5 of the Best... Cornwall

There's few ceremonial counties in England that hold such a proud sense of regional identity, than Cornwall. Cornwall is among Celtic lands such as the countries of Scotland and Wales, whereby the Cornish roots of England's western-most county, date back to when it was known as 'Kernow'. In this article, I'll share '5 of the Best...' sights to see in this fascinating region of the United Kingdom; from geographic points of interest like Land's End, to places of historic intrigue such as Tintagel Castle. After these chosen five, I'll summarize some honourable mentions that are also real highlights of Cornwall. I'll also discuss a few points with regards to trip planning for visiting this county, but without further ado, I hope you enjoy this sweep through some of my Cornish favourites.

1) Land's End

We start with the place known as Land's End - the western-most tip of the rugged Cornish coastline, and whereby the whole country of England reaches furthest to the west. Home to stunning views out to the Atlantic Ocean, and some great coastal walks that are part of the incredible 'South West Coast Paths' - it's a delight to wonder here on a sunny day! Whilst it's possible to visit all year round, you should be dressed appropriately with less favourable weather conditions because this location bears the brunt of weather coming in from the ocean! Also, it's noticeable that just being there is a tick off of the bucket list for many; whilst it may not have as much historic intrigue or stellar sights to see than other places - just saying you've been to Land's End - is why many people go and simply enjoy being at this famous Cornish attraction.

There's the iconic signpost to see - showcasing the distance from Land's End to John O'Groats (a village in the very northeast of Scotland, whereby there's a similar signpost!). Also in the vicinity is an array of family attractions, as well as a shopping village - which can make this place a day-out rather than a quick stop. I remember walking along some of the amazing coastline here - personally the coastal cliff and ocean views were the highlight of our visit during summer 2021. We visited on a wonderfully sunny day which really aided the experience. With that said, it was very crowded! This was great to see people out enjoying this famous British landmark, however it meant the queue was so long for a photo with the signpost, we headed on to other sights after visiting instead! We headed to Cape Cornwall (pictured later in this article), looked after by the National Trust, which is a a lesser visited but very scenic westerly place to appreciate the deep-blue Atlantic.

2) Geevor Tin Mine

Second in this '5 of the Best... Cornwall' article is the fascinating Geevor Tin Mine; today it's home to a superb interactive museum across the complex, which showcases the history of tin mining in Cornwall. Throughout the coastline of this county, you see many remnants of mining heritage (like the Levant Mine) - so much so that the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006.

This region of England contributed hugely to the Industrial Revolution of Britain, and visiting Geevor in particular, helps you understand the scale and bravery of the work that so many miners undertook in this region, as they went deep underground in the search of copper and tin. The landscape was particularly developed here in the 18th and early 19th centuries, whereby Cornwall and neighbouring Devon, became renowned globally for it's successful sourcing of valuable mining materials.

The last tin mine in Cornwall actually shut in 1998, after a crash in the value of the resources contributing largely to the closure of mines throughout the region. There is an always talk in Cornwall about the prospect of rejuvenating the tin mining industry, however a mine that opened in 2021 was aimed at extracting lithium carbonate for batteries instead. Mining is also incredibly dangerous work - people died during incidents across the years. With that said, being a miner is something that so many seen as a part of their DNA in Cornwall, so since the collapse of the Cornish mining industry - there's been somewhat of a diaspora of miners from Cornwall heading all around the world to continue their mining livelihood and passion. As well as noticing mining remnants elsewhere in Cornwall, Geevor Tin Mine is really the best place to gain a better appreciation to this truly courageous work that took place for generations in Cornwall.

3) Saint Michael's Mount

Next up, we have Cornwall's answer to Mont Saint-Michel in France... the beautiful Saint Michael's Mount. So similar in their small tidal island nature rising majestically a short way away from the shore, both are accessible by foot at low tide, and by boat when high tide comes in. Saint Michael's Mount is a picture-postcard site in Cornwall and one that appeals to people for different reasons. Some people may visit for the beach on Mount's Bay with the backdrop of buildings in the town of Marazion, and Saint Michael's Mount itself opposite; it was bustling with 'fun in the sun' energy when I visited during summertime! This was in the afternoon though during low tide; in the morning we had to get boats across to the mount! Of course, lots of people visit Marazion to spend time on Saint Michael's Mount itself - there's lots to see there despite the seemingly small size of this tidal island (it seems bigger once you are on the island itself!).

Over 2,000 years ago it's believed that Saint Michael's Mount developed as a trading centre for the aforementioned tin mining industry. Phoenician ships are said to have exported it from the mount's harbour, to places in Europe and beyond. The harbour itself is idyllic, and in the summertime when the rest of the attractions are open - you can visit the castle, church and gardens. The latter is home to an incredible biosphere that has so many different types of plants that have become accustomed to life in Cornwall. Walking the grass paths along the garden terraces, you could be forgiven for thinking you were in the Canary Islands! The gardens were built in 1887, and each year between approximately September to May, they are closed for restoration and rest bite from the wear and tear caused by the thousands of summer tourists. Just along the coastline from the mount, is Mousehole (pronounced: 'Mow-zol') - it's one of my favourite Cornish fishing villages to see. It's logical to add Mousehole to a sightseeing day with Saint Michael's Mount.

