Great Photo Locations During a Cornwall Holiday

By Dave Kingsley

Cornwall is well known for its amazing scenery whether it is the stunning coastal views or the abundance of attractive countryside. I have several friends that are spending more and more time exploring the UK with their cameras in their spare time and Cornwall keeps cropping up as a top location. Here are some locations in Cornwall that you should visit with your camera.

Marazion: Marazion in Cornwall is a hugely popular destination for photographers who want to photograph one of Cornwall's most famous landmarks, St Michael's Mount. The island is linked to the land when the tide ebbs and is an amazing photography spot. Its castle is a good focal point for many images from a wide range of locations in the bay.

St Ives: St Ives is strongly linked to its history as a working fishing harbour and a great location for any holiday. The harbour town is a treat for photographers offering a wide selection of photography options including an extremely picturesque harbour and several sandy beaches. St Ives is well known for its high quality of light which makes for great photos and artwork, the town has inspired many artists in the past and even has its own Tate gallery. There are plenty of species of birds in the area that can prove popular for bird photographers too.

Bodmin Moor: Bodmin Moor is a great spot for the more traditional landscape photographers who don't want to focus on the coastlines of Cornwall in their images. Photography options on the moor include stone formations, and views from the Tors of the expansive landscape below. The moors are great for exploring to find whatever type of photo you prefer, some people prefer photos of lone trees in a barren setting while others like to photograph views of rivers winding through the valleys. Bodmin Moor has plenty to offer whatever your tastes.

The Southwest Coastal Path: Sometimes it is nicer just to explore and see what views greet you. The South West Coastal path spans the entire Cornish coastline and beyond. Choosing a section to walk on or to cycle can be a great way to see a wealth of views. The only downside (and upside) is that you never know what view will greet you around the next corner. If you like photographing Cornall's famously rugged coastline the coastal path is going to be one of your best bets. The added bonus of access to such a vast amount of coastline means that you can find places to capture your own unique perspective.

Wherever you choose to visit in Cornwall with your camera during your holiday, you are sure to have a great time and want to go back.

Powells Cottage Holidays offer a wide choice of Cornwall Cottages that are perfect for your photography holidays including St Ives Cottages and more.

Castles in Cornwall

By Thomas G. Craven

There are quite a lot of castles within the boundaries of what is modern-day Cornwall. Much of the reason for this is geography - Cornwall has a lot of coastline (just short of 300 miles) and this means potential avenues of attach from the sea. This meant a lot of coastal defences have been put in place over the years. The south coast of Cornwall faces the English Channel and attacks from Europe; the north coast faces the Atlantic and invasions across the Irish Sea.

Not all of the castles in Cornwall are coastal however, there are a few (generally older castles) that are built to protect different aspects. These include Norman installations to protect river crossings and Iron Age hill forts to protect the population and act as a defensive refuge, which are generally found on hill top locations.

Because the wealth of Cornwall has never really been in agricultural land, there are not as many Norman castles as some other areas of the country because that was the primary driver for installing these defences.

St Mawes Castle
St Mawes sits on the north east side of the Carrick Roads, partnering Pendennis castle on the opposite side. It is a clover leaf shape and was built by Henry VIII as part of the coastal defences aimed at preventing attack from France and Spain.

Carn Brea Castle
Carn Brea was built in the 14th century, although the hill top site near Redruth has been occupied since about 3700BC. The current building is a stone twin towered fortress, probably originally a chapel or hunting lodge. It has been altered and extended over the intervening years.

St Michael's Mount
Located in Mount's Bay and owned by the National Trust, St Michael's Mount is probably Cornwall's best known landmark. The castle sits atop a small island that is accessible by causeway at low tide. Originally a religious site it was held defensively several times before becoming a true castle when Henry VIII seized it as a result of the dissolution of the monasteries.

Tintagel Castle
The castle at Tintagel is probably best known for its link with the Arthurian legend as the birthplace of King Arthur. However, the current castle at the site near Camelford is the remains of a fortress built by the Earls of Cornwall, started by Reginald in 1145 and expanded in the 13th century.

Launceston Castle
The castle is located to protect the Tamar River crossing, and there has been defensive structures here since medieval times. The stonework you see today is mostly 13th century, built by Richard, Earl of Cornwall (who was also responsible for the expansion of Tintagel).

Pendennis Castle
Situated on Pendennis Point, this castle guards the Falmouth bank of the Carrick Roads and the entrance into Falmouth Harbour. As with St Mawes it was constructed around 1540-45 by Henry VIII as part of a chain of defences along the south coast of England.

Restormel Castle
Situated near St Austell, Restormel Castle was originally a Normal fortification, and it's beautiful round shape is a reflection of that, although the current stone walls were again a later addition of the 13th century.

St Catherine's Castle
Located at Fowey, St Catherine's was built to defend the harbour and was a part of the south coast castle chain commissioned by Henry VIII. It's a small artillery fort, now in ruins, and is located on the tip of a rock headland.

