With the rugged cliffs and crystal clear seas, Cornwall is a place apart. The well known towns of Newquay, St Ives, Padstow, Falmouth and Penzance, as well as its beautiful coastline, make Cornwall popular.
Best of Cornwall breaks for...
- Beaches: Cornwall is a haven for beach lovers with beautiful sandy beaches dotted all along the coastline. Newquay is one of the most visited destinations in Cornwall and is famed for its beaches, Fistral, which offers the best surfing, Great Western, Tolcarne, Lusty Glaze and Porth are all well worth a visit. However be warned, Newquay gets very busy in the summer months, so it's essential to book your hotels in good time.
St. Ives is a small, picturesque town complete with narrow streets and stunning beaches whilst nearby Hayle has a huge expanse of sandy beach, plus a vast estuary which is heaven for bird watchers.
- Towns: Further along the north coast from Newquay is Padstow. Once a sleepy fishing village, it is now a busy resort town. Falmouth, on the south coast, has one of the country's biggest natural harbours and is home to the Maritime Museum. It is also a good place to use as a base to explore mid Cornwall and has a large number of hotels. The market town of St. Austell is the place to go if you want to visit the Eden Project, located in the nearby china clay pits.
The northern part of Cornwall has two towns well worth a visit. Bude is the most northerly town in the county and offers beaches and lovely coastal walks. Another northern town, this time inland, is Launceston. Once the capital of the county, it is now a market town complete with a castle and is a good place from which to discover both the northern coasts and the inland towns.
- Outsdoors types: Exmoor and Dartmoor are perfect for outdoor activities. Rambling and hiking are popular in both places, as is horseriding. Sailing is popular on Lake Wimbleball on Exmoor whilst bouldering, a type of climbing, can be done on Dartmoor. There are plenty of hotels in towns and villages on and around Exmoor and Dartmoor, so whether you want family hotels or pub style hotels, there is plenty of choice.
It is impossible to describe all the places worth visiting in Cornwall. Surfers love Newquay, families love the beaches in towns such as Newquay and Looe and the South West moors of Bodmin, Exmoor and Dartmoor appeal to those looking for a more active holiday. With hotels to suit all budgets, there truly is something for everyone.
