Exploring Cornwall

We spent our first week in the United Kingdom in Cornwall, the south-west tip of England. The Cornish area has plenty to offer within an hour drive- from sleepy towns abundant with stone cottages and castles, to endless valleys of green farmland, and bustling beach towns like Newquay and St. Ives.

Newquay

The beach town where Shaun's surf contest was held (at Fistral Beach). Insanely popular with beach-goers and fellow tourists, leading to packed streets and packed beaches. The Headland Hotel (first photo below) is a highlight, peering over the surf.  

Charlestown Harbour

Just outside of St. Austell, this 1790's picturesque harbor has been included in films like Pirates of the Caribbean. However, the town includes tiny, tiny lanes that Shaun did not enjoy driving through in our stick-shift rental car!  

Truro Cathedral

Built in 1880 in the capital of Cornwall, this beautiful cathedral acts as center stage for the cute cobblestone town.  

Falmouth

A seaside fortress built in the 1500's lines the peninsula outside Falmouth, while the city center is adjacent to the harbor with dozens and ocean view pubs to choose from.  

St. Ives

The southwestern-most tip of Cornwall resembled the Mediterranean with 10x warmer climate than the rest of the region. The beaches show extreme tides, completely bottoming-out the anchored boats in the harbor. Dozens (if not 100+) ice cream shops and fish'n'chips takeaways fill the lively city's cobblestone one-ways.