Where to vacation in Cornwall?

I lived in Newquay for a year and in the summer it was so lovely. The beaches were amazing, but the town itself? Ehh -- and it gets really really crowded.

I'd agree about Newquay. It's not where I'd choose to go in the summer, or even on weekend nights any time of the year. Way too many people ... and too many young and drunk people. Blech.

I got to Cornwall a lot and will be moving there soon! (I'm heading to west Penwith, Andee - and I have to agree that it's the best part of the county!)

Ooooo--lucky you I'm jealous!

I lived in Cornwall for about 6 or 7 years in the 1980s, midway between Truro and Redruth.

The seal sanctuary at Gweek has already been mentioned.  The roads all around the Helford River in that area are worth a drive just for the scenery.  Sometimes on my way home from work I'd detour to take some of that route just for a change.

It's 20 years since I was last there, but even then Newquay was something of a mixed blessing, often overcrowded in summer and best avoided on bank holidays.  Like many British seaside towns though, parts of it become almost a ghost town in winter. 

For beaches and the usual seaside fare, there are a lot of much nicer, smaller towns along the north coast.  Porthtowan was a favorite for me, as it had a nice beach and was close by.

http://www.cornwall-online.co.uk/carrick/porthtow.htm

If you're interested in communications, you could also head down the Lizard Peninsula to the Goonhilly Satellite Station.  When I worked there it was much smaller and pretty much just a "regular" BT installation, but they run all sorts of guided tours and events now.    While down that way its only a few more miles to Lizard Point, which doesn't really have much there, but you can claim to have visited the most southerly point in England!

http://www.goonhilly.bt.com/

Tin mining was a big Cornish industry at one time.   You can take a tour of the old underground mine workings at Wendron, a few miles outside of Helston:

http://www.poldark-mine.co.uk/

If you'd rather stay above ground, there are places like the Lappa Valley narrow-gauge railway to enjoy the countryside:

http://www.lappavalley.co.uk/

Torquay is South Devon.

Tavistock's in Devon too - it's where I was born.

Sad to say, though I may live in north Cornwall I've hardly had the chance to do any touristy stuff or take Hubs much of anywhere though he did thoroughly enjoy visiting Truro, (had to go down to the DVLA office there to get his provisional sorted) and would like to go back there again.

There is definitely a lot to do and see down here - I hope you enjoy your trip, no matter where you go.

One of my favourite places is Port Isaac, its the place where Doc Martin is filmed....beautiful village!

How about weather-wise: Is March a good time to visit Cornwall or is best to wait a bit?  How many days would you recommend staying there? 

How about weather-wise: Is March a good time to visit Cornwall or is best to wait a bit?  How many days would you recommend staying there? 

It's like anywhere in the UK. March can be hit or miss. You could be lucky and get some gorgeous spring weather, or it could rain the whole time.

How many days? I suppose it depends on what you want to do. You could just hit one area and stay for a weekend. Or you could move around a bit, staying for a whole week or even longer.

It's like anywhere in the UK. March can be hit or miss. You could be lucky and get some gorgeous spring weather, or it could rain the whole time.

How many days? I suppose it depends on what you want to do. You could just hit one area and stay for a weekend. Or you could move around a bit, staying for a whole week or even longer.

Thanks Chary.  Thinking of a long weekend...maybe 3-4 days?

I'd agree about Newquay. It's not where I'd choose to go in the summer, or even on weekend nights any time of the year. Way too many people ... and too many young and drunk people. Blech.

Hey, there's two Mexican restaurants there!!! (Keeping on the where to eat mexican theme..)

I wouldnt recommend Newquay either but then i'm forced to visit several times a year for family commitments. (I made it very clear that I would never welcome living in Newquay - nor Cornwall for that matter - but then I need to be close to London...) But Cornwall is a fab place to holiday in and explore.

Hey, there's two Mexican restaurants there!!! (Keeping on the where to eat mexican theme..)

Yes, and at least one of them is excellent. If only I could remember the name.

NM, just asked DH. It's called Mexican Cantina and their fajitas are soooo good. Unfortunatly that's the only thing I tried there cause we didn't get around to going until our very last night there.

Are there nice beaches down around St Austell? Is the south coast pretty beachy, or is the north coast better for that kind of thing?

Is the south coast pretty beachy, or is the north coast better for that kind of thing?

Both!

Are there nice beaches down around St Austell?

St. Austell isn't too far from Polkerris, which has a lovely beach. Steer clear of Carlyon Bay - far too developed. You can see a list of beaches near St. Austell here.

St. Austell itself, however, is pretty awful. I'd have to say it might be my least-favourite town in Cornwall. It was bombed during the war so the buildings have no character whatsoever. In addition, the way the town has chosen to develop in recent years has been disastrous.

We were in Cornwall last week, and Porthcurno Beach (where the Minack Theater is, down near Land's End) is the nicest one I've been to in the UK so far.  Amazing scenery, clear water (didn't go in as it was still pretty cold) and nice sand.  As a bonus, just inland is a little hut where all the transatlantic cables come (or came; I didn't go to the museum to get the full history) into the UK, which I found fascinating in a very geeky way.

I can also recommend the area around Rock and Padstow, which is up the northern coast a bit.  Lots of nice beachy areas.

Porthcurno Beach (where the Minack Theater is, down near Land's End) is the nicest one I've been to in the UK so far.

Plus there's the Minack itself!!!