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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

Cornwall summer

36 replies

FellWanderer · 16/02/2021 11:13

Hi. We are thinking about booking a few days in Cornwall in July/August.

We are hoping to have lots of nice walks and visit castles/National Trust/English Heritige type places. No dc to entertain. I really want to see Tintagel castle so would probably choose accommodation near there. I've managed to find some places that I like the look of.

We would like a meal out at some point but we're not too fussed on exploring the towns/shops etc as it's not really our thing.

We know it will be really busy but would the walks/types of activities I've described be quiter than if we were staying in one of the towns and spending all our time on the beaches/in shops etc?

Thank you in advance.

OP posts:
cautiouscovidity · 16/02/2021 11:20

Everywhere in Cornwall was heaving last summer. I suspect it may be even worse this year due to the quarantine issues for those who choose to go abroad. Narrow roads and small car parks do not make for a pleasant holiday experience when there are a lot of visitors!
Most National Trust properties were closed all season last summer (as in the houses etc., you could still access the gardens / grounds). This may also be the case this year but maybe not now that most at risk will have been vaccinated (these places are usually staffed by elderly volunteers).
I wouldn't necessarily stay near Tintagel. It's quite remote and a pain in the arse to get to anywhere else from there. You'd be better off staying central and having one nightmare journey day on the day you choose to visit there.
Bear in mind that restaurants will often need pre-booking due to reduced capacity etc., meaning that you would need to plan your days fairly carefully or self-cater.

Ginisatonic · 16/02/2021 11:52

I wouldn’t consider Cornwall in the school holidays under normal circumstances especially with no children to entertain. But this summer will be even worse!

Florencenotflo · 16/02/2021 12:34

I've stayed in Tintagel in February a few years ago. It's a beautiful village, a couple of lovely pubs etc. But it is quite remote. To go anywhere else you are a good 40 mins - 1 hour drive, and that's during February. I think Cornwall is beautiful but the idea of going there in Summer fills me with dread. I have no idea how anyone gets anywhere if it's busy. The roads are tiny and it's just not set up for the volumes of people that descend on it during the summer.

I would love to go in the summer, but would want to base myself somewhere we don't need to use the car at all, which limits you somewhat!

Bobbybobbins · 16/02/2021 12:45

Personally we have avoided booking Cornwall this year mainly because of the thought of the traffic.

Funf · 16/02/2021 17:35

A few years ago we stayed in Bude, its like stepping back in time but in a good way. We managed to go just before the main school holidays so it was quiet in Bude but some places we visited where rammed as normal.
We went to Tintagel cant remember how far it was but we don't mind driving
shorebreakcornwall.co.uk

Tartyflette · 16/02/2021 17:50

We went to Cornwall in late September last year, (when it was possible to do so) and i thought it would be very much an 'end of the season' atmosphere with things closed or closing for the winter and generally fairly quiet.
Nope, it was absolutely rammed. Everywhere. Beaches, boat trips, English Heritage type attractions and gardens, pubs, restaurants, the lot.
Luckily we had a family property to stay in. Self catering accommodation was scarce and hotels very expensive.
There weren't many families with school age children around but plenty with younger children, young couples, groups and older people .
I would certainly not go in July and August if at all possible.
The drive down itself will be a complete pain not be fun.
Go earlier or later if you can.

Onedropbeat · 16/02/2021 17:51

Wouldn’t go in pre Covid times during school holidays for the queues and so would 100% avoid in summer this year

Onedropbeat · 16/02/2021 17:52

In normal times it would take us 6 hours to get to Cornwall coast

In school holidays that could take 9 hours or more

I can’t imagine what the traffic would be like this year

blue25 · 16/02/2021 17:55

I wouldn’t go near Cornwall this summer. It will be horrifically busy. Definitely somewhere to avoid IMO.

CheddarGorgeous · 16/02/2021 18:26

If you go in early July before the schools break up it will be fine . 1st/2nd week in September is also a really nice time to visit.

The touristy hotspots like St Ives, Padstow, Newquay are v busy in the school summer holidays but there are plenty of places off the beaten track that are quiet enough even in summer.

cautiouscovidity · 16/02/2021 22:18

@CheddarGorgeous

If you go in early July before the schools break up it will be fine . 1st/2nd week in September is also a really nice time to visit.

The touristy hotspots like St Ives, Padstow, Newquay are v busy in the school summer holidays but there are plenty of places off the beaten track that are quiet enough even in summer.

It was busy last year on the edge of the season, with lots of couples / families with preschoolers that aren't tied to July / August. Everywhere was heaving through to October really.
TokyoSushi · 16/02/2021 22:21

Well seeing as virtually everybody on this thread isn't going, I wonder if it might be quieter than you think OP?! Grin

We went last August, the only place that was horrifically busy was Padstow, the rest was busy but fine. We're going again in June.

