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CONTENTS
Map
Monthly Guide
History
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Stay
Top Lists
The Water
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RNLI
Explore
Food
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34
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Breweries
Nature
Pirates
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Festivals
Art
Heritage
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KERNO noun: (Eng.) Cornwall Language: Kernowek Origin: England, South-West region With its deepset roots in Celtic history, Kernowek (Cornish) is one of the few remaining native British Isle languages. Sometimes it’s preferred over English as a first language in small fishing villages and rural towns. Due to a rise in interest, the language is being revived and taught in Cornish schools.
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MAP Art
Paddle Boarding
Mines
City Centre
Surfing
Eden Project
Nature
Castle Polzeath
Pirates
Festival
Land’s End
Airport
Newquay
Truro St. Ives
Penzance
Lizard
Bude
Tintagel Bodmin
Liskeard
St. Austell
Polperro
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MAY
MARCH
JUNE
APRIL
FEBRUARY
the day’s catch Viking Voyagers (Falmouth Maritime Museum, 20 March 2015 — 22 Feb ) Featuring the natioinally and internationally historically significant artefacts, explore what is behind the popular myth of A Casket of Pearls: Twenty the bloodthirsty raiders, who even travelled as far south as the Cornish coastal villages Years Collecting at Penlee (Penlee House Gallery & Museum, 4 February – 3 June) The museum is known throughout the world for its very important collections of 19th and 20th century British art, in particular paintings by artists of the Newlyn St Piran’s Day Celebrations (all over Cornwall, 1 - 6 March) School. Why not view Get ready for a week long of celebrations, how will you be the ancient archives? marking St Piran’s Day? Perhaps by lending your voice to join hundreds of others at 9pm on the dot in pubs across Cornwall as the second ‘Trelawny Shout’ takes place. Every day festivals and parades take place in the larger towns and pubs, however yearly the best atmosphere Tattoo Exhibition (Falmouth is in Truro on the 5th March, get ready to cheer and sing Maritime Museum, 17 March 2017 - 7 Jan 2018) This exhibition offers a genuinely ground-breaking and comprehensive history of British tattooing Porthleven Food Festival (Porthleven, 21 - 23 April) Over 90 Cornish food stalls, a massive party and nightly Fowey Festival of Art & Literature (Fowey, 6 - 13 May) Cornwall’s wonderful fireworks premier literary festival will once again feature a diverse range of authors, poets, musicians, and artists Masked Ball (26 - 28 May) The best party you will go to this year, you won’t sleep Falmouth Sea for a whole weekend. The coolest event with 24-hour DJ sets and gigs. Shanty Festival Dance music in an unusual stunning location overlooking Mount’s Bay (Falmouth Harbour, 16 - 18 June) A weekend filled with partying with the locals, eating great food and drinking rum. It’s a great way to soak up the true atmosphere of Falmouth’s seafaring past and you’ll find it hard to stop your feet tapping to the infectious rhythms and beats Eden Sessions: Tim Minchin (Eden Project,
MONTHLY TO DO GUIDE FOR 2017 Fish Fridays (Trebah Gardens, 7 Oct 2016 - 24 Feb) The brilliant Head Chef JANUARY Daniel Gvalda cooks up seasonal fish dishes every Friday using the best of
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NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
OCTOBER
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
JULY
23 June) The hilariously brilliant Tim Minchin performs his famous stand-up comedy act filled with comical musical pieces, not to be missed Tunes in the Dunes (Perranporth Beach, 30 June - 2 July) A cool location for a chilled out festival, awesome Tropical Pressure Festival (Porthtowan, 14 - 16 July) line-up of Example on the Friday An exciting and inspiring festival to celebrate the rich cultures of Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean on the cliffs of Cornwall Port Eliot Festival (St. Germans, 27 - 30 July) The four day Port Eliot Festival is a magical combination of books, food, music, art, comedy, fashion, films, flowers, wildlife and water - certainly Boardmasters is very memorable, whether packing your own tent or van Surf, Skate & Music Festival (Newquay, 9 - 13 August) Across two legendary locations