CORNWALL
Stretching out into the Celtic Sea, Great Britain’s most southerly county’s location is perhaps a double-edged sword, making it difficult for many to access (it has no motorways and some very narrow roads) but for the same reason, it is special and rare. Once in the county, the peninsula’s narrowness makes it easy to visit both north and south coastlines in the same day, and its climate means you can be among quite exotic vegetation. Surrounded by water, it boasts more than 300 beaches, ranging from glorious stretches of sand to rocky (smugglers’) coves, fishing villages and coastal towns. Must-visits include Fowey. Gardeners will love roaming Trebah and Glendurgan Gardens on the south coast, which follow valleys to the beach and, of course, the Lost Gardens of Heligan and the Eden Project. For those who like their gardens attached to houses, try Lanhydrock, Port Elio, Trerice and Cotehele. Fans of Poldark can use a free ‘Experience Poldark’ app to explore the film locations of the BBC One series – these include the National Trust’s Levan Mine and Beam Engine, Holywell Bay, St Agnes Head (the location for the engine houses and horse riding scenes) and Porthcurno and Kynance Cove beaches. Don’t forget the wild landscape of Bodmin Moor, riddled with disused copper mines (you can follow the copper trail) and home to the Carnglaze Slate Caverns, with their subterranean lake, and the coaching house and smuggler’s museum, Jamaica Inn, made famous by Daphne du Maurier’s novel of the same name.
Animal magic
Families will love the Seal Sanctuary on the south coast and Paradise Park and Junglebarn in West Cornwall, and they may like to try out surfing, paddleboarding and kayaking at Harlyn Bay. Don’t miss St Piran’s Day, celebrated across Cornwall from 3-5 March; St Ives Food and Drink Festival on 11-13 May, Fal River Festival from 26 May - 3 June, Stithians Agricultural Show on 16 July and the Cornish Steam and Country Fair from 17-19 August. Check out the www. cornwalllife.co.uk website for more options. Bring your walking shoes and your bicycles to make the most of this beautiful county.
■ Turn to p101 of the Top 100 guide for site info