The Cornwall Blog

For now, as we find ourself in December, Cornwall is in tier 1. This does mean we have more freedom as we come out of our second lockdown in England, with businesses opening up and restaurants able to serve. For the more cautious thankfully our spacious county provides plenty of outdoor fun for all the family. As I type the sun has come out, it is so much easier to handle the restrictions when the weather is fair! Winter in Cornwall though I have always thought is actually a real treat. Many attractions are opening up and although most require booking, taking a little more fore-thought than before, brilliant days out are still possible. Here are a few of attractions I'd like to highlight for December, including the re-opening of the Jubilee Pool in Penzance. Maybe not your first thought for winter, but Britain's first geothermal pool is an Art Deco gem. Tickets are expected to sell out fast, so to book yours head here .    An annual favourite, Ed...

Well, it's November, and for England that means a new month long lockdown. 2020 has been an eventful (is that even the word?) year! As we will be restricted to what we can do for the next month I thought today we'd take a look at what you can get delivered to our home, so you can enjoy a taste of Cornwall even if you can't actually go out.  There are plenty of the usual suspects of course, delicious Indian restaurants and yummy Chinese, and good old fish and chips. In my local town of Lostwithiel the pubs are getting involved, delivering to those in need, and fine dining restaurant Asquiths has a lovely menu to choose from. Jordan Cook, the chef from Trewithen, has been providing delicious meals in his new venture, Restormel Kitchen - this months menu looks particularly mouth-watering! Famous names like Rick Stein have found ways to bring their culinary treats to those in lockdown. Perfect to help make an occasion special, everyt...

October has definitely brought the cold! Our Indian summer is sadly over but this time of year holds it's own romance. With Covid restrictions still in place there's no reason why we can't still enjoy the great outdoors. If there is one thing 2020 has taught me then that's to be resourceful, and to make the most of what we have.  The fresh air provides an extra layer of safety when we are out with friends, keeping that 2 metre distance of course with those not in your household. I have to say woodland walks are some of my favourite.  Where I live we have lovely patches of woodland to explore but sometimes I like to go a little further afield. The likes of Bodmin's Cardinham Woods is always a favourite. You do need to pay for parking but the cafe serves warming drinks and tasty cakes, ideal after a bracing stroll. I still haven't explored all this wood has to offer yet but the views as you climb higher over the treetops are truly rewarding. Also in mid Cornwall...

After a lovely sunny bank holiday here in Cornwall, today, although filled with golden light, has Autumn's familiar chill. The first of September marks a change. Most children will be heading back to school soon which helps at least give this part of 2020 some familiar structure.  My family and I managed to successfully find some quieter corners of Cornwall to explore over the weekend and it is really lovely seeing more of our favourite places opening up. The world has changed, how we socialise, how we holiday, how we unwind. It just takes more planning, more consideration but wonderful memories can still be made. So what can you do in Cornwall in September? Plenty! My little town of Lostwithiel never really felt that empty over lock down, I think people stayed local and small which has benefitted many of our independent businesses. Plus business owners have been quick to adapt in rather brilliant ways. So all those little quirky towns and villages are still there, still fabulous p...

We have all spent a lot of time in homes of late, thanks to Corona virus and lockdown. For some that has been a welcome opportunity to be a bit of a recluse! Many of us have turned to home improvement, making the most of the space we have available. I felt particular blessed having a garden during that sunny spell we had in May.  Now we can have work men and women in our homes and gardens again we are not constrained purely by DIY (thankfully!) My attempts were pretty basic but it didn't stop me dreaming, sketching ideas here and there.   We have a wealth of artisans and crafts people in Cornwall who help bring our scribbled ideas to life. One Cornish company I particularly like are Coast Creative Joinery. More than just carpentry, having one of the South West's few CNC machines means the possibilities are pretty endless! From intricate fretwork to bespoke kitchen units, flat-pack and ready to go. Lovely colours and finishes.  I would love to re-think my kitchen, I have s...

