Cornwall is seeing a huge rise in holiday staycations in 2021 and 2022 as people in the UK choose to spend their holiday at home rather than abroad, especially with the uncertainty if travel restrictions continue due to the covid pandemic. The office for national statistics report that over the next two years Cornwall will see its biggest rise in UK visitors compared to other parts of the UK. Cornwall is a county that relies heavily on the tourism sector and supports one in five jobs so this will bring a much welcomed income into the region and won’t surprise many of our readers that Cornwall tops the list of most popular UK holiday destinations.
Cornwall has so much beauty on offer with our pristine beaches, clear blue oceans and rolling countryside, its a perfect choice for holidaymakers. So here are just a few of our favourite reasons to visit Cornwall for your next staycation.
The Best Beaches
Cornwall has some of the best beaches i’ve ever seen and I have been lucky enough to visit places such as Western Somoa, Australia, New Zealand, California, Hawaii and Mexico, which a known for their beaches and yet I would rank the Cornish beaches amongst my favourites on the planet.
Porthcurno down in far west Cornwall is pure rugged beauty, overlooked by the Minnack Theatre this beach has it all. Crystal clear waters, soft sand and spectacular coastline. Another beauty is Porthminster beach in St Ives, the winner of blue flags this beach has it all and perfect for families.
Our two young boys spend hours playing on the white soft sand and shallow waters. This beach has all the facilities too, great restaurants and beach bar, along with a family essential – toilets that are nearby!
Surfing
Cornwall is one of the UK’s top surfing destinations, even before the days of Blue Juice, this county attracts people from all over the world to sample the Cornish waves.
A few local spots which are among the favourites are, Polzeath on the North Coast, great starter waves and place to learn for the kids. If you a more seasoned pro, Fistral Beach and Cribbar in Newquay (when the swells right ) are top spots to test out the turns and skills.
Stunning Coastal Walks
Cornwall has miles upon miles of stunning coastal paths which have spectacular views. On the South Coast you can walk from Newlyn to Penzance taking in the stunning St Michaels Mount along the way. A favourite of ours here at Luxury Cornwall is the the Camel Estuary from Wadebridge to Padstow. For more recommendations on walking in Cornwall, we recommend the brilliant resource www.iwalkcornwall.co.uk
Sub Tropical Gardens
This far west, Cornwall has a particularly balmy climate thanks to the Gulf Stream. As well as the obvious joy copious amounts of sunshine brings to its visitors (heres hoping for this summer ) , it also means that sub-tropical plants are able to grow – with palm trees a common sight in most Cornish towns.
There are several gardens well worth visiting, which boast an incredible variety of flowers and plants not able to flourish in the rest of the country, including the Lost Gardens of Heligan near St Austell on the south coast, the Eden Project and on Tresco in the Scilly Isles.
Near Famlmouth, we have Trebah Gardens and Glendurgan Gardens which both have amazing Coastal views as the bottoms of the walks. Well worth a visit and great with kids of all ages.
Pasties and Clotted Cream
Here is Cornwall you can’t go far without coming across a pasty shop or tea room which Cornwall has become famous for. The West Country is the proud producer of some of the best pasties and cream teas so no visit to Cornwall is complete without a daily pasty – Rick Stein’s deli in Padstow does delicious ones – some clotted cream dolloped onto scones or on top of treacle tart – oh and a few scoops of super creamy, Cornish-made ice cream. Philps Pasties in Hayle and Anns pasties in Helston are always a super choice and very popular with locals, always a good sign!