The Cornwall Blog

Up and down the country, communities celebrate with carnival weeks and summer festivals. This being Cornwall, we also have plenty of regattas to enjoy. Regattas are about much more than boat races. They bring together sailing, competitions, entertainment, food and music, with whole towns and harbours joining in. Three of the best-known are in Fowey, Charlestown and Falmouth, each with its own character. Fowey Royal Regatta Fowey Royal Regatta is the closest to me and probably one of my favourites. For one week each summer, the town fills with sailing, competitions, entertainment, food and music, drawing visitors from miles around. The sailing is at the heart of it, with dinghy racing, cruisers and Fowey's distinctive Troy Class boats out on the water. The regatta has a long history too, with roots stretching back to the 19th century. There is plenty happening ashore as well, so you certainly don't have to be a sailor to enjoy it. Check the Fowey Royal Re...

When thinking about what to bring you from Cornwall, I settled on beer. We have a growing community of breweries producing some seriously interesting beers, alongside taprooms, bottle shops and pubs where the setting can be every bit as good as what is in the glass. My brother works for the much-adored Beer Gonzo in Coventry, so when he comes home I like to show him the new beers I have discovered and the best places I have found to drink them. I must confess that, as a graphic designer, I am sometimes initially won over by the packaging! Together we have found that Cornwall has plenty to offer the discerning palate. Here are a few of the breweries, beer shops and pubs that have caught our attention. Cornish breweries to try First up has to be Verdant in Penryn. Founded in 2014, Verdant has become one of the best-known names in Cornwall's independent beer scene, particularly for its hop-forward beers and wonderfully distinctive artwork. There a...

There is something about St Ives that makes even a few days away feel like a proper escape. One June, during a spell of spectacular weather, I took the opportunity to spend a long weekend there with my mum, and it really didn't disappoint. I had visited the previous September and already knew how much I liked it, but with blue skies, bright sea and a few days to ourselves, St Ives felt like a little piece of paradise. We found a light and airy self-catering place about 15 minutes from the centre. What I had slightly failed to appreciate was that those 15 minutes were mostly uphill. Oops. Still, comfy beds and a garden made the climb worthwhile. Porthmeor, tapas and Tate St Ives We started in style with dinner at Porthmeor Beach Café . Sitting beside the beach with a sea view and a table full of tapas is a rather good way to begin a weekend. We had a little time before our table was ready, so wandered around Tate St Ives and stopped for a coffe...

One very soggy May bank holiday, I took my mum to Ethy House near Lerryn to explore its beautiful gardens and bluebell woods. The weather was rather hit and miss, but we weren't going to let a bit of Cornish rain put us off. A soggy spring day at Ethy Ethy House sits between Lostwithiel and Lerryn, with lovely views across the rolling hills and valley below – at least on a non-mizzely day. The house itself is Georgian, with an almost Italian feel, a romantic balcony and beautiful vistas. When we visited in May 2023, the house and gardens were open to visitors for the day. Ethy House is privately owned and isn't normally open to the public, but the surrounding Ethy Woods can be explored on foot from Lerryn and St Winnow. My mum and I donned boots and cagoules, popped Bren the border terrier on his lead and set off. We wound our way through a little maze and entered Ethy Woods. What a sight! Bluebells...

There is something about the first snowdrops that makes me ridiculously happy. They are such a welcome sight in February, popping up while winter is still very much with us but bringing that first little promise of spring. One of my favourite places to see them is Pencarrow House and Gardens , tucked away between Bodmin and Wadebridge. Pencarrow traditionally celebrates snowdrop season with special garden openings during February. The dates and arrangements can vary from year to year, and winter weather sometimes has other ideas, so it is definitely worth checking Pencarrow's website before setting off. Snowdrops at Pencarrow Snowdrop season makes a lovely excuse to wander through Pencarrow's sprawling grounds and woodland. The gardens cover around 50 acres and move between formal landscaping and ancient woodland, so there is plenty to explore beyond the flowers themselves. February can be a funny old month in Cornwall. One minute there is ...

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...