Cornwall’s Finest go Outdoors!!

The 2019 Cornwall Tourism Awards shone a light on outdoor activities, with a number of awards going to businesses that make the most of what a wonderful place Cornwall is.

Top of the list has to be Mylor Sailing School who were named Winner of Winners after gaining two golds for Active and Sporting Experience, and Accessible and Inclusive Tourism. They also took bronze for Learning Experience. Based down on the River Fal, they offer a friendly personal service to children and adults that can be tailored to your requirements, be it beginner, intermediate or advanced. They also have specially equipped accessible boats, so whatever physical impairment or learning difficulty, they can accommodate you!

Bude Canoe Experience also went away happy with a brace of awards, gold in Learning Experience and silver in the Active and Sporting experience. A trip out with them on the Bude Canal will teach you the basics of canoe paddling before you head off on a journey to explore and practice a variety of canoeing skills. You will see the countryside from a new and exciting perspective and if you are really lucky you might get to see a kingfisher, a dragonfly, or maybe an Otter!

Maybe even canoeing is too active for you? All you want to do on holiday is sit back and relax in the middle of the countryside. Four award winners offer just that. Cotna Eco Retreat near Gorran Haven took home bronze in the Glamping and Alternative Accommodation awards. With a selection of shepherd’s huts and yurts in a hidden valley surrounded by orchards, there’s an ethos of living in harmony with the land and creating an oasis to regenerate wildlife diversity.

On the edge of Bodmin Moor, Ekopod offer five individually designed pods nestled in a beautiful rural landscape. They don’t use any electricity in the pods, which as well as benefiting the environment, gives you a real chance to switch off and return to the simpler things in life. Ekopod gained a silver in the New Tourism Business award.

A gold was presented to Coastal Valley Camp and Crafts to the north of Newquay in the Touring Camping and Caravanning Park of the year section. Offering everything from a large safari tent to basic pitches, this is not your usual touring park. Set in a pretty valley, visitors are encouraged to take part in art & craft workshops to explore their untapped talents and have fun with them.

Another hidden gem to win gold was the Forest Holiday Deerpark Cabins deep in the West Looe valley. They were recognized as Wildlife Friendly Tourist Business of the year. Built on the site of a former explosives factory and surrounded by woodland, protecting the forest today and for tomorrow is one of their key values. They also have a forest ranger on site who can take you pond dipping or off exploring the forest at night.

So, the next time you come on holiday, take a walk on the wild side, and discover Cornwall from a different angle.