by Linda Jackson for Escape; Relax, Inspire, Discover

Stomping ground of King Arthur, port-of-call to seafarers Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh, a favourite region of poet John Betjeman, and home to author Daphne du Maurier, Cornwall can certainly claim its name to fame.

Steeped in history, numerous family attractions, and now with a well-deserved ‘foodie' reputation thanks to celebrity chefs Rick Stein and Jamie Oliver who have opened restaurants there, Cornwall makes a great holiday destination - equally perfect for couples or the whole family.

Can you picture quaint pastel-washed cottages lining historical harbours, fishing boats bobbing gently at their moorings; sheltered azure estuaries dotted with yachts; picturesque villages clinging to steep coastal hillsides - the houses tumbling to the very edge of the sea, and maybe even an island crowned with a castle?

Go wild, and picture more... towering craggy granite cliffs being lashed by white crested angry waves, windswept clifftops ablaze with wildflowers, wild moorland vistas, and sub-tropical valley gardens draped with a spectacular floral tapestry. Imagine a trail of footprints etched in soft wet sand; a golden beach stretching far and wide into the distance; miniature waves rippling gently along the seashore - their fringes glistening like diamonds in the morning sunlight; and only the occasional cry of gulls to interrupt the serenity of the moment as they glide the skies high above.

This kaleidoscope of landscapes is gifted to us by Cornwall - the southernmost part of Britain - which boasts the mildest climate in the country, benefiting from a warm micro-climate from the Gulf Stream which invites spring to arrive early and tempts autumn to depart late.

The powerful scenery and seascapes, picturesque villages and harbours, thatched cottages and colourful gardens not only attract innumerable visitors to the county but greatly inspire today's artists, and have enthused a number of prominent authors including the late Poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman who featured Cornwall prominently in his poetry, and Daphne du Maurier who lived and set many of her novels there.

If you think Cornwall is just for nature lovers, then think again. They'll certainly have a heyday of course but so will everyone else in the family. There are adventure parks, water parks, paintball and go-karting; extensive beaches of fine golden sand; the best waves in the country for surfing, and perfect sailing. You can hire horses, boats, surfboards, bikes and kayaks; discover ancient stone circles, castles, a rich maritime and mining history, and explore over 50 miles of heritage coastline. For the adrenalin addicts there's mountain boarding, kite surfing, and ‘coasteering', so Cornwall can be as action-packed as you dare.

You'll find outdoor theatre, music and opera performances throughout the summer in some unique venues, some serious art galleries and the acclaimed Eden Project - a futuristic wonder. Most importantly though, there's an opportunity to devour tasty ‘Oggies' (Cornish pasties) and those celebrated cream teas. Just imagine warm scones piled high with strawberry jam and thick Cornish clotted cream...

But, where do you choose to stay in this land of plenty? The north and south coast of Cornwall have different characteristics: the north coast is wilder and more exposed, but has gorgeous and extensive fine golden sand beaches such as Bude, Perranporth, Newquay and St Ives to name just a few; whereas the "Riviera" south coast has rocky sections, gentler cliffs, coarser sand but beautiful deep sheltered estuaries like Fal, Fowey and Helford. Irrespective of what coast you choose, north or south, the other is within easy reach as Cornwall stretches only around 50 miles at its widest from coast-to-coast.

Mid-way between the two coastlines (40% of which are protected by the National Trust) looms Bodmin Moor. Some think the moor bleak, desolate and foreboding and, true, caution does have to be shown when nature decides to cloak the land in thick fog... just the time when yarns of Cornish ghouls, ghosts and four legged beasts abound. In fact, the moor features granite tors (hills) and outcrops, far-reaching vistas, intriguing stone circles, and megalithic and prehistoric remains, so is worth a visit if in the area. A spooky place to pop in for lunch is the legendary Jamaica Inn, built in 1759 and immortalised in Daphne du Maurier's novel of the same name, where eerie sounds of horses' hooves on the cobblestones and footsteps pacing corridors may be heard... but nothing seen. Not far from here is Dozmary Pool, reputedly the residence of the Lady of the Lake - guardian of Excalibur, King Arthur's mighty sword.