along the beautiful Cornish coastline, featuring the best in action sports including ASP World Tour Surfing at Fistral Beach in Newquay and a laid back music festival at Watergate Bay Cornwall Pride (Truro, 26 August) An annual chance for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people to come together to Great Cornish Food celebrate diversity across Cornwall and the UK Festival (Truro, 22 - 24 Sept) Street-food style pop-ups from a selection of Cornwall’s top restaurants and newcomers will be serving a taster of their signature dishes, from bakers, breweries, cider makers, chocolatiers and cheese-makers Halloween Masked Ball (Helston, 28 Oct) This outlandish event in deepest darkest Cornwall has grown to become Europe’s largest and most deliciously indulgent go to Halloween inspired Captain Bligh: Myth, Man, dance music amazing extravaganza Mutiny (Falmouth Maritime Museum, 17 March - 31 Dec) This exhibition remembers the famous Cornish man and significant national figure, Lieutenant William Bligh in the 200th anniversary year of his death. Famed starting a mutiny and Padstow Christmas Festival (Padstow, 7 - 10 sailing 3,600 miles on a tiny life raft of wood Dec) More than 100 local producers will be selling an array of gifts and products in our tradtional Christmas market, from pies and paintings to jewellery and jams. Ales and ciders from Cornwall’s favourite breweries will also be on offer Santa Swim (Bude, 25 Dec) Bude Surf Club annual SLSC Mike Moyle Christmas Day “no wetsuits” swim for the club and for chatity
HISTORY An Irishman, a Cornish abbot, the patron saint of Cornwall. Scholars believe that St. Piran was born in the 4th Century and is today proudly remembered as the saint of tin mining and the beautiful landscape. Legend has it that Irish heathens tied him to a large stone and rolled him over the edge of a cliff and into the sea. The saint floated safely over the water and landed upon Perranzabuloe beach on the north Cornish coast. It’s said that his first disciples were a badger, a fox and a bear.
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STAY There’s a wide range of accommodation available to suit everyone’s expectations of their trip, both indoors or outdoors. Whether you’re an outdoors enthusiast or are looking for a slower pace of life, you’ll be sure to find your ideal accommodation. Traditional pubs, inns and B&B’s are the most popular, followed by campsites for tents and caravans. If you’re looking for luxury, popular villages and towns have a number of high-end hotels. You’re never more than a stone’s throw away from a well catered for campsite, many are award winning with holiday makers returning year after year to experience the great Cornish outdoors. To help find the right accommodation for you, begin your search by visiting: www.visitcornwall.com/ accommodation, and don’t forget that Trip Advisor is also a handy tool.
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TOP LISTS: CAMPSITES
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Trevalgan Park, St, Ives
Surrounded by beautiful open land, Trevalgan lies nestled between the bracken, heather and wheat topped granite hills across the dramatic north Cornish coastline. You can spot a variety of animals from the cliff tops. The park is ideally situated for exploring the delights of the West Cornwall peninsula including Land’s End.
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surfing beaches, many shops and trendy restaurants. Located on the border between Devon and Cornwall, Participate in our varied rural activities, or simply while away your time relaxing by the lake. Enjoy homecooked cuisine from “The Courtyard Bar & Grill” or a pop back with one of the takeaway options to your own tent or campervan. There’s so much available.
Wooda Holiday Park, Bude
Wooda is situated just one and a half miles from the seaside town of Bude, with its beautiful, bright
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Trevornick Park, Newquay
With seven fields and six different pitch types, you can choose the level of touring or camping that suits you. Fling open the door to a view of the stunning lake, opt for a dog-friendly or dog-free patch, all available close to the bustling town and nightlife of Newquay, this is a really fun campsite.
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TOP TIP: The busy British summer school holidays are from the middle of July until the first week of September. Camping is super popular, so make sure you book your spot.
