This months blog is by the lovely Louise from Experience Cornwall Tours – a business also based in Ponsanooth that we are delighted to be able to recommend to our guests.
Louise writes:
“Come rain or shine, Cornwall is a stunning county to visit, with its golden beaches, endless coastal walks, must see landmarks, mining heritage and culture. Not to mention its outstanding food and drink on offer. In the height of the season, sometimes guests have visions of Cornwall being very busy – especially in these uncertain times when space is what we all need. But space and peace can be found, you just need to know where to look and when to visit.
Recently I had a couple visiting from Wales, join me on a tour. They wanted to avoid heavily crowded places and asked for some suggestions. It did not take me long to draw up an itinerary for them to showcase the best Cornwall has to offer, where you can still hear the birds and catch a wave without being dropped in on!
I took them to a spot with waterfalls in the morning, as it was raining. The trees gave us shelter, and we saw about 4 other people the whole time we explored this wooded haven. Knowing the crowds would be heading to the Eden Project or National Maritime museum, I knew where to avoid. The wind was strong and coming in from the west, so I picked my afternoon location based on this. We walked a stunning section on the South West coast path which was sheltered from the wind, passing rock arches, collapsed caves, secluded fishing villages and enjoyed a fresh Cornish crab sandwich on the beach while watching the fisherman hall their boats up on the shingle beach.
By late afternoon, the wind had dropped, and my guests wanted to go for a surf. Knowing the likes of Fistral and Perranporth would be crowded, I took them to a long stretch of golden sand where there is still plenty of space for a wave all to yourself. Knowing where to park saved a 2-mile walk across the sand.
We rounded up the day with a cream tea picnic on the sand dunes, while watching the sun slowly set over the Atlantic Ocean.
With forward planning and booking tickets in advance, you get National trust and English heritage sites quieter than I’ve ever seen them. With the new COVID restrictions in place and allocated numbers allowed at any one time, it has helped to spread out the flow of traffic. I visited Glendurgan gardens on a Tuesday in mid-August with my parents, we enjoyed a picnic overlooking the maze and only saw a few families as we enjoyed our sandwiches.
With local knowledge and some forward planning, a hectic day in August can be a relaxing day out, made even more so if you don’t have to do the driving and can enjoy a cold local beer with your lunch! And if you feel you have missed out visiting the likes of St Ives, Fowey and Newquay, then plan your next visit to Cornwall out of season and you will enjoy a much quieter Cornwall. Don’t tell everyone but April and May can be the best months to visit, pink sea thrift covers the coast path, blue bells turn fields a vivid blue, roads are quieter cutting down journey times, accommodation is cheaper and in recent years, we have had better weather than August!
The locals call September our Indian Summer, the sea is at its warmest and the sun sets are stunning. The pace seems slower and as the nights draw in, the last of the beach BBQ’s sees the end to another summer season. Enjoy Cornwall all year round. The shoulder months is when Cornwall is at its best.”
Louise offers fantastic bespoke tours of Cornwall for you, picking you up from Cosawes Barton, doing all the driving for you and providing refreshments long the way! What a treat!
