Discover the most beautiful places in Cornwall with this guide. Here you will find the prettiest spots in Cornwall that you should not miss on your next visit to this unique English county.
Despite being slightly more remote than other parts of the country, Cornwall, together with the Cotswolds, is one of the most visited counties of England, and one of the most beautiful too.
From the moody beauty of the moorlands to the quaintness of its coastal villages and coves, Cornwall seems to have it all.
Its uniqueness stems from it being a Celtic nation with its own distinct traditions, customs and its own Cornish language. And that makes it different from the rest of England. But it’s the beautiful places in Cornwall that bring visitors back over and over again.
Here are some of the prettiest places in Cornwall to help you plan your holiday in this stunning part of the world.
Table of Contents
The Most Beautiful Places in Cornwall
Minack Theatre
The open-air Minack Theatre sits tucked away in the south west of Cornwall, not far from Land’s End.
The theatre was carved by hand into the sea cliffs by Rowena Cade and her gardener during the winter of 1931. It was subsequently expanded upon each winter throughout the owner’s lifetime.
Today, the Minack is an essential place to visit for anyone holidaying in Cornwall. There is a great range of productions each year, ranging from Shakespeare to light-hearted children’s performances.
The backdrop is the mighty Atlantic Ocean where visitors can frequently see pods of dolphins leaping through the waves.
As well as the outdoor theatre, there is a museum charting the history of the Minack and there are beautiful gardens to explore. The Minack can be combined with a visit to nearby Porthcurno Beach – one of the most scenic beaches in Cornwall.
There’s a narrow path cut into the cliff from the theatre to the beach. Together the theatre and beach are a wonderful day out in Cornwall.
By Annabel from Smudged Postcard
St Michael’s Mount
St Michael’s Mount is one of the most iconic places to visit and must not be missed. Located in the town of Marazion, St Michael’s Mount is a tidal island with a castle on top that is accessible at low tide by a man-made causeway.
It will probably remind you of Mont-Saint-Michel in France. In fact, St Michael’s Mount was once the property of Mont-Saint-Michel after the Norman Conquest of 1066.
Today you can visit the castle, but only at low tide when the causeway is accessible. Make sure you check the tide times when planning your visit.
St Ives
St Ives is located on the north coast of Cornwall and is one of the most popular destinations in the county. The town attracts visitors throughout the year and is one of the best spots in England for winter surfing.
There are several beaches to visit in St Ives including Porthmeor Beach which is particularly geared towards surfers with a surf school and rentals. Porthminster Beach is a Blue Flag beach which is not only the most picturesque in St Ives but the perfect choice for families.
Other attractions in St Ives include taking a boat trip to Seal Island where you can spot seals and other wildlife.
If you enjoy shopping, take a stroll around the harbour and along the quaint cobblestone streets of the Downalong where many shops, art galleries and restaurants are located.
Art lovers can admire collections of modern art at the Tate Gallery, the Barbara Hepworth Museum or in the many art galleries located in the town.
By Tracy from Tracy’s Travels in Time
Port Issac (aka Portwenn)
You can see why the Doc Martin TV series was so popular when you stroll down the hill from the car park and explore Port Isaac.
Peer over stone walls burgeoning with pink sea thrift and gaze down at the aquamarine waters in the tiny 14th century harbour far below. It really is as pretty in real life as fictional Portwenn, and you can also discover it as part of a Doc Martin Tour.
Narrow mismatched slate cottages hug either side of the narrow lane that was built for donkeys, not tour buses.
Look out for familiar sights such as Louisa’s School, the pharmacy (the hub of village gossip) and the Doc’s House (not the modern surgery further up the hill!). Down at sea level, fishing boats rest on the sandy beach at low tide.
Grab a seat at the 18th century Golden Lion pub and order Cornish pasties and a pint. It’s a memorable spot to experience the olde-worlde ambience.
Browse the local pottery in the former Methodist chapel, and don’t miss the narrowest thoroughfare in Cornwall, aptly named Squeeze Belly Alley. It’s just 18 inches wide, so best visit before the pasty, just in case!
By Gillian from Holiday Cottages in Devon & Cornwall
Kynance Cove
Kynance Cove is one of the most photographed spots in Cornwall, and with good reason.
This tidal beach is famous for its white sand, its rocky stacks and turquoise waters that will make you think you’re somewhere in the Caribbean or the Mediterranean.
