Not to be confused with Mont-Saint-Michel in the French region of Normandy, St Michael’s Mount is actually perched on a tidal island just off the coast of Cornwall. North Cornwall tends to be wilder, rugged cliffs, long sandy windswept beaches, a land of myth’s and legends… Dogs are restricted on the designated beaches at the times listed below Cornwall Council enforces restrictions at the following beaches which are all part of a Public Spaces Protection Order. Other privately owned beaches may have their own local restrictions in force. Falmouth, the harbour town with a bustling shopping centre and beaches with blue flags. We all love a bit of freedom when on holiday and by going self-catering in Cornwall you can enjoy it by the bucket load.
Or if get up and go is more your style, then walking and water sports abound including windsurfing, sailing, kayaking and power boating. The Celtic nation of Cornwall has been inhabited since the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic periods. The Bronze and Iron Age saw the Brythons people form strong trade links with Wales and Brittany, resulting in language and culture being shared across the Channel. Tin mining started in pre-historic times and drew traders from all parts of the Mediterranean well before the Romans. Largely by passed by the Romans after their invasion of Britain, Cornwall was subsequently ruled by Romano-Celtic chieftains. The River Tamar, which forms one of the most ancient borders in Europe, is central to Cornish history and identity, marking a 1,000-year-old divide between Celtic Kernow and Anglo-Saxon England.
Subsequently, however, Norman absentee landlords became replaced by a new Cornish-Norman ruling class including scholars such as Richard Rufus of Cornwall. The Cornish language continued to be spoken and acquired a number of characteristics establishing its identity as a separate language from Breton. The county is rural, with an area of 3,562 square kilometres and population of 568,210.
The Camel Trail provides access to the beautiful Cornish countryside along a disused railway line. Newly renovated, situated on the rugged cornish coast and cheap as chips. Surfing is every bit as much fun as it looks and the true Cornish experience is not complete without riding the waves at one of Cornwall’s golden beaches, with well-trained instructors. Travel to this sun-kissed Cornish town, in the far South West, for chilled-out beach cafes, sweet surf spots and a thriving art scene. Green-fingered visitors will enjoy the Eden Project, a sprawling collection of striking domes housing tropical and Mediterranean plants, plus an outdoor botanical garden showcasing native flora. The Lost Gardens of Heligan, established in the 19th century, were rediscovered in the 1990s and restored to their former glory.
Enjoy an exhilarating gallop through the Atlantic waves and three miles of golden sand at Cornwall’s popular Perranporth beach. Cornwall’s epic landscapes border on the divine – and they certainly inspired John Wesley, the founder of Methodism who had a penchant for preaching outdoors. After a short mission to Savannah, Georgia from 1735 to 1737, during which time he published America’s first hymn book, Wesley returned to England. Gwennap Pit in Redruth was the site of many of his al-fresco teachings, due to its remarkable acoustics. Wesley Cottage on Bodmin Moor was built especially for him and today features small displays dedicated to his story. The name Cornwall is most likely derived from the tribal name ‘Cornovii’ which probably means the ‘horn people’ – the horn referring to their location at the end of the south-western peninsula.
The Minack Theatre, just 4 miles from Lands’ End, hosts over 200 live performances each year. Carved as it is into the clifftop, it looks like this theatre has been here since ancient times. Still, it’s definitely one of the most beautiful outdoor theatres in the world. With this coastline comes more than 300 beaches, including eight blue flag beaches. These are the best beaches recognised for safety, cleanliness and accessibility. Either way, there’s plenty of space for everyone to throw out a towel and enjoy the summer sunshine.
The Cornwall Council had previously released a report in which it argued why the national identity of the Cornish people should be recognised. According to the 2011 census, Cornish is spoken by about 500 people in Cornwall. Very few, if any, of them have Cornish as their mother tongue, as the language ceased to be used as a community language in the 18th century. Since the second half of the 20th century, efforts to revitalise it have been made.
Or, join one of the many boat trips out to have someone point out the amazing marine life to you. Recently, it was discovered that the last traces of Cornish usage was found in the early 90s. Now, it has come into the hands of the Cornish community to save the relics of Kernewek and it’s been made a part of the local schools’ curriculum. If you know your pasty from your pastry, have a go at our England food quiz and see how many your score. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing, please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.
The Cornish dialect is spoken to varying degrees; however, someone speaking in broad Cornish may be practically unintelligible to one not accustomed to it. Cornish dialect has generally declined, as in most places it is now little more than a regional accent and grammatical differences have been eroded over time. Marked differences in vocabulary and usage still exist between the eastern and western parts of Cornwall.
We have plenty of handpicked holiday cottages for you to choose from be it dog-friendly cottages, romantic getaways or family-friendly stays. Cornwall’s economy is heavily dependent on two industries, agriculture and tourism. The tourism industry is responsible for around 20% of jobs in the county. Fishing also plays a large part in Cornwall’s economy with plenty of harbours and ports found along the Cornish coastline. The population of some of these locations can soar during the summer with tourists flocking to the destinations with Newquay’s population reaching over 100,000 making it a bigger town than West Bromwich, Preston and Bath. The population of Cornwall in 2011 was 536,000 people meaning it’s the 40th most populated of the 47 counties in the UK.