Cornwall at the moment

[PeacheyPeach]

Has anyone been to Cornwall these summer holidays? Is it as bad as people have reported? Is it heaving

Thing I don’t get is why Cornwall? I went first time this year and thought it would be warmer as further south. But it’s not warmer!!!! The roads are super duper narrow and tall - nightmare for passing cars. There is no architectural style as there is in Norfolk (flint and brick) or Cotswolds (pale stone). I am struggling to see attraction. Please help someone.

@ChildofDust

I live here and honestly it's not worse than a normal summer. North Cornwall near Devon border and its bloody freezing at the moment though, there are people with wooly hats and winter coats on.

If the sun does come out though you won't get a space in the beach car park past 10.30 but that's standard for summer.

We've not found it that cold but it generally hasn't been very warm a lot of the time. It's been late teens and when sun is out early 20s.

Dh hasn't worn his shorts but couple have in the end a couple of days. There are a few more hardy souls in shorts and t shirts all the time, and plenty of people in the sea.

We have taken a jacket or hoodie out each day as you often need it at some point.

Fortunately we haven't actually had much rain. Only a couple of days really.

It's busy. We thought we'd pop into a popular fishing village to get fish and chips one Friday night. Not a chance in hell.
We ended up driving inland to get some.

And it takes FOREVER to get there !

@Blessex - depends where you're coming from

Don’t get why people are flocking there this year after everything that has been said. Just had a lovely holiday in Norfolk. Warmer, easier to get to, less crowded.

Live here and never seen it so busy as it has been this summer. Roads are an absolute shit show and it's pissing down. I'll never understood the hype about Cornwall

@Carycy I went there for the first time because - well I had never been and we all doing staycations - but I am not sure I would RUSH back. I thought it would be warmer but you are right. East coast is warmer. Sometime Cromer in Norfolk can be hottest place in U.K. when wind coming from South. I found the roads really weird - narrow and super deep. I didn’t find a particular architectural style like I do in other places. And we could book a restaurant. And we went in June - and I was trying to book in April. And while I moan how long it can take to get to Norfolk - well Cornwall was another level. So whilst it was lovely and we did the camel trail and Eden and heligon and Newquay and Padstow etc. I am not sure it surpasses all the other lovely British places that much. For all you Cornwall lovers - it still is an amazing place x

*couldnt book a restaurant

*understand

It’s pretty rammed at mo but depends what you want to do and where.

I'm here but thinking of going home. It's raining for the next 2 days. We have meals out booked no problem (nr St Ives). But it's no fun when it's drizzling. Traffic is hideous.

I went to minack theatre yesterday to a terrible show (my ownfault for booking it) and then queued for ages to spend £50 on fish and chips for 2 adults 2 children. Sennen cove was gorgeous but I'm not having a nice holiday.

There's a lots of covid cases around here. I've nicknamed the holiday park Camp Covid because everything keeps shutting.

We are here now, yes alot of restaurants are booked up but we found a lovely local Chinese restaurant that had space for us one evening, and lunches have been easier to find somewhere to eat. We've been to beaches, Padstow, Lands End, Lizard Point, Eden Project, the Hidden Valley puzzle/code park, Pendennis Castle and Tintangel Castle. Staying in Newquay. I've not been here before so can't compare but I grew up in a seaside town so very used to crowds of people so can't say it's been an issue. We've managed to book all those activities whilst here and although had to wait a day or two rather than being able to book for the next day as we want a first thing in the morning slot so can stay all day we've not found anything a challenge at all. Obviously crowds aren't good for covid and everywhere inside still requires a mask which can be a faff if you are in and out of shops. Don't think we will hurry back though. We went to Scotland last year and chose the weeks carefully for when their schools went back so it was very peaceful. Only issue were the midges! I found Scotland much more picturesque than Cornwall. Cornwall is good for the surf only in my view, and it has Ben very cold. I too was expecting it to be much warmer. We only booked two days before we came too...... just got to know where to look ;)

I've just spent a month in N. Cornwall and yes it's busy, but a bit of planning and it's fine. Padstow - arrive by 10 or after 5 and you'll be able to park in the railway car park on the sea front. Otherwise, there is a giant field (the former park and ride) if you don't mind a walk. Beaches are similar in terms of timing/parking. Also, don't travel during the day on Saturday, or Friday night.

For restaurants, Bodmin, Wadebridge and Truro much better bet for availability.

We’re currently in Padstow and it is no busier than other summers. We are getting a parking space at the beaches around here (before 10am), we went into Padstow 2 days ago and it wasn’t any busier than other August’s we’ve visited. We booked restaurants in advance and even that hasn’t been heaving. It usually takes us 3 hours door to door and this year we left at 5:30pm and the roads were surprisingly quiet and it took us 3 hours and 15 minutes. The 2 National Trust properties we visited were also not busy at all. Don’t believe all that is being said on social media.

@Quornflakegirl we are not quoting social media. We are quoting what we experienced !

blessex- I wasn’t referring to you, I didn’t read any other posts. I am merely describing our situation at this present time.

@Quornflakegirl read every recent post….I am here now - have just spent a month here - was here for first time etc etc. This not quoting social media!

Just back from a week in newquay. It was v busy but we were quite organised, s.d o it wasn't too bad. Booked some surfing lessons at watergate bay (10am slot) and a coasteering day all in advance. Also booked lunch out at Wax for one day. It was great. Also did a day ticket got Boardmasters with the kids to see Gorillaz which was fabulous! Yes, it's busy but it's a crazy year, so roll with it! The beaches are stupendous

You need to calm down and get yourself to Norfolk next summer.

@Blessex the narrow roads are why I love living here. Give me a single track bumpy road over a motorway any day!

Just back from Padstow and it was busy but no busier than usual for this time of year. The journey down and back was fine no hold ups. Agree with pp that several restaurants were shut due to lack of staff. Weather was great- sunny every day and we had a great time!

@Seesawmummadaw yes but there are single track deep roads that you cannot pass anyone on and there are narrow country roads that are double tracked with views. Hate motorways too.

We go to Cornwall most years and have just got back from this year's holiday.

We deliberately avoided popular spots like St Ives, Newquay, The Eden Project etc which are generally always busy.

The places like Penzance, Hayle, Cape Cornwall etc which are usually quiet were just as quiet as usual and just as beautiful.

We had a lovely time. You have to rebook most things like The Minack, Flambards and Jubilee Lido but that's fairly normal - although a bit of a pain when the weather has been so variable.

What we did find is a lot of restaurants seem to be operating at a very reduced capacity though. I think due to staff shortages.

There were several times where we'd enquire at a pub at around 5.30pm to see if we could have dinner and be told there was nothing available at all or not for several hours. Generally the pub would be almost empty at the time.

At one pub, with literally 3 customers in it and none of them eating, where we were told we would have a 3 hour wait for food. The waitress did say it was to do with how many people she could serve rather than capacity. She then promptly went back to chatting with the bar staff who were standing around with no one to serve either .... go figure.

We did however find a few good places that didn't need booking, had enough empty tables and were happy and able to serve nice food to all the customers that came in, so we were happy to stick to those places.

As long as you use common sense and are flexible with your plans you'll have a great time.

I’m here at the moment and it’s absolutely heaving. I know I shouldn’t be surprised but I’ve been in summer before and it’s never been as unpleasant as this year due to pandemic. Disney land style queues everywhere, unhappy seeming people, blocked roads - having a lovely time doing our own thing but if you want to eat out etc it seems you needed to have booked months ago!