4) Truro Cathedral

Fourth in the five I've chosen takes us inland, in fact - it's the only one the five that isn't coastal! There is a lot to do inland in Cornwall, from nice villages like Zennor, to the superb Eden Project which showcases environmental biomes and eco-friendly initiatives. However, with that said - so many of Cornwall's highlights are found on its 422 miles of great coastline.

Truro Cathedral stands tall in the only city of Cornwall, acting as the administrative centre and focal point for this westerly peninsula. The cathedral was consecrated in 1887 and it was built in the Gothic revival style. When visiting inside the cathedral, there are some architectural highlights to notice; the likes of the remarkable stained glass rose windows, created by Clayton and Bell, are simply stunning. Other sights to look out for include the Pieta (depicting Mary and Jesus), which was crafted in the 14th century by Breton monks in Caen granite. Also, there's a black ebony (a dense hardwood) Madonna and child statue, and a gleaming brass eagle lectern inside the vast cathedral interior.

One particular artwork I noticed during visiting was a painting depicting the Cornish county, whereby Truro Cathedral featured with a beam of light rising skyward - as if to be the 'Jerusalem', the spiritual centre for the Cornish people in their home lands. From the outside, the façade is well worth stopping to take a photograph - its towers rise over the shopping streets nearby, as if to welcome the people of the city, county, and further afield, through its open doors. We used Truro as a base for the adventure whereby these photos were taken in 2021; it's a great central point that enabled us to venture off to different places each day during the week.

5) Tintagel Castle

Concluding this set of Cornish sights to see, we head to the northern shores of Cornwall. This place is home to myths and legends, home to astonishing Celtic Sea coastal views, and home to an award-winning modern footbridge to walk across... this is Tintagel Castle. Looked after by English Heritage, this is one of the many sights they take care of in this region (others include Pendennis and Saint Mawes Castles on the south coast). At Tintagel, there's actually only scant castle ruins that remain - but it's the atmosphere that attracts hoards of people here every year. The dramatic cliff sides here are a sight to behold, and are a favourite for families and culture vultures every summer. The statue of Gallos depicts an ancient king, believed to be King Arthur. This is the man whose story has been passed down generations - but similarly to his reputation at Glastonbury in Somerset - what is myth, legend or factual, is difficult to know for sure.

The beach below the castle ruins is known as Tintagel Haven, and there's lots of green places around the castle itself to pause and ponder the horizons there. A shuttle bus is available to connect the castle entrance from the nearest car parks 600 metres away, whilst the guidebook and visitor exhibition helps to unravel some of the mysteries surrounding this place. Unlike other castles such as Dover and Deal in the south east county of Kent, this wasn't repurposed in recent times by the Tudors or for the World Wars, hence why much less physical remains are left, and much more aura fills the air here. Noticable from Tintagel is the imposing Camelot Castle Hotel, which is recognizable to viewers of the ITV program Doc Martin, whereby it often features. In fact, earlier in the day we visited Tintagel Castle, we went to Port Isaac (a.k.a. Port Wenn in the television series!). It's an idyllic coastal village with a small harbour and surrounding greenery - and for viewers of Doc Martin, it's fun to walk around to find featured places in the hugely popular comedy-drama. Tintagel and Port Isaac are nice to pair together for a day's itinerary travelling the northern coast.

*Honourable Mentions

I've alluded to some other places in this article so far, such as Mousehole near to Saint Michael's Mount, and Port Isaac near to Tintagel Castle. I'll list below some other places that are highlights of Cornwall.

*Porthleven: picturesque harbour and it's the most southerly port in Great Britain.

*Lizard Point: a National Trust protected area that's the most southerly point in all of Britain. It's home to a real array of different wildlife, as well of many flora and fauna.

*Minack Theatre: Rowena Cade was the visionary architect behind this open air theatre, which opened back in 1930.

*Falmouth: one of the biggest towns in Cornwall. Home to a National Maritime Museum and a huge beachfront promenade.

*Penzance: another one of the larger Cornish towns; lots of accommodation here.

*St Mawes and Pendennis Castles: fine remains of a pair of castles that overlook the mouth of the River Fal. They date back to Tudor times; built by Henry VIII.

*Eden Project: mentioned earlier, the Eden Project is a superb eco visitor attraction.

*Cornish Trip Planning and Weather Notes

There's so many more small villages and beautiful open spaces in Cornwall to explore - what I've mentioned above are simply a selection of places I really enjoyed. I also alluded to summer weather a lot, and of course that is a big-factor behind whether visiting these places is enjoyable or whether they are even open. For example, St. Michael's Mount's castle and gardens are closed much of the year, many of the attractions at Land's End are closed in winter, whilst Tintagel Castle closes often for safety reasons in times of inclement weather conditions. Cornwall is definitely a seasonal destination, with many jobs for local people being seasonal - peaking during the high season which is ultimately the summer holidays in August after the kids break-up from school. In good weather, a Cornish holiday rivals the best coastlines of Spain and Italy! However, Cornwall shouldn't just be considered as a summer destination at all - a winter's walk along a stretch of the South West Coast path can be a delight when wrapped up warm with the reward of a cup of tea and fish and chips to follow! It's just worth noting that the experience is very different and that the British weather is certainly somewhat unpredictable, so winter trips need appropriate clothing, and patience of course - for when the rain makes going out not something appealing at all!

*If you would like help planning a Cornish adventure with Lessons & Joys of Travel - please feel free to contact me via this website, or via @lessonsandjoysoftravel on Instagram or Facebook. All the best.

By Aaron Woodruff

Lessons & Joys of Travel

06/02/2025