Plan a staycation in Cornwall: Top places to visit for a weekend Cornish getaway

I’m delighted to share with your my itinerary from my recent solo getaway to Cornwall, UK. Coronavirus has meant my solo international travel plans have been postponed, and with it almost being a year since I last solo travelled, a staycation seemed liked the perfect answer to my wanderlust blues. Cornwall has always had a special place in my heart. My parents owned a hotel for nearly thirty years, so we never really had summer holidays growing up. Cornwall would always be the one place we’d go away together and some of my favourite memories with my Dad are from those holidays. Like hunting for sea creatures in rock pools, days out exploring different fishing towns and enjoying ball games on secluded beaches. Cornwall for me means family, so there was no other place I could think of going for my UK solo staycation.

I decided I wanted a getaway where I could explore the outdoors and avoid crowded areas due to associated risks with coronavirus. With it’s extensive coastline and countless areas of natural beauty, Cornwall ticked a lot of boxes. I stayed in the cutest little Air BnB called The Boathouse in St Just and decided to mainly explore southern Cornwall. My trip involved a lot of coastal hikes, hopping around different fishing villages and enjoying the peace and quiet of my own company in the evenings. For the most part, I was able to avoid crowds and kept myself to myself. I packed a picnic every day and sorted my own meals, with the exception of treating myself to a Cornish cream tea and plenty of ice cream. There were however some places in hindsight I wished I had avoided and I will share with you why later on in this blog.

So here is my four day itinerary of my solo trip to Cornwall. I hope it inspires you to visit there one day or even plan you own solo staycation.

---

Day 1: Mevagissey, Gorran Haven and Portloe

After a three and a half hour drive, I arrived in a grey and drizzly Mevagissey mid morning. Mevagissey is the second largest fishing village in Cornwall, located on the south east coast and it was that one place I just had to visit again. It was one of Dad’s favourite places and we’d often stay in a charming little holiday cottage here as a family. As I meandered through the narrow winding streets away from the crowds, passing rows of old terraced fishing cottages to overlook the harbour, I was instantly hit with a wave of nostalgia. The memories of fishing with Dad as a child and seeing the same family run shops still open from all those years ago made me smile and well up all at the same time. Be sure to walk out along the quay both sides to get the best views of the town, including the colourful houses hugging either side of the valley. I didn’t stay long due to the fact it was busy, so if you plan a visit in the near future, make sure to pack a mask and get there early if you can. There is a large public car park in the town centre and make sure to bring small change for parking fees.

Mevagissey Cornwall | Solo Travel Cornwall | Visit Cornwall

A short 10 minute drive took me to the quiet coastal village of Gorran Haven. Nestled around a secluded cove, this small village is one I would recommend if you are looking to spend some time at the beach away from the crowds. Gorran Haven was a place I’d often visit as a child, mainly to visit my ‘Aunty Jane’, my grandmother’s best friend and whom my middle name is given. Gorran Haven only has one or two cafes and shops, but it has all the Cornish charm that makes for a perfect spot to visit. Make sure to walk the sides streets around the church area to get a feel for what life is like in Cornwall. Gorran Haven has two sandy beaches, one which requires you to walk up the steep main street past the church, along a public footpath towards a set of very narrow steep stairs (it’s well worth the climb/descent). If you fancy a hike, carry on along the coastal path walk to Dodman point, which offers impressive coastal views and is the site to an ancient hill fort. I spent some time on the beach, despite the fact it was raining, before setting off to my next stop of Portloe.

