An excellent place that you could visit if you are taking a holiday in Newquay, Cornwall, this year, is the beautiful Watergate Bay, located some two miles north of the resort, near to the village of Tregurrian. With a wonderful long sandy beach, and a bay exposed to north-westerly winds, Watergate Bay is a renowned location for surfing and water sports. Such a great spot that the National Surfing Championships have even been held there in the past. Ideal if you ever wanted to learn to surf, Watergate Bay is also fantastic for kite flying, so while you are learning to surf, the kids can be having their own fun. There is plenty of self-catering accommodation in the area, with caravan parks a plenty, there is also an excellent hotel, called the Watergate Hotel, which overlooks the bay. The vibrant nightlife of Newquay is just a short drive away for your evening entertainment.
April 28, 2011
December 29, 2010
Geevor Mine Pendeen St Just
A museum and heritage centre located in a former tin mine in western Cornwall, the Geevor Tin Mine is a great place to visit if you are in the Penzance, St Just area. Learn a little about the historic tin mining industry, you can take the underground tour, visit the Hard Rock Museum, take a look down the Victory Shaft, visit The Dry, left as it was when the mine was operational, or try your hand at mineral panning an see what you can find. Located near to the village of Pendeen, north of St Just, the Geevor Mine is open Sunday to Friday.
October 26, 2010
Perran Sands Holiday Park Perranporth
Lying in an area of great natural beauty on the north coast of Cornwall, the Perran Sands Holiday Park is situated in the village of Perranporth, beside over three miles of fabulous sandy beaches, sand dunes, and attractive Cornish coastline. An ideal spot for a family holiday, Perran Sands will also prove handy for walking enthusiasts, as there are miles of wonderful and spectacular walks in this outstandingly beautiful area, perfect when the weather is fine. Currently run by the Haven Holiday group, Perran Sands boasts a wealth of activities for both adults and children, with swimming pools (indoor and outdoor), children’s clubs etc, for the evenings, there is lots of entertainment, which again will appeal to both adults and children (even the toddlers). For a break from the park, you can take a 40 minute drive to the Eden Project, which is located close to the town of St Austell, and is one of Cornwall’s most famous tourist destinations, or you can simply head into the attractive village of Perranporth itself, where you will find several pubs, shops, and the usual facilities. Golfers can enjoy a round or two at the Perranporth Golf Club, an excellent links course, which is rated at par 72.
August 13, 2010
Cape Cornwall Golf and Leisure Resort St Just
Visiting Cornwall this year? If you are staying in the St Just, Penzance area, then a nice spot for your accommodation could be the Cape Cornwall Golf and Leisure Resort which caters for both leisure and business guests and offers all the comforts required for your stay in St Just. Rooms are non-smoking with en-suites, hotel facilities include an 18 hole golf course, restaurant, bar, lounge, heated indoor swimming pool, so you can swim whatever the weather, sauna, gym, and spa bath. St Just is a charming little Cornish town, which is the most westerly in Britain, it is one of the oldest mining towns in Cornwall. The surrounding coastline is beautiful and ideal for walking and hiking, there are also some interesting places to visit including ancient tin mines and engine houses, and historic archaeological sites. St Just Map.
June 29, 2010
Falmouth Cornwall
A leading holiday resort on the south coast of Cornwall, Falmouth enjoys a mild climate and boasts some excellent beaches with safe bathing conditions. The largest dock in England is located here and it takes in tankers up to 90,000 tonnes, Falmouth harbour has a dry dock and safe anchorage. Established as a port beside the older town of Penryn, in the early 17th century, Falmouth is overlooked by the 16th century Pendennis Castle, which Henry VIII built to defend Carrick Roads. Its parish church King Charles the Martyr was so named after Charles II who awarded the town its first charter. Holidaymakers arrive in Falmouth to enjoy the pleasant weather conditions, and the many attractions of the town which is one of Cornwall’s most popular resorts. Falmouth Map.
March 28, 2010
Boscastle Cornwall
The charming village of Boscastle lies north-east of Tintagel in the county of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. Part of the parish of Forrabury and Minster, Boscastle has a population of just 888 and developed mostly due to its small harbour, which though tricky for incoming vessels, is the only navigable harbour for at least 20 miles. Standing at the point where the River Jordan and River Valency meet the sea, Boscastle was the scene of a dreadful flood in 2004, which caused much damage to the village. Worth a look in Boscastle is the Museum of Witchcraft, which has the biggest collection of witchcraft artefacts in the world. Boscastle can be reached from the A39 via the B3263. Boscastle Map.
