10 Hidden Gems in Cornwall
10 Hidden Places in Cornwall You Need to Visit with guest blogger, ‘The Cornish Bird’
The mission brief from Toad Hall Cottages HQ was as follows: Find our guests ten hidden gems in the ancient county of Cornwall, places far from the madding crowd and off the beaten track, only the most secret locations will do.
Who better to help Mr Toad with his latest undertaking than Elizabeth Dale, more widely known by her blogging handle, The Cornish Bird. Elizabeth loves nothing more than exploring the far-flung wilds of Cornwall and sharing her experiences with her many avid followers. Imagine our delight when she agreed to be our guest blogger and reveal ten of her lesser-known Cornish gems.
The Cornish Bird’s top ten hidden gems in Cornwall…
‘From legendary castles and ancient stone circles to towering cliffs and bustling harbours, Cornwall really does have so much to offer. But what if you want to escape those summer crowds and really get off the beaten track? Here is my little guide to just a few of Cornwall’s hidden treasures. Captivating places that offer wonderful walking opportunities, stunning views and the chance to get up close to Cornwall’s diverse and fascinating heritage. I hope that these carefully chosen places will inspire Toad Hall Cottages’ Kernow-bound guests to grab a map and just get out there and explore.’ – Elizabeth Dale, ‘The Cornish Bird’
Hell’s Mouth, Godrevy Heritage Coast
This dramatic tear in the cliffs of Cornwall’s north coast makes a heart-stopping destination for those with a good head for heights. Here you can stand on the edge of the gaping Hell’s Mouth, a 300ft sheer drop, to gaze at the waves below. The cove is not far from the picturesque Godrevy Lighthouse and the sweep of St Ives Bay. Expect breath-taking views, swooping seabirds and the possibility of seal watching too. There is excellent walking here with stunning coastal views for those looking for some of Cornwall’s real untamed beauty.
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Halliggye Fogou, Trelowarren Estate
Fogous (pronounced foogoos) are subterranean tunnels unique to Cornwall. The word fogou, in Cornish, literally means ‘cave’, but why these man-made structures were built remains a mystery. The Halliggye Fogou is owned by English Heritage and is easy to find on the Trelowarren Estate, making for a rather unusual and mysterious pit stop while en route to one of the area’s quintessential fishing villages or the magnificent Lizard Point. Constructed about 2400 years ago, the Halliggye Fogou consists of a long narrow passageway, with other smaller tunnels leading off. It is a fascinating, if not haunting, place to visit. Best bring a torch!
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Portwrinkle & Finnygook Beach, Whitsand Bay
Free-trading, or smuggling as it is more commonly known, was once rife in Cornwall and considered by many to be an honourable profession. The numerous caves and inlets of our coastline offered ample opportunity for dark deeds to go undetected. Portwrinkle is an exquisite little cove much less well known than its near neighbour Polperro. It’s the place where infamous smugglers Silas Finn and Amram Hooper were once caught ‘red-handed’ with a cargo of brandy, tea and tobacco. Finn’s restless ghost is said to still haunt the cliff tops above the quiet beach that took his name – Finnygook.
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Trethevy Quoit, Parish of St Cleer
This truly impressive tomb towers above you as you enter the small meadow where it stands close to Bodmin Moor. Not far from the little moorland village of St Cleer, the quoit (once known as the Giant’s House) is a spectacular example of an early Neolithic dolman or burial chamber. Five massive granite slabs support a huge capstone; note the hole in one corner that some have suggested was used to observe the heavens. This much-cherished site makes for a fab picnic spot and is a great start to your adventures on Bodmin Moor!