Gorran Haven Cornwall | Solo Travel Cornwall | Visit Cornwall

Portloe is a charming coastal village situated along the Roseland Heritage coast about 25 minutes drive from Gorran Haven. Get ready to navigate your way to this remote village through the network of Cornwall’s narrow country roads (remember passing points are your best friend and make sure to drive slowly as you may well have to reverse if another car or tractor comes your way!). A free public car park can be found just before you enter the village (donations are encouraged for upkeep), and from there I took a short walk down to the quaint harbour area. Much like Gorran Haven, it is nestled in a cove and surrounded by impressive cliff faces. With just a handful of pubs and shops with lots of picturesque cottages, Portloe is an ideal place to relax and soak in the surroundings. Book a spot for lunch at the Lugger Hotel, where you can eat on the terrace overlooking the harbour. I decided to do a short hike along the coast from Portloe, overlooking to impressive black cliff faces of the Roseland Peninsula. You can enjoy a circular hike to nearby Verynan, Nare Head and Pendower beach from Portloe too.

Portloe Cornwall | Solo Travel Cornwall | Visit Cornwall

---

Day 2: Sennen Cove to Lands End and Botallack Tin Mine

I arrived early at a misty Sennen Cove which was the starting point of my 7 mile hike along the impressive Land’s End coastline. I chose to park in Sennen harbour instead of the Lands End visitor centre, mainly to avoid the higher parking fees but also the crowds. The South West Coast Path is easy to follow as you make your way up to the old Sennen coastguard lookout point. Take the walk along the Mayon cliffs towards the Land’s End visitor centre in the distance, making sure to look out for a rusty shipwreck along the way. On a clear day, you will be able to see the Scilly Isles just beyond the Bishop rock lighthouse. As you reach Land’s End, you can stop to get a photo by the famous sign, but be aware that you will have to queue and pay £10 for the privilege. I continued to hike along the coastline towards Nanjizal cove and this offered the most incredible scenery. The towering granite cliffs along Land’s End are spectacular to behold. Every time I reached a cliff summit, I was met with another breathtaking stretch of coastal views. If you want to see the beauty of coastal Cornwall, Land’s End is the place to do it. The coastal path is easy to follow, so a perfect choice for those nervous about hiking solo.

Lands End Cornwall | Solo Travel Cornwall | Visit Cornwall

In the afternoon, I decided to visit the Bottallack tin mine aka Poldark country. Poldark is a novel by Winston Graham, which was brought to life through the popular BBC TV series, and is set in Cornwall. Part of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site, Bottallack offers the most spectacular views of old tin mines set at the foot of towering cliff faces. When I visited, the sea mist began to set in and gave this eery, mysterious feel to the place. I decided to do a short hike towards Cape Cornwall from Bottallack. The hike was challenging in places, with mineshaft warning signs along the way, so make sure to stay on the path! I didn’t make it all the way to Cape Cornwall, but was able to to enjoy the views the headland regardless. There is a small cafe next to the car park if you fancy refreshments after your walk, I certainly needed a nice cup of tea!

Botallack Tine Mine | Solo Travel Cornwall | Visit Cornwall

---

Day 3: Mousehole to Lemorna Cove, St Michaels Mount and Porthleven

Mousehole (pronounced ‘Mawsel’) is a picture perfect fishing village in the south of Cornwall and somewhere I remember loving as a child. It certainly didn’t disappoint, although I would definitely recommend visiting early if you can. Mousehole harbour had to be one of my favourites of all the Cornish fishing villages I visited; its crystal clear waters scattered with little fishing boats surrounded by old quayside cottages looked like something out of fairytale. With a selection of pubs, independent cafes and ice cream shops, Mousehole is a great place to spend a few hours exploring or even stay during a visit. Mousehole also has a great history, including one building I happened across from circa 14th century that survived invasion during the Anglo-Spanish war. From Mousehole, I took the coastal hike to Lamorna Cove. I used the iWalk Cornwall app to guide me and I thoroughly recommend this app to anyone wanting to hike Cornwall with confidence (it even tells you when you are going off route!). The hike itself was the most challenging, quite steep in places and you will need to climb over boulders along the way. But the views of the rugged coast leading up to Lamorna cove were well worth the challenge. Lomorna Cove itself is popular for swimming and scuba diving as the waters are so clear you wouldn’t think you were in the UK. There is one cafe there were you can enjoy a much needed pit stop before heading back across farmland back to Mousehole (watch out for cows though).

