Enjoy the glory of a real British spring in a Cornwall holiday cottage
The Half Term school holiday is almost upon us and although it’s still a bit too chilly for Cornwall cottages with pools, cosy and contemporary Cornwall holiday accommodation is in real demand at this time of year. It can be a nightmare struggling to entertain the kids at home when the weather is grizzly. Expensive too. But down in Cornwall they can run free on the safe, sandy beaches and enjoy a wonderful sense of adventure, discovering the natural delights of the coast and countyside as spring rolls in from the West.
Cornwall Wildlife Trust owns or manages fifty five amazing nature reserves in the county, creating and maintaining environments where rare and indigenous creatures and plant life can thrive in peace and safety. The Trust encourages people to visit their reserves and most are free. You’ll find a wealth of nature trails, information boards, leaflets and signage at their sites, designed to enhance your enjoyment and understanding of Cornwall’s spectacular wildlife.
Armstrong Wood Nature Reserve is home to the biggest local butterfly in the fritillary family, the silver washed fritillary. You might spot otters around the river and dormice live in the hazel coppice, spending most of their waking life high in the trees. Carn Moor nature Reserve is made up of wet and dry heathland with areas of gorse, oak and willow scrub plus wetland areas and two ponds. North Predannack Downs Nature Reserve is right on The Lizard, a place of unique heathlands, wet willow woods and unusual Serpentinite rock, which in turn creates special soil that’s home to an exceptional variety of strange, weird and wonderful plant life.
You can enjoy a leisurely stroll in the oak woods of Kilminorth Woods Local Nature Reserve and along the banks of the West Looe river, poke about in rock pools for the day on one of countless amazing beaches, walk the coastal path for massive skies and clouds of sea birds. Take a circular walk around Pentire Head. Or treat the kids to a pony ride into the county’s delightfully intimate and peaceful countryside, along tiny winding roads and tracks bounded by high hedges and out of the wind.
Because the winter weather has been fairly mild, especially in the far South East, you’ll probably spot squirrels and foxes, rabbits and perhaps even an early hare or two. The woods are full of mice, shrews and voles, hedgehogs and badgers, otters and reptiles. There’s already frogspawn in Plymouth this year so Cornish pools will probably be filling up with life. And there’s birds everywhere, from gannets to oystercatchers, Kingfishers to herons and magical murmurations of starlings. Not bad for a short spring break in a simple Cornwall holiday cottage!
Beach reviews for your Cornish holiday in Crantock
Crantock is a gorgeous little village just a stone’s throw from the sea, perfect for a beach-based Cornish holiday and even better if you’re a keen surfer. Here’s a quick run-down of some of the best beaches in the Crantock area.
Crantock beach itself faces north west with a huge expanse of beautiful golden sand, more than a mile in length, backed by massive sand dunes. The River Gannel ‘s estuary meets the sea at the north end of the beach, separating it from the scenic Pentire Headland. Locals love Crantock beach because it’s relatively remote and quieter than the beaches nearer Newquay. The car park and loos are National Trust-run and there’s also a beach shop and café open through the peak season, and a lifeguard in summer.
Polly Joke cove faces north west and offers more gorgeous sand. It’s a ten minute stroll from the car park at West Pentire so relatively quiet, but there’s easy wheelchair and pushchair access.
Porth beach offers excellent, safe seas for swimming and splashing, great for little kids. There’s an amazing blow hole towards the end of the beach, which blows up vast plumes of frothy water at mid-tide when it’s windy. There’s all the facilities you need too, including shops, loos, cafes and parking close by.
Scenic Lusty Glaze beach is privately owned, recently refurbished and offers fantastic facilities. It’s sheltered, safe and wonderfully well equipped, with things like a creche, a beach bar and restaurant, hire shop, loos, a café and a takeaway.
Fistral beach is west of Towans Head, a popular beach with holidaymakers staying in Newquay itself. It’s huge, with fine golden sand and really good surfing. The dunes provide some shelter and because it faces west, it offers some of Europe’s best surfing. There’s also a lifeguard on Fistral in summer.
Watergate bay is big and open, facing west, two stunning miles of golden sand at the foot of extremely steep, dramatic cliffs. There’s refreshments and a lifeguard all summer.
