Forget flying to the Mediterranean… I drive from Scotland to Cornwall every year for a family holiday to enjoy one of the most glorious parts of Britain
There is something strange about flying to Europe and beyond in search of the sun. You’ll pass some of the most beautiful scenery and coastlines – right here in Blighty.
Everyone knows that Cornwall is a tourist hotspot, attracting tens of thousands of visitors during the summer months. But on our most recent visit we didn’t hear a single Caledonian accent.
As a child, my family would take a caravan from just outside Glasgow on an annual 500-mile pilgrimage to the Cornish coast, and for the past six or seven years I have followed the same roads south with my wife and two children.
So why my fellow countrymen seem to ignore this glorious part of our green and pleasant country is beyond me.
Sure, it’s a bit of a drive, but you can stop at some beautiful, historic villages and towns along the M6 and M5 to break up the journey.
Steven Henry and his family spent their holiday in Boscastle, a ‘picturesque’ village and harbor on the north coast of Cornwall. Above you can see Boscastle harbour
And if you feel like it, planes and trains will take you there in the right time.
But what is it that keeps pulling us back? Well, every trip guarantees something different.
This year we stayed in the beautiful Fuchsia Cottage in Boscastle, the picturesque coastal town and harbor between Padstow (of Rick Stein fame) and the surfing paradise of Bude.
If you’re looking for an authentic Cornish cottage, this is it. Low roofs, exposed beams, wood burning stove and fantastic views over the nearby hills and the Bristol Channel.
A historic cottage for four people (and pets are welcome). The raised garden is perfect for just sitting and enjoying the tranquility of Boscastle with a strong coffee and the morning newspaper.
Steven stayed in the ‘lovely’ Fuchsia Cottage in Boscastle. ‘If you’re looking for an authentic Cornish cottage, this is it,’ he says
A bird’s eye view of the coast at Boscastle. “You can come across countless beaches in the region,” says Steven
If you decide to venture into town – and you really should, it’s beautiful – be warned that the extremely pleasant downhill walk turns into a long hike on the way back. However, there is always the Napoleon Inn to quench your thirst if it gets too much. Just a hop, skip and a jump from Fuchsia Cottage, this stunning pub seems to have changed little since it was built in the 16th century.
It’s what a traditional pub should be: homely and welcoming with a huge range of beers and lagers on tap and top-notch food coming out of the kitchen. There is even talk of one or two ghosts. One of our nocturnal visits coincided with a performance by the Boscastle Buoys, an a cappella band that sings well-known (and sometimes a bit salty) sea shanties.
Boscastle is also home to the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic. Unlike any other museum I have ever visited, it is alternately fascinating and deeply disturbing.
Widemouth Bay, pictured, ‘has plenty of parking and is the perfect mix of rock pools and wide sandy beaches’
The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic, pictured above, is ‘by turns fascinating and deeply disturbing’
Boscastle is located between Padstow (photo in the background) and the surfing paradise of Bude
Children are admitted at the discretion of accompanying adults and I would say this was fair warning. Some exhibits may raise your eyebrows, but you’d be crazy to miss this experience when you’re in the city.
Exploring museums is all well and good, but any visit to the Cornish coast should include a visit to the beach.
Most of our days involved some time in the sand. Only rain could stop the game, and even then it had to be a real deluge.
You can come across any number of beaches in the region and our preference was Widemouth Bay. It has plenty of parking and is the perfect mix of rock pools and wide sandy beaches.
Oh, and there’s a great little cafe too.
If donning a wetsuit in the middle of a farmer’s field before throwing yourself down a 350-foot slip and slide slide appeals to you, then Cornwall has that too.
Three of these ‘mega slides’ appeared in Cornwall this year.
I can’t say I was completely enthralled by the prospect of launching myself off a tower onto hundreds of feet of soaking wet slide. But the grin proved that big kids loved it just as much as the little ones.
There’s always something new to visit – and pasties and cream teas to tuck into. On second thought, perhaps I should keep this place so overlooked by the Scots for myself.