From cyder to cold water swimming, seven reasons to visit Cornwall for a scenic winter staycation
WITH its sandy beaches, scenery to die for and rich history, Cornwall is the destination of choice for millions of people every summer.
However, during the winter the roads are quieter, the queues shorter and the weather milder.
Here local resident Natasha Harding, who lives on Cornwall’s north coast, chooses some places well worth visiting this winter.
HEALEYS CORNISH CYDER FARM
THE family-run farm is home to the delicious Rattler Cornish Cider.
You can wander around and check out the museum, production area and jam-making workshop, or book a tour if you want to learn even more about how the West Country’s favourite drink is made.
The farm is home to Shire horses, Shetland ponies, pygmy goats and Cornish black pigs.
A highlight for us was the tractor ride through the orchards, where we listened to audio explaining how the Cornish grow their apples.
Tickets cost from £6.40 per child and £13.60 per adult.
For more info, see healeyscyder.co.uk.
OCEAN SOUL SAUNA
THERE are many benefits of having a sauna, including pain relief, improvements in mental health and relaxation.
Situated by the sandy Crooklets Beach in Bude is a wood-fired sauna run by local Lorna Townsend.
Sessions are available five days a week and there is a mixture of a shared sauna or you can book it for a group of eight family and friends.
Lorna has also teamed up with local therapists and organises sound-bath sessions, yoga classes and story-telling events, which are finished with a sauna and sea dip.
You will leave feeling renewed and refreshed. Sessions cost from £15pp, or £80 for private bookings.
For more info, see oceansoulsauna.co.uk.
TINTAGEL CASTLE
OPEN all year round, Tintagel Castle is even more dramatic during the winter months.
It’s linked with the legend of King Arthur and is deservedly known as one of Cornwall’s must-see attractions.
The ruins of the 13th-century castle perch precariously on the cliffs and are steeped in history — Tintagel was home to early medieval settlers.
While there, you can meet Gallos, the huge bronze sculpture of an ancient king, plus explore Merlin’s Cave and rock pools on the beach.
The walk across the award- winning footbridge, which opened in 2019, is not for the faint-hearted, but offers the most incredible views.
Entry costs from £8.60 per child and £14.50 per adult.
For more info, visit english-heritage.org.uk.
THE MINACK THEATRE
THE Minack is an open-air theatre located on the Cornish cliffs — just four miles from Land’s End in the village of Porthcurno.
From March to November, it hosts plays and musicals, but you can visit all year round as long as you book in advance.
Recent musical highlights included performances from Fisherman’s Friends and Proms at the Minack — and plays have included A Streetcar Named Desire and Evita.
Although it was bitterly cold, the views were as stunning as you’d expect.
Visitors need to be pretty sure-footed as the site is steep and there are many, many steps.
However, it’s absolutely worth the effort — you won’t forget your time there in a hurry.
See minack.com.
JUBILEE POOL
COLD water swimming might be all the rage, but swimming in winter in Cornwall isn’t for the faint of heart.
The art deco Jubilee Pool, in the historic port town of Penzance, is the UK’s largest sea water pool.
Although the main and learner pools aren’t heated, and are only a couple of degrees above sea temperature, the geothermal pool is heated to 30-35C.
Book in advance.
Prices are from £6.24 for adults, £4.70 children.
CRAFT WORKSHOP
THE Bedruthan Hotel and Spa, which is situated on the cliff tops in Mawgan Porth, holds daily craft sessions for residents and non-residents of the hotel.
I booked the hour-long flower- making workshop with my ten-year-old daughter, Lexi.
As well as learning how to make flowers from wire, we decorated Christmas cards.
The spa is available for non-residents too, and we booked the 30-minute family sensory spa garden experience, where you can enjoy the outdoor hot tub, set among the herbs and flowers.
Afterwards, you should treat yourself to a coffee and goodies from the hotel’s bakery to enjoy while taking in the gorgeous sea view.
Flower-making sessions cost £10, including all materials.
For spa experiences, contact bedruthan.com.
MOUSEHOLE LIGHTS
MOUSEHOLE is regularly named as one of the prettiest villages in Cornwall, and in winter it is even prettier — thanks to the Christmas lights which have been an attraction for 40 years.
They run until January 6 and everything that can be lit up, is.
If you make the trip, then pop in for dinner at The Old Coastguard, a pub-restaurant with stunning views.
The food is really good and, as you would expect, fresh fish features heavily on the menu.
There’s a good children’s selection too, with pasta and sausages available.