As a Valentine’s Day gift, my husband planned a winter holiday to Cornwall. Severe weather warnings via every form of communication heralded the beginning of our adventure.
On the first day, we went to look at St Michael’s Mount, but it was closed. No worries, I wanted to visit the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, as I adore The Hepworth in Wakefield – well she was a Yorkshire lass. Alas, you guessed it, the museum was closed. Off next to Trengwainton Gardens but it was closed until Sunday. The bitter cold drove us back to the log cabin for the evening.
No one can close Land’s End, so we travelled to the famous landmark and planned to grab lunch there. Land’s End is accessed through an entrance you would find at a theme park – so it could be closed. We walked past the souvenir shops before we reached Land’s End. Glorious cliffs chiselled by the elements and reminiscent of Hepworth’s sculptures greeted us. Lunch in The First and Last Inn was not possible as it was closed. I wore two coats, two hats and a hood teamed with my waterproof trousers to keep out the arctic temperatures.
Amused by the name ‘Mousehole’, we called at the village for a very late lunch. Quaint stone houses welcomed us in the sheltered harbour. We ate cheese sandwiches in a friendly coffee shop tucked away at the end of the village. Apparently, Dylan Thomas described Mousehole as ‘the loveliest village in England. And, there was an ice cream parlour called Jessie’s, so we ordered vanilla ice cream.
Rejuvenated by our rest in Mousehole, we braved the cold to visit beaches. Golden white sand marked with endless footsteps greeted us at Sennen Cove. We rambled along the beach. Light showcased the beach in all its glory, and we stood in the amongst the silhouettes of people who had escaped from a Lowry painting. The next day we hiked around the coast in St Ives and marvelled at the magical beauty of the golden light. Sadly, our camera could not capture the texture of an artist’s brush.
Winter is the best time to view the beaches of Cornwall. Forget the art galleries and tourist traps and enjoy nature’s treasures. Step onto the beaches and walk inside a painting to enjoy nature’s pallet. Snow fell as we drove home. Thankfully, the Severn Bridge remained open until we got home. Visiting Cornwall in winter felt like having the world to ourselves – an idyllic romantic winter paradise. Shh, don’t tell anyone…
Please see all my travels at Handbag Adventures and my website and blog at JessieCahalin.com.
Sounds beautiful but way too cold for me!
It was cold at the time we visited but it didn’t spoil it. I wore so many layers that I could hardly walk. LOL
I so agree. Cornwall off season is so glorious.
I’ve so many memories of childhood holidays, mostly spent on the north coast around St Agnes. More recently we’ve holidayed in Fowey on the south coast. It’s a magical county, with so many different landscapes – a great place to dream up new characters and stories… oh and to keep an eye out for Aidan Turner…
It is a magical place, and I wish we had been there as children. Characters did approach me as we walked on the beach.
Your holiday in a freezing but beautiful Cornwall was unique. It’s such a different world when you have it to yourselves, like going back in time.
I totally agree with you. The cold meant we had exclusive access to the beaches that are crowded in summer.
I love the idea that it was like going back in time.