We spent a week in Cornwall in Aug 2010 and enjoyed it! We had bad weather most of the time but it didn't stop us touring around the lovely countryside! Fabulous pubs, great villages, beautiful beaches...

Saying that we LOVE Paris and they couldn't be more different - city vs countryside - such a hard choice!

Our pics of Cornwall are 3/4 down this album (labelled)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/pug_gi...7637219655175/

We spent a week in Cornwall in Aug 2010 and enjoyed it! We had bad weather most of the time but it didn't stop us touring around the lovely countryside! Fabulous pubs, great villages, beautiful beaches.>>

story of my life, jamikins. today was a case in point - started off with terrible rain and ended up really hot.

Gorgeous shots (as always!), jamikins, many thanks.

annhig, at least the weather isn't boring. A dubious distinction?

I'll let everyone know what my friends choose. And many thanks again for the wonderful info.

annhig, at least the weather isn't boring.>>

mmm - the winter wind and rain can get a little tedious but being able to sit outside and have lunch on Boxing Day [which has happened surprisingly frequently] is an unlooked for bonus.

TD - i don't think I've seen at what time of year your friends are planning to travel. [apologies if I've missed that]. despite what I've said above, I wouldn't recommend Cornwall between November and February. but at any other time of the year you have as good a chance as any of getting good weather and having a lovely time.

Hi annhig, You didn't miss it. I don't remember when they are traveling this time, but would guess in Fall or Spring.

The months you mentioned are "iffy" in Maryland also but more so in Jan/Feb.

i would definitely recommend Cornwall in the spring, when all the gardens are at their best and we often have great weather, whereas I have been truly chilled to the bone in Paris at that time of year.

To see Cornwall, you usually have to drive (see below). Narrow lanes, on the left, most likely with manual transmission. For some folks, that's a deal breaker. If that doesn't deter them, Cornwall is gorgeous for a quietish exploring and eating vacation. And not one bit similar/comparable to Paris!

We went to St Ives a couple of years ago, by train, and loved it - late September. Stayed at a charming small hotel (Primrose Valley) that was just a short walk from the station. We were only visiting St Ives, so did not need a car for that visit! And many great places to eat... ;-)

No guarantee, but when I was younger we went to Cornwall every year the week before Whitsun and always had good weather. Spring was certainly best for us.

We took our little ones camping every year (usually over the Summer) and the weather was iffy to say the least!

Love St Ives but wouldn't choose to stay there and parking can be hard, park in Lelant and take the train in - its a truly beautiful ride.

I'm a sucker for the smaller harbor towns like Mevagissey - I wonder if the model railway is still open

I always wanted to see a performance at Minack Theatre, it has a beautiful backdrop. We used to climb up from Porthcurno (my favorite beach in the whole of the Uk) which has the most amazing turquoise sea.

I'd go to Cornwall in a heartbeat but we have family there, that makes a huge difference

here you are, Alya - it's still here:

http://www.model-railway.co.uk/

Glad you enjoyed your trip to cornwall, SB. taking the train to St Ives, as Alya says, is a very good idea.

Of 3 weeks I spent in the UK a couple of years ago, including a week in Cornwall, I had one day without rain - and that was in Cornwall...so it must have the best weather in the UK!!

I still had a great time in Cornwall.

lol, margo - of course it does.

"there is no such thing as bad weather, just inadequate clothing."

[no I don't believe that either but I always think that it sounds good].

Or some type of shield to protect one from horizontal rain. My DH went out to find coffee and a newspaper on one of our trips and came back wet from the knees down and neck up. His rain coat proved inadequate for his nether parts.

My DH went out to find coffee and a newspaper on one of our trips and came back wet from the knees down and neck up. His rain coat proved inadequate for his nether parts.>>

oh yes, how know that effect. I have tried to protect myself by purchasing an extra long rain-coat - it's pretty useless in the car but it's great at protecting you from the rain horizontal when you are walking around.

Thank you TD for this thread. I have never been to Cornwall or even thought much about the place. Now I would love to visit. It sounds like my kind of place.

Basingstoke, you'd be very welcome. we had the most glorious weekend with warm sunny weather and plenty to do for folks who like to do things - in particular the beginning of the Tall Ships Race which saw 40 odd boats including some huge square-riggers setting out from Falmouth to sail up to London.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti..._campaign=1490

with our camping chairs and thermos flasks we joined many others in a field overlooking the start line to watch all the ships line up. it was a typically cornish affair - lots of people meeting friends they hadn't seen in months, a one-way system round the lanes that didn't always work, and possibly not as many signs as non-locals might have wished for. but the sun shone, they had provided plenty of toilets, and the hot dogs and ice-cream didn't run out.

Result!

annhig - it sounds wonderful!

Hi Basie, You are welcome. I'm glad my friends mentioned the area--it looks/sounds super. Hope all is well, TDu

Incredible shots of the tall ships, annhig! How great that the weather cooperated!

Being at the starting line is the best. My DH crewed for a guy who raced his sailboat and he had "down pat" the timing required to circle the boat to the start just as the gun went off.

friends of ours had their boat out on the water and they said that it was thrilling getting so close to the big sailboats. but as you say, TD, we were very lucky that the weather co-operated, especially as it rained heavily the next day.

we are now enjoying an indian summer - it was actually quite hot today and this is not unusual for September. so i can recommend this time of year too for a visit to Cornwall.

The next week in Southern England is due to be gorgeous, so get down to Cornwall and see it in all it's glorious autumn beauty.