Cornwall, a paradise for lovers of the coast
The far south-west of England is an elongated land point surrounded by the sea on all sides. The landscape here is very diverse, relatively unspoiled, and sometimes extremely rugged. The particularly mild maritime climate ensures winters in which the temperature hardly ever falls below freezing. As a result, subtropical palms and other exotic plants grow here. Cornwall is an interesting tourist region. You will find beautiful coasts with cliffs and bays, and lovely coastal towns. Several beautiful nature reserves are managed by the National Trust, and the entire county is a beautiful walking and cycling area. Scattered throughout Cornwall are lovely cities, and several places that are interesting from a historical point of view. Prehistoric memories, castles and fortresses, industrial heritage, museums and beautiful gardens, make a stay in Cornwall worthwhile in that respect too!
Cornwall is less than 500 kilometres from Utrecht. You can reach your holiday home in Cornwall with your own car, by sailing over from Dunkirk to Dover. The crossing takes about two hours. You can also take the plane on holiday in Cornwall, thanks to the Newquay Cornwall International Airport. This airport can be reached directly from Düsseldorf in the summer. You can also fly to London or any other English airport, and then rent a car.
A holiday home in Cornwall on the coast
As the south-western tip of England is surrounded by the sea on all sides, almost all holiday homes in Cornwall are close to the coast. The coasts are very varied. Rocky outcrops and cliffs alternate between azure-blue bays and white sandy beaches. The friendly southern coastline is Mediterranean, while the rugged northern coast has a more Atlantic character. Here the power of the ocean pounding on the coast can be clearly seen.
Everywhere along the coast, there are several nice places and some larger cities. The coastal town of Falmouth in the south of Cornwall is situated at the estuary of the mouth of the river Fal. The city has a maritime museum and an art museum, and the special gardens Trebah Garden and Glendurgan Garden are nearby. You will also find the historic forts of Pendennis Castle and St. Mawes Castle, right on the coast. A little further to the west, on a rock in the sea at Marazion, lies St. Michael's Mount with a church, a castle and gardens. At low tide, you can walk straight to the island. From the nearby lively coastal town of Penzance, you can take a boat trip to the Isles of Scilly, which are about 45 kilometres south-west of the coast. This is a group of more than 100 islands, five of which are inhabited. Further to the west is the old fishing village of Mousehole. Narrow little streets, beautiful houses, a harbour and a bay make for a picturesque sight. The southernmost tip of England is Lizard Peninsula, with beautiful cliffs. The extreme point of Cornwall is Land's End, literally the end of the country. A visit to the Visitors Centre is definitely worthwhile.
The National Trust is responsible for the conservation of historic and natural monuments, thus protecting the English heritage. Large parts of the northern coast are managed by the National Trust. These include the St. Agnes Heritage Coast Natural Parks, Trevose Head Heritage Coast, and Hartland Cornwall Heritage Coast. Newquay is very popular with surfers: according to many, Newquay is the best surfing spot in the entire United Kingdom. But not only surfers like to come here: the resort has nine beautiful beaches and a rich nightlife. Port Isaac, located a little further to the north-east, is also a lovely coastal town to stay in a flat or bungalow in Cornwall. Close to this beautiful fishing village, which is also visited by surfers, is the romantic ruin of Tintagel Castle. Legend has it that this cape is the place where King Arthur's castle once stood.
A holiday in Cornwall in the interior
Not only along the coast, but also in the interior, nature is inviting hikers and cyclists, and there are also nice places to stay or visit. Truro, the capital of Cornwall, is located on two rivers, just a few kilometres away from both the north and south coasts. The historic Truro was originally a trading town, and once played an important role in the processing of tin. In the city, the Gothic Truro Cathedral and the Royal Cornwall Museum are worth a visit. Trelissick Garden is located just outside the city. Because Truro is only a few kilometres from the north coast and the south coast, this place is an excellent starting point for walking tours in both coastal areas. Not only the Roseland Heritage Coast nature reserve south of the city, but also the rugged Bodmin Moore a little further to the northeast form beautiful nature reserves.