Chun Castle
An Iron Age hill fort originally created between 3000 and 2000 BC, it is notable because it is made of two concentric rings of the native granite rock. The occupation of this site near Penzance in west Cornwall, goes from this period through the Roman occupation of Britain into the Dark Ages.

This is not an exhaustive list of the castles of Cornwall, more minor or iron age remains can be seen at Bossiney Castle, Bottreaux Castle, Caerhays Castle, Cradinham Castle, Castle Dore, and the castles of Helston, Maen, Pengersick and Tremanton.

Thomas Craven is a freelance writer in the travel sector. He is currently writing for hotels in Cornwall on a range of Cornish subjects.

Have a Brilliant Seaside Break in a Bude Holiday Cottage

By Dipika Patel

The seaside resort town of Bude is a brilliant place to spend a break by the water - and you're sure to have a fabulous time no matter when you choose to travel.

With a spectacular coastline, friendly locals and plenty of things to see and do, you'll find that Bude is the perfect place to take a relaxing UK break.

If you're looking for a great holiday on the water, Bude has plenty to offer visitors. There are two lovely beaches with wide stretches of sand located right in the town itself - Summerleaze and Crooklets - and you'll be able to explore the surrounding areas from your base in north Cornwall cottages.

The National Trust-run Sandymouth beach boasts a striking coastline with dramatic cliffs, while the nearby Widemouth Bay is home to a fine surfing school.

In fact, if you are planning to take to the water during your time in Bude, Widemouth Bay is a brilliant place to base yourself. When conditions are right, the west-facing seafront is an ideal spot to go surfing - and if you are looking for lessons, you'll find that the local leisure facilities specialise in beginner and intermediate tuition.

All the gear is provided - including full-length winter and summer wetsuits, warm boots, hats and gloves in the colder months and the latest state-of-the-art equipment from California - all you need to bring to your two-hour lesson is a sense of adventure!

Elsewhere on the coastline, you may wish to head out on a relaxing seaside stroll, go for a summer swim or build a sandcastle with the kids - there's nothing more enjoyable than spending a holiday relaxing by the water.

In the town of Bude itself, there are plenty of character-filled streets to explore, as well as numerous fine restaurants and welcoming pubs. Tourism is Bude's primary industry and you will find you are welcomed warmly everywhere you visit.

The town's rich history is evident everywhere - some of its buildings date back to the 16th and 17th centuries. You'll find the town is small enough to explore on foot and there are numerous local shops to discover.

While there are a handful of high street names in Bude, the best shops are the family-run establishments and you'll love getting to know the friendly locals as you make your way through the town.

No matter what time of year you choose to visit, you're sure to have a brilliant time by the seaside in Bude. Start planning your north Cornwall cottage stay today.

If you're looking for cottages to rent in Cornwall, Corncott can help you find the perfect accommodation. North Cornwall cottages are great places to stay year-round - whether you're looking for a romantic holiday cottages in Bude for two or a place for a large group to stay, Corncott is sure to find something to suit your needs.

Park Holidays - Holiday Deals

Camping Holidays in Cornwall

By Andrew T

In the days of very expensive international holidays, it is refreshing to note that families can still enjoy a great holiday in Cornwall at a reasonable cost. Cornwall is the most southerly county in England with beautiful countryside and variety camping parks to cater for all. The cost of a camping holiday is considerably much less than an all inclusive international holiday where you have to pay for flights as well as other additional items, and also much cheaper the a UK holiday in a hotel or holiday cottage.

Camping is a great way to bring the family together, from pitching the tent, or setting up the caravan to organizing days out, each family member can become involved. Cornwall is a quiet place, but during peak summer weeks can become busy, so it is advisable to book your camping holiday in advance, especially if you have a preferred campsite and camping pitch.

Most families who go camping for the first time, or are new to camping would be well advised to research on the internet, search for phrases like "holiday parks in Cornwall", "camping in Cornwall", "caravan holidays in Cornwall", when you find a campsite request brochures and call the campsite owners.

Depending on what you are after, tailor you search, some campsites have fishing lakes, so search for "fishing holidays in Cornwall", if you don't own a tent, some sites offer pre-erected tents which come with beds, cookers, tables etc. These are called "Eurotents", so a search for "eurotents in Cornwall" should help you find campsites that offer these.

Each campsite differs with their rules and regulations. If you don't have a pet, you may wish to opt for a "no pet park", likewise if you are after a quite friendly park you may wish to check the campsite does not take groups, as ones which do could lead to a less-relaxing holiday.

Cornwall is great for a camping holiday, the county benefits from sandy beaches, great coastline walks and views, historic places, old villages, country pubs, shopping and more. Visitors can go to stunning gardens that are situated all around Cornwall and tourist attractions that cannot be missed, including the Eden Garden project and Flambards. So don't be disappointed, search now a book your camping holiday in Cornwall.

Perran Springs: great family camping holidays in Cornwall.
http://www.perransprings.co.uk