10 Most Picturesque Villages in Cornwall
Head Out of London on a Road Trip to the Villages of Cornwall
Cornwall has some seriously picturesque villages and towns up its sleeve. The UK region is a place where dramatic walkways weave past cliffs and ancient castles set in stone, all backed by inland hills filled with old quarries and rustic farmland.
Pristine beaches paired with a balmy microclimate in Cornwall create a haven for those who love the coast. From the labyrinth of little streets in the appropriately named Mousehole to the happening harborside of Padstow and beyond, plan a road trip through Cornwall with our extensive list of idyllic towns and villages.
1. Padstow
Tasting seafood in a classic Cornish harbor town
Categorías: Fotos, Comida
Padstow was an important fishing and trading post with links to both Ireland and Brittany. These days, the town has become synonymous with Cornwall’s modern vacation boom. You’ll find it tucked into the mouth of the River Camel, fringed by pretty beaches and rocky headlands.
The old harbor is where all the action happens. It’s a gastronomic hotspot, known for its TV-chef kitchens and chic seafood joints. Around the old harbor, you’ll find little lanes and market squares where pasty shops and fishmongers and chippies dot the corners. After exploring the town, head out to the nearby SW Coast Path that leads to the heritage coast, which is a ticket to some seriously gorgeous coves.
Padstow
2. Tintagel
A sleepy village crowned by a legendary castle
Categorías: Historia, Fotos
The Cornish village of Tintagel is famed all over the UK for its ancient castle. You can find it clinging like a limpet to a series of salt-splashed bluffs on the Cornish Atlantic, about a 15-minute drive off the A39. Many visitors come to see the fortification, a site wrapped up in mystical Arthurian legends and tales of the wizard Merlin.
However, the adjoining town of Tintagel is also a looker. It’s laced with quaint whitewashed cottages and hearty pubs where the beer gardens are scented with real ale and freshly caught fish. Explore stunning sights like the Old Post Office, which is walled in regional Cornish stone and dates back to the 14th century.
Tintagel
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3. Sennen Cove
Venturing to the far western edge of England
Categorías: Fotos, Aventuras
Plot a course to the far southwestern tip of Cornwall to find cute Sennen Cove huddled beneath hills of wildflower and rock. Situated at the terminus of the A30, it’s right on the doorstep of Land’s End, the most westerly point in England.
This deep into the county, the villages are smaller, and the climate has a subtropical air to it. Don’t be surprised to see clusters of cabbage palms leaning over the roadsides as you zigzag down to the wide bay where Sennen Cove makes its home. A few ocean-view taverns lean over the water there, but for the piece de resistance, head out to the beach, which is a surf mecca and has Caribbean-like sand with turquoise water.
Sennen Cove
4. St Ives
Galleries and gorgeous landscapes
Categorías: Parejas, Fotos
The painted cottages of pretty St Ives are wedged between a mussel-speckled harbor wall and a forested headland across from award-winning Carbis Bay. It’s a bustling little port town that’s garnered a reputation for being Cornwall’s artsy hub, and there’s even an outlet of the prestigious Tate here.
St Ives also boasts winding, wiggling lanes and postcard-worthy seaside architecture, all spanning out from what many consider to be the very best beach in the county. Venture up to the so-called Island, where you can go to spot shearwaters and terns by the side of a haunting seafarer’s chapel.
St Ives
5. Charlestown
A swashbuckling south coast port
Categorías: Aventuras, Fotos
You’ll hear the creek of the rigging and the splash of the sea in Charlestown. Straddling a small harbor on the south coast of Cornwall, this one might just be the closest you get to a bona fide pirate hideaway in the modern UK.
It’s a place where pint-sized taverns line the main walkways along the marina and Georgian mansions loom overhead, all with paint-peeling fishing skiffs and stooping boltholes for good measure. It’s hardly a wonder this small town has been a Hollywood regular for years, starring in hits like Hornblower and Poldark. If you want to see more sights, explore St Austell, just a little under 2 miles (3.2 km) from Charlestown.
Charlestown
6. Looe
Family outings to the beaches and the coast path
Categorías: Familias, Fotos
The roofs cascade down both sides of the East Looe River to meet at a buzzing port and beach town in Looe itself. One of the most popular summer getaway spots on the south coast of Cornwall, this pretty conglomeration of ice-cream parlors and pubs is sat at the far eastern end of the gorgeous Polperro Heritage Coastline.
There’s walking galore in the surrounding area. Coves like Talland Bay and tropical-looking Lantivet are both within reach, connected by the iconic SW Coast Path. However, you could just kick back in the heart of Looe. Explore the family-friendly beachfront that’s sheltered by a breakwater and take your pick from the many wonderful spots to eat.
Looe
7. St Mawes
One of the jewels of the Roseland
Categorías: Historia, Fotos
St Mawes clings to the edge of the Roseland Peninsula, opposite the harbor town of Falmouth, from where a regular ferry service crosses the water. It also lies within easy reach of some of Cornwall’s most celebrated beaches, including pretty Portscatho and wide and blustery Carne. Yet the shoreline is only part of the appeal.
St Mawes is also an award-winning seaside resort that’s brimming with whitewashed cottages and slate-roofed abodes. Explore its narrow streets, which are a maze-like web of thatched B&Bs and cafés, forever watched over by the mighty St. Mawes Castle that dates to the age of Henry VIII.
St Mawes
8. Mousehole
A harbor town you really shouldn’t miss
Categorías: Parejas, Fotos
With a name like Mousehole, you’d expect it to be a shoo-in on this list. Sure enough, this quaint favorite has long been fodder for postcards the county over. Dylan Thomas even called it “the loveliest village in England.”
Wedged between a series of low hills peppered with fig trees and cabbage palms, Mousehole spills down to a stone-built marina. The promenades there are fringed by cottages clad in hardy Cornish rock and slate. There’s a small beach on either side of the dock, along with seafood kitchens and old sailor’s taverns to enjoy. If you’re visiting in winter, stroll the waterfront to see it at its most enchanting, when lights are strewn around the jetties and the fishing boats.
Mousehole
9. Marazion
A stunning seaside spot with plenty of history
Categorías: Historia, Fotos
Marazion faces the beautiful Mount’s Bay, a few miles past Penzance going east along the Cornish south coast. It has pretty much all the ingredients you could want from a charming coastal town, from the grand 19th-century clifftop mansions to shimmering beaches and sky-blue seas.
However, the main draw of Marazion is the castle-topped tidal island of St Michael’s Mount. It’s linked to the mainland by a granite causeway that’s often completely submerged underwater. On top, explore the complex of castle keeps and centuries-old monastic buildings that date back to the 11th century.
Marazion
10. Mevagissey
A labyrinth of narrow alleys and sweeping quays
Categorías: Historia, Fotos
Mevagissey lies on the eastern end of the famous Roseland Heritage Coast, around 6 miles (10 km) directly south of St Austell. Get ready to delve into the get-lost-in-me web of alleys, salty quaysides, and hidden streets that make up the quaint village.
Just walking around is a joy, as the center is a jumble of old homes, with stern slate roofs and walls painted in pastel colors of blue, pink, and yellow. In the middle of it all is an old heart-shaped harbor that hosts a traditional Cornish fish market, a few squat taverns, and some boat charter outfitters. Explore the surrounding shoreline, and marvel at one of the most pictures villages in Cornwall.
Mevagissey
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