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UK travel

Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Original poster

Am I unusual that Cornwall didn't really do it for me?

237 replies

Stillwaitingforsummer · 09/08/2017 13:23

Just that. OK the weather wasn't really great which didn't help, but the scenery wasn't as stunning as I had expected. I think Wales is more stunning,and the lake district.
Did I miss something?

OP posts:
PoppyPopcorn · 09/08/2017 13:27

I think it depends. I love Cornwall but I know that if we went in English school holidays I'd hate it. Being there early July or October half term is wonderful and worth the drive from Scotland as it's like you've got the place to yourself. We have also been very lucky that we have had very little rain.

There aren't the mountains you'd see in Wales or the Lakes but Cornwall's little fishing villages, harbours and beaches are just lovely. You can't really compare it to the Lakes as they're such different places.

heron98 · 09/08/2017 13:40

YANBU. I agree. It was OK but nothing spectacular. That said, I'm not a fan of beaches so I was already off to a bad start.

I live in the Lakes and much prefer it there, rain and all!

Dowser · 13/08/2017 09:50

North Yorkshire. A little gem. Especially around the thirsk area.
You might struggle for a beach, Whitby about an hour away but so much to see and do. Scenery is beautiful right now thanks to all the rain.

Dowser · 13/08/2017 09:51

Come to think of it , I was a bit u derwhelmed with Cornwall too. People were lovely.
That's what makes a place for me.

HotLadybird · 13/08/2017 12:08

I felt exactly the same! Was a bit of an anticlimax after travelling so far. Won't be rushing back!

BramblyHedgeHog · 13/08/2017 12:10

It's lovely imo.
However too many people, cars in school holidays means there are much nicer places to be , Northumberland, Wales, Scotland.

pascalpascal · 13/08/2017 12:20

Yes. It didn't match up to what it's cracked up to be.

Asalways · 13/08/2017 12:21

Brittany is what Cornwall should actually be like.

pascalpascal · 13/08/2017 12:23

Yes. It didn't match up to what it's cracked up to be.

haba · 13/08/2017 12:25

Devon is heaven...
Two coasts, gorgeous interior, not as far away as Cornwall. You can't beat it.

ReinettePompadour · 13/08/2017 12:28

DH was obsessed with Cornwall for years. He raved about how beautiful and friendly the place was with amazing views and food to die for.

Our first holiday there was crap, food was awful and everywhere was a car journey. We tried again a few years later and again mediocre food, poor customer service and not particularly amazing countryside, as pp said Yorkshire, Lake District and the Cotswolds have much nicer countryside and customer service. Things like the gardens of heligan were packed and you couldn't get a table anywhere decent.

Ive given Cornwall 3 or 4 chances and its really not that amazing. You can get better experiences for less money with less crowds elsewhere in the UK. I think Cornwall built a reputation decades ago and theyre still trying to live off that reputation now. Unfortunately other areas have done more to gain that title Cornwall had and they're now much better at it.

Hulder · 13/08/2017 12:30

No. It's nice but so is Devon, Somerset, Jurassic Coast, Wales, the Peak District, Norfolk, Yorkshire, the Cotswolds, loads of places.

And it's so bloody far away. Lots of places have nice scenery, cute villages, museums and stately homes.

ChickenBhuna · 13/08/2017 12:32

YANBU at all op.

I love Cornwall but I've never been to Wales so I may like that better. It's all personal preference isn't it?

user128057 · 13/08/2017 12:35

I'm not really a fan of Cornwall either. We went in winter. That was the first and last time. I found it very impractical as a wheelchair user. The pavements were ridiculously narrow and it was very very very busy. I wouldn't go back.

IfNot · 13/08/2017 12:37

I don't like all the windy lanes and high high hedges. The fishing villages and wild landscapes are nice though. I like a bit of wild moorland.
Dowser you are near me Smile

Toddlerteaplease · 13/08/2017 12:47

I'm the same with Derbyshire. I love the Lake District, but my sister has moved to the Peak District and I just don't like it. It's pretty, and the scenery is lovely. But I just don't get it. Nice having her closer than Cumbria though.

PearlyPinkNails · 13/08/2017 12:49

I don't much like the look of the houses, not very attractive. I like the beigey stone ones in Norfolk Grin

I liked the beaches though.

I wouldn't be fussed to never go there again though.

histinyhandsarefrozen · 13/08/2017 12:50

I love cornwall and one of the things that make it for me is the food. I also love Pembrokeshire and the lakes but the food at both reminded me of the 1970s (in a bad way).

BananaSandwichesEveryDay · 13/08/2017 16:27

I agree. We went a few years ago. I had wonderful memories of childhood holidays and we wanted to give our dcs the same. It was dreadful. Our experience was that eating out with children was expensive, when we could even find anywhere suitable. As a family who does not enjoy spending all day at the beach, keeping dcs occupied was not easy, and again, expensive . Accommodation, too, was pricey compared to elsewhere in the country. I loved my childhood holidays there, but after our recent experience, I won't be going back.

RandomUsernameHere · 13/08/2017 16:32

Completely agree OP. It's overrated. We've been twice this year (got a free stay as the first one was so bad) and no plans to go back.

GoldTippedFeather · 13/08/2017 17:14

I agree OP. You pass through much nicer counties to get to it. I found a lot of it very eerie and a bit unnerving for some reason. Also the people we encountered weren't too friendly and not too fond of tourists despite running places reliant on and catering to the tourism industry.

Original poster
Stillwaitingforsummer · 14/08/2017 08:22

I'm so glad it's not just me! We had grand ideas of fabulous meals out but spent a fortune on mediocre ones. Hmm
I suppose the difference is that the water is warmer for playing in compared to North Wales and Northumberland, which I much prefer!
How come Devon is so different - is it worth a visit?

OP posts:
Original poster
Stillwaitingforsummer · 14/08/2017 08:25

I think as pp put, it was an anti climax after such a long journey too.
The 'picturesque' villages looked manky when the tide was out and boats were just sat on a mass of green seaweed Confused

OP posts:
allwornout0 · 14/08/2017 08:28

I felt the same, much prefer Wales and Suffolk.

OliviaStabler · 14/08/2017 08:29

Where did you stay?