The Cornwall Blog

Encounter Cornwall on the Fowey Estuary I love October in Cornwall. There is colour in the hedges, a crunch underfoot and a freshness in the air. As long as I have plenty of layers and the promise of a hot chocolate, it is a wonderful time to explore. The summer crowds have thinned, but there is still plenty happening around the county. Some days are mild and bright, while others call for a warm Biome, a sea-view café or a pub window overlooking the waves. Here are eight of my favourite things to do in Cornwall in October. Updated August 2026: Event dates and links have been checked for October 2026. Plans can still change, so check directly with each venue before making a special journey. 1. Take to the water October can still bring some beautiful days on the coast. Surfers head for beaches such as Fistral, while Cornwall's estuaries offer calmer places for kayaking, paddleboarding and other watersports. Autumn can bring excellent surfing co...

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 volunteers. ...

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...