Why Cornwall Has A Special Place In My Heart

With my 21st birthday just around the corner, my mum has been asking me and my brother what we wanted for our birthday for weeks. And the truth is, I just didn't know. But I knew I wanted to do something extra special.

As a family, we've been to Cornwall in 2011 and 2012, because my dad used to live in St Ives and he would often perform at open mic nights in Cornish pubs. When we first visited, he would tell us all about the folklore behind each place and I soon fell in love with the whole region. Now don't me wrong, I love living in Yorkshire, but Cornwall just seems to have a piece of magic for me every time we've been. When my dad passed away in late 2012 our whole lives changed and I knew that it would be highly unlikely we would visit Cornwall in the near future. For some reason, I've always associated Cornwall with my dad because he just adored the place, and so even though I was excited about going back, I didn't know if it would be the same.

Though it rained the first day, all week was filled with visiting places I have grown to adore over the years and new places we never got time to visit on our previous trips, and I never wanted to come back home. I didn't feel sad about our dad not being there, not because I didn't miss him, but the fact that it's hard to be sad when you're surrounded by so much natural beauty. Still to this day, Cornwall will always have a very special place in my heart and I hope I get to go back soon!

Jamaica Inn

One of my fave authors is Daphne du Maurier and for many years I have wanted to visit Jamaica Inn, a hotel and restaurant that is based on the novel of the same name. Attached to the hotel is a smuggling museum, that was influenced by the themes of the novel, and it allows you to go in depth into how smuggling was a huge business in Cornwall, looking at some of the techniques used to smuggle in goods. One of the displays showcases how people would cut into apples and place smuggled drugs in the centre, a perfect hiding place from the authorities back in the day. Jamaica Inn also had a Daphne Du Maurier room dedicated to the author, and is a perfect place to buy all of her books if you love reading like me!

Jamaica Inn is situated right next to Bodmin Moor, a great place to go walking and we decided to visit Bodmin Jail. I didn't know what to expect when coming here, believing it to be like York Dungeons etc when you watch role plays and are encouraged to participate, but Bodmin Jail was far more informative than I imagined and sooo big that I definitely think it's worth the money to go. Floor after floor you are taken through the history of the jail, with mannequins not shying away from some of the gory details of the people who were hung there. The jail is believed to be one of the most haunted destinations in England and plans are being made to turn the cells once used by inmates into a hotel, but I don't really like the idea of staying where people were hung for murder...

Truro

Every time I've been to Truro it's rained, but as Cornwall's only city it shines even in the rain. Truro's main attraction is its cathedral which towers proudly over the streets. With free entry, you can roam around and take some fancy shots of the beautiful architecture, and they even have a shop full of Cornish souvenirs and Christmas choral music if you are already buying relatives Xmas presents in summer. The Royal Cornwall Museum is situated in Truro too, with it currently having an exhibition of paintings inspired by the Cornish landscape - a must-see!
 

Penzance

Throughout the week we got to know Penzance pretty well as we were staying in a flat on the main high street. I remembered Penzance vividly from the first time we visited, as the train station is right by the sea, and one of the most striking features of the town is the number of palm trees and tropical plants that fool you into believing you've left England. Penzance has a distinct feel that can only be experienced first hand and it was a pleasure to spend all week here as our base.

From Penzance, you can glimpse St Michael's Mount, one of the most famous of Cornwall's landmarks. To get to the island at low tide, you can walk up the causeway whilst taking in the incredible scenery or get a short boat ride in high tide. Though we'd been to St Michael's Mount before, this time it was even more enjoyable as the sun came out and we even sat on the grass and sunbathed! The island has wonderful gardens to explore and on a clear day, the views are unbeatable. Trekking up the many stairs is also worth it to gain access to the castle that allows you to learn all about the Island's history. With romantic views and plenty to do, this is a place I highly recommend if you've never visited Cornwall before.

Perranuthnoe is a small village that we visited close to St Michael's Mount and it has a very cute beach that we explored on our last day. The beach is popular with surfers and offers coastal walks for those with dogs or anyone who enjoys walking with great views.

Porthcurno

With a gorgeous stretch of sand and an open-air theatre, Porthcurno has it all and I'd be surprised if on a scorching hot day the beach isn't packed full of people! You can walk to the Minack theatre from the beach whilst taking in the fresh sea air, and when a performance isn't on, you can explore the wonderful theatre too.

Land's End

Land's End is the most westerly point in mainland Britain and one of the best spots in the whole of Cornwall in my opinion. Not only does it offer great walks, now it has its very own shopping centre and you can take your picture with that very famous signpost. However, Land's End has changed a lot since we last went there, with it now being a commercial honeypot that charges for parking and to take a picture with the sign. Instead of having a 4D cinema, the place should just focus on the amazing views but it's still somewhere to check out.

Mousehole

This tiny fishing village is a cute location full of small galleries and restaurants with a picturesque harbour if you're looking for a quieter spot to have a picnic or to spend the afternoon. Car parking tends to be quite expensive in Cornwall so if it's not a busy day, try to get a space on the road to save a bit of cash!

Hayle

I saw an advertisement for Paradise Park, a nature reserve in Hayle, in one of our tourist information leaflets, and because we had never been to Hayle before we decided to give it a shot. The park is pretty expensive but it has a lot to offer and I'm pretty sure the money will go towards helping protect the animals so you can at least feel good about that. The park boasts a large collection of exotic birds, parrots and gets all the family involved by letting you feed donkeys, sheep, and goats - you can even get up close to adorable penguins! There is definitely a lot to do here if the weather isn't great and you want something to do, but we also had time to explore Hayle and came across the most extraordinary beach that seemed to go on for miles.

Along the coastline, we also found the Godrevy coast walks that have incredible views of the beaches and also gives you the opportunity to see wild seals as they come to shore in one of the more secluded bays.

St  Ives

St Ives has got to be one of my favourite places on earth. Ever since we first visited Cornwall I've been in love with the place, and I always demand that we come here every visit. The streets are always bustling with life, there are gorgeous beaches to look upon and just the beauty of the scenery always takes my breath away. If you're looking to come here, I don't recommend coming when it's hot, as I bet the roads will be jammed pack full of tourists but it's the most perfect place in the whole world <3