Islands Around Cornwall to Visit

June 27th, 2023

 

Luxury doesn’t come much more indulgent than our holiday cottages in Cornwall, and with so much to see in the beautiful county, venturing away from your holiday accommodation for the day is a must

 

Cornwall has plenty to explore, especially along its breath-taking coastline. Scattered with captivating little islands, we have selected our top locations for those who are eager for a mini adventure! Discover how to get to them and why you should visit.

 

St Michael’s Mount

 

Where: St Michael’s Mount is situated just 500 metres away from Marazion.

 

Now part of the National Trust, St Michael’s Mount is one of the classic hotspots of Cornwall. The history of the island is vast, and the site greets visitors with captivating mediaeval architecture and fascinating sub-tropical terraced gardens to explore. It is believed to have origins as a monastery in the 8th and 11th century, though this is not confirmed.

 

The island can be accessed via a human-made causeway which is revealed during low tide, making St Michael’s Mount an exciting location to travel to by foot.

 

On high tides, the mount can be accessed or exited by boat.

 

Godrevy Lighthouse

 

Where: Godrevy is situated on the East side of St Ives Bay.

 

From the Cornish coastline, viewers can gaze upon the charming lighthouse which sits upon the island. The lighthouse is believed to have been the source of inspiration for Virginia Woolf’s novel To the Lighthouse.

 

The small 12-acre island is renowned for its rockiness and has been the unfortunate setting for many tragic shipwrecks due to the Stones Reef just off the island, until the lighthouse was created in-between 1858 and 1859.

 

The best way to view Godrevy island and lighthouse is to organise a walk on the South West Coast Path. The hike will take you across Godrevy Head which reveals incredible views of St Ives and Trevose Head, with Godrevy Lighthouse stealing the show.

 

The area is also known for inhabiting grey seals from autumn to January, so keep your eyes peeled when travelling past private beaches and coves.

 

Looe Island / St George’s Island

 

Where: Looe Island is one mile away from the Cornish town of Looe.

 

Part of the Whitsand and Looe Bay Marine Conservation Zone, Looe Island is the home of many unique species of animals and birds including Shetland ponies, Hebridean sheep and grey seals. It also boasts the largest breeding colony of the great black-backed gulls in the county.

 

You can visit Looe Island through the organisation of official guided trips. The boat leaves from RNLI station on East Looe, and the boat trips last around two hours in length.

 

St Clement’s Isle

Where: St Clement’s Isle can be spied just off the coast from Mousehole.

 

This small but fascinating rocky islet is full of wonder and charm and is said to have once belonged to an ancient hermit who resided there. It is about 500m from the harbour, and it is best viewed from the shoreline where you can see the energetic activity of wild birds. Some days it is also a vantage point to spot grey seals on its tiny beach.

 

Wild swimmers have been known to swim there, though this is not recommended!

 

If you walk from the village, you can find a huge cave which is rumoured to be how Mousehole got its name (Mouse Hole).

 

 

Isles of Scilly

Where: The Isles of Scilly are 25 miles off the tip of Cornwall.

 

One of Cornwall’s most unique features is the Isles of Scilly. Its beautiful collection of pretty islands draws visitors in search of its unique and unspoilt landscape. You may be pleased to know that hopping over to the Isles of Scilly is possible on a day trip!

 

The largest of the Isles is St Mary’s, which also happens to be the best choice for a one day visit. Find a secluded spot on one of its gleaming, white sand beaches or make your way to energetic Hugh Town.

 

The Scillonian III is a direct boat to the Isles and is acclaimed for its unforgettable views of the Cornish coastline in two hours and 40-minutes.

 

Which of the islands featured are you eager to visit? Why not let us know on our social media channels; we would love to know!

 

How to Spend a Day in St Mawes

December 19th, 2018

St Mawes is a fishing village that sits on the Roseland Peninsula, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, making it a delightful place to spend the day. While you could pay a quick visit to St Mawes, or even admire the quaint village from the water as you sail by on a river cruise tour, there is a surprising amount of things to do packed into this sweet village. Offering something for everyone, here’s how you can spend a day in St. Mawes.

 

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Best Golf Courses in Cornwall

June 22nd, 2018

The endless coastline, rugged landscapes and quaint fishing villages of Cornwall make it the perfect spot to host some incredible golf courses. With such spectacular scenery, there are many to choose from, so here are 6 of the best!

 

St Mellion Golf Club

Boasting two championship level courses, St Mellion plays host to one of the most difficult courses in Britain, designed by Jack Nicklaus. One of the best courses in Cornwall, this club was once home to European Tour events. Unfortunately, it was determined that the transport links to Cornwall at the time were not up to the tens of thousands of golfing fans looking to catch a glimpse of the professional event. Nestled into the Tamar Valley, what was once rolling farmland is now an intricate course of sculpted fairways. With multi-tiered greens and numerous water hazards in tricky places, this certainly isn’t an easy course, even proving challenging for some pros!

 

Trevose Golf and Country Club

Overlooking the ocean, this golf course will feature some of the most stunning views you’ll ever have the pleasure of playing by. A challenging course paired nicely with the dramatic cliff views overlooking Constantine Bay makes for an exhilarating experience; although the sea wind could get the better of you! In addition to the main course is a full-length nine-hole course and a testing par-three. Once you’ve finished the round, head to Rick Stein’s famous fish restaurant, which is nearby, to refuel!

 

Perranporth Golf Club

Located along the dramatic Atlantic coastline, the natural links course overlooks the sandy beaches and sparkling seas of Perranporth Beach. The biggest challenge of this course is the number of blind drives; seven in total! This clifftop course also has the added difficulty of windy weather.

 

 

Carlyon Bay Golf Club

This course provides something for everyone, with the first half of the course following proper links along the cliff tops before heading inland to play out the rest of the course in the natural countryside area. This variety, combining clifftops with parkland, makes for a truly exciting experience. The location makes for a stunning round but be warned; you could easily lose a few balls over the side of the cliff!

 

Killiow Golf Club

One of the best parkland courses in the county, Killiow Golf Club near Truro is one for the nature lovers, who like to experience wildlife as they play. Amongst the trees and numerous water hazards are an array of animals and birds, including rabbits, jays, woodpeckers and buzzards. Despite this, dogs are also allowed on the course, if kept on leads, making this the perfect place to stop off for a round when out for a walk along the gorgeous Roseland Coast.

 

Mullion Golf Course

The course is the most southerly in England, sitting atop the cliffs of the striking Lizard Peninsula, making it one of the most beautiful as well. The course at Mullion certainly has character, with plenty of quirky holes to play. While not the most challenging of courses, like many of the other Cornish golfing hotspots, a strong sea breeze can add difficulty to even the best golfers!

 

Looking for a golfing getaway to play on some of the most gorgeous courses in the UK? Come and stay for a luxury Falmouth holidays!