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Reasons To Visit Cornwall This Winter
Want to know why you should visit Cornwall in winter? Here are just a few reasons:
The summer-busy towns and villages are more easily navigable and welcoming, giving you a real flavour of the Cornish lifestyle.
Bustling with holidaymakers in the summer months, our Cornish towns and villages are returned to their relaxed, quirky selves during the winter, giving you a better chance to really appreciate what they have to offer.
Visit stunning St Ives and take a relaxed walk around the town, visiting the breathtaking beaches of Porthmeor, Porthgwidden and St Ives Harbour. Or maybe you fancy stepping back in time to visit the unspoilt fishing village of Polperro with its infamous history as a smuggler’s haunt and spectacular harbour views.
Combine a meander around Daphne Du Maurier’s hometown of Fowey with a trip to its Christmas market being held on 24- 26 November, or if you are in the East of Cornwall the long established Mount Edgcumbe Christmas Fayre is being held on 9 – 10 December. Featuring a wide variety of crafts, inspirational cookery demonstrations and local produce stalls, this fayre will really give you a flavour of Cornwall’s eclectic tastes.
Situated on the Port Eliot Estate, the St Germans’ Christmas Market on 16-18 November is another crafty treasure trove, whilst Drawn to the Valley is a collective of 160 artists working from the Tamar Valley (an AONB) which is having its winter exhibition 18 – 26 November. Take a look and see how the rugged landscape is inspiring artists throughout the county.
For a Cornish Christmas vibe, board the Santa Train on the Lappa Valley Steam Railway (9-24 December, North Cornwall) or the Bodmin and Wenford Santa Express (2nd – 24th December mid-Cornwall) and chug along to Santa’s magical grotto, where children can meet Santa himself and receive a present.
Christmas lights and lanterns play a large part in Cornwall’s preparations for Christmas, beginning with the hugely popular Truro City of Lights Festival and Parade (22 November) where hundreds of spectacular lanterns made by schools and community groups light up the city in a festive celebration.
No winter trip to Cornwall is complete without visiting the famous illuminations in Mousehole (16 December – 6th January) In its 54th year and with over 7000 bulbs and 5.5 miles of cable creatively decorating the harbour, these lights are not to be missed. Or why not take a trip to Padstow’s annual Christmas Festival (7 – 10 December), which sees the fishing village bustling with celebrity chefs and festive fun?
If you want something more low key on your holiday, then reclaim the beaches!
Gone are the bikini clad sun worshippers, and instead the beaches are shared between energetic dogs (the seasonal dog ban is lifted in winter) and beach lovers, cosily togged up in wellies and woollies, watching hardy year round surfers in the crashing Atlantic Ocean’s waves.
Alternatively, pick any of the 300 beaches in Cornwall, turn left or right and you’ll be on the coast path at the edge of an amazing, breathtaking adventure. The wildlife, heritage and scenery can’t fail to inspire you, with each walk offering new experiences and discoveries.
Best of all though: a cosy cafe at the end of the walk, offering body warming hot chocolate, a cream tea or a bowl of chips. Seaton Beach cafe, Talland Bay Beach Cafe, Swanpool Beach, The Blue Beach Bar (Porthowan) or the Hidden Hut (Porthcurnick Beach) are just a handful of places you can guarantee a warm welcome and somewhere to cosy up to watch the world go by.
Cornwall really is a special place in winter. Why not find out for yourself with a short break in Cornwall?
