Discover Cornwall
Walks
There are beautiful cliff top walks. Step out of the door and on the corner to the right pick up the West Cornwall Coast Path which leads from Mousehole to Lamorna and on past the jagged rocks of Land’s End towards the golden sands of Sennen Cove and on to St Ives and beyond.
Beaches
The beach at Porthcurno is 15 minutes by car from Carn Du, a little further, beyond the Minack Theatre, is Porthchapel. Just beyond Land’s End, the long stretch of sands at Sennen has some of Cornwall’s best surfing and further afield surf at Praa Sands or at Porthmeor beach in St Ives. There are several other beaches to the east past Marazion with its causeway across to St Michael’s Mount. Mousehole harbour is tidal and the sand beach there is sheltered and perfect for small children.
Art
The Tate in St Ives (closed Mondays) houses changing exhibitions and close by is the Barbara Hepworth Sculpture Garden. Penlee House in Penzance has a small but fine collection of works by Cornish artists and a programme of special exhibitions, and a café with tables outside looking over the bay.
Just before Penzance lies Newlyn, fishing capital of Cornwall. Drawn by the Cornish light, the Newlyn School of artists was formed. Led by Stanhope Forbes and Walter Langley the group exhibited at the turn of the century, followed later by Laura Knight. Newlyn still has a flourishing School of Art which offers short courses in traditional seascapes, elemental abstracts, in colour and expressive painting. 7 minutes by car, either the house or the cottage at Carn Du is the perfect place to stay, providing accommodation for up to 10 in the house, 12 including the annex or just 4 in the cottage.
St Ives Art School also provides excellent short art courses in different media with experienced tutors and is 30 minutes by car.
Barbara Hepworth Sculpture Garden
The Newlyn Art Gallery Website
The St Ives School of Painting Website
The Minack Theatre
Theatre and cinema
There is a theatre (the Acorn) and a cinema (the Savoy) in Penzance and also a cinema in St Ives. The dramatic amphitheatre of the open-air Minack Theatre, cut into the rock face high above Porthcurno Beach is well worth a visit even if you don’t go to a production there.
Choral
The Mousehole Male Voice Choir gives regular concerts. The harbour-front newsagent’s board gives good notice of when one is imminent.
Day trips
The Scilly Isles can be reached by ferry from Penzance - a day trip is possible. Otherwise fly from Newquay or from Land's End on Skybus.
The Eden Project
Good for a wet day. The huge greenhouse domes, just off the A30 near St Austell, replicate climates from other parts of the world. Often least crowded at weekends when people are busy arriving in, or leaving, Cornwall.
Gardens
South Cornwall is renowned for its gardens, among them the Lost Gardens of Heligan near Mevagissey, one of the most famous, takes you back to pre-First World War times of near self-sufficient estates. The fruit and vegetable gardens have been restored, also the pleasure gardens and exotic jungle.
Golf
There are 18 hole courses at Cape Cornwall and Lelant, and a shorter, but scenic 18 hole course at Tregenna Castle, just outside St Ives on the road to Hayle.
West Cornwall Golf Club Website
Yoga
I thoroughly recommend inspirational Vinyasa Flow Yoga teacher Alicia Waters, now residing in Mousehole, who offers yoga classes, workshops, trainings, retreats and private sessions. From the peaceful accommodation of Carn Du's calm atmosphere and sweeping ocean views it is a few minutes walk to the village.
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