All West Cornwall Accommodation

The Jubilee Lido on the Coast at Penzance

Porthcurno Beach, West of Penzance near the Minack Theatre

The Cliff Top Open Air Minack Theatre, West Cornwall

The Land's End Experience - Fantastic Family Fun on the Edge of Cornwall!

Sennen Cove Family Beach, Near Land's End - good gentle Surf here!

Tate Gallery, St Ives

Mining Remains near Levant Mine on the West Cornish Coast

Isles of Scilly - St Mary's Coastal View

Penzance St Ives Isles of Scilly Hayle West Cornwall UK

The Far West of Cornwall combines dramatic coastal landscape and ancient Celtic village remains with an artistic and cultural scene with both a contemporary and realist kick. The St Ives Tate and centre for the Newlyn School art at Penlee House in Penzance both serve as artistic hubs, but the source of that artistic influence is all around the Far West of Cornwall - in both it's dramatic landscape and in it's unique light. Check out the Mount's Bay area, Porthcurno Beach and Land's End and Sennen Cove coastal views for the best of the west.

There's more Cornish Mining history in this area too, with fascinating cliff top mining remains at Levant and Geevor Mines. Pretty coastal fishing villages abound - visit Newlyn with it's long fishing history and working harbour still near Penzance and adjacent pretty Mousehole, Zennor too, to the west of St Ives is a sublime little coastal village with a renowned folk museum. Penzance is a laid back cultural hub and superb base for exploring the West or for taking boat trips to the Isles of Scilly. St Mary's and the other Scilly Isles are a world apart - a haven for birds and crammed with pre-historic remains, beautiful white sand beaches and lots of opportunities for diving to view ship wrecks and reefs. Beautiful beaches abound in the Far West including Hayle and the Towans (sand dunes), Porthcurno Beach and Sennen Cove - lots of opportunities for good surfing too at St Ives and surrounds. The Far West of Cornwall is one of the most beautiful landscapes in the whole of the UK - love the sea, love the Far West of Cornwall.

Penzance Tourist Information

Penzance has much going for it, and it's laid back rather down to earth chic edge is a pleasant surprise! Ideal as a base for exploring all of West Cornwall, and accessing boat trips to the Isles of Scilly on the Scillonian II ferry, Penzance also offers a good choice of stylish B&B and hotel accommodation for 1/2 nights, weekend breaks and holidays. Penzance town centre is superb for specialist shopping, whether it be off the wall clothes shops or arts and crafts and there's plenty of restaurant choice from famous 1960s model Jean Shrimpton's restaurant in the Abbey Hotel to the unusual Admiral Benbow pub on stylish Chapel Street, where fine food and ale are on the menu. This pub is shaped like a ship to great effect.

Other Penzance attractions include the elegant Victorian Penlee House Gallery and Museum off Morrab Road (near subtropical and well worth a stroll round - Morrab Gardens). As you'd expect, this gallery houses an impressive collection of work by the Newlyn School of artists. View paintings by Walter Langley, Elizabeth Forbes and others in the Newlyn School here. Penzance promenade is most pleasant for strolls, or hooking into longer coastal walking either west towards fishing village Newlyn and pretty Mousehole with it's delightful beach. Discover little gems along Penzance promenade, such as the art deco Jubilee Pool/lido. If you've plans to explore West Cornwall, and are looking for a chic and stylish base, less crowded than St Ives - choose Penzance!

Penzance Tourist Information Office, Station Road, Penzance. Phone: 01736-362207.

The Isles of Scilly

Warmed by the Gulf Stream and situated just 28 miles off the Cornwall coast, the Isles of Scilly are a haven indeed for those seeking peace, quiet and stunning natural beauty. Five of the Isles of Scilly are inhabited - St Mary's (the largest Scilly Island), Tresco Bryher, St Agnes and St Martin's. As well as these five larger islands there are over 100 other islands forming part of the cluster. Blessed with a mild climate, the Isles of Scilly are adorned with a range of subtropical plants, and beautiful gardens abound particularly in Tresco. Named by the Romans with the Latin Sillinae Insulae meaning Sun Isles, the Scillies have been inhabited for about 4000 years. There's plenty of Arthurian myth pertaining to the islands - King Arthur's men are supposted to have retreated to the Scillies after a fatal battle. Somewhat dubious! The Isles of Scilly are designated an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust (see weblink right) leases most of the uninhabited islands and much of the unused farmland and most of the coast - with a view to preserving it - a tough job for a small charity.

There's something to do all year round on the Isles of Scilly. Take you pick from beautiful clean white sandy beaches with crystal clear waters, numerous birdwatching opportunities including the famous puffins which nest on Annet annually, underwater diving in beautiful clear waters, scenic coastal walking, and if you're looking for romantic retreats you'll find plenty of luxury hotels, B&Bs and self catering idyllic cottages across the islands. Most visitors arrive on the Isles of Scilly via either the Sky Bus or the Scillonian III boat which departs from Penzance, landing in Hugh Town St Mary's daily. A helicopter service also runs from Penzance to Tresco with it's famous monastery. The other islands are easily accessed from St Mary's through numerous boat trips offered.

