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 25, 2009
Bude Boscastle Tintagel Port Isaac and Liskeard
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.
Falmouth Penryn and Around
Whilst visiting Cornwall you should certainly head for Falmouth and Penryn on the south coast of the county, two well known harbour towns, both have long and interesting histories. Falmouth along with Carrick Roads is the deepest natural harbour in Western Europe and also the third deepest in the world. Now a popular holiday destination, Falmouth has 5 excellent beaches and numerous guest houses. Penryn situated on the River Penryn near to Falmouth is one of the oldest towns in Cornwall, it has many historic buildings, some dating back to Tudor times. During the 19th century Penryn was important for the production and export of granite, with granite works being established beside the river. To the south-west of Falmouth and Penryn is the small fishing port of Porthleven, a notorious black spot for ships, many of which were wrecked during storms in the area. Facing south-west into prevailing winds, Porthleven has always been a difficult harbour to negotiate, its situation has however lead it to being a renowned surfing location, attracting many exponents of this sport. Not far from Porthleven and the largest village on The Lizard peninsular, Mullion is a popular area for tourists, with some spectacular scenery and some isolated beaches. Just offshore from Mullion Cove is a tiny island owned by the National Trust, it is an important breeding ground for many varieties of seabirds.
Looe, Polperro, Fowey and the Eden Project
A small seaside town situated on the River Looe in Cornwall, Looe is an attractive town which has become a popular holiday destination, whilst still retaining its fishing traditions. With a resident population of just over 5,000, Looe lies on both banks of the river, and is actually formed by 2 towns East and West Looe. An ideal base for touring the many attractions of Corwall, Looe has a good selection of holiday accommodation and you should have no trouble finding somewhere to stay should you wish to visit. There is plenty to see and do in and around Looe, with some attractive little fishing villages to visit in the area such as Polperro and Fowey. Polperro was a notorious smugglers haunt, especially during the 18th century, it is now a little more peaceful and attracts many visitors to explore its narrow streets and pretty harbour. Fowey, another small coastal town is actually an important cargo port, which was formerly significant in the export of china clay. Further south and near to St Austell, is one of Cornwall’s most well known attractions – the Eden Project. Conceived by Tim Smit, the Eden Project, which opened in 2001, features a number of huge plastic domes containing plants from around the world, it is certainly one of the “must visit” places in the region. Looe Map.
August 21, 2009
St Austell and Around
The most populated town in Cornwall, St Austell is also a good base for exploring the county, being close to such well known attractions as the Eden Project, the St Austell Brewery and Mevagissey’s Lost Gardens of Heligan. St Austell itself has a long history, though it was not mentioned in the Domesday Book, and it certainly had a church in Norman times, as remains can still be seen, the present Trinity Church however dates from the 15th century. As with many Cornwall towns, St Austell was much involved in the mining industry, especially copper and tin, but unlike others, this was replaced by clay mining as it became an important centre for the China Clay industry. These days tourism is more significant and the beautiful surrounding coastline is a big attraction with such pretty fishing villages as Mevagissey being an obvious place to visit. To the west of St Austell on Cornwall’s northern coast, the surfing resort of Newquay is a popular destination with miles of sandy beaches and ideal surfing conditions. Newquay is also well known for its nightlife, which is very lively, especially during the summer months. St Austell Map.
August 20, 2009
Places to Visit in Cornwall
England’s most south-westerly county, Cornwall is a popular tourist destination with some wonderful towns and resorts to visit, it generally enjoys a warmer climate than the rest of the UK and is one of the least developed of the English counties. The only city in Cornwall and the most southerly in Britain, Truro only has a population of around 20,000, it is the administrative capital of the county and grew in size and importance during the heady days of the once booming mining industry. Places to visit in Truro include the cathedral and the Royal Cornwall Museum. To the north-west of Truro is Perranporth, one of Cornwall’s popular surfing destinations, with miles of sandy beaches and hundreds of miles of fetch, this is a great surfing location. Golfers will not be disappointed either with a superb links golf course located north of the village, the families of surfers and golfers can enjoy the fine sandy beaches and pleasant climate. To the south of Truro and Perranporth is another charming little fishing village called Portreath, formerly an important shipping port for the Cornish mining industry, Portreath these days is a little more laid back, and attracts holidaymakers during the summer months. Just inland from Portreath are two formerly significant mining towns – Camborne and Redruth, both have seen decline as mining has decreased but both are currently being redeveloped. Camborne has a population of around 23,000 and together with neighbouring Redruth and Pool is the most populated area of Cornwall. A ruined Roman Villa found nearby give evidence of the town’s early history. Redruth has a number of interesting places to visit including the parish church of St Uny, Murdoch House and the Cornwall Centre and Mining Exchange. Head even further south and you will find the coastal town of St Ives, an attractive little town which was once a significant fishing port. St Ives was named after the Irish saint who came there in the fifth century, and these days is notable as an artistic centre, with artists attracted by the tranquillity and beauty of the place. St Ives is also the location of the famous St Ives September Festival. Go yet further south and you will find the towns of Penzance and Newlyn, together with the attractive fishing village of Mousehole, one of the prettiest in Cornwall, all situated around Mount’s Bay. Penzance is an ancient town, and was the location of a chapel dedicated to St Anthony over 1,000 years ago, the towns has many interesting places to visit. Newlyn has for many centuries been a significant fishing port, a tradition which still holds today, it being the largest fishing port in England. Newlyn has also been an important centre for the arts, with the Newlyn School being world famopus during the 19th century. Finally we visit the tiny fishing village of Mousehole, brought to world attention by the Penlee Lifeboat disaster of 1981, when the entire crew was lost in a storm. Today Mousehole is one of the must visit locations in the area, with its beautiful harbour and old world feel.
View a map of Cornwall here: http://www.my-towns.co.uk/cornwall-map.html