Tell me about Cornwall and Devon for a 5 day break

[smckay]

In June this year we'll be in the UK for a break - from 2nd to 7th, both flights are around 10.30am.

The plan is to get to Penzance to tick that off. Unsure if we ought to zoom straight there the first day or amble.

What we'd like to do is to see some old buildings they tend to have there, ride a steam train and see old villages with village greens, the odd shop and a pub.
The dollars might prevent it, but if we could find old pubs to stay in that are not 200 bucks a night we'd like to do that.

Anyone done such a thing or send me off to a resource that I can sense check my idea? I have been looking but the varied reviews of pubs is starting to make me just book Premier Inn's and be done with it. Not really a rustic/ruinous holiday then but.

 

[drron]

Great places for more than a few days. Join the Australian National trust as you can visit the UK NTs properties and there are quite a few in Cornwall and Devon. Probably wouldn't recommend Padstein (Padstow) as very popular,higher prices and rick Stein's restaurants a little underwhelming.
Here is one of the times we have been there. My sister lives in Devon.

Of Wings and Whispers

... ... ... The tulips are"in flower". .

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

The part relevant is from page 19 to 22. Pictures missing but a refresh gets a lot back.

 

[VPS]

I love Cornwall and Devon. When I was travelling in the early 80s and caught the train to Cornwall and saw the beach at St Ives it was the first beach I'd seen in nearly a year that looked like a proper Aussie Beach. I spent a couple of weeks there a few years ago and had a great time.

Having said that June will be absolutely jam packed and you will struggle to find accommodation that is reasonably priced. I would start thinking about booking now.

Some of my favourites down there.

Museum of Global Communications - Visiting the Museum | PK Porthcurno PK Porthcurno - Wikipedia

Fowey is a lovely little town

St Ives is a nice town and has the Hepworth museum and Sculpture garden plus the Tate St Ives

Do not have a Cornish pasty from Warrens bakery that purports to be the Oldest Cornish Pasty maker in the World - I gave most of mine to a dog.

Lands End - interesting place to visit

Minack theatre - amazing location and well worth a visit Levant Mine and Beam Engine | Cornwall

To learn a bit about their mining history. Levant Mine and Beam Engine | Cornwall

Eden Project - wasn't my cup of tea but some people love it

Feel free to ask more questions if you want

 

[VPS]

Gardens around the world.

@Pushka - this is what you need to keep pests out of your garden !!

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

The view from my "office"

SQ- Caviar and vintage Krug, watching my favorite movie

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[FlyingFiona]

Saint Michael's Mount off the coast just near Penzance is well worth the day trip. (Especially if you've been to it's namesake in France, Mont Saint Michel.)

Unlike @VPS I was extremely underwhelmed by Lands End and was shocked at how commercial it was. I appreciated going for the simple reason I've been to John O'Groats, but really, that was the only benefit to the visit for me.

 

[SYD]

Last year we spent almost 2 wks driving a circle route from LHR through Devon and Cornwall retracing some of Rick Steins favourites before heading back through Bristol and Windsor. Early April was cold but really fell in love with that part of the UK.

Penzance itself is a bet meh, but St Ives is delightful. So was Mevigissey etc

 

[drron]

@VPS you get better Cornish pasties in South Australia than Cornwall. And my mother's pasties were better than any I had in Cornwall.

 

[drron]

A much newer trip report on driving around the UK. devon starts from Post 42.

Rambling around England.

Back to our room but a shot of the dry stone walls that are everywhere. And just like 2014 fine days here but raining as we left. For breakfast Mrsdrron had the smashed avo and I eggs benedict. . We did enjoy our stay at the samling just as much as in 2014 but know we now will never be...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[smckay]

Unlike @VPS I was extremely underwhelmed by Lands End and was shocked at how commercial it was. I appreciated going for the simple reason I've been to John O'Groats, but really, that was the only benefit to the visit for me.

That's pretty much our reason too

 

[smckay]

Thanks all. I have been working to drrons rough itinerary and places so at least I am on the right track.
I do need to start booking places but was more concerned my daily distances might be excessive. I guess we'll find out in a few months time.

 

[ellen10]

We are heading to Devon/Cornwall for two weeks in may.
I have booked most of my accommodation now as it seems to be very popular and we do run into half term break.
I will read your reports @drron

 

[jase05]

@VPS you get better Cornish pasties in South Australia than Cornwall. And my mother's pasties were better than any I had in Cornwall.

Yep, my father’s side of the family descended from Cornwall and we have been there a couple of times to check out family history and I have to say the Cornish pasties are better on the Yorke Peninsula. My father does make a mean pastie though too

 

[OATEK]

So much to see in Cornwall, especially a few film/TV locations. Inspector Lynley's ancestral home is Trerice, one of our favourite national trust homes. Anyone old enough to remember the Wycliffe TV series would want to visit Church Cove Gunwalloe, where the final scenes in the final episode were filmed, and just the other side of the headland is dollar cove which featured in one of the earlier episodes. And the Lizard Peninsula with its Lighthouse is much less touristy than Lands End.

