Need Some Travel Inspiration? A Cornwall Staycation Might Just Be Right For You

With the current pandemic and restrictions on international travel, “staycations” have become the latest travel trend this summer. Staying close to home or – better – exploring our beautiful country is as equally exciting as going abroad. So for today’s post, I’d like to share with you one of my Cornwall staycation from a few years ago. My highlight was a road trip around Devon & Cornwall.

I spent an entire month exploring the South of England. Instead of spending a few days here and there, I decided to rent a private room in Exeter.  The charming city became my base from which I would venture out to the beaches, the breathtaking coastal walks, and view countless historic sights.

Your Base: Exeter

Renting a private room in Exeter came cheap and saved me some ££. I stayed with a lovely couple and got local insights and recommendations. I felt like a true resident which made my stay even more memorable.

Exeter itself is a charming town that can be explored easily on foot. The area around the Cathedral is seamed with little cafes. Nearby shops offer traditional cream tea and are perfect for a relaxed Sunday afternoon. But there’s more.

Being one of the oldest settlements in Britain, Exeter has seen William the Conqueror. The city has kept many remains of its Norman Conquest past including a very well-preserved city wall. More than 70% of the ancient wall is still intact. It spans a history of more than 2000 years. There are 9 historical spots to discover if you decide to go on a self-guided walking tour which will take you across the majority of the inner city past lush gardens and medieval townhouses.

If time allows, I can also recommend seeing the Underground Passages. It is a medieval subterranean system to transport water deep below the city centre. The passages are well preserved and narrow which makes exploring even more adventurous. There’s also a little virtual fly-through experience.

Did you know? Exeter is the only city in the UK to have these underground passages. So make sure you don’t miss out on them!

Do Not Miss Out Whilst In Exeter:
– Ancient City Wall
– Underground Passages
– Exeter Cathedral
– Day trip to Exmouth & Jurassic Coast
– Food recommendation: pizza at The Old Firehouse

Explore North Devon and The Exmoor

Being close to the border to Cornwall, Exeter is a perfect spot to explore Devon and Cornwall alike. Driving distances to the North of Devon are all under 2h. There’s a lot to do and to see for this UK staycation to fill a couple of days with.

North Devon is home to my favourite beach in Saunton, the UK’s largest sand dune site. You can also go surfing here, but I was told Bude and Woolacombe are the hot spots for surfers. If you like the sea but don’t fancy a swim or a surf, a walk along the stunning coastline is best to do from Minehead or Mortehoe.

Especially the latter is a super cute fairy tale village with adorable tearooms where you can enjoy traditional cream tea with scones and clotted cream. In Devon cream comes first, as it resembles butter. In Cornwall, you have jam first then cream. The beaches around the Mortehoe area are rough and dotted with many rock formations. Rockham Beach, for example, is a cool playground to explore rockpools and little caves.

On another day I can recommend exploring the Exmoor National Park where you can spot wild ponies and observe all sorts of British wildlife. I’m a huge fan of owls and visited the Exmoor Owl & Hawk Centre, a small sanctuary to meet those incredible creatures.

Points of Interests in North Devon:
– Mortehoe & Coastal Walks
– Grunta Beach, Barricane Beach for rockpools
– Rockham Beach
– Saunton Beach
– Valley of Rocks viewpoint & hike
– Inland walks: footpath Brendon and Cosgate Hill
– Exmoor & Owl Centre

Cornwall & Further Down The A30

Before you enter Cornwall, you’ll travel through the Dartmoor National Park. Similar to the Exmoor, there’s lots of wildlife to see and nature to explore. Postbridge has one of Britain’s oldest stone bridges still intact and nearby are lots of hidden tracks and hiking trails. Dartmoor also has many granite rock sites for climbing known as tors and hills.

Hound Tor, for example, is a heavily weathered outcrop. The massive granite boulders include the ruins of a medieval village, alongside prehistoric works of stone construction nearby. The name “hound” was given to the site, as some rock formations resemble the heads of dogs. Another tor worth mentioning is Brentor near Tavistock. On top of its steep hill, lies St Michael’s Church. Friends of mine got married here and the views over the open Dartmoor are spectacular. The tor itself is unlike other tors in Dartmoor not made out of granite but from basalt.

Top Tip for your UK Staycation: Roam around the area and spend the day exploring beaches and hidden coastal walks. Devon and Cornwall are known for their stellar beaches and some are only revealed during low tide. On my trip, I bought a book called Secret Beaches by Rob Smith which points out hidden coves and secluded beaches in Devon and Cornwall.

