Cornwall, one of the most beautiful and protected parts of England, is home to many outstanding holiday cottages available to rent for weekend breaks and longer-term stays. The area is popular with holidaymakers due to its agreeable climate, long and sandy coastline, and combination of sleepy villages and picturesque countryside. Much of Cornwall, along with Devon, is recognised as an Area of Outstanding Beauty and is known internationally for its beauty. Holiday cottages in Cornwall can be found in close proximity to coastal areas, perfect for seaside breaks with the family, or head closer towards Truro and neighbouring towns if you fancy something a bit different.
Cornwall holiday cottages are also perfect if you want a taste of South-western culture; the area is know for its links to the visual arts, due to its unspoilt maritime scenery and lack of pollution, which gives clear visibility (and is great for amateur astronomers looking for some star-gazing). Music is also widespread in Cornwall, with an abundance of folk festivals and brass bands - common in many of England’s former mining towns - for you to enjoy. Watersports, including rowing and sailing, have a strong following in Cornwall for obvious reasons.
Whatever your reasons for visiting Cornwall, holiday cottages are a great alternative to hotels and offer you the home-away-from-home experience in a beautiful part of the country. Cornwall holiday homes are also very versatile; it’s never one-size-fits-all and you can choose a property based on your requirements. Family and large groups will prefer bigger mansions and estates, often complete with luxury modern conveniences including jacuzzis, while couples may prefer a cosier, romantic cottage with traditional features and close proximity to the forest.
Cottages with swimming pools by the coast, and rural country houses with hot tubs - everyone loves Cornwall and why wouldn’t they? Young and old alike flock there every year to visit or revisit special Cornish places. Christmas, New year and summer and Easter holidays get booked well in advance – so you will be lucky to find a last minute deal, but cancellations do happen and there are several self-catering cottages and larger holiday houses with late availability now!
From Launceston to Land’s End. Walk on Bodmin Moor. Visit Tintagel home of King Arthur and his knights. Read Daphne du Maurier’s Frenchman’s Creek then visit Helford Passage to bring the story to life. Have lunch at the pub in Port Isaac where Doc Martin is filmed. Recognize the film locations from Poldark!
Holiday activities for last minute planners and places of interest that will keep your visitors happy and busy - Cornwall has culture (The Tate Modern and the open air Minack Theatre), gardens (the Eden Project and The Lost Gardens of Heligan), history (The National Maritime Museum in Falmouth), the South West Coast Path for amazing walking and, last but not least, beautiful beaches – it’s an amazing holiday playground for all ages and really popular for walking holidays.
Come rain or shine there is always something to do on a beach. Building sandcastles, playing with a ball, reading, painting, walking and, of course, surfing.
There is no shortage of great beaches for surfing and they are never far away when you are in Cornwall. Polzeath, Perranporth, Gwithian and Sennen Bay to name a few. The map search may help you if you want to find a cottage close to the sea but are not familiar with place names. The icons tell you how many bedrooms are in each property – so you can see if it’s a large holiday house at a glance – or you can select 3 bedroom, 4 bedroom cottages etc…
On a rainy day the beach at Sennen Bay is full of parents wrapped up in waterproofs watching their children reveling in trying to stay upright on a surfboard for more than just a split second. When they come out of the water they are greeted by their parents with bags of chips and hot chocolates to warm them up - which they love almost as much as the surfing itself. This part of Cornwall can get busy at half term and in the school holidays, so don’t leave booking until the last minute.
When the sun shines parents stop worrying about their children getting cold and worry more about them getting sunburnt!! The beaches are dotted with pop-up tents which act as picnic huts as well as shelters from the rain and sun.
Summer holidays or winter retreats – you will find a mixture of weather in the South West. Weekend and ten day weather forecasts can be helpful and are available for the popular holiday towns:
Rent a large house and fill it with a big group of family or friends (6 – 8 bedrooms plus which will sleep 12 – 16 + people) or take a small fisherman’s cottage sleeping 2. There is holiday accommodation for all sizes of party from couples to large family groups. The bigger large holiday houses are booked well in advance during the summer holidays for sun seekers and family holidays. The smaller romantic retreats – often with log fires and hot tubs (very popular even with beeches close by!), may be rented for weekend getaways or short breaks.
People travel to Cornwall by train, bus, ferry, road and air but most people find it useful to have a car while they are there. If you have booked a late availability holiday cottage, in the north or south of Cornwall, holiday planning time will be tight. Consider your transport options:
If you are driving to Cornwall the main route is down the M5 and then the A30. There aren’t many options and so these roads can be very busy in high summer season as families head for the beach resorts.
Flying to Newquay or Exeter and hiring a car can be a great option depending on the size of your party. You can rent large people carrying vehicles that seat 7-9 people, but be aware of the luggage space which may be compromised on the bigger vehicles, drive straight to your holiday apartment.
Supporting the local Cornish economy is essential – these communities thrive on tourists, however, if you have room in your car, do stop at a supermarket en route to your holiday home and stock up with food and drink (this will probably save you money too as supermarkets are generally cheaper). Local shops offer essentials but it is so annoying to keep having to go back to a supermarket for things you can’t buy locally.