Cornwall can get very busy in July and August, understandably, everybody wants to come here, why wouldn’t you?

But if you are not governed by school holidays, then why not come down in June? The weather is often better, the daylight hours are much longer, and its generally a little quieter everywhere. Add to that the fact that around every corner you will find a festival of some sort going on, be it food, music, art or sailing.

1: The locals love June. They get to visit their favourite beaches before the schools break up and things get too busy, true, the water is still a little on the cool side, but it’s not that much warmer in August. There’s always the chance you might catch sight of a pod of dolphins or a basking shark, its iconic black fin belying the fact that these majestic creatures only eat plankton and pose no harm to man. With winter storms well out of the way, it's also a great time to learn to surf or paddle-board.

2: The Great Gardens of Cornwall are full of colour with the roses in bloom and many of the spring flowering plants still putting on a last defiant display. Nothing captures the essence of summer more than the fragrant scent of a mass of roses or sweet peas. Click here for details on many of the Gardens of Cornwall.

3: It’s a great time for walking. The South West Coast Path rewards with turquoise seas and cliffsides carpeted in foxgloves and sweet smelling gorse. Inland the high moors of Penwith and Bodmin offer space and freedom, plus a wealth of archaeological sites dating back 6000 years. And don’t forget the many Poldark locations that can be visited, many in World Heritage accredited areas.

4: The freshest of food. It’s not just Wimbledon that has strawberries and cream, what could be better than sitting in the Cornish sunshine with a plate of clotted cream, fresh strawberries and a glass of fizz? It’s also the season for asparagus, and what was once known as ‘poor man’s asparagus’, samphire. A plate of fresh Cornish crab with some samphire on the side is the taste of summer. Catch all the local produce in one place at the Royal Cornwall Show in early June, where the Cornwall Food and Farming Pavilion is full to bursting of scrummy food and drink.

5: On the subject of drink. With those warm summer evenings lasting long into the night, it’s time to wind back with a cool drink. Cornwall is now producing drinks across the range from handcrafted gins to award winning wines, Internationally acclaimed beers and artisan ciders. And the waters not bad either! Check out our recent Refreshing Blog here.

6: Live music. The month kicks off with the Great Estate Festival in west Cornwall, with The Charlatans headlining. But that’s not all, across the county there are music festivals and shows featuring everything from electric swing to shanty singers. And you never know when some traditional music will break out in your local pub? Check out our What's On section for information on festivals and local Tourist Information Centres for smaller events. 

7: Royal Cornwall Show. The highlight of the year for many people in Cornwall, this traditional agricultural show mixes heifers with hot tubs, tractors with tomatoes and sports cars with spaniels. Add in a bit of show jumping, a traditional fun fair and the flower tent, the food tent, the craft tent… you get the picture? More Information here.

8: Celebrate the sea. It’s wet, Its cold and it’s all around us. You are never far from the sea here in Cornwall and for many it has provided their livelihood over the years. This June you can help celebrate that fact with festival at Falmouth, Mevagissey, Polperro, Saltash and Penzance, all incorporating a maritime theme. More details here. Plus the Golden Globe Round the World Yacht race of 1968 will celebrate it's 50th aniversary at Falmouth in mid June.

9: Get inspired. We know we can’t fool you with all this talk of sunny days, of course it rains occasionally down here. But that’s when it’s time to head into our wonderful art galleries. The Tate at St Ives has a new exhibition of the work of Patrick Heron, expect a feast of colour! Also in St Ives, the Barbara Hepworth garden has reopened. Check out our list of galleries around the county here. For those of a literary persuasion, the Charles Causley festival in Launceston celebrates one of Cornwall’s greatest poets of recent years with talks, walks and performances.

10: Let's go camping!. Grab the tent, a sleeping bag and head down to Cornwall in June. The campsites are still quiet, there's plenty of space and the countryside is stunning.  If you want a cheap holiday it can't be beat. OK, we can't promise it won't rain a little, but take the risk and unleash your adventurous side. Instead of waking up to the sound of city traffic, wake up to birdsong! Check out our selection of great camp sites here.

Find out more about whats on in Cornwall here.