‘A journey for pleasure in which several different places are visited’ – this definition of tour sits well with us. And touring Cornwall from Tom’s Cottage is particularly spectacular in early autumn.
If you haven’t friends based in Cornwall - like American travel blogger Nomadic Matt - how’s best to experience the real Cornwall? With local-insight, direct from the Cornish family behind Tom’s Cottage. Here’s our guide to transforming a Cornish trip into a Grand Tour of Cornwall (and list of iconic Cornish landmarks).
When’s best?
Early autumn and late spring are both spectacular seasons in Cornwall.
Summer’s end lingers into September, and October days are mild; making ‘Septober’ a season to see so much more. It’s like opening curtains after the sting of a heatwave – everything’s invigorated.
May carries the late spring excitement of lengthening, warm days; and the early summer flowering hedges of June welcome returning swallows on the wing. This pre-hectic period (of UK summer school holidays) is a window into the Cornwall that time forgot - providing the space to fully relish a magical place.
From guided tours to self-guided explorations, we’ve gathered together some of Cornwall’s best excursions.
Guided tours
By vehicle
Starting with the drive-round type that’ll cover the greatest miles (Cornwall is geographically long) we favour 2 tour companies: both are Cornish based and operate on a small-group scale.
Each offer either bespoke or off the shelf tours, and 1-day or multi-day excursions. From the Cornish film locations of Poldark, Doc Martin, Fishermans Friends or Rosamunde Pilcher; the legend of King Arthur (and other folklore) to The Great Gardens of Cornwall or moorland and coastal areas; these guys will ensure you don’t miss Lands End, the Minack Theatre or The Tate St Ives – or be happy to swop these out for more secluded gems.
Cornwall Discovery is as locally based as it comes, being a matter of fields away (as the crow flies). The proprietor has veins of Cornish tin, and worked on some famous local film locations to boot; plus balances professionalism, knowledge and authentic character magnificently.
Experience Cornwall Tours is an award-winning tour operator and again is a small family firm, providing an exceptional service with a deep knowledge (and love) of Cornwall.
Amenable is both company’s middle name. They’ll take you to places that’d otherwise never be discovered, and tell stories not found in guide books.
On foot
Some places just demand a walk-round: for the nooks and crannies to be discovered, for the essence to reveal itself.
Port Isaac Tours (07815 156632) incorporates everything Doc Marten fans want to know and see about ‘Port Wenn’ and is run by an ex Fishermans Friend (the shanty group), who also happens to hail from an old Port Isaac fishing family. Local knowledge and Cornish charisma will guide you through the narrow streets of our local fishing village. Squeeze Belly Alley and the harbour are must-sees.
Autumn ’24 holds something special for grand house lovers with the National Trust’s Lanhydrock House offering curator-led tours of the newly renovated long gallery ceiling on 24th September and 8th October. Meanwhile, Pencarrow House and gardens offer guided tours of the house every 45 minutes from 11.15am to 3pm: book on arrival (open daily except Saturdays till 1st November).
Bodmin was Cornwall’s county town for most of the 19th and 20th centuries, so holds more history than the general perception of it just being head of the Camel Trail (mentioned later). Bodmin Jail’s guided tours provide an insight into Victorian Cornwall, while their Dark Wall is an award winning immersive experience created in 2020. Bodmin Keep (Cornwall’s Army Museum) has a more personal feel and is a real treasure trove of county history. Guided tours unfortunately finish at the end of August, but the staff are welcoming, helpful and delighted to share their knowledge.
On the ocean wave
Port Isaac’s Boaty (07539 675684) is our go-to recommendation for boat trips. Run by a local man with a lifetime’s seafaring experience (with coastline knowledge handed down from his father to boot), Boaty tops our maritime excursions for expertise and character. Trips according to sea/weather conditions.
Wavehunters also operate Sea Safaris out of Port Isaac (as well as Rock and Padstow) and offer private charters as well as their regular 12-seater trips.
If getting wet in the sea appeals, then Port Gaverne’s Cornish Rock Tours can take you on exhilarating excursions. Guided coasteering, paddle boarding or kayaking along our nearest stretch of coastline, this is the dream playground for the outward bound.
By horse
Riding across Bodmin Moor is as good as it gets (we know – from childhoods spent messing around on ponies) and Hallagenna existed way back then! Offering a range of guided trail rides for experienced riders (and lessons for beginners) they know the moor like the back of their hand. Open gallops, ancient stone circles, high tors and moorland streams (all while avoiding notorious bogs); horseback was the standard transport across this terrain for farmers before quad bikes came into being.
Self-guided
Cycling
Fancy an off-road route that just takes you along, no map required? The Camel Trail is our answer. In its entirety, 18ish miles of almost flat pathway along disused railway line from Bodmin, passing through Wadebridge to Padstow. Following the River Camel, woodland leads into valley countryside and onto the Camel Estuary ending in North Cornwall’s gastro-famous harbour town. Idyllic for nature-lovers, families and any type of cyclist, choose a section or ride the lot! Bike hire available along the route.
