Things to do in Cornwall that you may not know about

Cornwall has everything! Miles of sandy beaches, beautiful rugged coastline, pretty fishing villages and plenty of history! From ruined mines and castles to iconic tourist attractions like St Michaels’ Mount and Land’s End.

But if you’re looking for something different and want to escape the crowds, we’ve got some alternative ideas. Things to do that you may not know about!

We love exploring Cornwall. And over the past 10 years we’ve discovered gardens, woods, coves and attractions that deserve a mention!

So here’s some things to do in Cornwall that will give your stay a different perspective:

Cycling the Bissoe trail

Ozzie loves mountain biking so he’s an expert on the best cycling routes in Cornwall! This alternative to the popular Camel Trail runs from Devoran on the south coast to Portreath on the north coast. It’s 11 miles long and as it’s the narrowest part of Cornwall.

A level trail and mainly off road, it follows disused railway and tram routes used to transport mine supplies. It’s steeped in history and runs through the heart of Cornwall’s mining landscape. Alternative shorter trails include Tehidy Woods, Portreath branchline and Great Flat Lode.

Hire bikes in Portreath or from Bissoe (near Devoran) and treat yourself to an ice cream afterwards!

Explore Trebah Gardens

This sub tropical garden near Falmouth is well worth a visit! Often overlooked by Cornwall’s more well known gardens, Trebah is a real hidden gem. Vibrant with colours in the Spring and Summer, it has over 4 miles of trails to explore.

See the beautiful rhododendrons in the Spring, wander through hydrangea valley and relax on the beach! Polgwidden Cove sits at the bottom of Trebah with gorgeous views over the Helford river and Falmouth.

Grab a coffee at the Boathouse on the beach or enjoy lunch at Trebah Kitchen.

Look out for special offers, live music, events and theatre performances throughout the summer.

Website: Trebah Gardens

Visit Lanhydrock

We visited Lanhydrock for the first time this year. This spectacular Victorian country house owned by the National Trust has its own beautiful gardens and wooded estate. Explore the fascinating house and see the extensive kitchen and servants quarters, as well as the grandeur of the long gallery.

But if historic houses aren’t your thing, take a wander through the gorgeous gardens which come alive during the Spring.

And if that wasn’t enough why not hire a bike and explore the woods? Choose from easy, family friendly trails to more extreme technical routes. There’s a cafe near the car park where you can grab a bite to refuel!

Website: National Trust, Lanhydrock

Go coasteering

Cornwall’s renowned for surfing but if it’s flat or you want to try something a little bit different, why not go coasteering? It’s a fun way to explore the coastline! Swim around hidden coves, leap from the rocks and go adventuring in caves, all under the watchful eye of guided experts.

Luckily you don’t have to go far from Seavista! The boys at Kingsurf also run KingCoasteer. Take the plunge and see Mawgan Porth from a different perspective!

Website: KingCoasteer

Get lost in the woods

Cornwall’s more known for its beaches and over 300 miles of coast path. But head inland a bit and you’ll find some pretty spectacular woods. Wander among open meadows, sweeping valleys and see breathtaking waterfalls!

Our favourite has to be Cardinham Woods near Bodmin. Gaze in wonder at the towering pines that line the trails, hire a bike and explore remnants of the old mine. The valley features a stream and there’s various places to sit along the way to soak in the peaceful sounds of birdsong and running water.

Nestled in the heart of Cardinham, you’ll find Woods Cafe serving fresh, homemade food. Treat yourself to a traditional cream tea outside or curl up in front of the log burner during Winter!

Website: Cardinham Woods and Woods Cafe

Try food foraging and wine tasting

For all the foodie and nature lovers out there (me included!), why not combine your two passions? Food foraging’s become really popular in Cornwall and thanks to Caroline Davey at the Fat Hen Cookery school, you can get back to nature and source your own food.

Choose from a variety of courses including wild food weekends, and forage, cook and feast days. Learn how to forage food safely and legally, and scour hedgerows, the seashore, and woodland for edible herbs, seaweeds, roots and berries.

Alternatively, if you’re more of a wine connoisseur head to Trevibban Mill for a wine tasting session. Or take a guided tour around the vineyard. And if you can’t get enough of what you’ve tasted, you can enjoy a glass of Trevibban finest wine back at Seavista courtesy of our honesty bar!

Website: Fat Hen Cookery School and Trevibban Mill

Explore hidden coves and secret beaches

If you love lazing on the beach or finding hidden gems along the coastline, get an Ordnance Survey map and go exploring! The Cornish coastline’s dotted with lesser known beaches that are off the beaten track.

They often involve a bit of mission – either a long walk through fields or a climb down steep steps so they’re not for the faint hearted. But if you want to escape the crowds and find your own little corner of heaven it’s well worth it.

Lesser known beaches near Seavista include Porthcothan and the beach at Bedruthan Steps (low tide only). The rest are a secret, so we’ll leave it up to you to find them 😉

Let us know what you discover during your stay. And if there’s any other lesser known things to do that we haven’t mentioned here, tell us about them! We’d love to discover it too.

Big love

Kate

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