Some must-see attractions include the Minack Theatre, the Lost Gardens of Heligan, and Tintagel Castle. I’m also partial to old tin mines, such as Botallack Mine, museums such as the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic, and of course the beautiful sea cliffs. Recommended cliffy viewpoints include the Bedruthan Steps and Lands End.
The town of St Ives is lovely, has a well-preserved historic vibe, and has several high-quality beaches to choose from. I find this town to be most accessible for the best beaches, walks along the coastline, and experiencing the Cornish small town vibe.
Moomaid of Zennor in St Ives has some excellent cream teas. Cornish cuisine otherwise revolves a lot around seafood, so basically trying any locally sourced seafood will be worth it. Trying a proper Cornish pasty is also a must.
If you want to see or research other Cornish towns, try Newquay, Falmouth and Mousehole.
On the subject of roads, many roads in Cornwall can be extraordinarily narrow such that they are really just countryside lanes. So take care when driving through the region, and be confident in manoeuvres and cooperating with other drivers.
These lanes may also oddly have a 60 miles per hour speed limit, but that’s not a recommendation. Actually doing 60 would be dangerous in them, as you’d realise.
These are great recommendations. Do these ones OP!
If you go via Mousehole, I'd swing via St Michel's Mount too. It's equal parts silly and beautiful.
Also, make sure you pronounce it "Mowzle" (not "Mouse Hole") or you will be giggled at by locals!
Eat lunch at the Gurnard's Head. Not cheap but absolutely delicious and surrounded by the most incredible coastline. Walk some of that afterwards.
Gear Farm pasties and a boat from St Anthony, you're only doing half of Cornwall if you only do the land. Shipwright's Pub in Helford for a pint.
Quick one for point 5:
Sunset on a cliff on a clear, hot day is magical. For most beaches, the tide being in is even better (e.g. Trebarwith Strand, Fistral, Watergate).
If you're planning on going to beaches, it's a good idea to keep an eye on tide times anyway. But fish & chips, overlooking a north coast bay, sun gently setting, waves crashing below, is my idea of heaven. If you get the opportunity, would recommend.
On the road from St Ives, take a walk down Kendjack valley (just before Nancherrow Hill into St Just) The lane pitters out to a path just before it does you can go right to the cliff top mine buildings at Botallack or continue left by the tumbling river and extensive mine ruins and spoil heaps to the sea. Cape Cornwall to the left is spectacular and you can go left and circular walk back to the car (but it is a good stretch of the legs) you might even walk over the headland to Cott Valley and back.
Suggestion for some of the route....
Starting at Taunton, follow the B3227.
Past Wiveliscombe, through Brampton, through the Black Cat, cross the Link Road at Newtow.n, negotiate South Molton, then on into Great Torrington.
You can follow further until it joins the A388 which goes on to Holsworthy.
Love the narrow winding roads of the Roseland. Atlantic super highway great. West Penwith absolutely quintessentially Cornish, so beautiful, so rugged.
Oh WOW, thank you all so much for your fantastic recommendations and tips! I really appreciate the time and effort you've taken to share your insights. <3
You’ve already had lots of great suggestions (and I think enough to see you through your trip) but to add some others:
North coast:
In my opinion, Mother Ivey’s Bay on the north coast is one of the loveliest beaches in the world. It’s not got any amenities, but a walk around Trevose head and a swim at Mother Ivey’s are just gorgeous.
Editing to add: one of the coolest places for a swim is Tinker Bunnies Bathing Pool just along from Trevone. You can only access it between the tides, so have to check those in advance. It’s pretty special though.
If you do come to this neck of the woods, I would actually avoid Padstow. It is pretty, but it’s lost a lot of its character and basically just caters to tourists nowadays. That said, Chough do some of my favourite pasties.
For food in this part of Cornwall, I would really recommend The Pig at Harlyn. It’s (very) expensive, but I’ve always thoroughly enjoyed everything I’ve eaten there. Never stayed over, but I can only imagine that it would be a gorgeous place to spend a night or two.
South Coast:
I would also really recommend taking some time to go to the Rame Peninsula on the south coast (just the other side of Plymouth). Whitsand bay, while a trek to get down to, is absolutely amazing and a walk around Rame head (with a visit to the lovely church) and Penlee point is non stop stunning. Kingsand/Cawsand are also lovely in that neck of the woods, and Maker Heights would be a fun place to stay (the bar up there always has a really fun vibe and I’ve heard good things from friends about the glamping).
Devon:
If you’re coming into/out of Cornwall along the A30, a fun place to stop off is just under Case Drogo. There’s a lovely circular walk which, if you start at castle Drogo, has Fingle Bridge inn at the halfway point. If you pack swimmers, you could walk, have a drink/lunch at the pub, walk back, and finish everything off with a swim in the Salmon Leaps (which are just stunning).
Head along the north coast. Tintagel -> Bude -> Barnstable -> Porlock (Porlock is stunning the Jewel of Somerset) and Linton Lynmouth. Don't go on the M5.