It’s a 15 minute walk down to the beach from the car park, but it’s really worth the effort. If you are visiting in the summer, try and arrive as early as possible as the car park fills up very quickly.
Wheal Coates
Wheal Coates is a picturesque reminder of Cornwall’s tin mining heritage. Tin mining began in Cornwall during the Bronze Age, and at its peak, the industry employed more than 30,000 people.
The Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006, and while you can find remains of mines all over Cornwall, no others are in such a beautiful location.
There are several buildings that make up the most recent remains of the tin mine, dating from 1872 to 1914, when the mine was abandoned. The most intact is the Townroath Shaft engine house, perched on the cliff edge, which has a striking tower.
It’s a wonderful place to take photos, particularly in spring when the pink thrift plants are in bloom, or in late summer when purple heather covers the cliffside.
Wheal Coates is cared for by the National Trust, and there is a National Trust car park a short walk away where members can park for free.
From here you can also walk south along the coastal path to Chapel Porth Beach, or north towards St Agnes Head. Nearby Wheal Coates Tea Room is a great place to stop and refuel.
By Claire from Tales of a Backpacker
Charlestown Harbour
Charlestown Harbour is one of the prettiest villages in Cornwall and a great example of a late Georgian working port. It’s the last open 18th century harbour in the UK and it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Once built to export copper and china clay, it is now a popular filming location for productions such as Poldark and Mansfield Park.
The harbour is home to a number of historic vessels, and with its surrounding Georgian homes, it makes you feel like you’ve been transported to a bygone era.
Charlestown Harbour is a true Cornish hidden gem with a fascinating history.
Fowey
Fowey (pronounced “Foy”) is a small town on the south coast of Cornwall, 8 miles from St Austell. It’s set on a wide estuary and has been a port for hundreds of years.
Its seafaring history spans pirates and privateers in the 14th and 15th century to the giant cargo ships that pick up loads of Cornish china clay just upriver from Fowey today.
Mentioning cargo ships might make you think of an industrial port, but Fowey is a gorgeous little place. You can see kingfishers perched on the trees around the estuary, waiting for their next meal, while the narrow, historic streets of the town centre are full of charm.
When you visit Fowey, don’t miss a tour of the estuary to see the town from the water. There are also lots of lovely beaches in the area.
Readymoney Cove is close to Fowey town centre and is watched over by St Catherine’s Castle. Daphne du Maurier once lived in a house overlooking the cove.
A short way further along the South West Coast Path is Polridmouth Cove and a path which leads up to Menabilly, believed to be the inspiration for Manderley in du Maurier’s novel Rebecca.
By Helen from Helen On Her Holidays
Cadgwith
Cadgwith is a quintessential Cornish fishing village located in a coastal valley on the western side of The Lizard Peninsula.
With its traditional whitewashed thatched cottages, it feels like the village has been forgotten by the 21st century. But Cadgwith is alive and well, with a working fishing fleet winched up on the shingle beach that gives the village a splash of colour.
The whole valley oozes charm, enhanced by the delightful cottage names like ‘Dolphin Cottage’, ‘Kiddleywink’ and ‘Pink Cottage’.
If you have the chance to visit on a Friday evening, make sure you go to The Cadgwith Cove Inn, where you can enjoy the famous Cadgwith Singers and their sea shanties.
Tintagel Castle
Located in Cornwall’s rugged north coast, Tintagel Castle is a place of myths and ancient history. Closely linked to the legend of King Arthur, this ancient settlement goes back to the 5th century.
Here you will feel the magic of timeless legends as you uncover the tales of King Arthur and the tragic love story of Tristan and Isolde.
Walk around the 12th century castle ruins, cross the breathtaking new bridge and take in the views of the spectacular coastline. And don’t forget to stroll along the sandy beach and visit Merlin’s Cave during low tide.
Getting around Cornwall
Cornwall is a pretty remote rural county. Despite this, a lot of the towns, both coastal and inland, are linked by trains and buses.
However, if you really want to discover as many as the most beautiful places in Cornwall as possible, and not be restricted by public transport schedules, you will need your own car to get around.
If you don’t have your own car, I would recommend hiring one. You can find really good deals on car hire comparison sites like Discover Cars.
Find the best car hire deals here
Have you been to any of the most beautiful places in Cornwall? Would you add any others?
Let me know in the comments!
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WindsorTenor
Tuesday 17th of May 2022
St. Michael's Mount is certainly accessible when the tide is in. There are boats that travel between Marazion and the Mount during high tide.