The Cornwall Blog

Lostwithiel Museum, in the heart of our little town It is hard to miss the history of Cornwall. From tall ships and mining to shipwrecks, art and the beginnings of global communication, there are stories everywhere you look. Many Cornish towns have their own museum too, making them perfect places to retreat to on a rainy day, or simply when curiosity gets the better of you. In my home town of Lostwithiel, we have history in spades. Restormel Castle stands above the town, the Duchy Palace recalls Lostwithiel's medieval importance, and our peaceful river was once busy with trade and shipping. Our small museum on Fore Street does a wonderful job of exploring the many layers of local life. It got me thinking about some of the other museums around Cornwall that are particularly worth seeking out. 1. Lostwithiel Museum I am starting close to home with Lostwithiel Museum . It may be small, but it is packed with local history and is run entirely by volun...

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...

Well May has been filled so far with pageantry and picnics but the weather has been rather hit and miss! The bank holiday just gone was a bit of a wash out, not to be discouraged, I took my mum to Ethy House in Lerryn to explore just the most beautiful bluebell woods.  Rarely open to the public, Ethy House is on the road between Lostwithiel and Lerryn and has views (on a non-mizzely day) to the rolling hills and valley below. My mum and I donned boots and cagoules and popped Bren the border terrier on his lead and set off. The house is Georgian and has an Italian feel with a romantic balcony and lovely vistas.  We wound our way through a little maze and entered Ethy Woods. What a sight! Bluebells as far as the eye could see. The scent hang in the air accompanied by bird song.  Rhododendron trees displayed their vivid colour, magnolias too, such stillness and delight everywhere you looked. We quietly explored disappearing into the mist, other people there but it was like w...

  And we are off! Easter holidays are in full swing, this is the time all Cornwall gears up for - the start of the warmer weather, and the tourist season. There's so much see and do, I have just picked a few events up and down the county that will hopefully provide something for everyone! 1) Have you heard of Discovering42? An award winning art and sustainability museum in Bodmin, perfect for kids this Easter with science experiment mocktails!  Find out more  at their website.  2) For those who are marine minded, at the National Lobster Hatchery in Padstow kids can learn how to be Mini Marine Biologists! Running throughout the holidays, find out more  here .   3) For the artistic head to  Penwith Gallery  in St Ives and view Mark Verry's wooden reliefs. Eight years in the making and a great opportunity to see these striking works altogether.  4) Challenge your tastebuds with Knightor Winery's  Chilli and Beer Blowout . Teaming up with Ha...

I love March in Cornwall, so many spring flowers are popping up everywhere, there is just the hint of that lovely warm sunshine, plus the possibility of snow. It also feels like Cornwall begins to open up and for us locals, a sunny day means places like popular St Ives or Falmouth radiate holiday fun. There are plenty of events up and down the county to mark high days and holidays, but what has caught my eye this month actually only opens on the 31st of March, but it looks worth the wait! Pirates! A brand new exhibition at Cornwall's Maritime Museum looks worthy of a visit. For years the folklore of pirates has provided fodder for books, movies and the imagination, this year the museum seeks to go under the surface and find out the truth behind the tall tales.  It has been quite a while since I have visited the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth but I think it really uses its space well, creating exhibitions that engage on an impressive scale. The teaser video on the website cer...