It is a question that the locals are often asked, and the problem is that everyone will have their own opinion and often they are quite contradictory! So, which time of year should you come? What can you expect from each season? Well, here are a few clues as to what winter, spring, summer and autumn has to offer in Cornwall . . .
Winter
There is a saying in Cornwall that if you can survive three winters here you will probably stay forever. Well, that might be a little extreme, but it is true is that Cornwall is a VERY different place at this time of year. Challenging some might say but a very special place in so many ways!
Gone are the golden summer evenings, the brilliant bright blue-sky days but gone are the crowds too. The days might be shorter and the weather wetter and wilder, but for many this is when the true elemental Cornwall comes into its own. There is something truly inspiring and grounding about standing on a cliff-top watching the waves crash in, with the salt spray stinging your face (as long as you have the right clothes on).
Hunkering down in a cosy pub beside a fire, walking along empty beaches or taking part in a local winter tradition such as Montol or Tom Bawcock’s Eve are experiences that you can’t get anywhere else at any other time of the year!
Spring
Spring is a joyous and celebratory time on Cornwall! Cold crisp mornings and hazy days beginning to lengthen, when you can literally sit and watch the countryside coming back to life. There are numerous local traditions to enjoy at this time too, all of them relating to the return of the sun and the burgeoning new growth all around – Padstow May Day with its world-famous Oss and Helston Flora Day are two of the best known but there are little festivals everywhere!
The Bluebell Festival at Enys Gardens is an incredible, indigo feast for your eyes! While the jolly din of the Penzance May Horns or the magical Bolster Festival in St Agnes are uniquely Cornish and very entertaining! Spring in Cornwall is a time for woodland walks and celebrating the joys of life!
Summer
There is nothing quite as wonderful as summer in Cornwall. This is when the coast really comes into its own. Miles of stunning walks along what many believe is some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. Lazy beach days and sea swimming in crystal clear waters. As the visitors return the towns and villages spring into life too with pop-up eateries and music festivals.
There are still plenty of pockets of peace to be found for those who wander off the beaten track. Take a breath, enjoy those golden evenings where the warmth lingers in the stones and the sunsets are technicoloured!
Autumn
Don’t tell anyone, but autumn is many Cornish people’s favourite time of the year! The weather can still be warm and dry, the days are not too short yet and much of the craziness of summer has abated. It is a really wonderful time to visit!
The sea has been warming all summer and so autumn is often the best time for a sea swim and for taking a dip in one of the old miner’s pools is a magical experience. Autumn is also the breeding time for the seals in Cornwall, so this is a great opportunity to see them resting on the beaches and in quiet coves along the coast. This is also the premium time for birdwatching too with many species making their way southward and pausing for a rest in one of the many reserves in the region – there are often sightings of rare visitors – the feathered kind that is!
But of course, one of the greatest pleasures of this season is watching the trees change colour and autumn comes late in the mild Cornish climate. There a many enchanting woodland walks to enjoy those vibrant autumnal colours as we creep back towards winter.
So, when is the best time to visit Cornwall? All the year round obviously!