On the north Cornish coast discover the Padstow and Tintagel area - King Arthur's stomping ground; and start exploring Padstow on the western side of the Camel Estuary, mid-way along the north coast. Described locally as a "working port that wears a holiday hat", the town holds a weird ‘Obby Oss' festival (slang for hobby horse) on 1st May when dancers, ‘teasers', and ‘obby osses' wearing gruesome masks cavort through the town to the sound of accordions and beating drums. Apart from that, Padstow is a quintessential Cornish fishing port with narrow streets, small shops and slate-hung houses, and boasts a picturesque harbour surrounded by medieval houses, along with a ‘foodie' reputation earned courtesy of celebrity chef Rick Stein who has four restaurants in the small town. For a treat eat at his award-winning Seafood Restaurant, just across from the quay where trawlers and lobster boats tie up; but for less expensive fast food (take-away or sit-down) pop into Stein's Fish & Chips at South Quay - this is fresh fish as good as it gets - and be prepared to queue, it's a favourite. Not to be outdone, TV celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has also opened a ‘Fifteen' restaurant in the area, in Watergate Bay mid-way between Padstow and Newquay.

Life for Padstow before its latter-day status as a popular tourist destination, was quite different: it was a busy shipbuilding centre, fishing and trading port in the 16th century and gave shelter to some notable seafarers: Sir John Hawkins on his way back from the West Indies, Sir Martin Frobisher returning from his search for the north-west passage to China, and to Sir Walter Raleigh who, as Warden of Cornwall, lived in the town. From the 17th century when copper ore and slates were exported from Cornwall's thriving mines, to the 19th century when the fishing industry was at its peak, Padstow was a bustling port; it was also a Southern Railway terminus, doomed alas, by line closures in the 1960s. But don't these disused railway lines just make idyllic cycle paths. The old six-mile Padstow to Wadebridge section of the line, now the Camel Trail (which extends a further eight miles to Bodmin), is a popular route where you can hire bikes for the whole family; it's a hike and bike trail that runs along the beautiful Camel Estuary.

Go to Daymer Bay at the mouth of the Camel River at low tide when the soft golden sand seems to stretch for miles, it's beautiful. And for lovely views overlooking Padstow town take the path which meanders along the clifftops towards many golden beaches - a small section of Cornwall's 268 miles of spectacular coastal paths. Coastal walks, a delight to most adults, can be anathema to children. But mix them with some wild rides, a big outdoor adventure zone and a few animals to cuddle and everyone will be happy. At Crealy Adventure Park, near Wadebridge (seven miles from Padstow towards Tintagel) kids can splash down a double-drop log flume, race the Raging Rivers water coasters, and go on Ariel walkways, sheer drop slides, and cool cableways. Little ones can harvest apples and oranges in a playtime farm, cuddle bunnies, ferrets and guinea pigs; feel at home in the children's village of miniature houses, meet storytime characters, and even have a special birthday party in the adventure park. Birthplace of many legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, the ruins of the 12th century castle clinging to the coastline at nearby Tintagel casts a dramatic sight, the craggy vista is a complete contrast to the views of soft golden sand beaches near Padstow. Visit the 14th century Old Post Office building, and King Arthur's Great Halls where his legend is brought to life with laser lights and music, you'll find an authentic round table and granite thrones surrounded by 72 magnificent stained glass windows; then take the dramatic walk out to the castle ruins.

Narrow streets meander through the picture-postcard town of Fowey (pronounced ‘foy') on the south coast of Cornwall, so different from the county's northern coastline. Home to Daphne du Maurier for many years, a departure point for Drake and Raleigh; esteemed for having survived sieges by the Spanish and French, this small town tumbles down the hillside enjoying sweeping views across the picturesque estuary. Stroll along Hall Walk (a circular two-mile route) for wonderful views across the river, then hop on the foot-ferry for the ten minute crossing to Polruan, a tiny village known for its boat-building heritage, and sink a tankard of ale at The Lugger Inn, a waterside pub with lovely views across the estuary to Fowey from whence you came - it is de rigour.

