Whatever you want to do on holiday, Cornwall has something for everyone. From romantic couples, to families with small children, to teenage and student explorers to groups of friends, Cornwall is a fantastic place to visit for a very special holiday.