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Cornwall Holiday and Tourism Information

From this page you can follow the links to Cornwall holiday accommodation, activities, attractions, historic sites, travel information, and general tourism info for the area.

The county of Cornwall is one of the most popular tourist destinations of England.

To help you, we have divided the main accommodation sections to cover three distinct parts of the county - The Cornish Riviera in the south east, North Cornwall coast, and South West Cornwall.

Mythology, majesty and magnificence all go hand in hand in Cornwall where towering cliffs, carved by the pounding of two opposing seas, look down imperiously on picturesque fishing coves, some of Britain’s finest surfing beaches and a host of quaint coastal resorts.

This out-of-the-way south-western county is one of England’s most dramatic tourist spots. Here are great gardens, painterly villages and enchanting vistas, not to mention the wild beauty of Land’s End and Bodmin Moor.

Attracting millions of visitors each year, ancient Cornwall can boast a unique culture and a mild climate that fosters the growth of sub-tropical plants.

It is hemmed in northwards by the powerful waters of the Atlantic Ocean and, in the south, by the comparatively placid English Channel. Hence the south coast is justifiably known as the Cornish Riviera.

The county’s origins stretch back into the mists of time. Its earliest inhabitants included Celtic settlers who had to re-establish their kingdom once the conquering Romans had departed. The Cornish language was a living thing until the late 18th century and even today there are thousands of Cornish speakers.

From the Bronze Age Cornwall provided most of the tin used across Europe and beyond. Later, when steam engines powered the Industrial Revolution, tin mines were dug beneath the sea and played a key role in Britain’s economic development.

The remains of these worked-out pits – often perched high on cliffs above the turbulent swell of the ocean - have become key attractions for the modern-day traveller.

The region’s micro climate has given rise to some of the best gardens in the British Isles. The most recent creation, the Eden Project, is an imaginative attempt to recreate the world’s major environments in a series of futuristic greenhouses or ‘biomes’. The Lost Garden of Heligan, which has taken 10 years to restore, can also be found here - a paradise that was ‘lost’ for seven decades. Other enchanting gardens include Trebah, near Falmouth, and the exotic Tresco Abbey Gardens on the Isles of Scilly, which is part of Cornwall.

The National Maritime Museum Cornwall only opened its doors in 2002 but has already established itself. Situated on Falmouth's boat-bobbing waterfront, it houses a number of seafaring exhibitions which include model ships ‘floating’ on a black starless sea and a gathering of craft from the National Small Boats Collection.

Many local places are associated with 6th century King Arthur. Legend has it that his base was Tintagel Castle, which is reached via a 300-step cliff top staircase. Although this evocative ruin only dates back only to the 13th century, archaeologists have now found remains dating to the time of Arthur.

On the windswept, mist-shrouded Bodmin Moor lies Dozmary Pool, reputed to be the place where Sir Bedivere threw Arthur’s sword as the ill-fated ‘king’ lay dying after the Battle of Camlann.

In modern times, Cornwall’s ability to enthral has been sustained by a number of writers, the most famous of which was Daphne du Maurier. She lived here and set novels here – notably ‘Jamaica Inn’ and ‘Frenchman’s Creek’.

Inland, the most dramatic location is Bodmin Moor, which dominates Cornwall’s north-eastern corner. The town of Bodmin is the only Cornish town to have won a mention in the 11th century Domesday Book. During the First World War both the book and the Crown jewels were stored at Bodmin Jail.

A must-see is Lizard Point and its lighthouse – the furthest south you can go. The area is known for its green ‘serpentine’ stone. Ornaments made from this material became popular during the Victorian era. Here also are dangerous reefs, smugglers’ coves – and tales of mermaids.

Among the many castles is Launceston, built by Richard, Earl of Cornwall in 1227. A ‘shell’ keep, it consists of a circular wall containing a number of castle buildings. Caerhays Castle, near St Austell, was created in the 19th century by John Bettesworth and designed by the great John Nash.

Some of the prettiest towns and villages include the former ports of Fowey, Looe, Mousehole and Port Isaac. Larger resorts include Newquay and Penzance. The capital, and the only city in Cornwall, is Truro. Newlyn is one of the most valuable fishing ports in the UK.

Although Cornwall is ill suited to the growing of many arable crops, it has rich grass, a fact which has created one of Cornwall’s chief exports - clotted cream. The county is also famous for its beer, wine, cider and mead.

Tourist Information Centres:

BODMIN VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE
The Shire Hall, Mount Folly Square, Bodmin, PL31 2DQ
Tel/Fax: 01208 76616
E-mail: bodmintic@visit.org.uk
Web: www.bodminlive.com
"Winner in Cornwall Tourism Awards 2007 Best TIC Category".

