Cornwall can be mobbed with tourists — mostly English families with their dogs and ice cream cones visiting all the predictable corners. St. Ives, Port Isaac, and Mousehole are quaint, Tintagel is the place to stick a sword in the stone, and Land’s End is a must-do photo stop. But there are plenty of ways to have the real wonders of Cornwall all to yourself. Here are three:
Cornwall is many-faceted in its charms. And it claims to have more prehistoric megaliths than any other region of England. Finding a remnant of lost civilizations that is older than the oldest Egyptian pyramid makes you want to just sit there in silence for a while and marvel.
The best way to find and experience the wonder of this corner of England is on the South West Coast Path. Within a few minutes of any car park, it’s just you and nature.
The “Connoisseur’s Land’s End” is Cape Cornwall, just past the mining town of St. Just (a few miles north of the Land’s End tourist trap). OK, so it’s a smidge short of the southwesternmost tip, but it feels like the end of the world. From a small car park, where the only place to spend money is at a blustery little tea and ice cream stand, you hike past a ruined sixth-century church and conquer this little bluff to enjoy a magic moment…just you and the gulls and Cornish Atlantic vastness.
Thanks, Rick, for a “micro-vacation” to Cornwall — I can almost hear the waves crashing on the Cornish coast. It’s definitely on my bucket list of must-see places to go in Europe.
Became enchanted to see Cornwall from the PBS series Poldark. Now you’ve gone and heightened my desire.
Glad to see you’re finally giving Cornwall some respect. (You might try Devon, too.) It’s a pity public transport isn’t better, although I’ve seriously considered riding the night sleeper train to Penzance.
Agree with the others, the “Garden of England” is Kent.
I was in Cornwall last May. I did an Equestrian vaca. We galloped across Bodmin Moors. Just like Poldark. I would def go back.
Each day, we look forward to your adventures.
We went to Cornwall in 2012 and it was great. Went to the town Doc Martin is filmed in, went to Falmouth, Tintangel, did a cider farm tour. Great places.
Rick… I was fortunate enough to be stationed at RAF St Mawgan outside of Newquay in the mid-90s. Fistral Beach, St Columb Major (and Minor), on the North Coast, Truro (the Cathedral is a must see) and St Austell on the south side. Going to St Blazey is alot of fun, as are most of the villages you will encounter, either side of the A30.
Thanks for your many shows that I watch on WHRO/Create TV/PBS in Norfolk VA. They do bring back lots of memories of my 6 years in Europe.
Happy and Safe Traveling!!!
R/John – Virginia Beach VA