March 27, 2010
St Just Cornwall Tourist Attractions
If you are visiting St Just in Cornwall this year, you may be interested to learn about some of the attractions that can found in this area. Britain’s most westerly town, St Just was formerly an important area for mining (tin and copper), though the industry has long since declined and its mines closed. One which is still open (though not for mining) is the Geevor Mine, located to the south of Pendeen on the road to St Just. The Geevor Tin Mine was the last working mine in the area, closing in 1990, and it is now a fascinating museum dedicated to the Cornwall mining industry. Nearby you can visit the Levant Beam Engine, fully restored and part of an exhibition. Those who enjoy spectacular scenery should head for Cape Cornwall, at one time considered to be Britains’s most westerly point (now known to be Land’s End). In St Just itself you can see one of Cornwall’s last remaining “playing places”, the Plain-an-Gwarry, formerly a venue for Cornish mystery plays, and still a popular spot for local events. St Just is located west of Penzance on the B3306. St Just Map.
March 8, 2010
Surfing in Perranporth Cornwall
Situated along north Cornwall’s wave battered coast lie a number of popular surfing hot spots, one of these, the village of Perranporth is not quite so well known as nearby Newquay but warrants a visit if only for the fact that it’s beach is generally less crowded that that of Newquay. Perranporth in fact has a splendid beach, which can reach a length of almost 3 miles at low tide, the slight downside is that the beach disappears almost completely at high tide, making it a little dangerous. During the months May to September there are usually lifeguards on duty at the beach giving a feeling of extra security when surfing. Perranporth beach is regarded as a good place for beginners, or to actually learn to surf, with a wide range of waves experienced there. The bigger breakers are produced by hundreds of miles of uniterrupted ‘fetch’ and provide a challenge even for experienced surfers. Those wishing to try their hand at this popular sport can get lessons and learn more from the Perranporth Surf School (tel: 07974 550 823). Perranporth is situated on the B3285 around 6 miles south-west of Newquay and 8 miles from Truro, it can be easily reached from the main A30 road. Perranporth Map.
February 20, 2010
Newquay Cornwall
The premier coastal resort of north Cornwall, Newquay is noted for its wonderful beaches, spectacular scenery and superb choice of facilities. While there are a number of fine surfing beaches and resorts along this stretch of Cornwall’s coast, Newquay remains the prime spot for this increasingly popular sport. Tourism began in Newquay with the arrival of the railway back in 1875, the town has grown in popularity ever since, its size and population increasing with it. Originally an Iron Age settlement, Newquay relied for many centuries on pilchard fishing for its economic survival, later of course tin mining became important, as for much of Cornwall, along with the export of china clay from the pits of St Austell. Modern day Newquay attracts both surfers and holidaymakers, who all enjoy the golden sandy beaches, the splendid Newquay weather and the excellent facilities of the town. Nearby places to visit include Perranporth, with its 3 mile long beach and attractive coastline (Perranporth also attracts its fair share of surfers), Padstow, with its ancient harbour, 12 miles to the north of Newquay, and St Agnes, and St Agnes, a charming little village to the south of Perranporth and Newquay (look out for Stippy-Stappy, a steep row of slate-roofed cottages at Town Hill). Newquay can be reached via the A3058 from St Austell. Newquay Map.
February 18, 2010
St Agnes Cornwall
A small village on Cornwall’s northern coast, St Agnes has a population of around 2,000 and a history stretching back to Roman times and beyond. Traditionally relying on fishing and agriculture for its economic survival, it was also heavily reliant on the mining of tin up to the beginning of the twentieth century. Modern day St Agnes is a renowned Cornwall holiday destination, popular for cottage style holidays, and a great area for hiking and walking, with miles of beautiful coastline surrounding the village. Places of interest in and around St Agnes include St Agnes Beacon (623 foot high landmark owned by the National Trust), St Agnes Parish Museum, Bolster and Chapel Porth (earthen bulwark), and the Wheal Coates ancient mining buildings. Other places worth a visit are Porthtowan which has an excellent beach popular with surfers, Mounte Hawke with its fabulous skateboard park, Newquay, the biggest resort in the region and again renowned for its surfing beaches, and Redruth, a historic market town to the south of St Agnes. St Agnes can be reached via the B3277. St Agnes Map.
