10 Reasons to Visit Cornwall
Cornwall is a southwestern county in England that has the longest coastline in Britain with a unique serpentine rock that gives the water a tropical teal glow. The weather is probably the overall best in the country and during the summer months, you can be guaranteed bright, sunny days (*guys, there are palm trees here!*) with the warm waters thanks to the Gulf Stream. During the winter months, you will also get some decent weather (but a lot of rain).
It’s a vacation hot spot for Brits, but hasn’t been fully discovered by out-of-the-country tourists yet. This beautiful coastal county needs to be put on your list stat!
10 Reasons to Visit Cornwall, England
1. Cliffs, cliffs and more cliffs.
Give me all the dramatic love story cliffs. Cornwall has them all… literally every seaside town is built in the side of the cliffs, or a harbor town, or an estuary town, or a fishing village… no joke.. steep hills everywhere!
Beautiful pictures everywhere! Just know that climbing down the hills is fine, but climbing back up is not the greatest.
2. Seaside towns and fishing villages.
As I mentioned above, seaside towns are the greatest. Walking through town you’ll hear the seagulls talking to each other as you smell the sea breeze and hear the ocean crashing against the cliffs. Don’t you want that?! If you don’t, then you are crazy. Visit the smaller, lesser-known villages and you’ll be able to dodge the tourist crowd.
One of my favorites is Port Isaac and it’s also the filming location for the ITV hit show, Doc Martin. (Although, if you visit here, you are definitely not dodging the tourist crowd)! If you’re a fan you can read all about the filming locations in Port Isaac!
3. Even on a bad day, Cornwall is beautiful.
Seriously… one of the times I visited Cornwall, the weather was so up and down, it was super sunny for the morning and then heavy rain 3 hours later, followed by strong winds and then the sun again. However, no matter the weather, it was still stunning. The cliffs were still cliffs and the ocean was still the ocean… although I don’t recommend swimming in the high tide waves that the strong winds brought.
My advice for a rainy or a super windy day? Just go with it! Sure, your hair is going to be a mess (bring a hairbrush with you – not joking) and you might be a little wet, but look on the bright side, the waves are bigger, the stones and cliffs look really cool wet, and you can get all the windy hair and umbrella pics you want!
4. The water is tropical teal.
I love the color of the water here. It feels like you’re on a tropical island and not England. It’s actually the color of the rock that gives the Cornwall waters its light teal color, but it sure transports you.
Who wouldn’t want to pretend they are in a tropical paradise while in England and swim in beautiful crystal waters?! Watch for tide times though, because some beaches are only accessible during low tide.
My recommendations for tropical beach getaways? Kynance Cove and Nanjizal Beach.
5. All of the seafood.
The seafood in Cornwall just tastes better. Whether it’s the fact that it was caught a few hours earlier and now it’s on your plate has something to do with it, I don’t know.
You can also explore your seafood love by trying some fish you won’t regularly get in the States like plaice, sea bream, John Dory, or hake.
Most of the menus or restaurants will let you know if the seafood is locally caught (a lot of the time they will tell you from which harbor), but if you are unsure you can always ask the server. Some restaurants do sell fish from out of town or even out of the country that has been previously frozen, so always be sure to ask.
6. All the other foods.
There’s so much more than seafood to eat here, so don’t get discouraged if you’re not a big fish person. Of course, you have to try a Cornish pasty because this is where they come from!
Also, stop by foodie central (in my opinion), Padstow, there’s a plethora of celebrity chefs and upcoming newbies that all have restaurants here that will give you all the harbor town feels. Finish your food experience with some Cornish ice cream and you’ll be full for the rest of the day!
7. Cute local shops.
You will find some brand stores in the bigger towns, but the local shops are the best. Each one is different and you will rarely find the same things twice, so you pretty much have to go in every store!
You will find everything from local crafting works to paintings to mystical items to beachy decor. Why not get a lighthouse carved out of serpentine rock or a hand-poured brass crab, or how about some furniture made from driftwood? There’s at least one shop for everyone, so check ’em out!
8. History, Myths, and Legends.
Yes, all of England has history and it goes back farrrrrrr, but Cornwall’s is unique with fishing stories, smugglers, shipwrecks, and let’s not forget pirates. To top it off, King Arthur’s birthplace is here and you can visit the castle (or what’s left of it)!
Every town and village has its own history, so why don’t you grab a pint at the local pub and listen to the bartender’s stories, you could learn a lot.
9. Castles
Speaking of castles, there are so many stunning castles to visit atop hills, on cliffs, and some that are still occupied today. Take the time to visit the towns surrounding the castles and you will be pleasantly surprised.
The one pictured here is St. Michaels Mount. You can take a boat to it during high tide or walk the causeway during low tide. Definitely worth the visit and the views. And it’s FREE if you’re a National Trust member, just wear your walking shoes, because it’s a long, rocky climb to the top!
10. Water sports.
There are plenty of activities to do on the water. Windsurfing, kiteboarding, paddle boarding, body boarding, surfing, snorkeling, and more! You can literally do it all here!
Make sure you are extra careful if there’s a storm coming in or high winds because the waves are a little more crazy and if you’re a beginner, I don’t recommend trying anything too crazy. Safety first people.
More Cornwall Blog Posts:
- The Ultimate Guide to Kynance Cove
- Doc Martin Filming Location Guide: Port Isaac
- Essential Tips for Cornwall
Exploring Southwest England:
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