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Mother Ivey’s Bay Park, Padstow
The Tummon family have owned and farmed at Trevose Head for most of the last century. With views over the bay across to the Padstow Lifeboat Station, “The Meadows” camping ground provides a stunning backdrop to your holiday - a truely traditional spot safe from the flocks of tourists.
“The Green” boasts outstanding views across Mother Ivey’s Bay and over to the heroic Padstow Lifeboat Station with a beautiful, golden sandy beach just a mere 2 minute walk away. From the 1930s onwards the family began welcoming guests to Mother Ivey’s Bay for holidays, and have continued to win lots of awards ever since, and at a reasonable price.
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Gwithian Farm Campsite, Hayle
A friendly, family run site just a few minutes walk from Gwithian beach, part of St Ives bay. The 3 mile long beach is renowned for safe bathing, good surfing, a mile long dog friendly section and the coastal path. The campsite has everything you desire: luxury showers, launderette and a local pub just a walk away. The site is set in landscaped gardens, behind a 16th century thatched farmhouse with access to the beach via the sand dunes, perfect for memories and budding photographers.
TOP LISTS: B&B + HOTELS
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Lower Barns B&B, St. Ewe
Nestled in a hidden corner of South-East Cornwall, close to the sea and in walking distance of the Lost Gardens of Heligan, Lower Barns is a luxury boutique with style. You can enjoy fresh breakfasts, countryside walks, watch movies from large comfortable beds and indulge in a therapeutic massage or holistic treatments - no wonder people think this is a hidden gem of a B&B. Perfectly located for exploring the Roseland Peninsula, fishing village of Mevagissey and the brilliant Eden Project which is a must-see.
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St. Petroc’s Hotel, Padstow
Owned by the famous Cornish chef, Rick Stein, this hotel is great for a treat weekend if luxury is on the cards. Powerful showers, roll top baths, flat screen TVs, beautiful bathrooms for indulgent soaking, pure white towels, the sort of room you’re reluctant to leave, based in central Padstow.
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The Grove Hotel, Falmouth
Overlooking Falmouth’s historic harbour, a one minute level stroll into town, The Grove Hotel lies in a prime location. Behind the beautiful Georgian facade are 17 perfectly finished ensuite bedrooms blending traditional architecture with modern stylish furnishings and finishes.
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TOP TIP:
Elements Hotel, Bude
One of North Cornwall’s finest located boutique hotels and restaurants in Bude. Situated high on the cliff top between Bude and Widemouth Bay, the hotel offers without doubt some of the best views around. The fabulous location enables you to enjoy the local beaches, learn to surf, walk the coast path, or try something new: coasteering, climbing, kayaking, fishing, Bude has it all. If a relaxing break is all you are after you can enjoy Elements hotel’s tranquil location from the amazing bar which boasts breathtaking panoramic views.
Bude is situated in the rugged northern part of the county, and is just a stones throw from incredible must-see places such as Tintagel Castle, the historic home of Merlin the Wizard. The nightlife is some of the best in the county with beachside bars and a number of small clubs all on offer - it’s always a guarateed brilliant night.
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There are so many hotels and B&B’s in Cornwall it’s difficult to pick just one. Stay at a couple across the area to get a real flavour of what Cornwall has to offer. You must prefer the surf on the north coast, or the sailing on the south; make sure you see both.
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Air B&B, all over Cornwall
Don’t forget that Air B&B has a great selection of places to stay, all fairly priced and sometimes better as you get to meet locals easier and find out the best places to eat and explore. Just like other parts of Cornish life, you’ll find yourself stumbling across some incredible hidden gems that will make your trip so much more special. To find the places on offer, visit: www.airbnb. co.uk and search for the Cornwall option.