Ihaventgottimeforthis · 16/02/2021 22:28

Most of our castles are S coast so a long way (relatively) from Tintagel. The coast section north to Bude is often quieter than the other areas, but Tintagel/Port Isaac/Boscastle bound to be busy.
I think you could have a nice visit based round there & also going inland - Bodmin Moor etc.
But yes I echo other posters - I have a gut feeling this is going to be an extraordinarily busy summer. I only hope attractions & hospitality can open up fully, and that the weather is good, otherwise people may have rather disappointing holidays 😬

CheddarGorgeous · 17/02/2021 06:43

It was busy last year on the edge of the season, with lots of couples / families with preschoolers that aren't tied to July / August. Everywhere was heaving through to October really.

I don't know what your definition of "heaving" is but my recollection is that Cornwall was perfectly pleasant in September. It's always had a lot of visitors in the shoulder months but apart from the hotspots mentioned in my post above the county is plenty big enough to absorb everyone. Smile

OverTheRainbow88 · 17/02/2021 06:50

I would suggest going end of June or first week of July to miss the school summer holidays

Original poster
FellWanderer · 17/02/2021 08:51

Thanks everyone. I'm a teacher so we're tied to school holidays I'm afraid. Think I'll give it a miss and stick to the lakes as I know the quiter spots and it won't take all day to get there!
Although like TokyoSushi I am wondering who will actually be there this summer since everyone will apparently be avoiding it like the plague! 😂

OP posts:
dippyegg32 · 17/02/2021 12:27

We did Cornwall last summer. It was awful. The overcrowding was ridiculous.

Shinesun14 · 17/02/2021 12:35

Cornwall in summer isn't too bad if you get up early to go out, you need to be at the beach by 10 for a car parking space!

I love it and go multiple times a year. If I didnt have family there and that connection to it I would go to mid/North Wales instead. Very similar coast to Cornwall but without the tourists.

Tartyflette · 17/02/2021 13:22

I am very fond of Cornwall and have been going there since I was a young child, I have family connections there.
I'd love to go again this autumn but given how it was last September (really, really busy) I think it will still be very crowded. Have to wait and see.

CheddarGorgeous · 17/02/2021 13:38

If you are tied to school holidays then maybe aim for a last minute October half term break. Check out the weather before booking because it can either be amazing or awful!

rabbitwoman · 17/02/2021 13:44

When I go to Cornwall I always go all the way down to Penzance, and it's glorious. Yes, it's very far, as far as you can go really, but therefore much less crowded. The beach at Penzance is literally the most amazing beach on earth, and never crowded, but loads of windsurfing....

A very long way from Tintagle, but a mere hop and skip ftom St Michael's Mount which beats it by a million miles, and then the minnack theatre, stunning.....

Dunno about roads. We always go by train and travel about by bus, which is excellent in Cornwall.

Ihaventgottimeforthis · 17/02/2021 14:54

I'm a bit flabbergasted at our bus network being described as 'excellent' 😂😂

It doesn't take many people to exceed capacity down here. Favourite beach car parks rapidly full, attractions get booked up, tiny roads get congested quickly, local shopping experience limited at best.
It can turn a lovely day out into a nightmare very quickly.
I think the Lakes will be lovely.
October half term in Cornwall is often a stunner 👍👍

Rainydays200 · 20/02/2021 22:55

Cornwall is always very busy in the summer holidays. We go regularly, including last summer. I don’t think it was any worse last summer than normal it’s just we were all more aware and not wanting to be close to other people.
We tend to spend our time on the (big wide beaches) and out walking so not in the hotspots, so maybe that’s why we didn’t really feel it.
But whatever your point of view I think everywhere in the uk will be at max capacity. Friends are already telling me they cannot find any holiday cottages anywhere in the uk that are available in July and august. No idea how true it is, but I think right now if you want a Uk holiday you’re best to just book something and not worry too much about how busy places will be.

goochface · 20/02/2021 23:01

@dippyegg32

We did Cornwall last summer. It was awful. The overcrowding was ridiculous.

Pure coincidence but I was watching a documentary on Cornwall fishermen/women earlier based in Newquay

What struck me was the crowded streets, ppl just rubbing shoulders almost. You would never have believed the docu was shot in the middle of a pandemic. More tourists will go this year I imagine, ppl won't want two summers without a holiday and many don't want to fly

If you go my advice is travel there/back either v early in the day or late a night

RampantIvy · 20/02/2021 23:13

We stayed just outside Padstow in August twelve years ago. The drive there and back from Yorkshire was horrendous, and the streets of Padstow were so crowded you couldn't really see Padstow at all, just a sea of people.

I like Cornwall, but that kind of busyness was so off putting that with the awful drive I don't think we will be rushing back.

I suspect that this year will be even busier.

One of the best holidays we ever had was in Shropshire. There was loads to see and do, and the roads were reasonably quiet for August.

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