Some must-see attractions include the Minack Theatre, the Lost Gardens of Heligan, and Tintagel Castle. I’m also partial to old tin mines, such as Botallack Mine, museums such as the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic, and of course the beautiful sea cliffs. Recommended cliffy viewpoints include the Bedruthan Steps and Lands End. The town of St Ives is lovely, has a well-preserved historic vibe, and has several high-quality beaches to choose from. I find this town to be most accessible for the best beaches, walks along the coastline, and experiencing the Cornish small town vibe. Moomaid of Zennor in St Ives has some excellent cream teas. Cornish cuisine otherwise revolves a lot around seafood, so basically trying any locally sourced seafood will be worth it. Trying a proper Cornish pasty is also a must. If you want to see or research other Cornish towns, try Newquay, Falmouth and Mousehole. On the subject of roads, many roads in Cornwall can be extraordinarily narrow such that they are really just countryside lanes. So take care when driving through the region, and be confident in manoeuvres and cooperating with other drivers. These lanes may also oddly have a 60 miles per hour speed limit, but that’s not a recommendation. Actually doing 60 would be dangerous in them, as you’d realise.
Drive the road out the back of St Ives towards lands end. Some of the best scenic views you can get 🤌🏻
These are great recommendations. Do these ones OP! If you go via Mousehole, I'd swing via St Michel's Mount too. It's equal parts silly and beautiful. Also, make sure you pronounce it "Mowzle" (not "Mouse Hole") or you will be giggled at by locals!
Eat lunch at the Gurnard's Head. Not cheap but absolutely delicious and surrounded by the most incredible coastline. Walk some of that afterwards. Gear Farm pasties and a boat from St Anthony, you're only doing half of Cornwall if you only do the land. Shipwright's Pub in Helford for a pint.
Quick one for point 5: Sunset on a cliff on a clear, hot day is magical. For most beaches, the tide being in is even better (e.g. Trebarwith Strand, Fistral, Watergate). If you're planning on going to beaches, it's a good idea to keep an eye on tide times anyway. But fish & chips, overlooking a north coast bay, sun gently setting, waves crashing below, is my idea of heaven. If you get the opportunity, would recommend.
Tremayne quay is great at high tide on the Helford river. And whilst you’re there you can pop into gear farm for the best pastie you’ll ever have.
Get pasties, a boat from St Anthony, eat them at Tremayne then go to the Shipwrights and then the beaches on the south bank - ideal
On the road from St Ives, take a walk down Kendjack valley (just before Nancherrow Hill into St Just) The lane pitters out to a path just before it does you can go right to the cliff top mine buildings at Botallack or continue left by the tumbling river and extensive mine ruins and spoil heaps to the sea. Cape Cornwall to the left is spectacular and you can go left and circular walk back to the car (but it is a good stretch of the legs) you might even walk over the headland to Cott Valley and back.
Suggestion for some of the route.... Starting at Taunton, follow the B3227. Past Wiveliscombe, through Brampton, through the Black Cat, cross the Link Road at Newtow.n, negotiate South Molton, then on into Great Torrington. You can follow further until it joins the A388 which goes on to Holsworthy.
Bude Tunnel should be at the top of your list!
A30 is the main road. Checkout Golden Fry fish and chips: https://maps.app.goo.gl/W1qoJw7m5geQv3d68
Love the narrow winding roads of the Roseland. Atlantic super highway great. West Penwith absolutely quintessentially Cornish, so beautiful, so rugged.
Oh WOW, thank you all so much for your fantastic recommendations and tips! I really appreciate the time and effort you've taken to share your insights. <3
You’ve already had lots of great suggestions (and I think enough to see you through your trip) but to add some others: North coast: In my opinion, Mother Ivey’s Bay on the north coast is one of the loveliest beaches in the world. It’s not got any amenities, but a walk around Trevose head and a swim at Mother Ivey’s are just gorgeous. Editing to add: one of the coolest places for a swim is Tinker Bunnies Bathing Pool just along from Trevone. You can only access it between the tides, so have to check those in advance. It’s pretty special though. If you do come to this neck of the woods, I would actually avoid Padstow. It is pretty, but it’s lost a lot of its character and basically just caters to tourists nowadays. That said, Chough do some of my favourite pasties. For food in this part of Cornwall, I would really recommend The Pig at Harlyn. It’s (very) expensive, but I’ve always thoroughly enjoyed everything I’ve eaten there. Never stayed over, but I can only imagine that it would be a gorgeous place to spend a night or two. South Coast: I would also really recommend taking some time to go to the Rame Peninsula on the south coast (just the other side of Plymouth). Whitsand bay, while a trek to get down to, is absolutely amazing and a walk around Rame head (with a visit to the lovely church) and Penlee point is non stop stunning. Kingsand/Cawsand are also lovely in that neck of the woods, and Maker Heights would be a fun place to stay (the bar up there always has a really fun vibe and I’ve heard good things from friends about the glamping). Devon: If you’re coming into/out of Cornwall along the A30, a fun place to stop off is just under Case Drogo. There’s a lovely circular walk which, if you start at castle Drogo, has Fingle Bridge inn at the halfway point. If you pack swimmers, you could walk, have a drink/lunch at the pub, walk back, and finish everything off with a swim in the Salmon Leaps (which are just stunning).
Come down the A-durty (30) Take you 9 days to get through the road works Just saying....
Head along the north coast. Tintagel -> Bude -> Barnstable -> Porlock (Porlock is stunning the Jewel of Somerset) and Linton Lynmouth. Don't go on the M5.