Cornwall – A where to guide

Cornwall is one of England’s most beautiful counties, boasting a wealth of beautiful beaches, restaurants and sites. Located on the South West coast of England, Cornwall is unique to the rest of the country, providing tourists with endless blue flag beaches, picturesque fishing villages and some of the UK’s leading eateries. With Cornwall having so much to offer, visitors often find it difficult to pick out the best of Cornwall.

Where to go?

When it comes for places to go in Cornwall, where do you start? With so much on offer, the first port of call for everyone should be the Eden Project. Completed in May 2000 to mark the turn of the Millennium, The Eden Project will be sure to blow your mind. Created with a number of artificial biomes, Eden houses thousands of different plant species and attracts visitors from across the globe.

If music is your thing, be sure to visit the Eden Project in June and July as they host their annual outdoor festival, Eden sessions. This year (2013) sees the likes of Sigur Ross, Jessie J and The XX line up at the Eden Sessions festival.

For something a bit more tranquil, why not head over to the iconic Lands End. With the Atlantic constantly battering the settlement, it’s expectedly rugged, but by gosh it’s atmospheric.

When holidaying in Cornwall, bad weather needs to be accounted for; this is why we recommend taking a day out to visit the Tate gallery. Located in the beautiful St Ives, The Tate exhibits some of the most avant-garde art in the country

Where to beach?

Harbour Beach is a south-facing beach located in the heart of the fishing village St Ives. Sheltered from the Atlantic by the large harbour walls this is an ideal beach for families. With plenty of great amenities close to the beach, this is a must for any families visiting Cornwall.

Hawkers Cove Beach is an idyllic beach located 2 miles from the equally beautiful village of Padstow (home of world-famous chef, Rick Stein). This quiet sandy beach of Hawkers Cove stretches for over 2 miles and is pretty much unspoilt, perfect for a romantic getaway.

Fistral Beach is one of the UK’s most famous beaches and is certainly Cornwall’s number one beach. Regarded as one of the best UK surf beaches, Fistral Beach is home to the BSA Surf School and regularly hosts surf competitions. Fistral Beach is well maintained and is very clean, making it ideal for surfers and families alike.

Where to stay?

Cornwall is home to some of the finest hotels in the UK. The current number one hotel in Cornwall is said to be the Boskeris Hotel, located in the village of St Ives. Other popular hotels among visitors include the Sands Resort, Hotel Penzance and Trelaske Hotel.

If you don’t like the restraints of a hotel, why not opt for a self-catering option. Throughout Cornwall there are self-catering cottages available to rent, with varying luxury and amenities. Many cottage owners now provide guests with the luxury of hotels, with pools, gyms and play rooms all built in. Be warned – Cottages in Cornwall with a Pool don’t come cheaply.

Where to eat?

Much like the hotels in Cornwall, restaurants are certainly not few and far between. The most famous of Cornwall’s restaurants is Rick Steins, flagship restaurant of celebrity chef, Rick Stein. Serving the best in local produce, Rick Stein has really captured the taste of the sea in this pretty restaurant located in his home town, Padstow.

If you want something a little less formal, without the pretentious aura, why not take a trip to the rustic and trendy restaurant, The Wheel House. The Wheel house specialises in rustic, traditional fish dishes that ooze taste and through simple, good ingredients.

If you want to push the boat out whilst in Cornwall, there is only one restaurant you need to visit – Nathan Outlaws. Located within the St.Enodoc Hotel, Nathan Outlaws is an award winning restaurant, winning two Michelin Stars and holding the award of Best Fish Restaurant  by the Good Food Guide in 2011.