On some days I would travel around to explore caves, collect seashells and stones from rock pools or discover untouched sandy beaches. It is a lot of fun and also connects you with nature, as you will walk a lot and find one or another treasure.

A bit further west down the excellent motorway connection of the A30 lies Penzance. St Michael’s Mountain, a towering castle settlement on a small island, is spectacular to explore during low tide. During high tide, there’s a small speed boat that allows crossing the water, but the highlight is during low tide when a stone path leading from the mainland is revealed.

On Your Way To Cornwall, You Can Explore
– Dartmoor Park & Tors, e.g. Hound Tor, Brentor
– Postbridge
– Penzance & St Michael’s Mount

Land’s End & Tip of Cornwall

At the very end of England, you’ll find two of its most southern and western points. The latter is Lands End which is worth an entire day trip. You can spend hours walking along the coast and discover hidden beaches and coves. Sennen Beach is a highlight and if the weather allows for clear views you can see the Scilly Islands or spot dolphins.

Close by is Porthcurno which is known for the Minack Theatre, a circular amphitheatre built into the cliffs. It’s a spectacular experience to see a play here with its breathtaking backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean. Tickets are popular and are priced moderately at £10 so this is a wonderful experience not to be missed.

Tintagel Castle

Another UK staycation highlight for me was Tintagel. This is an ancient castle ruin placed on an epic rock formation overlooking the sea. Tintagel is rumoured to be the birthplace of the Arthurian Legend.

The medieval fortress, built in the Romano-British period 1st century AD, has long associations with the King Arthur legend since the 12th century. Its ruins are located on a small peninsula just outside of the sleepy village Tintagel. The site consists of two rock formations that are connected via steep stairs. The rough cliffside is completely exposed to the dramatic openness of the Celtic Sea.

I loved exploring Tintagel Castle. Many foundations and structures are still intact. The ruins are widely spread and the site is an active excavation spot. The latest discovery was in 2016. Archaeologists found a collection of artefacts, glass, pottery and building structures from the Dark Ages. The major find, however, was a window ledge inscribed with Latin, Greek and Cornish symbols. You see, this site holds many secrets and with its magical atmosphere, it is easy to spin your own tales.

Tintagel Castel should not be missed on your UK staycation. It’s full of history and well-preserved. It’s looked after by the English Heritage and usually closed during the first quarter of the year. Between April and the end of the year, Tintagel can be visited during daylight hours. The ticket prices have shot up though. In 2011, I paid £5. Now, the admission is £14.50 for an adult. The rise in costs has been used to build a new footbridge to the peninsula. There’s also a metal artwork by the cliffside to commemorate King Arthur.

This place is quite remote and you’ll definitely need a car to get there. Exploring the castle ruin and its nearby caves can take up a good 4h so do bring some time with you.

The South & Lizard Point

Further south of Tintagel, near St Austell, lies Eden Project, a huge eco-park to showcase sustainable future living. The massive complex was built on an old claypit to demonstrate the regeneration process. The site developed in 2000 into a garden and has added more attractions and sustainable living sections. Today, Eden Project is dominated by huge domes which host exotic plants and a vantage point platform. I chose Eden Project because I’m interested in botanical gardens and other ways of living. It was fascinating to see eco-friendly approaches to how humans can resourcefully and sustainably live with nature.

A final point of interest for your UK staycation could be Lizard Point – England’s most southerly point. This unique rock formation is shaped in the form of a sleeping lizard. If you visited Land’s End beforehand, Lizard Point may be a bit underwhelming. It is less spectacular and other than the car park, there’s little to do. BUT in the area are a few hidden beaches & coves and you can kill a few hours by hiking nearby or exploring more rockpools and caves. Not far from Lizard Point is Kynance Cove – Cornwall’s most prestigious beach. Its car park has limited space so plan to get there early.

Cornwall and Devon are usually clichés for UK staycations, but in my view both counties are stunning. There’s art, there’s good tea and cakes. Most of all there’s its nature. If you like the outdoors just as much as I do, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this part of the UK.

Thanks so much for reading. If you enjoyed the post and would like to support my research you can always Buy Me a Coffee.

Till next time,
Carolin

You may enjoy reading about my other UK staycations:

• A Day Trip To The Mayfield Lavender Farm
• A Taste Of Pilgrimage in Canterbury