Mousehole Cornwall |Solo Travel Cornwall | Visit Cornwall

A short drive took me to Marazion, a popular sandy beach destination and home to St Michael’s mount. This tidal island has a history that dates back to the 14th century and is now home to the St Aubyn family. I have always wanted to walk to manmade causeway that leads to the island, which can only be walked when the tide is out. I arrived in the afternoon and to say it was busy was an understatement. I decided to walk into Marazion town past the main beach to avoid the crowds and managed to enter to the boardwalk from a quieter point. You must book in advance to see the main castle and its grounds, but I decided not to due to coronavirus. Sadly not many people exhibited social distancing on the causeway, so if you are set against coming into close contact with people, I would give this location a miss. Marazion itself is a nice market town, with shops, pubs and cafes open to enjoy and St Michael’s Mount itself is an impressive site to behold. I would very much go again when coronavirus is written into history.

St Michael’s Mount | Solo Travel Cornwall | Visit Cornwall

I spontaneously decided to visit the historic fishing village of Porthleven later in the afternoon, and following the disappointment of Marazion, Porthleven delivered in the best way. Even though it did have plenty of visitors, there was plenty of space to keep socially distanced. Porthleven is the most southernly port in the UK and attracts visitors on rough sea days wanting to catch a glimpse of the waves crashing against the giant sea defences. I visited on a very calm day, with paddleboarders enjoying the low tide at the entrance of the harbour. I meandered my way around the town centre, before finding the Twisted Current, a cosy cafe that offered a gluten free cream tea. I mean when in Cornwall right? Porthleven has a lot of options for places to grab refreshments, as well as gift shops if you are in the hunt for souvenir.

Porthleven Cornwall | Solo Travel Cornwall | Visit Cornwall

---

Day 4: St Ives and Tintagel

I arrived very early in St Ives which is one of the most popular seaside towns in Cornwall. Situated on the north coast, St Ives is a haven of shops, bars and cafes all set along narrow cobbled stone streets. The only places open that early were bakeries selling freshly baked Cornish pasties. St Ives has four beaches and is popular for surfers, especially in the winter months. The harbour area itself is the main focal point of the town, with a lighthouse at the harbour entrance. This is where I saw a seal near by to where people were swimming without a care in the world. St Ives often attracts seals and you can take a boat trip to Seal Island which is home to a colony of grey seals (the boat trips were still running despite coronavirus but must be booked in advance). I’m glad I saw St Ives early as it is a place that remains a tourist hotspot, even with coronavirus. I set off to Tintagel around 9am, which is about a 1 hour 30 minute drive away up the coast.

St Ives Cornwall | Solo Travel Cornwall | Visit Cornwall

Tintagel is set on the north coast of Cornwall and is steeped in history. Built half on the mainland and half on a jagged headland into the Cornish sea, Tintagel Castle is one of the most impressive historical sites in the UK. It is claimed to be the birthplace of King Arthur, with Merlin’s cave set underneath the castle that you can walk to during low tide. The site is operated by English Heritage and you must book in advance to see the castle itself and walk the new Tintagel Castle bridge. I decided to hike along the South West coastal path to take in the spectacular views from Barras Nose right across to Bossiney Cove. The coastline in Tintagel is incredibly dramatic, with crystal blue waters crashing over black jagged rocks. The area is also hotspot for wildlife, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled for native birds, seals and even basking sharks! Tintagel village itself has a selection of shops, cafes and pubs and make sure to stop by the Old Post office, a delightful building with over 600 years of history.

Tintagel Cornwall | Solo Travel Cornwall | Travel Cornwall

---

Thank you so much for reading my blog. I hope it has given you inspiration to either visit Cornwall or plan your own staycation wherever you are in the world. Have you visited Cornwall recently or do you have plans to visit soon? Has coronavirus led you to plan a staycation? Comment and let me know if you have any questions about my four days in Cornwall.

---