While in this area a visit to the remarkable biome domes at the Eden Project near St Austell is also a "must". Set in a reclaimed china clay pit around nine miles from Fowey, with a play area designed to make children think about how plants play an important part in their lives, visitors can travel the ‘plant world' in a day from tropical rainforests to the warm Mediterranean. While in the St Austell area, let children loose in Ben's Playworld: there are mega-slides, giant tubes, a giant ball pond, ghost house, death slide... and much more.

Pretty as a picture and just as quaint as Fowey, thirteen miles away, is the fishing village of Mevagissey with an inner and outer harbour from where boat trips around the bay can be taken. Picture brightly painted fishing boats bobbing at their moorings, white-washed stone houses, ‘olde worlde' inns, narrow twisting streets leading down to the picturesque harbours, and trawlers unloading their catch of the day. Catch the attention of children with Thomas the Tank Engine at the Mevagissey World of Model Railways, the attention of garden-lovers at the nearby Lost Gardens of Heligan, always beautiful (they house Europe's only remaining pineapple pit); and the attention of keen hikers with delightful views from the coastal path, steep in places.

The jewel in Cornwall's crown is St Michael's Mount, sitting majestically 500 yards off the coast at Marazion in the extreme west of Cornwall, near Penzance. The Mount, a granite rock, is topped by a medieval castle and church. Believed to have been a trading post from the Iron Age; established as a sister abbey in the 12th century to Mont Saint Michel in Normandy, and used as a fortress during Spanish invasions, it is accessible on foot at low tide across a causeway and at high tide by ferry during the season. The climb to the castle, home of the St Aubyn family but partly open to the public under the care of the NT, is steep and cobbled but well worth it.

Marazion - one of the oldest chartered towns in Cornwall (granted by Henry III in 1257) - boasts panoramic views stretching from the Lizard Peninsula to Land's End and a clean, safe sandy beach highly regarded for windsurfing, kite surfing, sailing and birdwatching. The RSPB has a reserve at Marazion Marsh where thousands of starlings roost twice a year, their arrival at dusk a spectacular sight. Pop into Marazion museum for their ‘Walk Round Marazion' booklet; around three-quarters-of-a-mile long the walk has some great views across the bay to Mousehole; when you're hungry, dine at The Godolphin Arms where scrumptious food is served alongside fabulous views of St Michael's Mount. On the western edge of Mount's Bay the small pretty village of Mousehole (pronounced ‘mowzle'), of maritime importance in the 13th and 14th centuries but virtually destroyed by a Spanish raiding party in 1595, is worth a stopover and a quick nosey around art and craft shops.

Terraces of old cottages rise in tiers from the small harbour: look for the steep lane leading to Paul village and discover the handsome church of St Pol de Leon which dominates the surrounding countryside. Dominating audiences fifteen minutes from Mousehole, you'll discover the atmospheric open-air Minack (meaning ‘rocky place') Theatre; built as if by Romans, the theatre is cut into the cliffside on the very edge of the ocean - yet another of Cornwall's coastal delights.

Whatever you're looking for in a holiday destination - whether unspoilt fishing villages or beaches, craggy cliff scenery or wooded vales; once experienced, Cornwall's variety of beautiful landscapes is sure to lure you back time and time again.

Cottages4you offer a great selection of holiday cottages in Cornwall. Feel free to search for a holiday cottage in Cornwall on the cottages4you site or read our destination guide on Cornwall which provides additional information and lists all our properties in Cornwall.

Born and brought up in the West Country, but having lived in Barbados, Belgium, Dubai, France and Morocco, Linda Jackson has a passion for travel. Her wide ranging work has been published in numerous national and international lifestyle magazines, in-flight, online, golf and The Guardian Group publications. Linda is Travel Correspondent for both DEVON LIFE and DEVON BRIDES magazines, and is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers and Golf Travel Writers Association.