Cornwall 4/5 is half asleep and half awesome. Some places are desolate and depressing while others are desolate and unforgettable. Let's start with Land's end which is possibley in the top 5 places on earth...except (holy guacamole Batman!) they built a run down amusement park with crap rides...right on a world heritage site! The place should be blown up and the perpetrators hung. Nearby penzance is a cute town with a nice michelin restaurant called the Abbey. Nearby is a miraculous outdoor theatre called Minnicks (5/5) which is cut into the rocks over the ocean. This must be the nicest place on earth to see a show. Then on to St Ives...beautiful fishing village full of artists and pubs and the great Tate museum in a converted power station over the ocean. Up the coast is Penzance which is an upscale St Ives with the legendary "Seafood" restaurant (5/5). This place is worth the trip. Then play golf next door at St Endoc (4/5) with the 80 ft sand trap but bring lot's of balls. Finally on to King Arthur's castle in Tingatel (4/5). This is a paradise to walk around. On your way out of Cornwall stop at Dartmouth (5/5) which is the prettiest sailing village in Britain (and the world?)..with a world famous restaurant called the carved angel 4/5.
Hi Jeff.
I can add some updates - based on being pretty much a local to Cornwall (I'm in Somerset - 2-3 hours up the road).
Re Land's End Amusement Park - completely agree - how was it allowed to develop that monstrosity? All down to the vagaries of the UK weather and a lot of holiday-making children whose parents can't entertain them without resorting to cheap thrills and tacky rides when it's a bit wet outside.
Minnack theatre - yes - a very worthwhile destination - just up from Mousehole (pronounced Maassull) which is a picture-postcard fishing village just south of Penzance.
The legendary "Seafood" restaurant you mentioned up from St. Ives is not in Penzance, but Padstow (confused over the P's perhaps). I used to live there! Anyway - The Seafood Restaurant is owned and run by famous UK chef, Rick Stein. In fact he has several cafes and accommodation there now and the town is becoming known as "Padstein".
Thank you for paying a visit to this wonderful part of my country - well done for getting there since it's quite a hike from London!
Posted by: Donna Hicks | August 21, 2008 at 01:49 PM