Think you know Cornwall? Then think again. Take another look at the county and gain a fresh perspective during the winter when its incredible beauty is laid bare. In fact, for the people that live there, Cornwall at this time of year remains its best kept secret, encapsulated in its wild and bracing atmosphere.
“Cornwall is both at its most beautiful and deserted in winter and for the locals, it really is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered,” comments Richard Beaman, Director of www.cornwallscottages.co.uk. “Rugged and windswept, it is quite spectacular and there’s nothing more mesmerising than a wild winter storm. I’m fascinated by the seasonal changes that coast and country undergo and it’s exhilarating to see the stirring seascapes and landscapes, whether it’s to stride out on an empty beach or take a ramble over brooding Bodmin Moor.”
Here are Richard’s six of the best reasons to visit Cornwall in winter:
• Dramatic walks are to be had on both the coast and moors. The South West Coast Path, wrapping around the county, offers spectacular cliff-top and beachside walks; try stepping out from Polruan to Looe on the Gribbin Head-Polperro Heritage Coast. Bodmin and Dartmoor, rich in history through their stone circles and tors, are perhaps most evocative in winter, and it’s likely you’ll only see a handful of people.
• Main attractions such as the Eden Project (just as spectacular in winter as summer) and the National Maritime Museum, along with castles such as Pendennis at Falmouth and stately homes like Lanhydrock House, can be taken in without the crowds.
• Enjoy glorious gardens such as those at The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Trebah and Lanhydrock, all to yourself, and there’s plenty to see thanks to Cornwall’s mild winters.
• Breeze into celebrity restaurants without sight of a queue – check out Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen in Newquay and Rick Stein’s eateries in Padstow.
• Give the dogs a treat - take them out to hare along open beaches, from which they are banned in the summer.
• Drop into the art galleries and boutiques of St Ives, Padstow and Fowey with more time and space to peruse; and more than likely you’ll find a parking space first time!
www.cornwallscottages.co.uk & www.stmawesholidays.co.uk have over 50 self catering holiday cottages across south Cornwall, specialising in the Roseland Peninsula. From waterside cottages to converted barns to luxury apartments, there is something for all tastes and budgets. For more information, visit the websites of call us on 01872 264441.
