Cornwall - Introduction & Menu

Welcome to the Strolling Guide to Cornwall

Beloved of Sir John Betjeman, and who would dream of questioning his judgment (at least in this respect), Cornwall is always quieter, and easier to get to than I expect. Yes, getting back round Exeter on a summer Saturday can be a drag — but that's coming home.

Actually, this is a very depressed area, now that the tin mining is near enough dead and most the tourists have gone to hotter climes. Yes places like St Ives and Newquay get packed, but elsewhere, you can usually get a seat in a pub, if you don't leave it too late, and the traffic flows steadily, if not speedily.

Good pubs, great beer (St Austell and Sharpe's Breweries), plenty of seafood, sun (usually), beaches, lots to see and do, what more could anyone ask for?

Cornwall Gazetteer A quick look at some of the more interesting buildings and other curiosities in the county.
Go to the Cornwall Gazetteer Page
West Cornwall
As well as the fine cliff scenery along the north coast and around the Penwith peninsula the far west of Cornwall also boasts such attractions a St Michaels Mount, St Ives (with its Tate Gallery and long association with artists such as Barbara Hepworth), the tourist trap that is Land's End and the many remains of the tin industry.

Administratively part of Cornwall, but more like a separate country are the Isles of Scilly which are also covered in this section.

Go to the West Cornwall Page
The Cornish Riviera
Less spectacular than the north or west coast, the south coast of Cornwall has long been marketed as the "Cornish Riviera". These days people are more likely to visit this area for attractions such as the Eden Project and the Lost Gardens of Heligan, and to see the strange alien landscape of the "Cornish Alps" (the spoil heaps from the china clay industry around St Austell) than to go swimming in the sea.

Go to the The Cornish Riviera Page
North Cornwall
Often overlooked as people rush down the A30 to the far west, the north coast of Cornwall has much to recommend it. The cliffs are every bit as good (if not better), it is quieter and has many attractions, stately homes such as Lanhydrock, heritage railways such as the Bodmin and Wenford and, of course Padstow with Rick Stein's fine restaurants.

Go to the North Cornwall Page
Cornish Skyscapes and Sunsets A few more sunset shots
Go to the Cornish Skyscapes and Sunsets Page