THE WATER Cornwall is home to some incredible surf spots, and is widely recognised as the home of surfing in the UK. The north coast is awash with panoramic beaches perfect for barrels, and also some smaller sheltered areas which are great for post-surf BBQs and beach parties. Surfing is one of the most popular sports and activities in Cornwall, and every village and town has at least one surf shop and a place to hire kit. The most well recognised surf spot is Watergate Bay in Newquay, home to the annual Boardmasters competition, but also try to experience the smaller beaches in Bude in the north and atmospheric Hayle in the south. Keep up to date with the latest surf reports at: www.magicseaweed. com/UK-Ireland-Surf-Forecast.
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Another popular water sport in Cornwall is paddle boarding. The rivers flowing through the middle of the county and out to the sea are excellent for the relaxed conditions paddle boarding require. The Camel Estuary and sheltered South Cornish coast are the best places to start. Most surf shops now rent paddleboards either for the day and sometimes a week. If in doubt of where to find one, just ask a local – you might even see them on the water later.
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RNLI The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is a charitable organisation founded in 1824. With lifeboat stations dotted around the coast and an army of 5,000 volunteers nationwide, the RNLI protect and rescue you on the beach and out at sea. Cornwall is a mecca for surfing, which also brings strong riptides and currents. The power of the Atlantic ocean is incredible, and the Cornish lifeguards across 26 of the county’s boat stations know this better than anyone else.
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“BEING A SURFER, IT’S EASY TO THINK OF THE OCEAN AS A GIANT PLAYGROUND.”
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Jack Ellis Lifeguard Supervisor St. Ives RNLI Station
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For the people of Cornwall, life boating is in the blood. These volunteers live locally to their lifeboat stations and are always on call when there’s an emergency. Day and night the volunteers rush out to rescues. These people live normal lives, many with families and jobs ranging from fishing to finance, to risk their lives to save those of others. In almost 200 years, they have saved over 140,000 people out at sea. Look out for the lifeguards dressed in yellow on the beach and make sure to swim between the flags. If you see someone in danger, either alert a lifeguard on the beach, or if you’re out for a coastal walk and spot a casualty out at sea, dial 999. To find out more about the brave volunteers and their stories, visit: www.rnli.org.
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ALRIGHT, M’ANSUM? “Hello, how are you?” (Friendly greeting given by locals)
EXPLORE
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Cornwall is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, that crashes against it’s rugged and rocks and plummeting cliffs, making it a breath taking beautiful area to explore on coastal walks. In fact, there are almost 300 miles of protected coastline walks to adventure along, but where to start? Perhaps if you love animals you can start at Land’s End to look for dolphins and seals? Or if you would like to explore exciting Cornish pirate history, travel along the secret smugglers hideaway routes near Boscastle. Whichever route you choose, make sure to view it on a map or visit: www. southwestcoastpath.org.uk. Remember to bring a bottle of water, walking boots and a camera; you won’t believe how beautiful the Cornish coast is.
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FOOD Cornwall boasts some of the best seafood in the United Kingdom. Freshly caught fish, crab and lobster are always on the menu, with most restaurants serving their fishermen’s catches from that morning. Famous British chefs have opened up top restaurants in the county to celebrate the seafood and produce from local farms. If you feel like a treat night, visit Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen restaurant on Watergate Bay, or perhaps try some freshly caught fish at Rick Stein’s Falmouth fish and chip bar.
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“THE WORD PASTY COMES FROM THE MEDIEVAL FRENCH FOR ‘PASTE OR PASTA’: A PIE WHICH CONTAINS WHATEVER INGREDIENTS YOU DESIRE WITHOUT USING A DISH.” Cornish Pasty Association Chapel View Farm, Truro www.cornishpastyassociation.co.uk
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A famous food native to Cornwall is the pasty, a dome shaped savoury pastry filled to the brim with meat and vegetables. Served hot and found everywhere across the county, the delicious pasty was originally created for the miners. In the mornings, women would send their husbands off to the mines with a pasty half filled with meat and the other half jam – an effective way for a hard working miner to have his main meal and pudding. The crimped crust around the edge was designed to be the part of the pasty to hold when the miner’s hands were covered in coal and soot. This crimped edge is still used today, but it’s edible and some say the most delicious bit. Inland the combination of the climate and beautiful fertile fields are perfect for farming. Many are dairy farms and produce luxurious milks used for ice creams, fudge and enough to pour over ever dessert. One farm that stands out is Rodda’s, an old family run company known for producing Cornish clotted cream, a must-have luxury for all afternoon teas and scones. If you have a sweet tooth, why not visit Granny Wobbly’s Fudge Pantry and stock up on some treats for the road.
