The Cornwall Blog

I don’t think we quite realise how many there are in Cornwall. Up and down the county, our wild and rugged scenery, as well as our elegant old houses and gardens, have played an important role in entertaining us for decades. The unsung supporting cast to A-listers, costume dramas and more than a few National Treasures. Where to start? How about the quintessential ‘if walls could talk’ setting of Charlestown. Charlestown Famed for its tall ship harbour, Charlestown near St Austell has long been a favourite with both the small and big screen. The popular series Poldark filmed many scenes here, as did the BAFTA-winning Cornish film Bait (2019). If you cast your mind back a little further, then Doctor Who , The Three Musketeers , Hornblower and The Eagle Has Landed have all made use of this wonderfully atmospheric location too. It is one of those places that barely seems to need a set designer. Bodmin Moor Head up onto the moors and the mood turns a little darker and more mysterious. O...

The Standard Inn on The Roseland Visiting Cornwall in winter is definitely different to the rest of the year. Cornwall may be at its brightest in the warm summer sun, but I wouldn't discount our winter wonders. Granted, it is warmer (though we do get some snow, especially on the moors) but the magic of winter can still be enjoyed. Cosy pubs galore, watching storm waters rage with a frothy hot chocolate and a crackling fire can't be beat.  Ice skating at the Eden Project For a traditionally wintery experience, ice skating is a firm family favourite. The Eden Projects rink is a lovely space to twirl around, I also like heading to the domes when you need to warm up!  Perranporth Sunset shared on my Instagram for Pickle Design Walking along the sandy beaches , especially with a dog in tow (or is it me in tow), is a lovely past time in winter. Promenading the long sandy stretches as the sun sinks into the horizon is my idea of perfection. Perranporth on the north coast is great f...

There is so much to see in Cornwall, I have lived here 20 years (so not a proper local!), and there are still many corners I haven't explored. Our county is vast, varied and stunning, so it really helps to have local knowledge if you really want to see the treasures of coast and moor. Barry Pengelly and his company, Cornwall Discovery Tours, are a brilliant way to tour Cornwall. He has the local experience, insight and historical knowledge that makes tours so memorable. You only have to take a look at his Tripadviser page to see that. His tours are favoured especially by our friends across the pond–American's can sometimes be stunned by our tiny twisting roads–but anyone from out of county can be overwhelmed when driving here! His bespoke guided tours of Cornwall can be tailored to your needs. Barry is even happy to collect you from the airport and take you to your accommodation, and he'll venture out of county if that's helpful too! Whether your interest is seeing Cor...

Autumn walks are what this season is all about! I recently with my mum, popped down the road to Lerryn as the last light was just fading. Such a calm and peaceful place, and one I always enjoy visiting. We just managed to grab an ice cream before the post office and shop closed (yes, I know, weird in winter but that's just how we roll!) We sat by the river watching the water sparkle in the golden light. We didn't have much time so we just wandered a little way by the bank of the river, pausing to watch the swans and to admire the boats.  Lerryn is the kind of place that feels like you are stepping into a story book, understandably though, as it is said to have inspired The Wind in the Willows stories as Kenneth Grahame holidayed here.  There are woodland walks on both sides of the river, and at low tide you can cross by the stepping stones. There is a small free carpark just by the green, a charming village school and a friendly pub. With a well kept public toilet and a beauti...

There is so much of this lovely county to explore - but how about seeing it in style? New Cornish business Cornwall Discovery has just been set up by Barry Pengelly, he aims to give bespoke tours of our diverse county in luxury and comfort.  The beauty of Cornwall Discovery is the flexibility, if you fancy a romantic picnic on the North Coast cliffs to watch the sunset, it can all be arranged. If you want to a tour of ancient churches and structures, a trip can be tailored. Or if you would like to be collected from the airport and discover the moors complete with history and folk tales, your wish is their command!   Barry has just launched his new website full of quirky photographs of some the gems that make Cornwall so special, I particularly like the cows who look wonderfully blow-dried! You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook to see some great snaps of this wild, wondrous and bizarre county.  Where would you go? To book your own tour contact Barry...