Reasons to visit Cornwall in May
Just a handful of the many reasons why May is a fantastic time to visit Cornwall...
Discover the arts and culture of Newquay with the Art8 Festival
Newquay’s not just a pretty face. As well as stunning beaches and some of the best stretches of coast in the county, the town is big on its art and culture. Art8 showcases film, craft, word, dance, photography, theater, music, literature and more in a four-day festival bursting at the seams with events, exhibits and workshops. Visit 1-4 May.
Discover a secret beach
The best things require a little effort and this certainly is true in the case of Lantic Bay. It’s a 20 minute walk from the nearest car park so is glorious hidden and crowd free, perfect during the May half-term rush. From its position nestled in a sheltered cove along the south-east coast of Cornwall, a little over a mile from Fowey, Lantic Bay is known for being a bit of a ‘sun-trap’ and boasts fine white sands flanked by shingle – bliss!
Visit Enys Gardens for the Bluebell Festival
May is the perfect time to experience breathtaking carpets of bluebells in Cornwall; in fact, Enys Gardens near Penryn even has a festival dedicated to their honour from 29 April to 7 May. Within the 30 acre gardens lie the open meadow known as Parc Lye, where the spring show of bluebells offers a vibrant splash of colour against the lush greenery. Open every day during the Festival from 11.00 - 5 pm. Regular updates on the Enys Garden website to let you know when the bluebells are at their best.
Swim in the same waters as Poldark
Made famous as the spot where Poldark took a dip in the crystal clear waters while watched from the clifftops by Demelza (and who could blame her?), Porthgwarra in far west Cornwall is a peaceful cove. You can expect to be joined by a variety of birdlife and at this time of the year will be treated to a colourful display of wildflowers. Pack a picnic or enjoy a pasty from the small café run by St Aubyn Estates.
Enjoy a wildflower walk
Take a walk on the wild side as the brilliant tapestry of wild flowers spring into bloom along the South West Coast Path. From violets, primroses and bluebells, to pink thrift and white campion, sea holly, evening primrose and wild orchids, the colours of the wildflowers framed by the blue of the ocean is a memorable view. A particularly beautiful spring walk runs from Holywell Bay just outside Newquay to Kelsey Head, and at 3.7 miles crosses sand dunes, an Iron Age cliff castle and maritime heathland. You’ll pass the secluded beach of Polly Joke where the wildflowers are especially dazzling.
Have the drive of your life
As the weather starts to warm up what better time to pull on your sunnies and take a scenic drive. Head for the small village of Zennor, near St Ives, and treat yourself to the stretch of road that winds towards towards Sennen. Rivalling great drives from across the world, it enjoys magnificent sweeping views across the west Cornish coast and beyond so roll down the window, put your favourite tune on the stereo and keep the speedo down low, for you’ll want to take your time with this journey. The road quite literally hugs the remote coastline and falls away across fields that rest on mighty cliffs. With every twist and turn, the view gets even more glorious than before until Sennen calls the journey to a worthy climax with the famous Longships lighthouse in view.
Go through the keyhole with Open Studios Cornwall
The folk in Cornwall are a pretty creative bunch (it’s all the sea air) – from pottery to painting, and screen-printing to jewellery-making, you’ll find people up and down the county getting stuck into arts and crafts. For two special weeks in May (27 May - 4 June) nearly 200 artists open their studio doors offering the chance to discover their creative space and even have a go. Open Studios Cornwall takes visitors on a tour of unseen Cornwall, into remote cottages and chapels, beach side studios and historic buildings, often far from the tourist trail.
A celebration of the amazing food that Cornwall produces,from 13 - 14 May, all set in the backdrop of one of our most icon towns, St Ives which is an award-winning holiday destination, home to the Tate St Ives, offering a seemingly subtropical oasis where the beaches are golden and the quality of light is an inspiration.
Do you know any other reasons why May is a great time to visit Cornwall? Let us know by commenting in the box below.