Then there is all the Poldark locations (especially from the original series).

 

[VPS]

So much to see in Cornwall, especially a few film/TV locations. Inspector Lynley's ancestral home is Trerice, one of our favourite national trust homes. Anyone old enough to remember the Wycliffe TV series would want to visit Church Cove Gunwalloe, where the final scenes in the final episode were filmed, and just the other side of the headland is dollar cove which featured in one of the earlier episodes. And the Lizard Peninsula with its Lighthouse is much less touristy than Lands End.

Then there is all the Poldark locations (especially from the original series).

I didn't mention any of the Daphne Du Maurier book locations which is what sparked my first interest in Cornwall. There are so many great NT places down there but I had a feeling the OP wasn't interested in them

 

[smckay]

We're interested in the historic side of things - castles, abbeys, the odd ruin; stuff that is more than the 220 year old history we have. TV series aren't my thing unless it's Minder but we are avoiding London.
I've now started again - driving straight down to Lands End and starting from there. Return back to Heathrow via Penzance, Fowey, get in a steam train at Paignton, the castles around Exeter and whatever. Cuppla villages, pubs, whatever gets in the way. We ought to have some sort of an itinerary but some of the places I've looked up are closed for renovations and unsure of opening times, or don't have anything at all for 2024.
The issue is it appears I do need to book rooms due to Summer so making it a bit more challenging. Is this day too short or too long to travel? Can we fit in the steam train with Powderham castle visit on the same day?
My random ADHD personality likes to get to 4pm and look up trip advisor to find the best place around to stay but my wife needs to have things a bit more structured (no, don't suggest we do different holidays) and have a set itinerary to the half hour and rooms booked by now. (That's not an exaggeration, I normally need a holiday to recover from the holiday, it is so packed full of activities)

 

[SYD]

So much to see in Cornwall, especially a few film/TV locations. Inspector Lynley's ancestral home is Trerice, one of our favourite national trust homes. Anyone old enough to remember the Wycliffe TV series would want to visit Church Cove Gunwalloe, where the final scenes in the final episode were filmed, and just the other side of the headland is dollar cove which featured in one of the earlier episodes.

You might even see some TV being made.

Or take some selfies at other locations…

And the Lizard Peninsula with its Lighthouse is much less touristy than Lands End.

Quite spectacula down there on a nice day.

I didn't mention any of the Daphne Du Maurier book locations which is what sparked my first interest in Cornwall. There are so many great NT places down there but I had a feeling the OP wasn't interested in them

There’s a Daphne Du Maurer museum at the Jamaica Inn.

We're interested in the historic side of things - castles, abbeys, the odd ruin; stuff that is more than the 220 year old history we have. TV series aren't my thing unless it's Minder but we are avoiding London.

There‘s some really old stuff..

and actually not that old but still fascinating…


and more quaint fishing villages than you can poke a stick at!

 

[smckay]

You might even see some TV being made.
View attachment 367770

Yep, all of the above have been noted as potentials. I am now going to try to work out a plan.

 

[VPS]

You might even see some TV being made.
View attachment 367770
Or take some selfies at other locations…
View attachment 367771

Quite spectacula down there on a nice day.

There’s a Daphne Du Maurer museum at the Jamaica Inn.

And of course I visited. It was quite tacky though

View attachment 367772

There‘s some really old stuff..
View attachment 367773
and actually not that old but still fascinating…
View attachment 367774

and more quaint fishing villages than you can poke a stick at!
View attachment 367776

 

[VPS]

I visited Lanhydrock which is a NT property and really enjoyed it

A couple of photos of the Minack theatre








This was my view on the way back from Cornwall - averaged about 60kph for four hours

 

[VPS]

We're interested in the historic side of things - castles, abbeys, the odd ruin; stuff that is more than the 220 year old history we have. TV series aren't my thing unless it's Minder but we are avoiding London.
I've now started again - driving straight down to Lands End and starting from there. Return back to Heathrow via Penzance, Fowey, get in a steam train at Paignton, the castles around Exeter and whatever. Cuppla villages, pubs, whatever gets in the way. We ought to have some sort of an itinerary but some of the places I've looked up are closed for renovations and unsure of opening times, or don't have anything at all for 2024.
The issue is it appears I do need to book rooms due to Summer so making it a bit more challenging. Is this day too short or too long to travel? Can we fit in the steam train with Powderham castle visit on the same day?
My random ADHD personality likes to get to 4pm and look up trip advisor to find the best place around to stay but my wife needs to have things a bit more structured (no, don't suggest we do different holidays) and have a set itinerary to the half hour and rooms booked by now. (That's not an exaggeration, I normally need a holiday to recover from the holiday, it is so packed full of activities)

I'm a bit like you in that I like to not plan too far in advance but in June in Cornwall I'd suggest you book ahead and avoid the inevitable "discussion" around 6pm when you finally settle on an overpriced rat hole