Holywell Bay is nestled in the dunes by Holywell village, a big sandy beach with large dunes which make wheelchair and pushchair access a challenge. There’s a shallow river that crosses the beach to the south, a shop, loos and a great pub, the St Piran’s Inn.
Towan beach, also known as the Town Beach, is sandy, rocky and large, the closest beach to Newquay town centre. It’s jam packed in summer, offers a little saltwater pool for safe bathing and because it’s protected by the harbour entrance, is nice and sheltered. There’s a lifeguard on watch all summer.
There are countless lovely Cornish coastal cottages to rent for fabulous beach-focused staycations. If beaches are your thing you can’t go far wrong with Cornish cottages holidays!
Pick Cornish beach cottages for true holiday romance
Are you in love? Head over heels? Impassioned and lovesick? Can’t stay out of each other’s company? Glued together? If so you’ll appreciate the enormous potential of Cornish beach cottages to deliver true holiday romance in wonderful settings. Here’s how.
There’s the privacy for a start. Imagine being cocooned in your own little world. No fellow guests banging around at mad times of the night, no children crying and carrying on, no having to get up early or you’ll miss breakfast. Just you and your loved one, in peace and quiet or as noisy as you like, with music full blast, dancing naked in the living room if that’s what takes your fancy!
Then there’s the sheer luxury of a home from home. You have enough space to live life as you like it, with your own luxurious bedroom and fully functional modern kitchen, well equipped and cosy. There’s internet access – something you’ll find a challenge in a tent! There’s space for your laptop if you’re fond of messing around online in the evenings. There’s a fantastic bathroom, perhaps even two bathrooms, decorated in clean, contemporary style. And heating if you need it – unlike in many B&Bs and hotels you can control the temperature so you’re neither boiling hot at night nor chilly during the day.
The best Cornish coast cottages are by nature close to the sea, perfect for a romantic midnight stroll on an empty beach, cold glasses of wine at the tideline on a steamy hot day and lovely picnics. Pick Cornish holiday accommodation with your own outdoor space and you can enjoy barbecues and private sunbathing. These days there are plenty of dog friendly cottages for hire so you can even take your beloved pooch along to enjoy your romantic break to the full – no feeling guilty leaving your lovely dog in kennels!
Holiday homes are excellent value for money, even more so off-season. While they can often sleep as many as ten, most owners allow couples to rent so you can have a huge place all to yourselves if you like. Or take another couple along and you’ll still have loads of space. Book early and you can sometimes qualify for special offers for early birds. The same goes for last minute bookings, often available when people cancel at the last minute and often even better value. It’s the perfect place for your love to grow… in one of the most beautiful counties in England!
Top tips for Cornish holiday cottages with dogs in mind
Cornish self catering accommodation is perfect for dog owners. Hotels don’t cater for dogs and they’re rarely – if ever – welcome on a camp site. Luckily, these days Cornish holiday cottages with dogs are much more commonplace than they used to be.
If this is the first year you’re planning to take your best furry friend – or friends – with you on holiday, there’s a few things you need to bear in mind.
The first thing is to remember that not all Cornish holiday homes accept pets. Most places make it clear whether or not dogs are welcome but if it isn’t 100% obvious, email or ‘phone the cottage owner and ask. Some might take one dog, but more than one mightn’t be acceptable.
Before you go, make a doggie packing list. Your dog might be calm and laid back, happy to be wherever you are. Or they might be a bit nervous out of their comfort zone. Either way it’s nice to have some familiar bits and bobs with you to help them feel at home. Take their favourite blanket and/or their dog bed if they have one – something that smells of home. A few of their best toys. Plus a new toy or two. Just like the kids they’ll probably appreciate having something to entertain themselves with in the evenings. Don’t forget the lead!
Take a container of water in the car with you just in case your dog gets thirsty on the way. And take a couple of comfort breaks on the journey for your dog to stretch its legs so he or she doesn’t get restless and fidgety – highly dangerous when you’re trying to drive.
When you get there, take your dog on a guided tour so they know where everyone and everything belongs. It’ll help them settle in faster. Put their bed somewhere they’ll feel safe and comfy, whether it’s in the hallway or in the living room with the family. And give your dog a new toy and a snack to occupy them while you unpack.
It’s a good idea to find a cottage on a quiet street so there’s no chance of your dog getting over excited and running out into heavy traffic. Many of the best Cornish holiday homes come with a garden, which makes your dog’s life much easier and more fun. They can sit out with you in the evenings while you enjoy a barbecue, they can play outside and it’s easy to clean up and poop-scoop.
