Cornwall is renowned for its rugged coastline, golden sands and turquoise waters. With many famous landmarks like Tintagel, Lands End and St Michael’s Mount, it’s easy to favour big tourist attractions and overlook some hidden gems in Cornwall.
Here are 5 hidden beautiful locations in Cornwall you should visit.
Nanjizal
Just south of Lands End, you’ll find one of the most beautiful locations in Cornwall, the secluded Nanjizal beach, famous for its sea cave ‘the song of the sea’. Here you can expect to find crystal turquoise waters and impressive rock formations. Within the cave you’ll find some rock pools, and to the North the distinctive rock known as ‘diamond horse’.
Continuing North on the coast path you can visit the beautiful Porthcurno beach and get a glimpse of the Minack Theatre.
The Helford- Frenchman’s Creek
If looking for a delightful walk, then The Helford Passage is a must. Located between Falmouth, one of the top Cornish towns to visit, and the Lizard Peninsula, lies a picturesque estuary with sweeping views of the Helford River. Walking across the vast meadows, you feel as if you could just as easily be on the French Riviera with pretty white houses, colourful boats and bright blue water.
As you walk towards the famous Ferry Boat Inn, you’ll walk past Trebah and Glendurgan Gardens, with Trebah hailed as one of the most beautiful locations in Cornwall. Stop for a pint at the Ferry Boat and take the small ferry across to Helford village where Frenchman’s Creek is located.
A walk through woodland and farmland takes you to the famous Frenchman’s Creek, the location of Daphne Du Maurier’s novel of the same name. Walk the circular route through Frenchman’s Creek back to Helford village and perhaps grab a spot of lunch at the pub there.
Holywell Cave and Holywell beach
Nestled on the North coast of Cornwall is Holywell beach, a vast white sandy beach backed by large sand dunes and with rugged twin rock formations called Gull Rocks. Hollywell is one of the most beautiful locations in Cornwall and is a very popular surf spot as well as being a filming location for BBC’s Poldark.
Underneath the cliffs on the north side of the beach is Cuthberts Cave- or holy well cave. The cave contains unusual rock formations and is said to have contained a sacred well with healing properties. Be careful to check the tide times before entering the cave so you aren’t cut off from the main beach.
Not far from Hollywell you’ll find Newquay and Perrenporth, two of the top Cornish towns to visit with some fantastic places to eat and drink.
Kennal Vale
Once a gunpowder factory, producing gunpowder for the mining industry, Kennal Vale in Ponsanooth is now a dense woodland with waterfalls and babbling brooks. Amongst the dense trees you’ll find the remnants of the gunpowder factory that once stood there. Now the land has been taken over by the Cornwall wildlife trust and is home to some rare species of bats and birds.
It’s also said to be haunted with some people reporting strange effects on photos taken and the sound of explosions or disembodied voices heard with no explanation.
Kennal vale is a hidden gem in Cornwall steeped in history and a great place for an interesting dog walk.
Golitha Falls
In the north of Cornwall near Bodmin Moor you’ll find Golitha Falls, a section of the River Fowey that cascades into waterfalls and is a natural nature reserve and home to over 150 species of moss. Set within Draynes Wood, in April you can find the woodland covered in beautiful native bluebells. It’s the perfect place to take a dog walk, where you can escape the crowds and feel fully surrounded by nature.
What to see in Cornwall:
Those are just some of the many hidden gems in Cornwall. A few other suggestions of beautiful locations to visit:
- St Ives
- Minack Theatre
- Seal Island
- The Camel Valley Trail
- St Michaels Mount
- The Lost Gardens of Heligan
- Trebah Garden
At Cornish Riviera Holidays we can help you find the perfect accommodation for your Cornish getaway. All our properties are fully furnished and self-catering with all the amenities you could possibly need located in St Ives, one of the top Cornish towns to visit.