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BREWERIES Community is at the heart of Cornwall, and the place to meet the locals and try the produce is at the pub. Every fishing village and rural town has a pub, where generations of the same families have visited. Cornwall is a very sustainable and self-reliant place, and are supportive of new start-ups. New microbreweries are starting up, using the wheat and hops from local farmers. Cornwall is known for its beer and cider drinking, and the local pubs are brilliant places to experience them. The award-winning Skinner’s Brewery in Truro, are the founders of the famous Betty Stogs. As an ode to Cornish culture, the brewery named their most popular beer after a fictional character, a Cornish maiden popular with local sailors when they docked in the harbour. This comical character is recreated by a male friend of the company in order to raise money for local charities when the brewery attend festivals and events. Other breweries are St. Austell, known for their “Tribute” beer, and Sharp’s Brewery in Rock which produces “Doombar” pale ale.
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NATURE There are a number of animal sanctuaries in Cornwall. The Cornish Seal Sanctuary in Gweek near Falmouth, is a well recognised wild animal rescue centre that welcomes visitors to admire the creatures going through rehabilitation before being released back in to the wild. It is also home to a number of rescued penguins, who happily play with the seals. Sometimes surfers peacefully come in to contact with seals and dolphins whilst waiting for waves, this usually happens close to Sennen and Land’s End. The Atlantic sea brings many beautiful creatures to the Cornish coast. These animals vary from seals to dolphins and a range of seabirds. The best place to see these animals is in the wild; Godrevy Point near St. Ives is a prime spot to see a grey seal colony gather at the small beach called Mutton Cove. On a clear day you might be able to spot Bottlenose and Common dolphins, and in settled weather there are basking shark sightings. The best way to spot these animals is by walking along a coastal path with a pair of binoculars.
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SEA SHANTY Now we are ready to head for the Horn, Way, ay, roll an’ go! Our boots an’ our clothes boys are all in the pawn, Timme rollickin’ randy dandy O! Heave a pawl, oh, heave away, Way, ay, roll an’ go! The anchor’s on board an’ the cable’s all stored, Timme rollickin’ randy dandy O... Randy Dandy O! Sea Shanty
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PIRATES Cornwall’s social and economic history is very different from the majority of the United Kingdom. The main sources of income for the county were fishing, farming and mining. However most of the county remained relatively poor compared to other parts of the country, this meant that many of the population turned to smuggling, an act of piracy by way of stealing from shipwrecks and illegally trading the goods, with many being sent to the noose for. Tobacco, rum and tea were secretly transported from the beaches in the dead of night, through hidden trails up the cliffs and stored under pub floorboards and homes. This secret network of smuggling was common in most fishing villages, especially Penzance which was home to John Carter, a notorious smuggling gang leader. He called himself the King of Prussia, and rented a Cove in the mid 17th Century known then as Porth Leah, which is now known as King’s Cove or Prussia Cove. To discover more about Cornwall’s smuggling and pirating history, visit Jamaica Inn in Bodmin Moor, a museum and a historic pub famous for housing smuggling loot. Its history inspired Daphne Du Maurier’s self-titled book exploring a fictional story based on her research of smuggling gangs and families. It’s a highly recommended book to read on a sunny Cornish beach.
