Places to Visit in Cornwall

Cornwall has a distinct culture and identity that awaits discovery at numerous destinations across the county. From manicured gardens and stately homes to wild expanses and historic landmarks, you’ll find plenty of places to visit in Cornwall. To help you narrow down your itinerary, here are some of the best:

Scenic walks

Discover Cornwall’s beautiful and rugged landscape with a scenic walk. A good place to start is in one of the county’s most spectacular locations – Bodmin Moor. This Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty has a windswept and wild character that is utterly captivating. The highest point on the moor is Brown Willy, while nearby you’ll find the slightly less challenging granite peaks of Showery Tor, Little Rough Tor, and Rough Tor. Venture further into the heart of the Moor and you’ll discover the real Jamaica Inn – a coaching inn that dates back to the 1750s and was notorious for smugglers, brigands and cutthroats (although it does focus more on serving a rather decent pint of local ale these days!).

Mining heritage

Dotted across the landscape you’ll see the iconic Cornish engine houses. Cornish mining is recognised as internationally important and as a result has been given World Heritage status. Across Cornwall you’ll find plenty of remnants of the tin mining industry, but to find out more head to King Edward Mine Museum near Camborne, a mining heritage centre that has been restored to full working order.

The Coastal Path and the Eden Project

Cornwall’s 200-mile long Coastal Path stretches across the full length of the county’s coastline. A good reference for coastal walks in Cornwall is http://www.southwestcoastpath.com/.

If you’re interested in conservation then head to the Eden Project near St Austell. This unique attraction consists of a series of biodomes, and there are events and exhibitions on all year round that make it a perfect destination for families. Find out what’s on and when at http://www.edenproject.com.

The wooded area of St Nectan’s Glen near Tintagel offers some superb opportunities for walking and admiring the scenery. Venture further into the woods and you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views of St Nectan’s Kieve – a 60-foot waterfall.

Gardens and country homes

Lanhydrock House and Garden in Bodmin is one of the county’s most popular attractions. The house is a wonderfully preserved example of late-Victorian architecture and interior design, while the gardens are perfectly manicured and full of colour all year round.

The Lost Gardens of Heligan near St Austell offer an eclectic variety of Victorian style gardens, contemporary horticulture and even sub-tropical jungle. Trebah Gardens in Falmouth also offer a touch of the exotic and several miles of footpaths.

Other ‘must-sees’

• Mount Edgcumbe House and Country Park, Torpoint

• Lizard Lighthouse Heritage Centre

• Minack Theatre, Penzance

• St Michael’s Mount, Marazion

• Truro Cathedral