Cornwall is the perfect destination for a romantic break or even a honeymoon. A spectacular coastline with mile upon mile of beautiful beaches is complemented by rich countryside, exotic gardens, and pretty villages. Here is our perfect recipe for a romantic break, a very special ‘pop the question’ weekend, or even a memorable honeymoon.
Choose your holiday home
You will be spoilt for choice when it comes to picking a hidden bolthole or granite hideaway with spectacular and dramatic views. Cornwall is brimming with pretty holiday cottages & homes (Cornish Secrets has an excellent selection), barn conversions, contemporary studios, and fisherman’s retreats, haylofts on the farm, net lofts down by the harbor with charm, tradition and a warm Cornish welcome with attention down to the very last detail. Choose a village location, or why not opt for am idyllic harbourside view? Tuck yourself away in a remote cove or a lush wooded valley on a working farm, there are literally hundreds of traditional and contemporary homes to choose from to suit every preference and budget.
Time well spent
While away, your time is walking on the beach, swimming, or enjoying the coastal footpath, around 400 miles to keep you occupied with some of the most stunning views in the UK. Follow in the footsteps of that most famous of authors, Thomas Hardy, and take a romantic and literary walk from Boscastle to Valency Valley and Fire Beacon Point enjoying stunning views of Boscastle Harbour and the remote church of St. Juliot. The church was restored by Thomas Hardy, who was an architect by day. Hardy met his first wife Emma here, and romance ensued as well as his novel, A Pair of Blue Eyes.
Take to the water with coastal cruises around pretty, sheltered creeks with lush, gardens stretching down to the water’s edge and exotic blooms to lend that touch of paradise. Or hire a rowing boat and wend your way around peaceful estuaries on the Helford where you can chill out, feast on a picnic, and read with a couple of bottles of white wine hanging over the side of the boat chilling in the water, just magical.
Eating and drinking
Whatever your tastes, Cornwall will have something to suit. Crab sandwiches at The Ship Inn in Porthleven following a lazy bike ride through quiet lanes or a romantic dinner for two in a snug fisherman’s pub next to a blazing log fire with beautiful sea views. For somewhere special, maybe even for a proposal, book a table at Nathan Outlaw’s in Port Isaac recently voted the UK’s Number One restaurant with two Michelin stars. But if it’s location and romance you are after, then don’t miss a dining experience at the exquisite Pandora Inn on the edge of Restronguet Creek. You couldn’t wish for a more timeless and Arcadian setting for a very special occasion.
If you want a meal on the go, then stroll along the sands with a freshly baked Cornish pasty or grab some Rick Stein fish and chips and sit and watch the surf breaking at Fistral. Cornish dining can be elegant and glamorous, casual, and beachside or relaxed and romantic.
Most cottages have access to caterers who will come to your holiday home and cook you the perfect meal. Enjoy local produce, oodles of fresh fish and seafood, local vegetables, and a pudding with some of that delicious Cornish clotted cream all made to order in your holiday home.
Holiday home extras
To make your romantic getaway extra special, why not arrange a bottle of bubbly on ice waiting for you on your arrival. Why not treat yourself to a fresh homemade cake specially baked to order, the perfect sweet treat for your loved one, or push the boat out with a whole hamper of delicious goodies.
Dine at home in style with a hand-picked chef who will come in and create a private banquet for two. Set the scene with some atmospheric candles from the St. Eval Candle Company, try ‘sea salt’ which captures the scent and essence of those long beach walk hand in hand on the waterline. St. Eval makes handmade soaps and bath goodies too. Some cottages have a hot tub in the garden. What better way after dinner than to watch the sun setting over the ocean than from your little piece of paradise immersed in the warm bubbles of your hot tub. And why not leave a voucher for a spa day at the Bedruthan Hotel Spa under your loved one’s pillow? There can’t be a better and more beautiful location to enjoy a pamper session.
When is the best time to holiday
Cornwall is a very popular tourist destination, but it is always easy to get off the beaten track even in the busy summer months. For people not tied to school holidays, May and June are a beautiful time to visit Cornwall as the famous exotic gardens are at their most beautiful. Equally, September and October are quieter and still warm. Cornwall benefits from the Gulf Stream, so enjoys a mild and temperate climate for most of the year.
You could opt for a winter break, there is nothing like a bracing walk on a stormy beach followed by some tasty seafood in a warm and welcoming pub and then a snuggle by an open fire in your cozy Cornish cottage. Cornwall has an edge and an atmosphere in the winter months, which many visitors prefer, and it’s a chance to experience the real Cornwall away from all the visitors.
Cornish winters are mild because of the gulf stream, daffodils are out in December, Camellias are blooming at Christmas, and you could find yourself walking on the beach in January without a coat. Spring arrives early in most western locations. So why not enjoy the peace and seclusion of a winter break?
Cornwall has a romance and a mystery that sets it apart from the rest of the UK. Perhaps it is the stunning coastline or the beautiful light glinting on the water, a lure for hundreds of artists who sought to capture on oil and canvas this unique and magical atmosphere. Whatever romance means to you, you will find it in Cornwall, whether you are looking for a spectacular backdrop, beautiful beaches, fine dining or an exquisite granite home for a few days where you can just kick back and relax, Cornwall will tick all of those boxes.
