The Cornwall Blog

For this month's blog story I wanted to share some of the great places in Cornwall where you can go to interact with animals. From sanctuaries and farms to wildlife parks, all with education and conservation at their heart. These are just a few of the places we love to visit in Cornwall...  Paradise Park Located in Hayle in West Cornwall, Paradise Park is a firm family favourite. It is great for kids with a little train, soft play and a lovely array of colourful birds and small animals to see. A family fun day out.   Newquay Zoo This little zoo has a passion for conservation and you can really see they love their animals. Lions, zebras, sloths, penguins and red pandas are just a few of the animals you can visit.  Cornish Seal Sanctuary A firm favourite, the seals are such characters! Best for a dry day as most the pens are outside, and it's more than just seals - beavers, sea lions and some farm animals too. You can actually bring dogs on a lead which can be handy, it's a...

This is why I love living in Cornwall, a routine appointment can turn into a beautiful adventure! I had to take my mum to the hospital for a check up, as it was so early in the morning and already a bit of a trek for us to get there, we thought let's make a day of it. Mum wanted peace and tranquility so the Helford river came to mind.  It really is that perfect escape, a little bubble of old-world beauty that I just love to explore. I did my studies in Falmouth at the art college and had popped across the water to explore this area a little then, but it had been a while. This corner of Cornwall boasts the beautiful Trebah and Glendurgan gardens, stunningly cultivated landscapes both with little beaches. Glendurgan has a wiggly maze as well that is as captivating to adults as it is to children. After following the winding roads we decided to stop off at Helford Passage. My thinking was to find a way mum could enjoy our surroundings that didn't involve too much walking. There a...

For this month’s story I wanted to highlight a lovely local business that’s at the heart of their community. A popular pass time in Cornwall is cycling, although our county isn’t particularly flat, we have some wonderful bike trails. Running all around Cornwall you can explore these scenic routes and immerse yourself in the history with the freedom of a bike, and one such place you can hire them is in the beautiful village of Pentewan on the south coast. Pentewan Valley Cycle Hire is run by Rachel and Andy and their friendly approach and invaluable advice has made this cycle hire a real draw for experienced riders or complete novices.  Pentewan Valley Cycle Hire is ideally located because whatever your skill or fitness there is something for you. You can just keep to the flat, tree-lined trails that follow the waters edge and take a gentle ride around the village. Perhaps have a swim at the sheltered family-friendly beach, or watch the wildlife in the harbour (ice cream in hand of...

Photo by John Hersey The start of March saw the newly renovated Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery open its doors. Located in the heart of Truro, Cornwall's oldest museum gallery has just undergone a £2.3 million refurbishment, adding a gallery with over 500 artworks. Founded in 1818 by the Royal Institution of Cornwall, the space exists to tell the many stories of our culture-rich county. Though it's not only Cornwall is on display, there are over a million artefacts from all over the world. The mineral exhibition has been a recent draw, but now The Nature Gallery too has had an update with interactive displays depicting landscapes and wildlife from all over Cornwall.  The new gallery will mean you will be able to see art in all kinds of styles, from German, Italian and Dutch renaissance to English landscapes and of course the famous Newlyn schools and the modernism that thrived in St Ives with it's world-famous light.  As well as the permeant collection there will be new ar...

It feels like we are powering through this year, I don't know about you. I thought for our February blog story today I would look at some of the great things happening in Cornwall over this coming February half term break. Although many things in Cornwall don't really seem to get going until Easter, there is still plenty for families to enjoy, here are a few suggestions. A good idea whatever the season, cycling the Camel Trail , a favourite for families young and old. In Summer the pathways that line the estuary can become a little congested which is one of the reasons why this route is great to enjoy at this time of year. Perhaps the most popular stretch is from Wadebridge to Padstow. There something quite motivating about the reward of fish and chips on the harbour at the end! There are great cycle hire places to choose from as well. Heading the other way, towards Bodmin and beyond to Wenfordbridge provides a quieter stretch with beautiful scenery to soak up when you pause to...

Charlestown harbour It was so nice over December, having a visit from my brother, we had some great sibling time exploring some favourite haunts, and pursuing his passions. A great lover of good coffee and beer I thought the best thing to do would be to take him on a tour of some fine local establishments, and in-between the showers enjoy some wonderful views. Having grown up in Cornwall my brother is no stranger to these parts but these days it's a modern metropolis that he calls home, well Coventry actually, up country. Trips down here are rare but thoroughly enjoyed by us all so I was glad to be able to hang out with my kid brother and catch up.  The first opportunity we had together was a soggy and rather cold Saturday, he's not a great early riser so my first thought was coffee. We headed to Charlestown and managed to squeeze in to Short and Strong where my brother thoroughly enjoyed a V60 pour over and I had a vegan hot chocolate with a hazelnut syrup (basically like a li...