Cornwall
 

I'll be in the Cornwall area for a week this summer. Is there anything here worth a week of touring?

We spent a month wandering around Somerset, Devon, Cornwall, and Wales three years ago. About the only advice we could give would be to avoid St. Ives -- a super-crowded tourist trap of a town. Land's End is not much of a place. You might enjoy seeing some of the National Trust's stately homes, however. Join the NT and get a pass that gives you free entry to many others. Small towns that hug coves are fun to visit. St. Michael's Mount is a fun place to see. Being eccentric, we enjoyed Dartmoor -- great for hikes and dropping in to small pubs and tea rooms. Do not miss a chance to have warm scones with Cornish clotted cream and raspberry jam. The clotted cream is like a super-rich whipped cream. That and a pot of tea is a meal in inself.

I loved St. Ives last September when I was there.

Been to Cornwall a number of times, lovely place, have found St. Ives lovely in low season, end of day. You will probably find the whole area quite busy in summer, the British also holiday there. I loved Lands End but I was there before a lot of the commercial development. I think it you walk along the cliffs and turn your back on the development the views across the water are spectacular. Things I would see: Lanhydrock House, and Trerice, two of the National Trust properties and don't miss St. Michael's Mount just off Penzance. You either take a small boat, or when the tide is low can walk across, and the walk is a killer to the castle entrance, but it is well worthwhile. Although the town of Tintagel isn't anything to scream about, King Arthur's Castle (I think they have determined that it can't be, but it has a wonderful location clinging to the cliffs, and Merlin's Cave feels as if it really did see Merlin's magic), there are also neat walks in the area. There is a really good restaurant just outside Tintagel, I can't remember the name but you have to walk down to it and it is quite romantic. I also really enjoyed Boscastle, some good pubs, can walk through village to cliffs beyond where you can see fishermen fishing from the cliffs, kind of interesting. If you have a bit of money can take helicopter to Scilly Islands, quite beautiful, in their happier days Charles, Diana and children holidayed here. Actually very warm all year round here, something about the Gulf Stream? or something. Away from the water you might try Bodmin Moor, Daphne Du Maurier's Jamaica Inn is here, forget about the touristy trappings, enjoy the pub, great food. Dozmary Pool is also here, supposedly where Sr. Bedivere threw King Arthur's Excalibur. If you are driving to Cornwall, instead of stopping at Stonehenge in Wiltshire, I'd detour to Stourhead Gardens, maybe stay overnight at the Spread Eagle Inn. Lovely, lovely place. Have fun.

On the way into Cornwall (still in Devon), be sure to visit the village of Clovelly. Concur with St. Michaels Mount in Penzance. If you encounter a rainey day as we did, visit Flambards Amusement Park which has a wonderful (indoor) museum of Vicotrian Life and a WWII Blitz display that shows you exactly what it was like to be bombed. Also be sure to visit Mousehole (prounounced Mouzel) about 2 miles from Penzance - a delightful fishing village. We also enjoyed Fowey which has a small fort (castle) at the inlet which was built by Henry VIII. We also recommend a visit to Port Isaac which sits in specatacular setting. Please email me if you need any further information...

Polperro and Port Issac are just wonderful.