BOSCASTLE & TINTAGEL VISITOR CENTRE
Bossiney Road, Tintagel, PL34 0AJ
Tel: 01840 779084    Fax: 01840 779084
E-mail: tintagelvc@btconnect.com or boscastlevc@btconnect.com
Web: www.visitboscastleandtintagel.com

BUDE
The Crescent, Bude, Cornwall, EX23 8LE
Tel: 01288 354240
E-mail: budetic@visitbude.info    Web: www.visitbude.info

CAMELFORD
Tourist Information Centre, The Clease, Camelford, Cornwall, PL32 9PL
Tel: 01840 212954
E-mail: manager@camelfordtic.eclipse.co.uk

FALMOUTH
11 Market Strand, Prince of Wales Pier, Falmouth, TR11 3DR
Tel: 01326 312300     Fax: 01326 313457
Email: info@falmouthtic.co.uk
Web: www.go-cornwall.com

FOWEY
5 South Street, Fowey, PL23 1AR
Tel: 01726 833616    Fax: 01726 834939
E-mail: info@fowey.co.uk
Web: www.fowey.co.uk

HAYLE
The Library (at present)
Tel: 01736 754399
E-mail: hayle.library@cornwall.gov.uk

ISAAC HOUSE
Tyack Road, Helston, Cornwall
Tel: 01209 614000
E-mail: kerrierdc@kerrier.gov.uk

ISLES OF SCILLY
Hugh Street, Hughtown, St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, TR21 0LL
Tel: 01720 422536     Fax: 01720 423782
E-mail: tic@scilly.gov.uk
Web: www.simplyscilly.co.uk

LAUNCESTON
Market House Arcade, Market Street, Launceston, Cornwall, PL15 8EP
Tel: 01566 772321     Fax: 01566 772322
E-mail: launcestonTICa@btconnect.com
Web: www.visitlaunceston.com

LISKEARD
Foresters hall, Pike Street, Liskeard, PL14 3JE
Tel: 01579 349148
E-mail: tourism@liskeard.gov.uk
Web: www.liskeard.gov.uk

LOOE (in Season)
The Guildhall, Fore Street, East Looe, Cornwall, PL13 1AA
Tel: 01503 262072    Fax: 01503 265426
E-mail: looetic@btconnect.com

LOSTWITHIEL (in Season)
Lostwithiel Community Centre, Liddicoat Road, Lostwithiel, PL22 0HE
Tel: 01208 872207    Fax: 01208 872207
E-mail: tourism@lostwithieltic.wanadoo.co.uk
Web: www.lostwithieltic.org.uk

NEWQUAY
Municipal Offices, Marcus Hill, Newquay, Cornwall, TR7 1BD
Tel: 01637 854020     Fax: 01637 854030
E-mail: info@newquay.co.uk
Web: www.newquay.co.uk

PADSTOW
Red Brick Building, North Quay, Padstow PL28 8AF
Tel: 01841 533449    Fax: 01841 532356
E-mail: padstowtic@btconnect.com
Web: www.padstowlive.com

PENZANCE
Station Road, Penzance TR18 2NF
Tel: 01736 362207    Fax: 01736 363600
E-mail: pztic@penwith.gov.uk
Web: www.visit-westcornwall.com

PERRANPORTH
8 Tywarnhayle Square, Perranporth, Cornwall, TR6 0ER
Tel: 01872 575254
E-mail: info@perranporthinfo.co.uk
Web: www.perranporthinfo.co.uk

ST AGNES
5 Churchtown, St Agnes, TR5 0QW
Tel: 01872 554150     Fax: 01872 554150
E-mail: annetrevcott@aol.com
Web: www.stagnes.com

REDRUTH
The Cornwall Centre, Alma Place, Redruth
Tel: 01209 219048
E-mail: cornishstudies.library@cornwall.gov.uk

ST AUSTELL
By Pass Service Station, Southbourne Road, St Austell, PL25 4RS
Tel: 01726 879500     Fax: 01726 874168
E-mail: tic@cornish-riviera.co.uk
Web: www.cornish-riviera.co.uk

ST IVES
The Guildhall, Street an Pol, St Ives, TR26 2DS
Tel: 01736 796297     Fax: 01736 798309
E-mail: ivtic@penwith.gov.uk
Web: www.visit-westcornwall.com

ST JUST
The Library, Market Street, St Just, Penzance, TR19 7HX
Tel: 01736 788165     Fax: 01736 788586
E-mail: stjust.tic@btconnect.com
Web: www.visit-westcornwall.com

ST MAWES
The Roseland Visitor Centre, The Millennium Rooms, The Square, St Mawes TR2 5AG
Tel: 01326 270440
E-mail: manager@roselandinfo.com
Web: www.roselandinfo.com

TRURO
Municipal Buildings, Boscawen Street, Truro, TR1 2NE
Tel: 01872 274555     Fax: 01872 263031
E-mail: tic@truro.gov.uk
Web: www.truro.gov.uk

WADEBRIDGE
Eddystone Road, Wadebridge, PL27 7AL
Tel: 0870 122 3337     Fax: 01208 813781
E-mail: wadebridgetic@btconnect.com
Web: www.visitwadebridge.com

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