Moving to Cornwall...will everyone hate me??!

[KateD83]

Hi everyone, I'm thinking of buying a home in Cornwall and wondered if there are any Cornwellians (or anyone at all actually) who can ease my fears (or give me a reality check) about being an 'outsider'. I have found the house of my dreams, I've been looking for a long time and will live there all year round and contribute as much as I can to the community. But I am not a local, I'm a single female moving on my own and I won't know anyone. I hope my fears of being treated like an outsider and 'shunned' are unfounded, but if anyone has any views, I'd love to hear them! The location is in South East Cornwall. Thanks so much

@Silenceisgolden20

What happens OP is that these threads always turn into a Cornwall bashing thread. There's been a few and no doubt will be others so it would be difficult for you to form a balanced opinion from mumsnet

All threads asking for opinions on places have unflattering reviews. How many times have you seen people describe London as a crime-ridden shit hole? Or the Midlands as dull? Or the West Country as unfriendly and backwards? Yet you say anything bad about Cornwall and everyone goes nuts it sort of proves my point really.

@Glassofshloer in your experience everyone has dated everyone? What, you know everyone in Cornwall? Wow

[quote Silenceisgolden20]@Glassofshloer in your experience everyone has dated everyone? What, you know everyone in Cornwall? Wow[/quote]
That’s what my (Cornish) best friend says.

Come and live in my bit of SE Cornwall, every other person I meet is from Kent. Even people you thought were local have only been here since the 80s. Everyone else has lived here forever.

I'm in Cornwall op and about half the population of the village have moved here in recent years and are welcomed with open arms. It's a friendly place in my experience. Pm me if you don't make any friends immediately, you can meet some of mine!

@Glassofshloer you're talking absolute piffle. You've made some massively sweeping statements.

Having spent time in both, I'd say Devon is friendlier than Cornwall

[quote Ridiculousradish]@Glassofshloer you're talking absolute piffle. You've made some massively sweeping statements.[/quote]
Many posts on here are similar to mine - just look at Skyler’s etc.

@Blinky21

Having spent time in both, I'd say Devon is friendlier than Cornwall

I’m in Devon and I’m inclined to agree. Cornwall has better beaches though.

@Glassofshloer nah, Cornwall is fair game for bashing recently, it's def increased

Jesus wept.

Ok so either there’s been a sudden and random spike in people nonsensically bashing Cornwall, or people are just giving their honest opinion & it isn’t what you would like it to be… hmmm…

I’m going to leave this thread now because I’ve got nothing further to add and have no desire to be arguing.

Who's arguing?

Do it OP. We intend to do the same eventually. Would love to live between St Ives and Penzance. It will happen one day…

I've lived in SW Cornwall for five years. It's like anywhere else: you get out what you put in.
I've made wonderful friends through volunteering, sea swimming and simply being friendly and open to meeting others who share my interests.
Besides the incredible scenery, there's plenty of culture, creativity and intellectual stimulation; you just have to engage.
All kinds of exciting new businesses and restaurants are opening up - have a look at 45 Queen Street (Penzance) or the Jupiter Gallery (Newlyn) online. A couple of weekends ago, I went to a superb exhibition about sustainable/slow fashion and a clothes swap, both run by local young women. There's a lot going on once you scratch the surface.

I haven't experienced any anti-incomer sentiment. In fact, quite the opposite.

Good luck, OP

Pmsl at “you know everyone in Cornwall?”

There are lots of people not from Cornwall who live here. I would say if you are a POC some people can be quite racist though. Definitely not all and it is changing, just not as fast as more diverse parts of the country.

The reality is it is the same for moving to anywhere outside of England, it is as previous posters said what you make of it. A few pointers though:
The winters are tough with many touristy shops etc simply closed up.
The summers are crowded and busy and the traffic will mean that a supermarket run turns into an ordeal. Although SE Cornwall should be easier than say the North Coast.

The employment opportunities are dire
The schools are pretty bad as well and few opportunities for young people .
Don't try and change or complain about the place or its inhabitants.
It's Cornwall or preferably Kernow and most definitely not part of England and the inhabitants are Cornish not English.
Do not buy a second home or a holiday let
The Cornish are most definitely not racist - having been on the receiving end of racism from English tourists (bumpkin/ inbred etc) over the years it would be both extremely hypocritical and just plain wrong of any true Cornish person to make racist comments to others.

I'd always take a good look at a place at different times of year if I was planning a distant move. Tourist places especially you need to see both in and out of season.
There are some places where some noisy individuals seem to be proud of how unpleasant they are to 'incomers'. We all know the stereotypical 'Yorkshireman' type and their equivalent Cornish type, there are plenty of others. But the less noisy vast majority are usually decent wherever you go. Some places, like Lancs where I live, are just traditionally more outgoing than others, so it's sometimes easier thereto fit in, but on the whole, I think people are the same underneath everywhere. It's just where they are culturally and by habit more reticent, you have to work harder to get to know people. (And ignore the twerps who are proud of being unfriendly- the locals probably can't stand them either.)

It's Cornwall or preferably Kernow and most definitely not part of England and the inhabitants are Cornish not English.

it is part of England.

There’s a local identity but it is most definitely England.

@Glassofshloer

It's Cornwall or preferably Kernow and most definitely not part of England and the inhabitants are Cornish not English.

it is part of England.

There’s a local identity but it is most definitely England.

Hmmm and that difference of opinion is where it all starts to go horribly wrong 🤔

@1dayatatime I mean if they ever vote for Coxit(?!) that’s fine, but they wouldn’t get any more of our tax support.

Plus they all support England in the World Cup. I pointed out this discrepancy but they were like ‘Yeah but otherwise we would have nobody to support’ lol

I'm cornish and moved away because I found it so hard to make Friends. I don't think it's because cornish people aren't friendly, it's just the practicalities of a small population spread out over a wide area. If I wanted to go out drinking I had to find somewhere to stay because taxis home are expensive when you live ten miles away.
I've got family down there with very active social lives and they're certainly welcoming to incomers if they are going to live in the community, use the shops and schools etc.
The dating thing is definitely true in the more rural corners though!

I’m sorry but this is where people think the Cornish are ridiculous.
Cornwall isn’t part of England?? Wtf.
Stop being so bloody precious.

As for don’t try and change anything. Again. Wtf. So if an area is as dire as you say with regards to schools/job/misery no one should try and make changes should they?
If services don’t run effectively no one should complain?

Because Cornish people are special and people should treat them with the deference they clearly feel they deserve.

Absolute nonsense.

You’re just a part of this country. No more important or special than anywhere else be that London Yorkshire Preston Brighton whatever.

You don’t make rules about how people should behave if they don’t want to treated like shit by the special Cornish.

As for Cornish people can’t be racist because English tourists treat them badly…er what??