I wouldn’t dare call myself a local, however after living in Cornwall for ten years, I have a little list of Cornish gems that I would like to share with you. Sometimes visitors to our beautiful county have an underwhelming experience due to the lack of parking, queues, prices and general infrastructure. These little suggestions might help you to avoid the tourist hotspots and have a really wonderful time. (You’ll be happy to know that that the Chivvy Roundabout (A30) has not been completed so you might want to save your best snacks/ podcast / episodes of Paw Patrol until this stage of the journey).

Surf and Seals

You can always find space on the long stretch of beach ‘Gwithian’ near Hayle. This is usually a great spot for surfing and there is nearly always a horsebox on the beach serving lovely coffee and bread and butter pudding. If you walk further up towards the lighthouse past Godrevy, there is a perfect look out point over Mutton Cove which is home to a huge colony of grey seals. Make sure you plan your visit for high tide and you may be treated to a lovely display of seals and pups lolloping and rolling in and out of the surf.

It is easy to see why this wild and dramatic landscape inspired some of Virginia Woolf’s most famous novels. There are some hairy cliff drops but for the most part this is a great place for families and dogs. Lots of parking options at Gwithian and a National Trust carpark at Godrevy, which also has an excellent cafe serving big sandwiches and chips.

Miracle Theatre

Cornwall is home to some very talented artists, none more so than the actors in the Miracle Theatre Group. These highly trained performers usually spend the summer touring the west country and have performances at some of the most beautiful locations in Cornwall including the glorious Minnack Theatre as well as Enys House, Trebah Gardens and many more gorgeous spots. Their current production ‘Love Riot’ is a Bridgerton-esque parody. Miracle Theatre is consistently high quality and always good fun.

Legendary Coves

The magical village of Zennor is perched on the cliffs at Penwith. A great place for a wild and woolly walk along the coast, finishing up at the Tinners Arms for some classic pub food. The legend of the Mermaid of Zennor is a wonderful eerie tale and you can visit the Mermaid's chair in the ancient church of St. Senera.

St. Agnes and Chapel Porth are home to the legend of the Bolster the Giant. There is a beautiful circular walk (6 miles) between the two beaches with a pit stop for crab sandwiches at Chapel Porth. On busy days there is overflow parking in the field above this beach.

Train to Porthminster Beach

Driving into St Ives is traumatic in the low season and homicidal during the summer. Ditch the car at St Erth Train Station and get the branch line into St Ives. The train journey is spectacular as it follows the coast and delivers you directly to Porthminster Beach. Either hang out at this expansive family beach or go straight towards Porthmeor and BYPASS the main strip.

Head in the direction of The Tate St Ives and wind your way along the narrow streets popping into pottery shops and studios along the way. The Tate St Ives is an impressive building, don’t forget to look for Patrick Gale’s glorious stain glass window in the foyer before checking out the small and well curated collection. The gallery-averse can hang out in the cafe on the top floor which has the most beautiful views across the bay.

Poppy and Honesty Studio, Falmouth

Please make an appointment and visit our Sail Loft Studio in Falmouth. Check out our beautiful textiles which are all handmade here in Cornwall. We’d love to welcome you and chat over a cup of tea so please get in touch (I may even be able to muster up a scone).

Summer in Cornwall Part 2 will be coming soon. Please remember if you are visiting Cornwall to support local businesses as much as you can, it makes all the difference.

Sophie xxx