TRAVEL: 5 of the Prettiest Places to Visit in Cornwall

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Cornwall is like a haven, tucked away on the West coast, somewhere you wouldn't pass unless travelling there. Its stunning turquoise sea, rugged coastline and cute little fishing villages dotted around all over the place. It's a photographers dream, whether it's simply for your photo albums at home, sharing on social media or when taking photographs is your job. It also holds a special place in my heart because St Ives is where my husband proposed to me, overlooking the beach from our own private cabin. Though that life seems a long time ago now, we have been back to Cornwall as a family of three and then four quite a few times. If I think where I'd want to go for a staycation then Cornwall is almost always my first thought, if you haven't been then I'd highly recommend organising a trip there soon. You won't be disappointed!

If you're looking for beautiful, luxurious and prime location cottages to stay in during a holiday in Cornwall then Cornish Horizons is the website to spend hours browsing. They have cottages to suit everyone, from a Farmhouse sleeping 22 to romantic converted Haylofts sleeping 2. Some of my favourite Cornish cottages from their website are: The Trefanny Inn in Looe for its beautiful beams, Seahorse Cottage in Mousehole for its cosy wood burner, Tide Cottage in St Ives for its fresh white and grey interior and The Hideaway in Polruan for its Mediterranean feel.

St Ives - It seems wrong not to mention St Ives first, as it is so close to my heart, but it is also just such a pretty place to visit. We always tend to park at the top of the hill, next to the leisure centre, and then walk down to the town centre. This takes the stress of driving through the small streets of central St Ives away, even if the walk back to the car is hard work! Once you're in the town centre you'll be faced with cute shops, all the Cornish pasties you could dream of, a bustling harbour, restaurants serving an array of cuisine, art galleries and sandy beaches. What is there not to love? One of my favourite ways to spend a day in St Ives is to pick a pastry up from St Ives Bakery and enjoy it while wandering around the tiny back streets as you head up towards the pier. Then heading to a couple of the many art galleries dotted around St Ives, probably including the Tate and Art Space Gallery. For lunch my top recommendation is the Hubbox if you like nachos, burgers, milkshakes and breathtaking views over the harbour. Getting a spot on the balcony is the perfect place to watch the world go by, enjoy the view whatever the weather and eat delicious food. During the afternoon I would probably head to one of the beaches either side of the harbour for a wander, have a browse in the shops and finally pick up a Cheese and Onion Pasty ready for a dinner.

Kynance Cove - We discovered this place for the first time last year and it truly blew us away. It's not the most accessible cove to get to (certainly not pushchair friendly) with it's steep steps and rugged rockface, but trust me when I say that it is all worth it. Once you are down in the cove there is a golden beach, turquoise seas and a café that looks over all these beautiful views. You do have to keep an eye on when the tide comes in because it comes in pretty fast, but luckily the café is the perfect escape as it's raised higher up. It's really worth trying to visit on a sunny day, so that you can relax in the large outdoor seating area and take in the views. If you're visiting with children then taking a bucket and spade will keep them entertained for hours and the fact that the beach is in a cove makes it quite protected from the coastal winds.

Trebah Garden near Falmouth - A sub-tropical paradise with a stunning private beach nestled away within the gardens. These gardens are filled with a wide variety of plants and flowers; the vast nature means you can be walking around all day and only pass a couple of people. It's a peaceful corner of Cornwall that can be enjoyed by all ages. Spend hours strolling around the gardens, building sandcastles on the beach, eating in their restaurant and browsing the gift shop. A lot of the ingredients used within the restaurants come from the gardens and you can really taste the freshness. I'd also highly recommend trying a Cream Tea ice-cream from the beach café, so unique and delicious. 

Lizard Point - The most Southern point of England and yet another pretty place surrounded by turquoise seas, rugged coastline and a perfectly positioned café to sit and enjoy the views. You have to park a short walk away (the only toilets are in the car park) and then follow the footpath down to Lizard Point. Polpeor Café is Britain's most Southernly café and is really worth a visit if you're in the area. Their scones are huge and the views are almost unbelievable, a must-visit! Then take a wander along the coastal path and see if you can spot any seals, dolphins or porpoises splashing around in the sea, a wildlife watchers heaven.

Polhu Beach at Sunset - If you want somewhere pretty to head at the end of a busy day then Polhu Beach is where you need to go. We actually stumbled across this beach, as it was near where we were staying one holiday and I think you'll agree that the sunsets there can be breathtaking. It is a popular destination for surfers and families alike, as the sandy beach is vast and parking is just across the road. It's the perfect place to watch the sun set, take all the silhouette photos you can fit in before the sun disappears and watch the impressive surfers so their thing. 

Where are your favourite pretty places to visit in Cornwall?

Feel free to leave a comment - I love reading every single one :)

Helen x