The Best Places to Stay in Cornwall on a Short Break
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please read the full disclosure policy here. Now, there are many places I dream of visiting once we can eventually leave Australia. One of those destinations is the United Kingdom. I’d love to spend more time exploring different parts of the UK I haven’t been to yet and you know, living the life in Edinburgh! Today we’re talking about Cornwall in southwest England, an area I’ve only briefly visited in the past. This blog post features not only 10 of the best places to stay in Cornwall on a short break, but some of the most amazing Cornwall holiday cottages from Classic Cottages too. A girl can dream, right? It’s easy to see why, though, with its sandy beaches, idyllic harbour and quaint cottage-lined cobblestone check it out streets.
While you could spend your entire short break in St Ives alternating between the beaches and beachfront eateries, other things to do in St Ives include visiting the Tate St Ives, seeing the seals on Seal Island and hiking to Zennor. My cottage pick: 4 Bowling Green had me at mini library! But seriously, this terraced cottage has a prime location in the centre of St Ives, with multiple beaches within walking distance. There are plenty of shops, restaurants and bars lining the village’s pretty streets, but you can’t visit Mevagissey without indulging in a seafood feast. Top nearby attractions include Caerhays Castle and Gardens and The Lost Gardens of Heligan.
My cottage pick: Ever wanted to stay in a former marine officer’s house, because you can totally do just that in Mevagissey at the Harbour Master’s House. Once you see the view, you won’t be disappointed. Penzance Way back in 2007, I stayed with family in Saltash and took the train down to Penzance for the day. One of the best places to stay in Cornwall, if visiting in summer, you could easily spend a day at Jubilee Pool, which is actually the UK’s largest art deco seawater swimming pool. But other things to do in Penzance include window shopping down Chapel Street and visiting The Exchange (a contemporary art gallery). While in Penzance, you can’t leave without seeing St Michael’s Mount in nearby Marazion either.
My cottage pick: I cannot resist a place called The Chocolate House and wow, it looks like the quintessential Cornish cottage. The reazing ornamental entrance sign and inside you’re greeted with its original charm. Penzance is also on your doorstep, so what more could you want? Widemouth Bay Widemouth Bay is a small village in North Cornwall. It’s priily-friendly beach, which has hundreds of rock pools to explore once the tide recedes. Fortunately, it’s also located only three miles from Bude, which has all the amenities you need for a Cornwall short break. My cottage pick: The Granary is a converted farmhouse with a sunny conservatory, large arched windows in the sitting room, multiple bedrooms and, you know, a large outdoor hot tub. Sign me up!
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Port Isaac A small but picturesque medieval fishing village, Port Isaac is the former home of Doc , my dad fell in love with Port Isaac, with its Mediterranean-inspired waters and narrow cobblestone streets. Nearby, you’ll find sandy beaches, a coastal path for cliff top walks and more fishing villages, if one isn’t enough! My cottage pick: When they say go big or go home, I think they were referring to Silver Spray. I mean, look at this 7-bedroom holiday home’s scenic location. Fortunately, you can take in the views from nearly every room or the spacious patio and terrace. With Port Isaac on your doorstep, it doesn’t get any better than this. Boscastle Boscastle is one of the lesser-known spots in Cornwall, but what a cute little Cornish village!