Last but not least, check out the nearest emergency vet online before you go and save their details on your mobile just in case.
Cornish coastal cottages – Essentials for a comfortable holiday
You’ve been researching the best Cornish coast cottages for months. You’ve found the ideal self- catering dream home from home. Now your holiday is looming and you’re thinking of making a packing list. But what do you need to take and what can you sensibly leave behind?
When you’re travelling by car, there’s limited space. When you’re travelling by train there’s only so much you can carry. Either way, wise packing can be a life saver. Especially when you’re likely to bring all sorts of treasures and souvenirs home from your trip.
The most popular Cornish coastal cottages provide almost everything you need from a practical perspective. Stuff like cooking equipment, cutlery, plates and so on. Kettles and microwaves, gadgets and bed linen. A long way from camping! But it’s best to check exactly what your holiday home includes first, then you know what’s what.
Take two towels each so you can bung one in the wash and still have one ready to use – especially useful when you’re in and out of the sea all day. Take elastoplasts and antiseptic cream to take care of minor cuts and grazes, which are almost inevitable when the kids are scrambling around on the rocks, rock pooling and playing out all day. And don’t forget your basics like tea, coffee, milk and sugar.
Most Cornish cottages holidays these days come complete with washing machines and tumble driers. So you don’t need to go mad and take your entire wardrobe. But take a variety of clothes. A bunch of easy-to-wash t shirts and cotton tops. Some long sleeved and some short, just in case you need to cover up sunburn or it gets a bit chilly. Take a woolly jumper. And a waterproof jacket. Hats are cool, especially when it’s particularly hot or cold. Take sturdy boots or trainers for walking, sandals for the beach and party shoes if you’ll be painting the town red. Wellies are brilliant for rock pooling.
Board games are great fun in the evenings, especially when teamed with a bottle of wine! As is Twister, hilarious for the family and groups of friends. Giant Jenga is excellent fun in the garden for all ages.
Take a roll of sandwich bags, which are useful in all sorts of eventualities from collecting shells to creating packed lunches. Last but not least, take plenty of sun block and after-sun lotion with you. And bear in mind you can burn even when it’s cloudy.
Holidays in Cornwall? Self catering wins hands down when the weather goes wrong
We have this unrealistic vision of summer. Every year we believe with every fibre of our beings that it’ll be gorgeous and hot and sunny during our holidays. Especially staycationers, who are dyed in the wool optimists by nature! But how often does the Cornwall weather actually deliver its summer promise?
While hotels and camping are all very well when it’s gorgeous outside – which it is quite a lot of the time – things fall apart a bit when the weather does its usual summer thing, even in the deep South West, and the heavens open. There’s nothing worse than trying to entertain yourself for hours in a soggy tent or being crammed into your hotel room for the duration while the perfect storm rages outside.
If you’re a stalwart type you won’t care what the weather’s doing. You’ll be out and about in it anyway. When you book Cornwall pet friendly cottages you’re duty bound to take your furry friend for walks, whatever the weather. But if you’re a more delicate soul, welded to sun worshipping and dog-free, you’ll need alternative things to do when the weather lets you down. The same goes if you’re taking the kids with you. They need plenty to do when it’s wet or you’ll end up having a nightmare holiday from hell.
That’s one of the biggest reasons why so many of us hire holiday cottages. Cornwall self catering means you’re never short of space to chill, play, relax and have fun. You’ve got all the space you need to sprawl and enjoy things like traditional board games, great for un-glueing the kids from the telly for a proper family evening. You’ve got space to spread out your art stuff if you’re a painter at heart. Or enjoy creating a gourmet meal if you’re a keen cook. Whatever floats your holiday boat.
There’s no doubting the increasing popularity of cottages holidays. In Cornwall self catering has been a money spinner for decades because of the freedom and comfort it delivers… in all weathers. Space to get out of wet clothes in comfort instead of trying to get dressed and undressed bent double under wet canvas. Nice, warm rooms to pad about barefoot in, instead of a cramped hotel room where getting together for any length of time is downright uncomfortable. And sitting on the bed to watch TV for the evening just feels wrong!
Families thinking about staycationing this year won’t go far wrong with a home-from-home in Britain’s best loved holiday county. Even if rain stops play!