Generally there is little to worry about when it comes to holidays in Cornwall. Choose a nice spot near a beautiful beach, drive down the A30 until you reach it, and the rest will take care of itself until it’s time to go home.
A bit too simple perhaps, but that is the proven method used by millions of visitors every year. And while there’s nothing wrong with lazing by the sea for two weeks, Cornwall has so much more to offer.
The vast majority of tourists flock to the coast, and for good reason. There are, of course, incredible beaches, as well as the always beautiful South West Coast Path, picturesque seaside towns and the best fish and chip shops in the country.
But there’s a whole hinterland full of beautiful places to explore – and it’s largely overlooked by visitors. Here you’ll find spectacular walking and cycling trails, ancient heritage sites and lots of beautiful scenery, and you’ll often have them all to yourself, even in mid-summer.
Of course, picking and choosing where to go is often the tricky part, but there’s no shortage of tour companies (many of them based in Cornwall) who can help you plan an itinerary, whether you’re looking for a long weekend away in the shoulder season or a summer holiday with the family. To get you started, here are 10 top Cornish holidays to try this year.
Surfing with the family
Cornwall’s north coast is one of the best surfing destinations in Britain, with dozens of great beaches for all levels. One of the best for families is Watergate Bay, a quiet spot just up the coast from Newquay, where Wavehunters surf school offers two-hour group sessions for children aged six and over.
They provide all equipment and a brief introduction to the basics, before heading into the water to catch some waves. The school partners with the Watergate Bay Hotel, a breezy beach resort with 80 comfortable rooms, three restaurants and the Swim Club spa and fitness centre.
How to do that: Wavehunters (01637 860840) offers two-hour surf lessons from £45pp; rooms at Watergate Bay Hotel (01637 860543; watergatebay.co.uk) from £220, B&B.
Walk around the Lizard
If you want to walk a stretch of Cornwall’s 420 miles of coastline, you really can’t go wrong. No matter how varied it is, every inch offers boundless beauty. That said, the path that runs from Mounts Bay to Lizard Point is particularly praised for its stunning scenery – on one side an abundance of vibrant gorse; the sea crashing against the granite cliffs on the other side.
Western Discoveries runs a four-night walking tour, starting in Marazion and ending 35 miles away in Coverack, with stops in the honeypot villages of Porthleven and Mullion. Five nights’ accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis is included, as well as luggage transfers.
How to do that: Western Discoveries (01736 362763; westcornwallwalks.co.uk) offers the Marazion to Coverack walking holiday from £620, B&B.
Sing and sail in Falmouth
The bustling port town of Falmouth has a rich maritime history and remains one of the most important sailing spots in the South West to this day. For those who want to share a bit of this seafaring tradition, VentureSail Holidays offers berths aboard the traditional sailboat, Escape, for the Falmouth Classics Regatta in June.
The four-day itinerary also coincides with the city’s annual Sea Shanty Festival, where acts from all over the world come together for a weekend of stirring nautical music and fun-filled festivities.
How to do that: VentureSail Holidays (01872487288; venturesailholidays.com) offers a four-day Falmouth Classics & Sea Shanty Festival trip from £595pp, departing June 14, 2024.
Stairs to the west
Cycling enthusiasts have always been attracted to Cornwall’s Wild West, with its windy coastal roads, rugged landscapes and sweeping sea views. It’s not for the faint of heart, with plenty of steep climbs and hair-raising descents, but there are a few companies that can ease the way.
One of these is Cornish Cycle Tours, which offers a five-day West Cornwall route starting in Porthleven and following the coast clockwise through Penzance, Sennen, St Ives, Redruth and Falmouth. The package includes accommodation at each stop, as well as the opportunity to ride an electric bicycle.
How to do that: Cornish Cycle Tours (01637 889 156; cornishcycletours.co.uk) offers the five-night West Cornwall Cycle Tour from £717pp, including accommodation.
