Buckets knocking against bare knees and the tang of salt on your lips… Winding streets filled with gift shops and hot fish and chips. Higgledy-piggledy houses sweeping down to the sea, I want to show you around ~ will you come with me?

I’ve holidayed in the sunny seaside towns of Cornwall ever since I was a little girl, so it seems only natural for me to do a colourful tour here. Get ready for the very best traveller’s tips of where to go, what to see and, most importantly, what to eat!

1. Stay in your own Cornish cottage…

A cottage paradise or room with a view. Choose somewhere you can play house like you’re one of the villagers too… Look out for a cosy Cornish getaway, especially one with its own private terrace for coffee and croissants (or pasties!) in the morning for you to indulge in to your heart’s content. As you roll over in the clean fresh sheets and pull one of the pillows towards you that adorn the bed, take a moment to hear the comforting sound of the church bells ring and the birds calling overhead… We found this little gem here.

2. Sample a Cornish Pasty…

I highly recommend a Cornish pasty to start off the morning or for any time of day in fact! Did you know that the Cornish pasty is shaped the way it is – with the thick, rolled crust on one side – so that dirty hands could hold it and not poison the rest of the meal? This was when many men were working with arsenic in the Cornish tin mines and their wives baked them pasties like this for lunch. Thankfully, tin isn’t mined by hand in this country anymore, but the Cornish pasty remains a delicious treat.

3. Take a cliffside walk…

Sweeping white cliffs with gulls wheeling above, characteristic pastel-coloured houses nestled between hills, and the balmy fresh air as you wander along the cliffside or quay is enough to make you fall in love and want to stay forever, as has happened to several of the county’s occupants over the years. Artists, writers and sea-farers have often reminisced to me on how they first came to Cornwall ~ most of them visiting on holiday many years back ~ and never left. A cliffside walk may give you a similar idea! Snap a picture of the view from the top and enjoy working up an appetite. The Cornish coast abounds with secret coves and hidden beaches just itching to be explored, and if you come across one you might be inspired to…

4. Go beachcombing…

Who knows what you will find ~ seashells, heart-shaped pebbles… The sea brings many wonderful gifts to the shore. A cove in Cornwall is the scene of that quintessential English summer – a yellow sandy beach, ringed by rocks that hold marine treasures when the tide is out and provides the perfect swimming bay when the tide is in. You might want a book recommendation to enjoy whilst sitting with your back nestled between the warm pebbles of the beach and watching your loved ones skim stones or hunt for shells along the cove, and, if so, I suggest you…

5. Read a Daphne du Maurier novel…

Daphne du Maurier is one of Cornwall’s most famous writers. My Nana once saw her bathing in a cove on the beloved Cornish coast that inspired most of her novels when she was young. A cross between ‘high-brow’ and ‘popular’ fiction, she delighted her readers and spoke strongly of her atmospheric visions from the surrounding countryside, for she used Cornwall and many of the place names local to her in her writing.

Its wild moorlands and grey clouds overhead, changing quick-as-a-flash to sunlight, gave a tempestuous and ever-searching element to her works which imbue them all the way through – page to page – with Cornish feeling…

My two favourites are Rebecca and Jamaica Inn, and on my bucket list – My Cousin Rachel. You can often pick up a copy from any of the bookshops found in town.

6. Treat yourself to Afternoon Tea…

Cream teas are an absolute must in Cornwall! The only question is ~ are you a jam then cream, or a cream then jam type of person? Look out for a charming cafe to enjoy one of these in, you can often tell the perfect one by their wide selection of loose leaf teas, which are served in beautiful china pots and sipped from delicately painted teacups, giving you the most idyllic cup of tea. Once you’ve savoured every last mouthful, you are ready to…

7. Soak in the local creativity…

Cornwall and its countryside has inspired many people to create ~ paintings, sculptures, film and different types of mixed media. Art galleries where you can peruse local talent abound in this part of the world. Perhaps you will find a special piece to add to your own collection?

Or, for a slightly smaller purchase…

8. Gift some fudge as a souvenir!

POV: the best fudge is made in Cornwall and local fudge makes such a good souvenir for a loved one. Many villages and towns have a fudge pantry where you can see the delicacy being made and the sweet smell of sugar and cream wafts down the street… Which melt-in-the-mouth flavour will you choose? The most traditional flavours are Vanilla Clotted Cream and Double Chocolate but you might want to go more adventurous with Sea Salt or even Lemon Meringue – I can gladly confirm that both are absolutely delicious!

9. Time toVisit an Aquarium

Sealife is big in Cornwall ~ lobsters, crabs and the most amazing fish… If you’re not up for fishing or rock pooling, the next best thing is definitely an aquarium. My sister and I once took a crab in we had caught on holiday and found particularly interesting. We wondered if the aquarium would like to buy it from us for their collection. Unfortunately, as it was a pretty average-looking crab (to them) they didn’t share our enthusiasm and we didn’t get any extra pocket money from them that day! But the aquarium itself was fascinating, it is truly amazing what can be found on the Cornish coast.

10. Take a boat out…

Enjoy the scenery from a different perspective by hiring your own boat and let the rocking of the water soothe you. This is a picture of me with the cottage my Nana dreamed of buying when we were young. The gentleman who loaned us the boat reassured me that it had been bought by a city dweller who spent a lot of time refurbishing it and continued to look after it very well. I highly recommend going cottage-spotting on your own boat trip and imagining your own piece of heaven here. It’s also a great way to build up some energy before you…

11. Shop the indie boutiques…

It is often so rewarding to shop small and support local businesses. The towns and villages in Cornwall are ripe for paintings, trinkets, jewellery and sculptures, and shop owners display their wares in the many little galleries and shops pocketed around their ancient narrow streets. Often the best treasures are uncovered here, you will particularly find a lot of conscious clothing and homeware brands in Cornwall. 

Then, when you’ve browsed to your heart’s content, dinner urges you to…

12. Indulge in Fish and Chips on the Pier…

Round off the day with a traditional seaside meal ~ fish and chips on the quay or pier with lashings of salt and vinegar. So good they attracted an audience ~ watch out for the seagulls!

And for dessert, one cannot beat a spot of Cornish ice cream, famous for being the creamiest in the country.

13. Finish with a pint in a seaside pub…

And when you’ve luxuriated in your Cornish getaway to the last, take a sip of a locally brewed pint in an aptly named seaside pub. You’ll find that many establishments names are inspired by the sea ~ The Ship or The Galleon ~ and they are some of the most historic places to be!

I hope you’ve enjoyed our trip! Let me know if you’d like any suggestions of where to tick off your Cornwall getaway guide!

In Love&Light,

FS XOX