Exploring all the islands in the Scilly archipelago is a sublime experience, and easily done via boat trips - with the most frequent boat trips running from St Mary's. Tresco, the second largest of the Scilly Islands and inhabited, is famous for it's subtropical Abbey Gardens. You can fly direct to Tresco via helicopter from Penzance. St Agnes, the most South Westerly of the islands, has a laid back pace, with ample opportunity to view it's many birds, flowers and butterflies. Great coastal walking on St Agnes too, with it's well marked coastal path and selection of fine beaches.

Hugh Town Tourist Information Centre, St Mary's, High Street, Hugh Town. Tel: 01720 422536

St Ives, Barbara Hepworth & the Tate

The artist works because he must! But he learns by the disciplines of his imagination. Through moments of ecstasy or great despair, when all thoughts of self are lost, a work seems to evolve which has not only the vivid uniqueness of a new creation, but also the seeming effortlessness and unalterable simplicity of a true idea relating to the universe. In our present time, so governed by fear of destruction, the artist senses more and more the energies and impulses which give life and are the affirmation of life. Perhaps by learning more and letting the microcosm reflect the macrocosm, a new way of life can be found which will allow the human spirit to develop and surmount fear"". (Barbara Hepworth, A Pictorial Autobiography, 1970, Moonraker Press).

St Ives is a joyous mixed bag giving it a unique appeal. Cutting edge contemporary art at your fingertips, at both the Tate St Ives right on beautiful Porthmeor Beach, and sister Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden across the harbour, and her home until she died there in a fire in 1975. Alongside these two galleries are a choice of local artist galleries lining the attractive narrow streets of St Ives. It doesn't stop there - the St Ives coast offers a choice of fine white sand beaches offering havens to both families and surfers, a superb social history museum exploring mining, fishing and more and St Ives hosts a renowned annual festival of music and arts every September. New Years Eve too is a top time to be in St Ives when many flock here to participate in general celebrations and fancy dress. Cultural or walking winter short break, or family summer holiday - St Ives is the perfect choice. The only negative is the parking - which is simply a nightmare.

St Ives Tourist Information Centre, The Guildhall, Street an Pol, St Ives, TR26 2DS. Tel: 01736 796297.

Hayle Holidays

Hayle has an altogether different feel to St Ives, although they have in common their idyllic sandy beaches, and in some ways Hayle has the edge with stunning closer views of Godrevy Lighthouse, plus the beautiful Towan sand dunes which back onto the beach. Hayle is a superb base for a West Cornwall family holiday, with a choice of good value accommodation, great beaches and numerous family attractions, including Paradise Animal Park, situated in the area.

Hayle has a fascinating history too. It's river estuary made it a prime strategic port base - the Romans made good use of it, and later in the 18th and 19th centuries Hayle was a hub within the Copper and Tin mining industries, with a bustling harbour which has seen a little controversy recently! World Heritage Bid money it seems will soon be pouring into this historic mining town.

Hayle Tourist Information Service, Hayle Library, Commercial Road, Hayle, Cornwall, TR27 4DE. Tel: 01736 754399. Opening times are Early June to mid October, daily from 10am to 5pm. Closed Thur, Sat (From 12:30pm) Sun.

Lands End Cornwall

Iconic Lands End offers a mix of welcome (to some) family attractions, Britain's last pub and all the west, combined with an RSPB centre and a dramatic coastal landscape - take the coastal walk from Land's End to Sennen Cove for the best of it. Moving along the coast to St Just and upto Zennor you're back in prime Cornwall mining territory. Take time to view Geevor and Levant mines, both dramatically set right on the cliff edge. St Just pubs - don't miss that real ale, and Zennor is both a picture postcard village with a renowned folk museum. Those on the hunt for Cornwall pre-historic sites and megaliths will feel at home. Check out two of the best preserved Cornish ancient villages at Carn Euny and Chysauster.

St Just Tourist Information Centre, Market Square, St Just, TR19 7HX. 01736 788165. Opening times are from 1 May to 30 September, Mon to Fri (inclusive) 10am to 5pm, Closed for lunch from 1pm - 2pm. Saturday 10am - 1pm.

Around Penzance

There's some Cornish gems around Penzance indeed - to keep any holiday maker happy. Just to the east of Penzance is holiday mecca St Mount's Bay with it's striking St Michael's Mount castle island, glorious beach and lots of opportunities for kite surfing and water sports. Moving west from Penzance you immediately come across historic fishing village Newlyn, renowned not just for fishing but as a base for many of the Newlyn School artists. As well as prime fish markets in Newlyn, discover a choice of superb arts and crafts galleries. Arts and crafts is also imbedded in Newlyn's history.

Moving further west your next port of call is the pretty, and smaller than Newlyn, Mousehole (better to walk here than to drive!). Pretty specialist shops, a sublime beach and a laid back feel greet you at Mousehole. On pushing out further west towards Land's End take in the breathtaking beauty of this coastline, particularly at Porthcurno Beach with adjacent Telegraph Museum and the magical Minack Theatre. The Land's End Experience is a great family retreat, with a choice of attractions and playgrounds for the kids - note the spectacular scenery too! You certainly won't be short of things to do around Penzance!

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