Watching Autumn Arrive in Cornwall
A little photographic tour as holiday hotspot Cornwall gradually quietens down for the winter - whilst the tail end of summer lingers just long enough for the remaining crowds to enjoy.
This was our final camping holiday of the season, and it swung from quant pubs on rainy days, drinking ale and eating hearty food – to visits to the coast with white-sand beaches, turquoise sea, and cute harbour towns.
We stayed on a campsite part way along the sharp winding roads between Land’s End and Mount Misery near Penzance (which was ironically pretty, and a happy landmark for us). It was a road we travelled in the rain, dark, shrouded in fog, and then sunshine, and was a great mood setter for the mix of seasons throughout our holiday.
It’s good to wait, and a trip to Cornwall as summer turned to autumn was a gamble that paid off. Here are some of my favourite moments, and some inspiration for places to visit if you go there yourself!
St Ives
Stroll along the old shopping streets, making your way to the colourful harbour filled with crystal clear water and small bobbing boats; and then take your time and stop for the views whilst walking up the incredibly steep hills back to the car park.
St Michael's Mount
Walk along the seafront and catch the famous tidal island at sunset, before heading to the quant town of Marazion to sit in the King’s Arms pub by candlelight, with the biggest bowl of mussels (drenched in delicious white wine and garlic sauce) you’ll ever see.
Lizard Point
Get wrapped up in lots of layers to face the elements on Kynance Cove, and then sit outside the café with hot sandwiches and cups of tea, watching the surfers have a ball on the waves of the bay.
Port Isaac
Have a seagull swoop down out of nowhere and steal your ice cream whilst you walk down the hills and look out across the port – a quirky memory for a location famous for its quirks.
The Eden Project
Enter the dome on a rainy day and immerse yourself in a tropical eco system – fascinating, educational, and incredibly important messages.
Tintagel
Get lost trying to find the legendary castle, and then have your first sight of the fierce tide along the Cornish coastline. This was our entry to Cornwall, and the autumnal winds and rain showers were making themselves known, adding to the mythical atmosphere of King Arthur’s legend.
Around the Minack Theatre
Let a rainy day turn into a great day as you spot seals in the water at Porthcurno Beach, and then blow out the cobwebs by climbing up the hill to the Minack Theatre, and follow the coastal paths along the cliff tops.
Padstow
Sit in the front yard of a pub beside a narrow and crowded shopping street, with a cool drink and time on your hands, waiting to go for food at the famous Rick Stein café.
Land's End
Get soaked by the extreme weather and then steal overpriced photo opportunities around the landmark of Land’s End.