Beautiful Places in Cornwall, England | Cornwall Beauty Spots

There are lots of beautiful places in Cornwall, which is probably why it’s one of our favourite counties in the whole of the UK. 

Devon’s also right up there, which is pretty fortunate considering both counties are right next to each other. Hmm… maybe that calls for an epic road trip between the two? *daydreams wistfully*

But I digress. You’re here to find out what we think are the most beautiful places to visit in Cornwall, right?! Read on for our favourites… we hope you’ll be blown away just like we were!

To help you actually plan your dream trip to Cornwall, we’ve teamed up with Classic Cottages for this blog post. Whenever we show you a pretty place in Cornwall, we’ll also show you a truly beautiful and magical place to stay within each town or area. Most of them are also dog-friendly! 

So, without further adieu, it’s time to start planning an incredible trip to Cornwall!

Beautiful Places in Cornwall | Cornwall Beauty Spots

Tintagel

Of all the beautiful places to visit in Cornwall, Tintagel, a sweet little coastal village in North Cornwall, is perhaps our most favourite.

Mainly because it’s home to legends galore. 

It’s said that the ancient castle atop the cliffs here was where Uther Pendragon, King of Britain and Queen Igerna, wife of Duke Gorlois of Cornwall conceived the infamous King Arthur.

Today, you can wander around the castle ruins and clamber to the very top of the cliffs where you’ll be met with incredible views across the ocean; making Tintagel also one of the most magical places to visit in Cornwall in more ways than one.

The nearby village of Tintagel is also well worth exploring where you’ll find charming pubs and restaurants as well as traditional sweet and fudge shops!

Where to stay in Tintagel

For Tintagel, we’ve chosen to feature Molehill Cottage. This charming little cottage sleeps four and looks so beautiful and cosy inside. There’s even a terrace outside where a summer evening of cocktails and tapas would be just the ticket!

Porthcurno and the Minack Theatre

Up next on this list of Cornwall beauty spots is Porthcurno in southwest Cornwall.

Here, you’ll find a lovely sandy cove, which is sheltered from the wind thanks to the imposing cliffs surrounding it. This also makes it a fantastic place for a dip – when the water isn’t too freezing, of course!

But… the main reason this charming village is on this list is because of Minack Theatre.

This incredible theatre is set right into the cliffs overlooking the sea, so you can enjoy an interesting play or show with the ocean and maybe even stars and moonlight as the backdrop.

Seeing a play here really is something so, so, so special and is well worth making the trip!

Where to stay in Porthcurno

In Porthcurno, we chose to feature Chy Morva as somewhere special to stay. This rural cottage sleeps four, has incredible views and even a wood burner in the living room. It’s also fairly close to Minack Theatre, so it’s in a superb location!

St Ives

You’re probably not surprised to find St Ives, perhaps one of Cornwall’s most popular tourist destinations, on this list of Cornwall beauty spots. But truth be told, it really does belong on this list!

Here, you’ll find a charming (and very active) harbour for plenty of boat watching, several clean sandy beaches and lots of shops that I deem “moochable” (you never know what you might find in them!)

And when you fancy a bit of peace and quiet?

Godrevy, home to another lovely sandy beach, is roughly half an hour away by car and usually doesn’t get as busy as the beaches in St Ives. It’s also a great place to go surfing!

Where to stay in St Ives

St Ives was a tricky one since (as you might expect), the Classic Cottages website has a lot of choice in this area. In the end, we think Porthia Blue looks extra special. This holiday apartment sleeps four, is tastefully decorated and modern inside – and is just 400 yards from the beach at Carbis Bay. But what really sold it for us is the balcony and the truly fabulous views you can enjoy from there.

Discover more beautiful beach-side cottages in Cornwall >>

Mevagissey and The Lost Gardens of Heligan

While Mevagissey, a traditional Cornish harbour along Cornwall’s southern coast, is beautiful in and of itself, it also makes a great base for exploring the local area.

Venture north for just ten minutes by car and you’ll find The Lost Gardens of Heligan. This is a wonderful estate to wander around with a very interesting history.

So the story goes that the gardens date back to 1766 but became neglected and overgrown during the First World War. 

They then lay, lost and forgotten among the overgrowth, until as late as 1990 when the gardens were discovered again.

And thus began a full-scale renovation project, which spanned an entire decade, to restore the gardens to their former glory.

Today, the gardens are beautiful and feel supremely magical to wander around thanks to the mysterious statues that peek out from behind bushes, moss, and overgrowth.

You can also easily visit Eden Project as a day trip from Mevagissey as it’s roughly a half-hour drive away. Here, you’ll find eco-biomes where you can experience rainforest conditions, Mediterranean temperatures and all of the tropical flora and fauna that come with these kinds of climates.

Where to stay in Mevagissey

When staying in Mevagissey, we think it’s a must to be close to the harbour and coastal views. Oyster Cottage, a charming cottage complete with a private garden, is just a three-minute walk from Mevagissey’s harbour. It comfortably sleeps six and looks like such a peaceful Cornish retreat!