Connect with nature on Bodmin
Cornwall is full of beautiful places where you can take a meditation workshop or a yoga retreat, but Cabilla does things a little differently. This year the rural retreat on Bodmin Moor is offering Dirty Weekend packages, taking an earthy approach to reconnecting with nature. As well as yoga sessions and sound baths, guests can also engage in important conservation work, helping to replant the temperate rainforest (while learning all about this tempting but sadly endangered habitat) and get an up-close look at Cabilla’s species reintroduction project (including an audience with the two beavers present here, Sigourney and Jean-Claude).
How to do that: Cabilla (cabillacornwall.com) offers two-night Dirty Weekend packages from £425pp, including accommodation and all meals.
Choose your Cornish adventure
With such an abundance of places to see and do, the hardest part about a Cornish holiday is packing it all in. To ensure you cover as much of your wishlist as possible, Experience Cornwall Tours offers a 5-day Deluxe Tour package, which you can choose from a list of pre-set full-day excursions, covering some of the county’s top attractions – St Michael’s Mount, the Eden Project, Tintagel – as an option are included.
A guide and transportation are included, as are entrance fees and lunch each day (although no accommodation is included).
How to do that: Experience Cornwall Tours (01872 396143; experiencecornwalltours.co.uk) offers the 5-day Deluxe Tour package from £113 per person, per day.
Walk on the wild side
With an abundance of marine life and rare bird species, Cornwall is a nature lover’s paradise. To make the most of a creature-spotting adventure, Naturetrek offers five-day holidays around Cornwall’s native species.
It includes a twilight tour in search of Eurasian beavers, a seven-hour catamaran trip to spot dolphins and minke whales, and coastal walks in areas where you might spot the rarely seen jackdaw – the symbol of Cornwall. The package takes place in and around Falmouth, with accommodation at the Penmorvah Hotel included in addition to most meals.
How to do that: Naturetrek (01962 733051; naturetrek.co.uk) offers the five-day Cornwall – Beavers, Choughs and Cetaceans holiday from £1,295 per person.
Relax by the sea
When it comes to an old-fashioned family getaway by the sea, few hotels can match Carlyon Bay. The stately Art Deco resort near St Austell has something for everyone: a championship golf course with sea views, an enticing spa, an attractive outdoor pool, tennis courts, a 250-acre garden, a private beach and enchanting countryside for miles around .
There are many different packages to choose from, but families looking for summer holiday inspiration can consider the Family Summer Breaks offer, which includes unlimited use of the spa and leisure facilities, as well as a free daily round of golf.
How to do that: Carlyon Bay Hotel (01726 812304; carlyonbay.com) offers family holidays from £185 per person per night, room only.
Paint something Scilly
Since the early 19th century, artists have flocked to Cornwall, drawn by its dramatic landscapes and unique light. That trend continues to this day and a vibrant artistic scene is flourishing across the province, fostered by institutions such as the Newlyn School of Art. This year the school is organizing a series of painting holidays on Tresco, the second largest of the Isles of Scilly, and home to the famous subtropical gardens of Tresco Abbey. The four-day courses include daily painting lessons, a visit to the abbey gardens, an excursion to one of the neighboring islands and half board at the New Inn.
How to do that: Newlyn School of Art (01736365557; newnartschool.co.uk) offers the four-day Tresco Painting Holiday from £675 per person.
Take a seafood masterclass
The north coast town of Padstow has established itself in recent years as a hub for delicious seafood. At the center of it all is Rick Stein’s collection of restaurants (four in Padstow alone).
Anyone who has enjoyed the tantalizing cooking portions of the hit BBC series, Cornwall by Rick Stein, and would like to learn some of his culinary skills, should consider the Gourmet Break package at the Seafood Restaurant. It includes a two-night stay on a B&B basis, with a three-course dinner and a Cook Your Own Dinner course at the local cooking school.
How to do that: The Seafood Restaurant (01841 532700; rickstein.com) offers the Gourmet Break package from £686 for two adults.