At this time of year there is one enigmatic native flower that truly seems to herald the arrival of spring – the bluebell. It can be easy to take this little plant for granted when fortunately they have become such…
‘Pask Lowen!’ or Happy Easter to you. This is always a special time as we see visitors emerge from their winter hibernation, visiting Cornwall in search of Spring sunshine and enjoying some special Easter traditions. Oys Pask (Easter eggs) You…
This ancient building has to be one of the oldest houses in Cornwall and is certainly one of the most distinctive. Its delightfully ramshackle appearance with a marvellously undulating slate roof makes it seem like something out of a Grimm’s…
A wodhes’ta kewsel Kernewik? Try reading this out loud. If your dog gives a friendly bark, then you can be confident they’re from Cornwall. ‘Do you speak Cornish?’ is just one of the many useful phrases found in Anne Cakebread’s…
Every 5th March the people of Cornwall come together to celebrate their patron saint – Saint Piran. There are parades in many of the towns and close to Perranporth hundreds make a pilgrimage out across the dunes of Penhale Sands,…
Concern over pollution on Cornwall’s beaches has long been a public issue thanks to organisations like Surfers Against Sewage. But it’s only relatively recently that people have begun to notice the dangers of plastics. Marine biologist Emily Stevenson, 24, has…
Smuggling was once a popular “pass time” in Cornwall. An adventurous sometimes dangerous way to supplement a meagre income for ordinary folk, particularly during the 18th and 19th centuries. Of course it is impossible to know exactly how many people…
If you visit Padstow over the summer months and spend any time beside the Camel Estuary, there’s a good chance you’ll see a Gig racing team in action. Pilot Gigs, to give the boats their full name, aren’t hard to…
Falmouth harbour, the third deepest natural harbour in the world, is guarded on two headlands by Tudor castles, Pendennis and St Mawes built by Henry VIII but on the eastern side of the mile wide entrance stands the elegant white…
Think about Cornish interiors and you might imagine a kitchen dresser lined with elegant blue and white Cornishware. Possibly you’re dreaming of a Poldark inspired rustic cottage with exposed stone walls, wicker baskets and driftwood decorations galore. Whatever your vision,…