Winter in Cornwall: what to see and do

This is a special time when it feels you almost have Cornwall to yourself. There is a magical atmosphere with moorland tinged with sparkling frost and the coastline bathed in mid-winter sunshine. Here's some of the things we think are best about Cornwall at this time of year.

Explore

It doesn’t usually snow this far south and west, but during the winter, the moorland is often tinged with sparkling frost and the coastline bathed in mid-winter sunshine that illuminates the leafless trees and yellow gorse flowers.

Winter walks

Wrap up well and brave the outside with a walk along the shore and nine times out of ten it’ll just be you, the sea and the sky. On the south coast’s misty inlets and river estuaries take a ferry from shore to shore and get a heron’s eye view of the winter landscape. On the north coast hunker down in the sand dunes and simply watch the sea whip up a swell and unleash its power as giant waves explode on the shore.

And to warm up, there’s nothing better than a steaming mug of hot chocolate in a beachside café or a pint in a friendly pub with a roaring fire and more than hearty food - just the thing to finish off a trek on the moor or a jaunt along the cliff path.

Coastal villages

It’s also a great time to explore the atmospheric narrow streets of our coastal villages, relax and do a bit of shopping. Browse an antique shop, pop into a local restaurant or potter around the local museum. Leading up to Christmas Cornwall lights up with fantastic illuminations in harbourside villages and stately homes.

New Year

And don’t forget New Year, where Cornwall hosts some of the best celebrations in the UK with spectacular firework displays and revellers in fancy dress who take to the streets for a fun night out.