Off the Beaten Track on the Cornish Coastline

This is a guest blog post from our friends at Latitude 50, who offer luxury holiday cottages in Cornwall – the perfect base from which to experience the quirky and fun experiences detailed below!

Cornwall is a popular holiday destination for tourists all year round and particularly during the summer months. So how can one be sure to get the very best out of a planned break to the county? Here we set out to give you a selection of fantastic things to do that will take you off the beaten track in Cornwall and straight to the heart of this magical county.

Meet the Cornish Camels, Rosuick Organic Farm
Do something a little out of the ordinary and visit a flock of camels living happily on Rosuick Organic farm near Goonhilly. Visitors are welcome to explore the Camel Centre free of charge all year round, where they can meet the famous camels as well as having the option to walk a farm trail. During peak season the farm also offers a café, farm shop and gift shop with local crafts and much more on offer, making it a truly fun day out for all ages.

Take a dip in the Jubilee Pool, Penzance
This wonderful swimming pool, originally opened in May 1935 to celebrate King George V’s silver jubilee, is now one of England’s finest remaining Lido’s. Its impressive size and triangular design, coupled with its stunning location, close to the harbour in Penzance make it a brilliant spot for visitors who are clever enough to discover it. There is a full public swimming timetable from May to September, as well as regular classes and a safely enclosed baby pool for children and a great poolside café on site too.

Discover the Minack Theatre, Porthcurno
Spend an evening taking in one of the many performances on offer at this stunning open-air theatre, with the cliffs and sea as a dramatic backdrop. Or you can visit by day to explore the impressive site in daylight and visit the Rowena Cade Exhibition, telling the story of how this unusual theatre came to be. The Minack is set in beautiful cliff-side gardens that was setup by the landscape designers working with residential properties, so these are well worth a wander and the site also boasts a gift shop and cafe where one can enjoy a Cornish cream tea with some of the best views in the county.

Take a trip to the wild side with a Sea Safari, Rock
Rock holidays can be made even more exciting thanks to Cornish Sea tours who offer the opportunity to get out and hunt for wildlife off the North Cornish coastline whilst experiencing the thrill of riding in a powerful 9m Rib. Passengers can look out for basking sharks, dolphins, porpoises, seals and all types of seabirds and enjoy getting to see some of Cornwall’s finest nature up close. And even before the wildlife, seeing the coastline from the water is a great and original way to get off the beaten track on your Cornish holiday.

Get into the festival vibe at the Eden Project’s Eden Sessions
The Eden Project itself is an inspiring example of regeneration of a once -industrial site, famed for its array of plants and trees from around the globe and credited for its mission to educate visitors about climate matters. But what is less well known is that it is also home to the Eden Sessions, a fantastic series of music events, during the summer months. Here visitors can see world-class bands and artists perform in the beautiful outdoor gardens and the natural amphitheatre created by the old-mine site, whilst truly relaxing into the summer festival vibe. As well as all the top-class acts, the Eden Sessions also offers ticket holders a variety of affordable and delicious food and drink, street performers and so much more. And what’s even better is each Eden Sessions ticket grants full entry to the rest of the Eden Project on the day and day after the ticket, making it great value for money too.

Step into the back streets to find the Barbara Hepworth Museum, St Ives
St Ives is well known for its Tate Gallery which sits overlooking the picturesque Porthmeor Beach but the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Gallery, set up in the artists own home/studio, just a few streets away, offers a different and remarkable way to take in the work of one of the twentieth centuries most important artists. Once there you can stroll around the artist’s old studio, see her workshop and learn a wealth of information about the artist’s life and works. Take time to meander around the garden, which is now home to a considerable display of her sculptures in stone, bronze and wood. This is a hidden gem of a museum, which is a must for all visitors to this pretty seaside town.