Caravanning in Cornwall

 

 

There’s something about the word ‘Cornwall’ that brings out the temptation in all of us to start using our best imitation of a West Country accent!

Well, resisting that for the moment, let’s consider what this beautiful county offers caravan holiday enthusiasts.

Why Cornwall?

This part of England has some immediate big advantages when it comes to caravan trips:

• its geographic location means that it gets typically very reliable and mild weather for large parts of the year. That’s a huge plus for the many caravan holidaymakers who openly describe themselves as ‘fair weather’ sorts;

• the local area is very well equipped with great sites. Facilities are usually thoughtful and appealing though of course, it only makes sense to research a potential site well in advance;

• its natural beauty, including huge coastlines, stunning cliffs and inland moors plus some of the most picturesque villages you’ll ever come across;

• in a time when many other parts of England have lost or are losing their local cultural identity and traditions, down here they’re being retained and strengthened. As a result, Cornwall feels ‘different’ and that makes it even more attractive.

The Cuisine

The county is surrounded on three of its four sides by the sea, so it’s unsurprising that fish plays a big part in traditional fayre.  That’s not to exclude some of the local meat-based delicacies either.

The towns and villages here are simply overflowing with great dining. Why not try:

• the delicious if odd-looking ‘Stargazy Pie’, which is egg, pilchards and potatoes in puff-pastry;

• another oddity is ‘Squab Pie’. It’s odd because the ‘squab’ in the name suggests it should contain pigeon but in Cornwall, its traditional home, lamb is used. It’s doubly strange because in other parts of England, where it spread to, pigeon is used;

• don’t be frightened by the name of ‘Whortleberry Pie’ either. This is actually a local berry that is very similar to the blueberry;

• finally, don’t forget those pasties!

You won’t be short of top-class dining opportunities either. The almost legendary chef Rick Stein* has one of his greatest fish restaurants here, reflecting the freshness and diversity of ingredients. There are many other great restaurants around too.

Pastimes

It would be possible to write several books on the subject of what to do in Cornwall.

Just a sample includes:

• surfing – some, if not THE best surfing in the UK is to be found down here. In fact, you’ll be spoilt for choice on both coastlines;

• historic and evocative castles – try Tintagel Castle for a breath-taking coastal backdrop or Trerice House and Gardens if you’d prefer Tudor elegance;

• cycling – keep yourself fit at the same time as seeing some stunning scenery on safe Cornish cycling tracks;

• fishing – whether you like salt or freshwater varieties, you’ll find plenty of spots in every corner of the county;

• beaches – there’s about 250 miles of coastline in Cornwall and nobody really has any idea how many beaches and coves there are but it’s certainly several hundred. That means, even in summer, it’s usually possible to escape the crowds and find that quiet secluded beach for a swim;

• historic towns – they’re everywhere! Try Polperro for smugglers’ coves or Mousehole for real charm.

Preparing

As a few quick tips:

• the roads in Cornwall, once off the main routes, are well-known for their narrowness and winding nature. Unless you enjoy trauma and lengthy reversing, why not make sure that your tourer caravan insurance is up-to-date and leave your caravan in an approved site when you explore;

• try to avoid travelling on bank holidays if you can. The roads to and from the West Country can be very busy at such times.