{"id":29301,"date":"2021-10-11T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-11T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.omio.com\/window-seat\/uncategorized\/cornwall"},"modified":"2022-05-10T15:19:15","modified_gmt":"2022-05-10T15:19:15","slug":"cornwall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.omio.com\/window-seat\/countries\/united-kingdom\/cornwall\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Things To Do in Cornwall"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Once a somewhat under-the-radar enclave of Britain that was notoriously arduous to get to, Cornwall has become infinitely more accessible over recent decades. With better transport links came the second homers and weekend tourists. They ooh-ed and aah-ed at the sensational scenery (that\u2019s punctuated with tin mining towers of yesteryear), sank their teeth into delicious local pasties, and took to the water to sail around the coves and bays that were once the domain of ruthless bootleggers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, Cornwall\u2019s popularity is tracking off the charts, and it\u2019s thriving under the spotlight. There\u2019s something for everyone here, from clifftop camping sites to eco-chic spa hotels, sailing breaks for the nautically inclined and tucked-away B&Bs for those looking to bury themselves in the beauty of the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eat<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to dining in Cornwall, it\u2019s not always of the sit-down variety. The ubiquitous pasty, a shortcrust pastry stuffed with beef, onion, potato, and swede, was invented as a hand-held snack for the hardy tin miners and is still very much an on-the-hoof affair. The same goes for fish and chips, locally sourced and wrapped in paper to take away. They just don\u2019t taste the same unless perched on a harbor wall, accompanied by the sound of lapping waves and the squawk of a circling seagull or two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ubiquitous pasty is a Cornish staple and best savored outdoors. Credit: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>
Other culinary delights include seafood, which the Cornish coast is world famous for. Credit: Bruce Chapman\/Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That said, there\u2019s an abundance of sophisticated eateries with attentive service and can\u2019t-tear-your-eyes-away views to boot. With 300 miles of coastline, it\u2019s perhaps unsurprising that local seafood is easy to come by. Celebrity chefs, giddy with excitement at Cornwall\u2019s natural bounty, set up shop in their droves here. Rick Stein\u2019s Seafood Restaurant in Padstow and Nathan Outlaw\u2019s outpost are a couple of the most well-known. But you don\u2019t have to splash out on the big names to enjoy whole Cornish lobster, wild mussels, mackerel, or scallops plucked fresh from the bay. There are excellent independent restaurants across the county proudly run by residents and stocked with the catches from local fishermen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cornish oysters are so delectable that they command their very own festival in Falmouth each October. Marking the start of dredging season, the Falmouth Oyster Festival is a lively celebration of the local oystercatchers and the chance for visitors to shuck some oysters accompanied by a Cornish male voice choir heartily belting out traditional sea shanties. The next decision is whether to wash them down with a local ale (Doom Bar, Betty Stoggs, and Tribute are some of the most famous) or opt for a delightful glass of Pinot Noir Ros\u00e9 Brut from Cornwall\u2019s Camel Valley vineyard.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Play<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
On a warm summer day, time can easily be whiled away on Cornwall\u2019s sandy beaches. Some of the most popular with coveted Blue Flag status are Carbis Bay, Polzeath Beach, Gyllyngvase Beach, and Widemouth Bay. Water babies will find themselves quickly beckoned away from the sand and on to the water, perhaps to sail around the coves of the south coast or tackle the waves with the kite surfers of Watergate Bay on the north coast. Then there\u2019s mile upon mile of coastal footpaths to admire the cliff-pinched landscapes. Try the Lizard Peninsula, the most southerly place in Britain, for some particularly dramatic and memorable views.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The rugged beauty of the Cornish coast knows no equal. Credit: Anna Hann<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
For a spot of culture, there\u2019s a lively modern art scene in Cornwall, a movement that began here in the 1920s and \u201830s when Barbara Hepworth and others found themselves inspired by pretty St. Ives. Here, what was once a humble pilchard harbor is now home to its own Tate Modern. Yet the sweet fishermen\u2019s cottages that give this town its historic character remain to enchant its visitors too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For performing arts, the Minack Theatre is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular settings in the world. It\u2019s an extraordinary open-air theatre carved into a granite cliffside, where patrons can watch all manner of live performances from Shakespeare to comedy, with a backdrop of Porthcurno Bay\u2014maybe even spotting a seal playing on the rocks below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Take in Shakespeare\u2019s best plays at the spectacular Minack Theatre. Credit: Greg Blundell\/Visit Cornwall<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>
St. Mawes castle is worth a pitstop if you are in the region. Credit: Matt Jessop\/Visit Cornwall<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Wherever you turn in Cornwall, its sense of history is palpable. Depending on which era piques your interest, there are ways to learn more. Transport yourself to Tudor times and visit the coastal castles of King Henry VIII, Pendennis and St. Mawes, sitting proudly across the water from each other, staunchly defending the estuary. Delve into Cornish tin and copper mining history on a visit to Geevor Tin Mine and brave the dark underground tunnels. Or visit the Lost Gardens of Heligan, ancient gardens that were overgrown and forgotten after WWI, only to be rediscovered in the 1990s and restored to their former magnificence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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