Discover the ultimate European Roadtrip

The Cornish <strong>Coasts</strong>

The Cornish Coasts

Newquay - Newquay

England’s West Country has an identity and culture to rival even the proudest regions – and Cornwall is at the heart of it all. There’s natural beauty galore with coves and beaches around every corner. You’ll also find ancient castles surrounded by blooming gardens and open-air theaters in stunning settings. Fast-forward to the modern science of the Eden Project, and round it all off with some hearty Cornish cuisine.

The Cornish Coasts

Stop 1: Fifteen Cornwall 1/11

Fifteen Cornwall

Watergate Bay is the eye-wateringly gorgeous setting for Fifteen Cornwall, an airy Italian restaurant founded by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver. The beach views and delectable dishes make a strong play for being the best things about this venue, but there’s something that tops even those two. This is where Oliver pioneered his apprentice program, putting young people in need of a second chance on the frontlines of the kitchen – and all the restaurant’s profits are donated to charity.

On The Beach, Watergate Bay, Cornwall, England, TR8 4AA

https://www.fifteencornwall.co.uk/

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The Cornish Coasts

Stop 2: Perranporth Beach 2/11

Perranporth Beach

The main attraction in this modest town by the sea is the three-mile-long beach, like a slice of sandy wonder. You may bump into some fans of TV show Poldark as the author of the original novels, Winston Graham, used to live here. However, the real reason people are lured to this coastal spot is the soft sand and the surf offshore. If you have a board in the back of your car, suit up and paddle out in the Celtic Sea.

Perranporth, Cornwall, England, TR6 0AQ

http://www.perranporthinfo.co.uk/our-beach.html

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The Cornish Coasts

Stop 3: Tate St Ives 3/11

Tate St Ives

Transforming a former gasworks in 1993, the Tate St Ives is a world-renowned contemporary gallery on the Cornwall coast, where mind-bending art displays are complemented by hands-on activities. This is actually the Tate institution’s second venture in the town – the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden came first, and is just five minutes’ drive away. Hepworth and other artists formed a legendary band of creatives here after World War Two, and this pays them ample tribute.

Porthmeor Beach, St. Ives, Cornwall, England, TR26 1TG

https://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-st-ives

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The Cornish Coasts

Stop 4: Minack Theatre 4/11

Minack Theatre

Beaches don’t come much better than Porthcurno. It’s a great place to sunbathe in summer, with the dramatic heft of Logan Rock looming in the background. But for sheer drama – literally – Minack Theater is calling your name. This open-air, cliff-top venue was the pet project of the late Rowena Cade, a local resident who transformed her back garden, fueled by community spirit. It’s been hosting plays and Shakespeare productions since the 1930s. Reserve tickets ahead of time to get a good seat.

Porthcurno, Penzance, Cornwall, England, TR19 6JU

https://www.minack.com/

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The Cornish Coasts

Stop 5: Trengwainton Garden 5/11

Trengwainton Garden

As you double back through Penzance, that famed piratical port, you’ll pass a series of leafy havens: Tanglewood Wild Garden, Tremenheere Sculpture Garden and, perhaps best of all, Trengwainton Garden. The latter is a National Trust property, originally planted in the 1920s. Today the walled gardens bloom with beautiful trees, rhododendrons and magnolias, as well as a fragrant variety of exotic plant and flower species. Have a look for the contemplative ‘Silent Spaces’, home to the tea room and gift shop.

Boscathnoe Lane, Madron, Penzance, Cornwall, England, TR20 8RZ

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/trengwainton-garden

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The Cornish Coasts

Stop 6: Kynance Cove 6/11

Kynance Cove

A coastal idyll found on the eastern side of Mount’s Bay, Kynance Cove’s turquoise waters and white sands have been a magnet for those in the know since the Victorian era. Rock stacks wind their way in and out of the shoreline, with crashing waves to jump over and atmospheric caves to explore – all of it framed by the dramatic beauty of the Lizard peninsular. A once lesser-known gem, it’s now a hotspot for visitors, so get here early in the morning to see it at its most tranquil.

Landewednack, Helston, Cornwall, England, TR12 7PJ

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/kynance-cove

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The Cornish Coasts

Stop 7: Lizard Point 7/11

Lizard Point

The Lizard Peninsula is ruggedly beautiful, with jagged cliffs plunging into the sea and fresh ocean air blowing all around you. Many a ship has foundered on these rocks over the centuries, but thankfully the watchful eye of the 1751 lighthouse has saved even more. It’s still in operation today, offering guided tours right to the top. The rare – and once endangered – Cornish Chough bird can be spotted from here as can basking sharks, if you have a keen eye.

The Lizard, near Helston, Cornwall, England, TR12 7NT

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lizard-point

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The Cornish Coasts

Stop 8: Pendennis Castle 8/11

Pendennis Castle

When Henry VIII feared coastal invasion even more than the vengeance of his former wives, he built a series of castles along the west coast to protect Britain. Pendennis Castle is one such redoubt, completed in 1542 and subject to centuries of action thereafter. It was still reinforced during the World Wars. Today it has been decommissioned, allowing you to tour the keep, gun deck and more, while during the summer you might chance upon a concert or battle re-enactment in the grounds.

Castle Drive, Falmouth, Cornwall, England, TR11 4LP

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/pendennis-castle/

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The Cornish Coasts

Stop 9: Eden Project 9/11

Eden Project

Even if weren’t a brilliant visitor attraction, the trademark biomes of the Eden Project already stand out in the Cornish landscape. Once a clay quarry, it’s now a series of greenhouses and gardens that celebrate and preserve biodiversity. It’s fascinating if you have an interest in conservation, but also delivers plenty of family fun. Indoors, the Rainforest biome is always popular, although the recent addition of a zipline and free fall jump outside have only added to its allure.

Bodelva, Cornwall, England, PL24 2SG

https://www.edenproject.com/

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The Cornish Coasts

Stop 10: Polperro Harbour 10/11

Polperro Harbour

If you were tasked with designing the quintessential Cornish village by the sea, chances are you’d draw up Polperro. With its charming harbor cut into the cliffs, bobbing fishing boats and stone cottages navigated by narrow, cobbled streets, it’s the veteran of a million photos and paintings. In times when it was more remote, it was widely used by smugglers as a den. Today it’s an essential stop-off on a tour of Cornwall and a prime spot for a crab sandwich.

Polperro Harbour Heritage Museum, 4 The Warren, Polperro, Cornwall, England, PL13 2RB

http://www.polperro.org/pht.html

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The Cornish Coasts

Stop 11: Fistral Beach 11/11

Fistral Beach

Every discussion of the best Cornwall beaches includes Fistral. This spacious beach attracts surfers both amateur and professional, local and global, as well as sunbathers galore. Rock pools fringe the golden sand, while the onsite surf school helps wannabe surfers catch their first waves. If you prefer life on land, it’s a blissful place to walk and only moments away from the charming town of Newquay, which is filled with delightful restaurants, cafes and souvenir shops.

Newquay, Cornwall, England, TR7 1HY

https://fistralbeach.co.uk/

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