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I O the opal and the sapphire of that wandering western sea, And the woman riding high above with bright hair flapping free— The woman whom I loved so, and who loyally loved me. II The pale mews plained below us, and the waves seemed far away In a nether sky, engrossed in saying their ceaseless babbling say, As we laughed light-heartedly aloft on that clear-sunned March day. III A little cloud then cloaked us, and there flew an irised rain, And the Atlantic dyed its levels with a dull misfeatured stain, And then the sun burst out again, and purples prinked the main. IV —Still in all its chasmal beauty bulks old Beeny to the sky, And shall she and I not go there once again now March is nigh, And the sweet things said in that March say anew there by and by? V Nay. Though still in chasmal beauty looms that wild weird western shore, The woman now is—elsewhere—whom the ambling pony bore, And nor knows nor cares for Beeny, and will see it nevermore.
"Beeny Cliff ” Thomas Hardy (2 June 1840 – 11 January 1928)
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FESTIVALS
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Festival Checklist: • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Festival ticket Tent or campervan (bring hook up) Sleeping bag Roll mat Wellies or sturdy boots Toilet roll A warm jumper (it can get chilly at night) Sun tan lotion Waterproof jacket or poncho Toiletries Changes of clothes (and bag to put muddy clothes in) Medical info Torch
There are many festivals and events in Cornwall all year round, some are historic and some are special to local communities, for example celebrating St. Piran or welcoming in the harvest; these are all listed on www.visitcornwall.com. There are also some well-established festivals that attract many people from around the world. Every summer, Newquay hosts Boardmasters, a surf competition as well hosting an impressive music headline over a long weekend. If you’re interested in Glastonbury, then the Port Eliot Festival hosts a wide range of entertainment from folk music to literature readings as well as lots of outdoor adventures. Like Glastonbury, this festival is suitable for all ages as there is something for everyone.
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ART Creativity is a large part of Cornish culture. Many artists have flocked to the county to make the most of the natural, pure white light, making it ideal creative conditions for painting and sculpting. One of the most popular creative spots is a little town in West Cornwall called St. Ives. It is here that the sister branch of the Tate art gallery in London is situated, positioned opposite the beach and overlooking the beautiful turquoise sea. To find out more about current exhibitions, enjoy the stunning views from the cafÊ and to get inspired, visit: www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-st-ives. There are many other galleries and artists to admire in St. Ives. One of the best recognised is the sculptor Barbara Hepworth who is fondly remembered for her large contemporary bronze and clay pieces, which can be viewed in the old gardens of her studio. Hepworth joined many European artists in the late 1940s in setting up new studios in Cornwall, embracing both the beautiful surroundings and the Modernism art movement. Today St. Ives and Cornwall rival London’s art scene as the most expressive and exciting in the UK.
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PROPER “Really good” (Used as a form of praise)
“ON MANY ACCOUNTS, CORNWALL MAY BE REGARDED AS ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING COUNTIES OF ENGLAND, WHETHER WE REGARD IT FOR IT’S COASTAL SCENERY, ITS PRODUCTS OR ITS ANTIQUITIES.” Sabine Baring-Gould Novelist & Scholar (1834-1924)
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HERITAGE Dotted across the Cornish headland, large tall structures jut out from the rolling cliffs and fields. These are abandoned tin mines and are a symbol of the old Cornish community. It’s possible to still see these mines, one of the best preserved is in St. Agnes on the north coast. Mining was a main source of income for most of the Cornish population. Generations of families worked together in the same mines from as young as seven years old. Miners were poorly paid but very hardy people, who braved the weather and avoided fatalities in the dangerous working conditions. It was quickly noted that Cornish miners were some of the best in the world; they were offered opportunities abroad to help develop new mines in other countries. This is why there is a large Cornish population in South America and even as far as Australia.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT For photography and snippets of copy: Atlantic Surf Pods Bay View Farm Camping Site Country Living Visit Cornwall Skinners Brewery The Telegraph Elements Hotel Port Eliot Festival Photography gallery Boss Fight VW Camper Hire
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All design, photography and art by
on behalf of
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Visit Cornwall Guide © Gemma Cate Hicks 2017