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Cottage Holidays in Cornwall

Lizard Peninsula

The rugged Lizard Peninsula is located in the southwest of Cornwall. Surrounded on three sides by the sea the area has a large number of beaches. The sandy beaches of the west coast such as at Porthleven and Perranuthnoe allow surfing, whilst Kynance Cove is spectacular all year round. These give way to the shingle coves such as at Cadgwith that characterise the east coast as you round Lizard Point, the most southerly point in England. The hidden creeks and coves of the Helford River are also well worth exploring.

Inland the region is largely devoted to agriculture and is not heavily populated. Large areas are designated as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and SSSI's.

All the above makes the Lizard Peninsula the ideal place to get away from it all. The main town of the area is Helston although the Lizard is also easily accessible from Falmouth.

West Cornwall

West Cornwall is a region of opposites. On the moors of ancient Penwith it is possible to take yourself back to the distant past amongst stone circles and Iron Age hill forts; whilst the vibrant town of St. Ives has long been a draw for artists due to the quality of its light, it also boasts some of the best beaches in the Duchy. The working port of Newlyn offers a stark contrast to the spectacular coast path around Zennor and Porthcurno. Arriving at Penzance, the visitor is spoiled for choice as to their final destination, nearby lies the magical St. Michaels Mount, picturesque Mousehole, the mainline terminus of the railway, as well as the ferry and air connections to the beautiful Isles of Scilly. Culture vultures may wish to experience Shakespeare at the cliff-top theatre of the Minack after a days bathing at nearby Pednvounder beach.

Mid Cornwall

Mid Cornwall provides the perfect base from which to explore the whole of the county with ease. Due to its shape, you are never all that far from the sea yet Bodmin Moor offers the chance to lose yourself for a while, explore former mining ventures or investigate ancient standing stones and settlements. That wonder of the modern world, the Eden Project is here along with the Lost Gardens of Heligan. The villages of Portloe and Mevagissey are picturesque, whilst the seclusion of the Roseland Peninsula is hard to beat. Further east the town of Fowey is popular by the sailing fraternity and holds the reknowned Daphne du Maurier Literary Festival in June. The main towns of the area are St. Austell, Bodmin and Falmouth along with the cathedral city of Truro.

South East Cornwall

South East Cornwall offers a variety of options for visitors. The coastal fringe features the popular towns of Looe and Polperro. There are fine beaches at Lantic Bay, Talland Bay as well as Freathy in the far east. The Rame Peninsula is well worth exploring. Take a day trip from Plymouth's Barbican on the ferry and visit Mount Edgcumbe Country Park, or walk along the coastpath to Kingsand or Cawsand. Inland there are a myriad of small villages waiting to be explored as well as the stately homes of Antony House near Torpoint and Cotehele in the Tamar Valley. The main population centres of the area are Liskeard, Looe, Saltash, Lostwithiel, Callington and Torpoint whilst Plymouth with its historic Hoe, Drake's Circus shopping centre and excellent transport links lies just across the River Tamar.

North Cornwall

North Cornwall has a wealth of places in which to stay and to visit. The dramatic north coast features mystical Tintagel and rugged Boscastle, further west lies the surfing mecca of Newquay and the cosmopolitan Padstow. Fine beaches include Watergate Bay, and the 'seven bays for seven days' between Trevone and Porthcothan. Bedruthan Steps is very picturesque whilst surfers may also wish to experience the waters around Polzeath and Bude. Cycle the Camel Trail between Wadebridge and Bodmin via Padstow or explore the villages of Bodmin Moor. Stretch your legs by climbing Rough Tor or Cornwall's highest peak at Brown Willy, 420 m (1,378 ft). The dramatic coast around Morwenstow, the scene of many shipwrecks, provided Reverend Robert Stephen Hawker with the inspiration for the unofficial Cornish anthem 'Trelawny'. The main settlements of the area are Launceston, Wadebridge, Newquay, Bude, Camelford and Padstow.