Marazion and St Michael’s Mount

Up next on this list of beautiful places in Cornwall is Marazion in southwest Cornwall.

Here, you’ll be greeted by a charming town and a wide sandy beach. But the crowning jewel is St Michael’s Mount.

When the tide is out, you can walk across a pathway across the channel to experience the interesting little community that perches atop the mount at sea. 

Just don’t forget to keep an eye on tidal times, so you know when to wander back to Marazion – or you could find yourself sleeping on this little island!

Where to stay in Marazion

How would you like to see stunning views of St Michael’s Mount from your very own terrace or balcony? Sounds like a dream, right? Well, you can do just that when staying at Credo Cottage in Marazion! This cosy cottage sleeps two and has some of the most amazing coastal views you can imagine.

Mousehole

Mousehole, also in southwest Cornwall, is another charming traditional Cornish village, complete with an active fishing harbour.

A trip here surely involves boat watching with fish and chips, but you can also join tours and hop aboard a working fishing boat!

Another of Mousehole’s draws is that Penzance, an old market town roughly four miles north is a fantastic day trip. Here, you’ll find various shops, galleries, museums, gardens and more to explore.

Where to stay in Mousehole

Private garden? Your very own hot tub? Yes please, I hear you cry! Choose to stay at Beechwood in Mousehole and you really will feel like you’re “getting away from it all”. Mousehole’s harbour is just a short walk down a hill, while this cosy cottage looks like the perfect escape.

Sennen Cove and Land’s End

Land’s End – quite literally at the end of Cornwall’s peninsular – is infamous because it’s England’s most westerly point and part of the John O’Groats Trail.

That aside, the views from here are simply stunning. And when you combine this with a coastal walk between Sennen Cove and Land’s End, you’ll have the most charming afternoon. 

You may even stumble across an art gallery along this walk (if it’s still there!) I once picked up a beautiful print of a stormy sea scene from there.

Sennen Cove itself is home to a sandy beach and sheltered cove, which is simply lovely.

Where to stay in Sennen

Unparalleled coastal views and an oh-so-charming Cornish getaway await you at Oystercatcher in Sennen. This holiday cottage sleeps five, overlooks the Atlantic Ocean (you can even see incredible sea views from the living room!) and is just mere steps from Sennen Cove. Perfect!

Perranporth

Ahh, Perranporth… one of the first places I ever visited in Cornwall – and still one of my favourites today!

Here, you’ll find a large sandy beach, which is not only great for relaxing on but is also home to some fantastic bodyboarding and surfing conditions.

This beach is also one of the more dog-friendly ones we’ve come across.

Don’t forget to also check out the views from the tops of the cliffs nearby – a must when by the sea but especially when in Perranporth!

Where to stay in Perranporth

When looking for places to stay in Perranporth, we couldn’t resist featuring The Little Homestead. This cosy little hideout sleeps just two, is dog friendly and looks like such a charming little place to stay to get away from it all.

Bude

And finally, Bude in North Cornwall is probably not as well known as some of the other places on this list, but we felt like it deserved a spot!

Why? 

Because there are various charming beaches throughout this area including a large sandy beach near the town, it’s relatively dog-friendly (even in summer) and there are also lots of charming restaurants you can eat at where you’ll also have wonderful seaside views as your backdrop. (Most of these are also dog-friendly!)

Where to stay in Bude

Near Bude, we like the look of Puffin’s Nest. This charming cottage has a brick fireplace and wood burner in the living room, a sweet little garden and a modern kitchen. This cottage is a mile or so north of Bude and is set within the delightful village of Poughill. It even overlooks the local village church, which just looks so special for a home away from home.

Cornwall Bucket List: Even More Beautiful Places in Cornwall

Looking for even more beautiful places in Cornwall? Here are a few more ideas of places to check out (some we’ve been to; others that are also still on our own Cornwall bucket list!)

• Kynance Cove: A truly spectacular sandy beach found along the Lizard Peninsular and where the TV series, Poldark was filmed. Being here on a sunny day will almost make you forget you’re still in the UK!
• Mount Edgcumbe: Nicknamed “The Forgotten Corner of Cornwall” where you can visit a country estate once frequented by Henry VIII. It’s also a fantastic day trip from Plymouth in Devon.
• Charlestown: Home to a Grade II listed harbour and was also a principal filming location for the Poldark TV series.
• Port Isaac: Another quaint fishing village; this time in North Cornwall. It was also where Doc Martin starring Martin Clunes was filmed.
• Polperro: Another of the most picturesque places in Cornwall and home to yet another traditional Cornish village and fishing harbour.
• Trelissick Garden: Found near Truro (Cornwall’s one and only city) and where a large estate and pretty gardens warrant a relaxing stroll.

Want to make your trip to Cornwall a reality? Check out our 3-day road trip itinerary or this 5 day Cornwall itinerary!

And don’t forget to take a look at the Classic Cottages website to find even more beautiful and unique places to stay throughout Cornwall and beyond!

Over to you now – where do you think is the most beautiful place in Cornwall? Let us know in the comments section below.

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