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Men-an-Tol and Penwith
There is no other site in Cornwall, indeed anywhere in the south west, quite like Men-an-Tol. Believed to date back as far as the Bronze Age, the true purpose behind these huge standing stones remains unclear. In more recent times it was thought that passing through the middle-standing holed stone could cure rickets, back pain and tuberculosis. Like many of Cornwall’s ancient stones, Men-an-Tol has strong connections with fertility myths: it was once supposed that should a woman pass through the donut-shaped stone seven times in the light of a full moon, she would fall pregnant. You have been warned! The whole of the Penwith Heritage Coast is teeming with history and mysterious places. The area has an ancient, isolated feel and is perfect for exploring on foot.
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Nare Head and the Veryan Round Houses
The secluded Roseland Peninsula remains remarkably absent from most visitor’s itineraries. This rural region, still devoted to farming and fishing, offers some amazing hidden beaches, excellent coastal walking and quaint villages. Nare Head is one of my favourite spots; a dramatic headland jutting out into Gerrans Bay offering stunning panoramic views. It is also close to the wide stretch of fine sand known as Carne Beach. The village of Veryan is famous for its unusual round houses which are dotted about the village. The five 18th century cottages are said to have been the work of Jeremiah Trist, Veryan’s vicar, who built one for each of his five daughters. According to local folklore, the houses are round so that there are no corners for the devil to hide in.
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The Stripple Stones, Bodmin Moor
This atmospheric stone circle is roughly 3000 years old and stands high on Bodmin Moor in the shadow of Hawk’s Tor. It is a magical and secret place to visit, reward enough for the efforts taken to find it. Access to this site has only recently been granted as it stands on private land, but conservation efforts by English Heritage have seen this place transformed with many of the circle’s stones re-erected. The Stripple Stones circle is particularly special as it is one of just three in Cornwall which stands on a raised henge. You will also find the Trippet Stone Circle less than a mile away, so two for one!
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St Agnes Beacon
Epic views, Bronze Age remains, abandoned mines, ghost stories and legends of giants – what more could you want from this Cornish hill? The view from St Agnes Beacon in north Cornwall is one of the most extensive in Cornwall stretching 30 miles out to sea on a clear day and as far as the white peaks of St Austell, roughly another 30 miles in the opposite direction. These heathered uplands were once part of the chain of beacons that crossed the county, lit in times of peril or celebration. It was also the supposed foothold of the famous giant Bolster and the haunt of a ghost called Dorcas. The keen-eyed will also spot the remains of the 4000-year-old Bronze Age burial ground near the summit. Despite its height, it is actually quite an easy walk to the top from the roadside parking.
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Strangles Beach, near Bude
The climb down to this beach is not for the faint-hearted, and the walk back up also requires a certain amount of effort (and a few pauses to admire the view!), but believe me, the time spent watching the waves roll in on this isolated beach is all the reward you will need. Strangles Beach is on Cornwall’s wild north coast near some of the region’s highest cliffs. The coast here has some truly staggering geology; cliffs tumble in folds of different coloured rocks, there are rock arches and numerous caves, and the beach is full of monochrome sea-smoothed pebbles that look like giant boiled sweets. This is not really a swimmers’ beach unless you are really confident, but the coast here has some of Cornwall’s most rewarding walking and is full of tales of shipwrecks and smuggling.
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Logan Rock and Treen Castle, near Porthcurno Beach
Treen Castle, also known as Treryn Dinas, is an Iron Age fortification on the cliffs high above Porthcurno Beach. Balancing above the earthworks on a rocky outcrop you can also see Logan Rock, an 80-ton lump of stone that was once a famous local attraction, drawing visitors from far and wide. The stone was on such a perfect, natural pivot that it could be rocked with the smallest effort. Sadly, in 1824, a certain Lt Goldsmith and some of his men decided to tip the rock off its position for a bet. There was a huge local outcry and Goldsmith had to pay for the rock to be replaced but it was never the same again. The coast here is particularly spectacular, with Porthcurno and the Minack Theatre close by.
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Smuggle yourselves away to the ancient county of Cornwall when you book a stay with Toad Hall Cottages. Take your pick from our long list of Cornish holiday properties found tucked away in spectacular locations.