Walking
The iWalk Cornwall app comes highly recommended – from ourselves! With a multitude of circular Cornish walks, varying in distance and ease; we’ve walked several and never taken a wrong turn. It’s also full of points of interest, guidance on how to find/park at the start point and area facilities (and is regularly updated). Download the app and pay a nominal fee per chosen route. Voila!
Here at Tom’s Cottage, we actually enjoy leaving the techy stuff behind sometimes – it brings a certain liberation with it (if you get lost there’s always that old-school thing of asking someone the way: it’s OK, we’re in Cornwall!) So we provide guests with a range of walk books, OS maps and South West Coast Path guides, along with Treasure Trails of local villages (which are particularly fun for families).
Sometimes, it’s great to just amble, and linger. For days like this we suggest a visit to the likes of Tintagel Castle, Cardinham Woods or the Camel Trail (see ‘cycling’ above) where meandering is what it’s all about. For the more intrepid free-ranger, there’s the 16 Cornwall Heritage Trust sites that are totally uncommercialised, as are Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s nature reserves.
The Grand Cornish Tour
There’s a Cornish bucket-list in everyone: it’s just a matter of which season takes your fancy. The rest will fall naturally into place – that is when staying at Tom’s Cottage Cornwall.
The period Cornish farmhouse in a picture-book pastoral setting, with the embrace of a Cornish welcome. The freedom of space, within easy striking distance of Cornwall’s treasures. A family home full of modern comfort, that’s stayed true to its roots. A truly authentic vacation rental.
Iconic Cornish landmarks
From Tom’s Cottage
Within a 20-minute drive…
- The historic fishing villages of Port Isaac and Port Quin
- Tintagel Castle (English Heritage)
- Lanhydrock House (National Trust)
- Pencarrow House (privately owned)
- Roughtor and Brown Willy (Bodmin Moor)
- St Enodoc Church (in the sand dunes, of John Betjemen fame)
- The Camel Trail (cycling/walking path along the River Camel)
- St Nectans Glen (waterfalls)
- The Rocky Valley (rugged coastal valley)
- Padstow (harbour town)
½ - ¾ hour drive…
- Restormel and Launceston Castles
- The Lost Gardens of Heligan
- The Eden Project
- Bedruthan Steps (National Trust cliffs)
1 - 1½ hour drive…
- Truro Cathedral
- St Micheals Mount
- Lands End
- The Lizard and Kynance Cove
- The Minack Theatre (open air, set in cliffs)
- St Ives
- Gwennap Pit (open air preaching amphitheatre)
- Botallick Mine
Local autumn events
September
1st Outdoor Tribute Fest, Royal Cornwall Showground (noon – 10pm)
7th Murder Mystery Train, Bodmin Steam Railway
8th Cornish Heritage Festival ‘Awenek’ at The Lost Gardens of Heligan (Cornish Heritage Trust)
8th Will Keating live at Haywood Farm Cider, from 3pm
12th Tintagel Male Voice Choir, 8pm Tintagel Social Hall
15th Tretawn Farmers Market, St Kew Highway
15th The Great Cornish Market, Royal Cornwall Showground
21st 5 decades of wines, Wadebridge Wines
21-22 Cornwall Agility [dog] Show, Royal Cornwall Showground
22nd Roving Crows live at Haywood Farm Cider, from 3pm
24/8 Oct Guided restoration tours of the long galley ceiling at Lanhydrock House
26th Jaclarabag live, Camelford Methodist Chapel
26-29 North Cornwall Book Festival (Endelientia Arts)
27th Wicked Little Sisters showing at St Tudy Village Hall (St Tudy Film Club)
29th Cornwall Gundog Show, Royal Cornwall Showground
31st Murder Mystery Train, Bodmin Steam Railway
October
5th Double billing of live music at Haywood Farm Cider, from 3pm
5th Haunting History Night, Pengenna Manor
8-12 Cloam Oven Baking (NT), The Old Post Office Tintagel
18th Murder Mystery Train, Bodmin Steam Railway
21-31 Trethevy Spooky Display, PL34 0BE; nightly 5-9pm
21-3 Nov UV Torch Trail (NT), The Old Post Office, Tintagel
25th Reg Meuross ‘Stolen from God’, St Endellion
26th The Dark Gathering, Tintagel; 3pm-late
26th Pengenna Pumpkin Hunt & spooky cinema afternoon, from 10.30am
29th Murder Mystery Train, Bodmin Steam Railway
26-2 Nov Cornish Pixie Trail, Lanhydrock (NT)
November
8-10 Boscastle Shanty Festival
