To have never been to Cornwall - am i missing out?

[MoominMamma15]

So many people have said about how amazing Cornwall is, i’ve never been - its a good 6 hour drive away from where we are depending on where in Cornwall. That’s a heck of a drive in my opinion but if it really is that amazing im open to suggestions of where to go?

Im used to heading more Dorset way with the likes of Poole (sandbanks, Weymouth, Durdle Door etc).

What are others opinions on Cornwall?

It's nice, but we are a similar drive away and not worth it imo.

Also I think a lot of peoples main reason for it being better is the weather is generally nicer than other areas, but I've had weeks in Cornwall when it's flooded and weeks in Yorkshire/Northumberland/Wales when it's been glorious so it's just not enough of an incentive for the drive for me.

I love Cornwall but I've also seen a lot of other British coastal areas as well and would say they are all different but fantastic in their own right and I wouldn't say you are necessarily missing out unless there was something there you 100% couldn't see anywhere else - like the mynack theatre or kynance cove or Eden project?

Depends where you live. We drove there from our beautiful area of wales and wished we’d stayed home

It's pretty but so are many other places in the UK. It is very crowded and the traffic horrendous in holiday time.

Hmmm think i’ll stick to the Dorset coast then. Good mixture there and only a few hours away for us!

interesting though, thanks all x

If you think you would like Cornwall, there's a very similar landscape and coastline in Gower (South Wales).

Once upon a time you could find a quiet nook and enjoy the beautiful views the clear blue water and the powdery beaches. Sadly it's become so popular they are now very few and far between so I'd say no, you're not missing out at all.

Massively overrated IMHO - Devon & Dorset much nicer

It's a long way away from us but worth it.

Tenby, North Norfolk, Yorkshire Coast - really not the same.

I think it's lovely, but I live about 15 minutes from the Cornish border. I think of it as being similar to North Wales. I love North Wales. It's absolutely worth the drive (which is about 6 hours for us). But I couldn't do it more than once every other year. I used to live in Dorset and I don't think it quite compares to Poole/Sandbanks/Weymouth/Jurassic Coast, though some of those are lovely.

The problem though is that the time you are likely to come is when absolutely bloody everyone is there and it can be really ridiculously busy. It's in my back garden basically, but I do tend to avoid any school holidays because it's just too manic.

But yes, it's absolutely somewhere to visit, at least once. That said, being from the west country, I've never been to the Lake District or Pembrokeshire or the Highlands or the Channel Islands and those also look beautiful and like somewhere everyone should visit once.

I like Cornwall, the coast is more undulating than Dorset (also lovely but different) I would say it's worth a visit at some point in your life!

That said, I wouldn't go in peak holiday times because of the traffic and crowds.

Dorset will give you a similar feel without the distance if I'm being honest.

I always feel I’d rather be back in Dorset when I go to Cornwall.

Cornwall is lovely, and definitely worth a visit, even if only once in your life. As it's so far for you, could you stop overnight somewhere nice along the way to break up the journey?

I prefer Cornwall to Dorset and it’s worth the drive (we set out in the middle of the night so it rarely takes more than 4-5 hours. Without it takes 8). I think more parts of Cornwall cater to the whole family than do Dorset. But you do need to be closeish to a main city / town for the benefits. Eg St Ives, Torquay, Newquay is perfect when you have disabled parents and young kids to think of. DH and I usually create our base there then have a day when we leave them together and go walking along the coast.

I love Cornwall! It's got everything - lovely sandy beaches, rocky coves, pretty little villages, some nice towns, the wildness of Bodmin moor and the hilly wooded landscape of the Roseland peninsula. No shortage of good places to eat, either.

It's about 5.5 hours from where I live, but I wouldn't think twice about doing that journey to get to somewhere so fabulous.

Was disappointed with Cornwall to be honest - we went as like you were led to believe we were missing out. The coast is lovely but a lot of the towns/inland seemed a bit run down and depressing. We've stuck to west Wales.

It’s lovely but horribly crowded and expensive in peak season

once went in late June and it was glorious

The Gower is beautiful, but we only managed to find one decent pub on the whole peninsula.

You are missing out on queues, crowds, bad parking and Seasalt Huns.

Gower or Pembrokeshire are just as lovely and much quieter.

I loved Cornwall the couple of times Ive been, but now the drive would just be too far, plus we have a dog who appreciates open spaces!. I think its worth making that trip at least once....probably just avoid peak months

We used to spend a lot of time in a borrowed house in St Ives when DS was a baby and toddler, and I loved it. Great for art (Tate St Ives, Barbara Hepworth studio, Bernard Leach pottery), pretty town, several lovely beaches right in the town, excellent walking on the coastal path towards Zennor etc. It doesn’t feel like anywhere else. Insanely busy in peak season, though, aggressive seagulls, coach parties. I also like around Falmouth and the Lizard.

And yes, lots of Cornwall is very poor, with jobs and housing seasonal and precarious in coastal communities and some significant deprivation in inland areas.

I have never been as I am near the Aberdeenshire coast which has loads of lovely beaches but not usually many people. Cornwall looks totally heaving and I have been told the Eden project isn't worth it.

Cornwall in summer: a huge car park with hedges.

Gorgeous out of season though.