Cornwall

Area guide

Famed for its reputation as a UK holiday hotspot, Cornwall encompasses everything you’d want from a seaside haven - beautiful shoreline landscapes, bubbling cultural events and an exciting history.

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Cornwall sits at the point of the UK’s south-western tilt making it the furthest south one can go in the UK before hitting France. Brushing the Atlantic Ocean, Cornwall withholds a tease of foreign shores to come with its bright beaches, stunning shorelines and crystal blue waters.

Cornwall holds appeal to a whole scope of people, it’s relaxed and friendly atmosphere is suitable for family life whilst also retaining a vibrant youth culture, some of which is generated by the surfing spots dotted across the coastline. Towns reside in varying spots illustrated by either mountainous green scenery or oceanic landscapes meaning you’re always a stone’s throw away from natural beauty.

The architecture and style of housing finds charm in its traditionally rugged layouts and designs, as well as in more modern designs. Cottages and nautical influences are found in the more traditional fishing villages. However, out towards the countryside and green landscapes there is an array of differing housing styles branching into more modern designs.

There are varying activities and sights to take in throughout the County often dominated and influenced by Cornwall’s rich history. The inspirational setting has frequented many classic stories and folklore, King Arthur is closely related to the environment, Cornwall is said to have been his birthplace and Merlin’s Cave is said to exist beneath the ruins of a Cornish castle. Its mythological roots are stemmed from the tales told by pirates and smugglers who frequented Cornish pubs and ale houses.

Things to do in Cornwall

The rolling sandy beaches and sprawling ocean scenes of Cornwall are home to a variety of fishing villages, water sport activity and tradition – meaning there are an expansive amount of ventures to get stuck into.

Nautical Antics

The seaside location offers people the perfect excuse to learn and take up a new hobby. Cornwall is considered to be the surf capital of England receiving the most enticing swell of tide for surfers to mount. Fistral Beach in Newquay is among the top surfing spots being flocked on frequent occasions and for good reason - the beach is home to a spot which surfers refer to as ‘The Cribbar’ which can experience waves up to dizzying 30 ft heights. Other highly regarded spots include Polzeath Beach in Padstow and Porthemeor Beach in St Ives.

Of course there are wider antics which everybody can get involved in, such as swimming, sailing and crabbing! Falmouth’s expansive beach sits within a curve allowing swimmers to feel safe when taking a dip, its bright blue waters see swimmers frequenting its shore often for a fresh morning swim. The smattering of coves dotted around Cornwall hosts many canoeists, snorkelers and swimmers alike. There are also several crabbing hotspots which is always a terrific activity for families, some areas include Padstow, Looe, Fowey and Port Isaac.

Adventure

Cornwall is a walker’s paradise offering a variation of styles, from beach strolls to clifftop hikes there are plenty of spots to dig your walking boots into. A popular walking destination is the Tintagel area which is a route weaving in between splendours of history and folklore. The spot is associated with the story of King Arthur, the ruins of the castle which still stand today was allegedly once inhabited by the famous Knights of the Round Table and the magician Merlin.

Rocky and more mountainous paths run along the north coast of Cornwall, whereas more sandy beaches illustrate the southern coast. This indicates an incredible mixture of natural beauty to be found in this zone. Another commonly trodden path is the one to Land’s End which offers stunning views from the westernmost point and is commonly inhabited by exciting sea life such as seals and dolphins.

Why we love Cornwall

There’s a lot to love about Cornwall, amongst its array of activities there are several factors that the pure environment alone provides which pulls people in to its charm.

The Seaside Culture

Not your traditional British seaside culture, think sandy foreign shores instead of pebbles and fish ‘n’ chips. You’ll find 150 beaches throughout Cornwall all within a stone’s throw of whatever your location may be – you’re never more than 16 miles from the sea. This fact plays into the culture and feel of the county being so closely surrounded by the beautifully sparse Atlantic Ocean.

Elements of folklore are spun into Cornwall’s identity whirring a constant intrigue with its landscape and it’s not hard to see why from the visceral dramatic backdrops which still play a part in storytelling today – the popular BBC series Poldark is filmed in various spots including Holywell, Gwennap Head and Porthcothan.

Food

Cornwall’s various selection of fishing villages is host to a quality array of restaurants particularly for fish-based meals. Fishermen operate in the surrounding areas meaning the produce is served up in the highest freshness often being caught the very same day! The fresh fish is usually sold to local businesses which includes the Rick Stein Fish Restaurant which sees foodies flock from all over the UK.

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Properties for sale in Cornwall

Key villages & towns in Cornwall

Schools in the area

Cornwall’s large volume of educational establishments provides high quality learning for a range of levels and special abilities.

A grand total of 271 schools are scattered throughout Cornwall. An expansive selection of 235 Primary Schools are present in the county, alongside 32 secondary schools and a handful of specialist establishments and academies.

The St Stephen Churchtown Academy is a leading primary education facility providing children with skills and attributes beyond just learning, it takes creativity, sports and social activity into consideration as well. Amongst the array of high schools and colleges is the Falmouth School which provides students with sixth form further education too, the Fowey River Academy sits at the heart of the picturesque town of the same name which is titled as an Adventure Learning Academy Trust meaning experiences in education lies at the fundamental of their teaching.

With this incredible range of schools, there is more than enough facilities available in variety and in a short distance away from the main areas of Cornwall.

Transport links

By train

Cornwall is connected to London via a regular service to and from Paddington via the Great Western Railway and National Rail, additionally there is the Night Riviera Sleeper train which runs through the early hours through to Penzance. Services also run to other locations in the west including the Bath and Bristol areas which are situated a mere stone’s throw away.

By train

Cornwall is subject to many scenic drives particularly along the beautiful coastlines. Internally Cornwall is well connected by a series of A roads which provide easy access to the main motorways in neighbouring Devon which homes the M5. The M4 paves a path straight to the south west from London which can be driven in about 5 hours, the North can be accessed on the M6 via the M5 through to Manchester.