The Cornwall Blog

There is so much to see in Cornwall. I've lived here for years – so still not a proper local! – and there are many corners I haven't explored. Our county is vast, varied and stunning, and having a bit of local knowledge can make all the difference if you want to discover the treasures of coast and moor rather than simply follow the obvious route. That is where a local guide can really come into their own. Cornwall Discovery Tours , run by Cornish guide Barry Pengelly, offers private tours shaped around the places and subjects that interest you. Why explore Cornwall with a local guide? Driving around Cornwall can be an adventure in itself. Some of our prettiest villages are reached by tiny lanes, parking isn't always straightforward and it is surprisingly easy to spend more of the day looking at a satnav than at the scenery. Barry has the local experience, historical knowledge and familiarity with the county to take much of that away. You ...

There is something particularly satisfying about a winter walk in Cornwall. Coastal paths and village wanderings seem made for this time of year, although I don't know about you, but after too much fresh Cornish air I require somewhere cosy to warm myself up again. Luckily, Cornwall does pubs at the end of walks rather well. Sea views, roaring fires, local ales and something good to eat can make the promise of a muddy few miles much more appealing. Here are five of my favourites for mixing the invigorating with the cosy. Rashleigh Inn, Polkerris – walk from Par or Fowey We do love a good pub in the UK, don't we? Local ales, home-cooked food and, increasingly, some really excellent cooking too. A favourite from my neck of the woods is the Rashleigh Inn at Polkerris Beach. The sea view alone makes it worth the trip. When I first wrote this in 2023 it had the full package: a roaring fire and even a resident cat. I often park at Par Beach and walk across to...

Amy Cooper When I first wrote about Rooted in 2022, the exhibition was still showing at Wheal Martyn. Coming back to it a few years later, I realised that these images are worth keeping as a little record of the show in their own right. Rooted brought together artists and makers with very different approaches, but all responding in some way to Cornwall's china clay landscape, its materials, history and atmosphere. It was a fascinating idea then, and looking back at the work now, I think it still is. Rooted at Wheal Martyn Rooted ran at Wheal Martyn in the autumn of 2022 and brought together 17 makers rooted in Cornwall. Ceramics were at the heart of the exhibition, but there was also jewellery, photography, metal, film and other work. The starting point was the china clay industry and the extraordinary landscape it has created around St Austell. The artists responded to the material itself, the history of the industry, its effect on the land and the peopl...

Autumn walks are what this season is all about! I recently popped down the road to Lerryn with my mum as the last light was 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 autumn, 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 along the riverbank, pausing to watch the swans and admire the boats. Lerryn is the kind of place that feels as though you are stepping into a storybook. The village is even said to have helped inspire The Wind in the Willows , following Kenneth Grahame's holidays in this part of Cornwall. Walking around Lerryn There are woodland walks on both sides of the river, and at low tide you can cross by the stepping stones. There is...

Autumn is a season I truly love, and Cornwall seems to glow at this time of year, from woodland walks to those long, low sunsets. As the evenings draw in, there is another sight I start watching the skies for: a murmuration of starlings. What is a starling murmuration? A murmuration is the name given to those extraordinary flocks of starlings that gather together and move almost as one, twisting and folding into constantly changing shapes across the sky. There are thought to be several reasons for these huge gatherings. Flying together can make it harder for predators to pick out an individual bird, while gathering at a communal roost can help the birds keep warm and exchange information about good feeding grounds. Whatever the science behind it, watching one still feels a little bit magical. Birds were particularly on my mind when I first wrote this post in 2022. I was working on our 2023 poster calendar at Pickle Design, which had a distinctly o...

Our island nation is a rich hotch-potch of culture, history and heritage. There is so much to explore, especially in Cornwall. This September why not visit one of the county's Heritage Open Days , they are all free and there's lots of opportunity to get involved, running from the 9th - 18th September. Just a few of the places open to you this month are: Gribbin Daymark : This is an instantly recognisable landmark is in my neck of the woods that I love to spot on coastal walks or at the beaches along the south coast. Built in 1832, the views are worth the climb! The historic tower is open Sunday the 11th September, 11am - 5pm.  Godolphin : This house and gardens near Helston will be holding some specialist guided tours looking at Godolphin's mining history. The garden will also be free to enter between the 9th - 18th September.  Cypres Well : Up in Launceston you can visit the home of Cornish poet Charles Causley CBE, normally closed to the public but used for writers as a r...