October 17, 2009
Holsworthy Devon
A historic market town situated in the county of Devon, England, United Kingdom, Holsworthy has been settled since Saxon times, when it was a significant trading centre. Listed as part of Harold Godwinson’s estate in the Domesday Book of 1086, Holsworthy later became important as a market town, receiving charter’s for its weekly market. Standing on the River Deer, Holsworthy these days has a population of 2,256 and still boasts one of the largest cattle markets in south-west England. Holsworth is located near to the border with Cornwall and is east of Bude. Holsworthy Map.
August 25, 2009
Devon Cities Exeter Plymouth and Around
The fourth largest county in England, Devon is situated in the south-west of the country bordering Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset. Devon boasts a couple of national Parks in the form of Dartmoor and Exmoor, and some historic towns and cities such as Exeter and Plymouth, making the county an interesting and exciting place to visit. Exeter, lying on the River Exe was the most south-westerly fortified town during the Roman occupation of Britain, and even before this was settled, perhaps as early as 250BC. If you are visiting Exeter be sure to take a look at Exeter Cathedral which was founded in 1050, and became the seat of the Bishop of Exeter, being moved from Crediton. The naval port and city of Plymouth is famous as the departure point of the Pilgrim Fathers, who headed for the New World in the Mayflower in 1620, they of course founded Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts, America. Plymouth these days is a bustling city with a population of over 250,000. Whilst visiting Plymouth, you might want to consider a trip across the border into Cornwall, where you will find the town of Launceston just 2 miles from the Devon border. In Launceston you can see the 11th century Norman castle which overlooks and dominates the town, it was built by William the Conqueror’s half brother, and demonstrates the importance they gave to the town. Back to Devon and for something a little different, you might consider a trip to the races at Newton Abbot, the course established in 1866 is situated beside the River Teign and is a popular venue for thoroughbred horseracing. Devon Map.
Bude Boscastle Tintagel Port Isaac and Liskeard
The beautiful area of North Cornwall has some wonderful places to visit and holidaymakers will no doubt return time and time again to take in the sights as they will surely not be able to take it all in on one trip. Beach lovers will likely head for Bude, a popular coastal resort on the north coast. Bude has two fine beaches and the surrounding coastline is an area of extreme natural beauty. A little south of Bude finds you at 2 interesting little villages – Boscastle and Tintagel. Boscastle, a pretty village hidden in a valley has a harbour situated in a natural inlet, formerly a significant port but these days relying more on tourism for its survival. Tourism is of course also big in Tintagel, with its associations with the Legend of King Arthur, the ruined Tintagel Castle is located on a nearby island, and the timeless story attracts thousands of visitors to the village. Still further to the south-west be sure to drop in at Port Isaac, another Cornish fishing village with much to commend it, this charming place was previously important for exporting coal, stone and pottery, though fishing and tourism are the order of the day in modern times, the village centre has some fine examples of 18th and 19th century cottages. Places of interest in Cornwall are not confined to the coast and for something a little different you could set your sights on the ancient market town of Liskeard, a place of importance since the 13th century, when it was granted its license to hold a weekly market, which it has done ever since. If you would like to experience the market atmosphere, visit on a Thursday. Liskeard Map.
August 24, 2009
Cornish North Coast – Padstow, St Agnes and Polzeath
The north coast of Cornwall is dotted with many pretty coastal towns and villages and is also an area noted for its surfing, one of the best know being at Polzeath, just north of Padstow, where high rollers crash in from the Atlantic Ocean. In 2007, some 300 surfers arrived in Polzeath in an attempt to set a world record for the highest number of surfers to ride one wave. High rollers and dangerous sand bars also make this area tricky for ships and many have been wrecked on the approach to Padstow harbour, the notorious Doom Bar being the most dangerous. Five miles up the River Camel, things are a little quieter and the town of Wadebridge has been a successful market town since the early 14th century, the town did however see action during the English Civil War, when even Oliver Cromwell though it important enough to take control of the bridge. Some way south of Padstow and Wadebridge the village of St Agnes attracts hikers, artists and holidaymakers, who visit to enjoy the beautiful coastline and countryside and the fine beaches of which there are at least 5 in the immediate area. Part of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site, St Agnes was an important tin mining area in days past.