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Holidays in Cornwall, United Kingdom

Boutique hotels

Cornwall Overview

United Kingdom

Countryside
Rocky shores and rolling surf
Country life
Crest of a wave; catch of the day

With its soft sand beaches, hot summer sun and spectacularly noisy waves, Cornwall is the stuff of perfect childhood holidays.

This remote and beautiful part of the British Isles has won back a new generation of devotees who have discovered its unique magic (and almost sub-tropical micro-climate). A few halcyon days here will offer all the stupendous sea views, peaceful beaches and laid-back living you could want, and the fabulously fresh seafood means a gastronomic treat lies in every cove; celebrated chefs have moved to the region and vie for your attention among the beachfront shellfish shacks, the country inns and traditional tearooms. There’s plenty to help you work up an appetite, including clifftop walks, art galleries and sailing; and the surfing is perhaps the best in the UK. Whether you join the crowds in high summer or find some perfect solitude out of season, you’re sure to fall under Cornwall’s powerful spell.

Completely Cornwall

You won’t walk far here without coming across a pasty shop. The ultimate portable picnic, these pastry-encased mini-meals originally kept miners and farmers going throughout the working day. Cornish food writer Hettie Merrick has scotched the theory that they sometimes contained ‘two courses’, with a savoury filling at one end and a fruity one at the other. Put your disappointment aside and wrap your lips around a treat made by Hettie’s daughter Ann Muller, reckoned to be Cornwall’s finest pasty-maker, from the Lizard Pasty Shop in Helston (+44 (0)1326 290889).

Local knowledge

Taxis
Cabs are thin on the ground, so ask your hotel for a number and book ahead if you can. Ring +44 (0)1726 832676 for Fowey Taxi Service; Truro Taxi Cab Co is on +44 (0)1872 321321.

Tipping culture
About 10–15 per cent is appreciated.

Packing tips
The beaches of Cornwall are often pounded by Atlantic breakers, making this county the centre of Britain’s surf culture. If this is your thing, pack plenty of Billabong, Ripcurl and Oxbow.

Recommended reads
‘Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again...’ For great Cornish romance and drama, read Daphne du Maurier’s dark, fabulous novel Rebecca. Another Cornwall-set classic is Mary Wesley’s The Camomile Lawn. Before attempting Cornish polymath DM Thomas’ dream-like The White Hotel, dip into Dear Shadows, his most recent poetry collection about Cornwall’s mining heritage.

Regional specialities
High-calorie treats abound, none messier than a Cornish cream tea of scones, jam and clotted cream. As well as an authentic pasty from Philps Bakery in Hayle (+44 (0)1736 755661), and fish ’n’ chips from Rick Stein’s Padstow chippie, don’t leave without trying raisin-studded saffron cake; stargazy pie – a fish dish served with the heads and tails poking up through a pastry crust; and yarg, a nettle-wrapped cheese based on a 13th-century recipe, now made only by Lynher Dairies (www.cornishyarg.co.uk).

Currency
Pound sterling (£).

Time zone
GMT.

Dialling codes
Country code for the UK: +44.

Do go/don't go
There’s always a chance of rain. Crowds can get annoying in the summer months and the roads can be clogged with traffic. Autumn and spring provide sunshine, peace and the chance of dramatic rainstorms; blustery weather is also ideal for surfing.

Don't go home without...

...trying to speak a few words of the native tongue: around 4,000 people still speak Kernewek, a language with strong ties to Breton and Welsh, and Cornish independence is still desired by many. Make someone’s morning by greeting them with ‘Myttin da’.