The Hidden Hut Things are slowly beginning to open up in Cornwall, restaurants and well loved pubs are cautiously opening doors in new social-distanced responsible ways. I think that is what we need to do now, support our local businesses but with good sense in mind. Woody's Pizza I thought I would share with you some of my favourite foodie places that are opening their doors and welcoming us in. Woody's Pizza in Wadebridge have been operating a delivery service only for lockdown, but now are back at Saltbox in Wadebridge operating in the new normal, with bookings taken for eating in. On the same site is the delicious Laid Back Coffee offering breakfast and brunch, best place to check for their up to date opening times and menu is Facebook . Down on the South Coast is one of my favourite pubs, The Rashleigh Inn on Polkerris beach, opening their doors, like others, this Saturday just gone. All seemed to go well thankfully. Next door is Sam's on the Beach , I...

Photo by Maria Spencer  Welcome to June, a bit of a confusing month all round! Slowly businesses are opening up starting with zoos and open air markets, shops to follow soon. Gradually life is returning to normal, or at least our new normal. What I have noticed recently is a real influx of hedgehogs, have you seen them out and about? My parents found one in their garden that they had to rescue from their over enthusiastic dog, and Maria, my boss's wife, found this handsome fella by Anneka's bridge in Wadebridge. So cute.   Wildlife has had a bit of a boom over lockdown it seems. The hedgerows have been overflowing with grasses and flowers and the bird song seems all the more beautiful. The lack of sound pollution has helped us all connect with the beautiful sounds of nature, especially the dawn chorus. I know in my garden the birds have been so loud I've had to shut the windows on Zoom calls!  Zoos can open soon, so check out Newquay Zoo 's website t...

    Hello, it has been a little while since my last post so I thought I would show you some of beautiful things I've seen whilst on lockdown. Cornwall along with the rest of the country is respecting the stay at home advise because of COVID-19. We are being encouraged to stay home, and rightly so, which makes bringing you the beauty of this county far and wide not possible right now. Events, exhibitions and festivals may have been suspended but there is still plenty to revel in right on our doorsteps! Many businesses are still offering slightly tailored services or are available online so I would encourage you to support this beautiful place and its entrepreneurs where you can. I thought today I would share some pictures I've snapped on my daily exercise walks. I live in Lostwithiel and am blessed to have woodland right on my doorstep. Steep country lanes, farmland and forests, I have really enjoyed taking the time to explore what my corner of Cornwall...

The National Maritime Museum have an exhibition opening in March that focusses on our fascination with the monsters of the deep. My film-buff brother always had a bit of an obsession with the B Movie, 'Creature of the Black Lagoon', but our cultural fascination doesn't stop there. In literature, film and theatre we are drawn to the uncharted world that lies beneath, and the monsters that may or may not inhabit it. Falmouth's great interactive museum is running an exhibition from the 20th of March allowing you to explore and discover the legends, folklore and science of these nautical heroes and villains. Find out more at their website.

February in Cornwall is full of surprises. From snow days to balmy sunshine and our famous Cornish mizzle, February can have it all. I feel it is a month filled with hope, with Spring just round the corner, Cornwall wakes up from its wintery sleep first. Here are a few events to encourage you out of hibernation this Winter season: Rick Stein's Charity Lunches - Padstow's most famous resident offers great deals at the end of January and the beginning of February. In aid of the brilliant Cornwall Air Ambulance charity, from Monday 20th January to Thursday 13th February you can enjoy a delicious 3 course set menu at The Seafood Restaurant. Eden Project Ice Skating - Always popular with families, the ice rink finishes its winter run on the 23rd of February. The biomes are a brilliant place to go whatever the weather, I especially enjoy the tropical warmth on a cold day! February Half Term Rockpool Ramble at Hannifore Beach, Looe - Sunday the 23rd at 11am sees their ...

I thought this was a brilliant idea when I saw it, worth sharing far and wide! One of Cornwall's fine museums, Wheal Martyn, are holding a ' Relaxed Session ' on January the 18th from 3.30 - 5pm. These relaxed sessions are a chance for adults or children with autism, anxiety or similar who might prefer the chance to enjoy the museum at a quieter pace. There will be ASD-friendly activities with plenty of objects to handle. Wheal Martyn is based at a real Victorian clay works and shares the stories of Cornwall's mining history. There's space to explore with nature trails, a discovery centre and you can see Cornwall's largest working waterwheel. Having grown up with a brother with autism I think it's great when attractions try and see things from the point of view of someone who might be overwhelmed by a normal museum experience. Find out more here .