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What To Do In Cornwall UK
An Aerial View of Cornwall
Cornwall is the westernmost county in England. Jutting out into the Atlantic at its tip, it has spectacular coastline scenery accessible via the south west coast path, beautiful gardens, places of National and International significance such as St. Ives - and so much more. Whether you are visiting the UK, or already live in the UK - if you are looking for a vacation destination, this article will give you a small 'taster' of what Cornwall has to offer.
Getting To Cornwall
Before your vacation in Cornwall can begin, you first have to get there! For visitors from overseas, car or coach travel provide a good way to get to and explore the county of Cornwall. Since the closure of many railway stations after the Beeching cuts of almost fifty years ago, many places, like Bude (for example), are no longer accessible by rail.
Road links are quite good but many underestimate the volume of traffic on the A303, A30 and M5 during the busy holiday periods.
This could be the reason for the huge increase in popularity of chartering a flight to Cornwall! Flying to Newquay airport (airport code NQY) aboard a private charter jet has never been more accessible - or affordable and a small price to pay for cutting the journey time from London and avoiding road congestion and hold ups.
If you have a family group or a small party of people wanting to travel for a vacation to Cornwall, why not fly direct - either from your home country, or from within the UK. It might cost a lot less than you think and it is easy to get quotes for private jet charter - you can use the link provided to key in your details and find out for yourself. Once at Newquay, car hire is simple.
Glamping, Try Camping in a Yurt at Pencuke Farm!
Where to Stay
You are really 'spoilt for choice' when it comes to selecting accommodation for your vacation in Cornwall.
Have you thought about trying Glamping? There are several sites in Cornwall offering luxury camping, (or Glamping as it is commonly referred to), in Yurts, Tipis or Safari Tents.
Would you prefer a little more comfort? Holiday home rental is hugely popular. You can rent almost anything from a lighthouse keeper's cottage to a manor house sleeping 10, 12 or more.
Choose a Luxury Spa Hotel In Cornwall!
Do you want even more luxury, if so how about a luxury spa hotel? These offer all those pampering treats, five star accommodation, dining and service. One of my favorites is The Scarlet Hotel - situated just five minutes drive from Newquay Airport.
The Scarlet Hotel
The Scarlet is Cornwall's luxury eco Hotel for grown-ups. It is an award-winning hotel built to the very highest Eco standards and having just thirty-seven bedrooms.
Its restaurant offers a wonderful selection for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians with a new menu created daily and featuring local, seasonal produce. There is also provision for private dining if you choose, in a beautiful room overlooking Mawgan Porth beach.
The spa is out of this world - they describe it as providing "Ayurvedic wisdom with a Cornish twist" - either way, the treatments are pure heaven!
Discover Cornwall's Beautiful Beaches
Cornwall has so many beautiful beaches that it is hard to pick out just a few. My selection comprises beaches awarded the prestigious 'Blue Flag' rating (read more at www.blueflag.org)
Summerleaze Beach in Bude, North Cornwall is a wonderful, family beach with sea pool. With ample parking, a beautiful sandy beach, surfing, water sports and very close to the town center, this makes a great choice for all ages.
Porthminster Beach in beautiful St Ives is the closest thing to a tropical beach that I know of (without actually going to a tropical beach, of course!).
It has excellent facilities and disabled access and if you are in St Ives, there are three other great beaches to choose from as well.
Gyllyngvase Beach, Falmouth in the south of the county is perfect for just about every member of the family - you can even bring the dog between November and Easter! For water sports enthusiasts, this stunning beach has more to offer than golden sands as it is the home of the WESUP stand up paddleboarding center where you can get first class tuition from a friendly, but expert team!
Discover the Gardens of Cornwall
There are many famous gardens in Cornwall. Thanks to the mild coastal climate, the variety of plants and trees grown here is enormous. I wanted to share with you, three very different gardens that offer so much more than 'a good day out'
The Eden Project
Quite apart from the two, incredible Biomes, the biggest in the world, representing tropical and Mediterranean regions, the Eden project offers tours to view the amazing plants, beautiful butterflies and provides an unforgettable experience for all the family.
In the summer, a dedicated education team provides activities for kids and families. There is also a wide-ranging program of entertainment including musical events too.
Barbara Hepworth Sculpture Garden
This is something completely different and offers visitors to St Ives a tranquil oasis where Barbara Hepworth's beautiful and impressive sculptures made from bronze, stone and wood. All are perfectly complemented by a range of sub-tropical plants. A walk around this garden can be a truly spiritual experience and one I would wholeheartedly recommend for anyone needing to relax and unwind.
Trebah Gardens
This spectacular garden is one of the most beautiful in the world. Treebah is a Celtic word meaning 'house on the bay' and was first recorded in the Domesday book of 1086.
Visitors can explore the 26 acres of sub-tropical gardens in a ravine that winds down to a private beach on the Helford River below.
The video above, right is perhaps the next best thing to visiting the garden yourself, a guided tour with head gardener Darren Dickey filmed in September last year.
This is a family-friendly garden. Children over 5 years will love Tarzan's Camp and for the under 5s, there is Fort Stuart. For children over 5 and under 16 there is the opportunity for an unforgettable experience, paragliding through the treetops and down to the beach!
Family Days Out in Cornwall
Cornwall has so much more than sun, sea and sand for families. There are literally hundreds of family-friendly places to visit.
Newquay has many attractions such as
- Newquay Zoo
- Blue Reef Aquarium
- Waterworld with flumes and slides for amazing fun in the water whatever the weather
From Falmouth, you could experience a marine safari in a 12-seater RIB from Orca Safaris.
From Clovelly, a trip to Lundy Island to see the wealth of bird life (including Puffins) and (of course), the seals!
Skyraker at Flambards
Thrilling rides for all the family
The Flambards Experience at Helston offers too much to include here.
Take a look at the video on the right and see why you must experience the incredible Skyraker Drop Tower for yourself!
More thrills can be found at Crealy at Tredinnick too!
Cornwall, Your Vacation Destination
Newquay Airport - you can even fly to Cornwall for your Vacation!
A fantastic day out for all the family at the Eden Project
A beautiful tranquil garden where art and nature complement each other perfectly
One of the most beautiful gardens in the world - don't miss it!
Golden sands and surfing - don't miss the opportunity to swim in the famous Bude Sea Pool!
One of four beautiful beaches in world-famous St. Ives
Home to the WESUP Paddleboard centre as well as offering golden sands and a great location for a day on the beach for all the family
A Haven for birds and wildlife and a magical place to visit.
Many thrills for all the family on a fun packed day out at Flambards - don't miss the SkyRaker!
Too Much To Do In Cornwall On One Vacation!
The trouble with trying to give a flavor of all that Cornwall has to offer in one short article is that I could never do it justice!
I have hardly mentioned the spectacular views, the beautiful scenery or the wildness of Bodmin Moor. I have not even begun on the delicious food, the traditional pasties and Cornish cream teas or the top class restaurants serving all the best of local produce from the land and the sea.
The only thing to do is to make Cornwall your next Vacation destination - and check it out for yourself!