Cornwall Out of Season The Best in The West

As I write this feature about visiting the West of Cornwall out of season. But at this very time its beaches and car parks will be packed solid.

My favorite times and locations for visits are times like the months of March or October.  When you still often get great weather but a mere fraction of the traffic.  Plus, plenty of car parking spaces, which are rarely ever free!

And what are free take some hunting out in Cornwall.

West Cornwall, out of season this what you want to see but without the crowds.

For over twenty years I have been visiting this Celtic influenced county around the first weeks of March.  And just found it so easy to tour but yet still be able to enjoy the bulk of its attractions too.

Earlier in the season there are a few attractions that have not woken up.   However they are ready to face their visitors by Easter as they head there in droves.

This very popular pub’s outside seating  in St Ives is often at busting point but out of season for me is perfect.

I happen to think that trying to drive around the popular narrow streets of places like St Ives at any time of year is a recipe for stress.  So why bother?

St Ives Let The Train Take The Strain

The perfect way to arrive there is by train. You can park at the pay and display a few miles away at St Erth station and then be treated to the charming coastal views of the Hayle estuary.  Then the  sweeping sandy beaches of Gwithian and the dunes above them as you glide into St Ives. A similar journey by car would give you none of this!

The wide sweep of the beaches can viewed from the train as it runs from St Erth  to St Ives.

Passing Carbis Bay’s pristine beach as the station approaches and then the harbour hoves into view.  Following a short walk to the town centre and not a sinew stressed doing that!

Explore A Former Working Tin Mine

Travel further West and get a Cornish heritage lesson at Geevor Tin Mine .  The largest preserved mining complex in the country.

Geevor Tin Mine experience in the West Cornwall, out of season.

Go underground and experience a former tin mine called Wheal Mexico. You are guided through the winding narrow passage-ways learning all the way.  By the knowledgeable staff whom many of them worked  in the plant there in the past.

Nearby situated in a stunning cliffside location are some of the engine houses that are an iconic symbol of the county itself.

Just so iconic in Cornwall the typical style of engine house found mainly in the west of the county.

A few miles west again, which is as far as you can go on the English mainland, Land’s End. The wild craggy cliffs and the rocky reefs are great viewing.  And are or many a tick on some bucket list of places in the UK to visit.

The pretty harbour and village of nearby Mousehole and its neighbour Newlyn.  A busier fishing port Newlyn warrants a visit to some nice cafes, restaurants and pubs.  Many often serving good and locally caught fish, landed just yards away.

Mousehole Harbour why share it with hundreds of other tourists if you have the option.

This far west the largest town is  Penzance.  Here the London Paddington sleeper train could deposit you if you decided to travel overnight from the capital. Follow that by  hiring a car in the town to tour with.

Penzance And Its Connection To The Isles Of Scilly

Not only does the town have its connection to the Isles of Scilly by ship.  But now a brand-new heliport. That can whisk visitors to the islands in their brand new AW139 passenger helicopter. Even collecting passengers  by a direct bus service from the station to their Eastern Green heliport.

Let the train take the strain and leave your car well away from St Ives at busy or quiet times.

Heading east the village of Porthleven is a wild place for every winter storms. Nearly always a focus for many news or would be news photographers wanting to capture the huge waves that sweep in.  Only to douse the town’s clock tower each year with giant waves.

The harbour eateries seem to be growing each year.  With the ever-popular Michael Caines adding to the many hugging the fishing boat filled harbour.

Porthleven Harbour with top left Michael Caines restaurant.

After visiting Land’s End, the most westerly point in the UK a short drive south to the tip of The Lizard and its most Southerly point too. The lighthouse, shops and cafes vie for the title of the ‘most Southerly’ this or that! One of my favorite areas.  This is both pretty and wild but has many very accessible places to visit.  And for me certainly best out of season.

Helston is the gateway to The Lizard.  It is famous for its Flora Day which is in May each year.  Here the whole town comes to a halt and the great and the good, the old and young dance through the streets the whole day.

Quieter weather for the council offices which is often bathed by huge waves.

Coves and bays on The Lizard out of season are just perfect to be enjoyed quietly. Rather like Gunwalloe and Church Cove.

Poldhu Cove Cafe Is A Real Winner All Year Around

  Or a quick walk from them to next door Poldhu Cove.  Where Ross and his catering team at the café, which is open 365 days of the year. And will provide you with tea, snacks and meals in its charming beach side location. Out of season with your pet, then its dog friendly too.

Church Cove West Cornwall, out of season.

The Lizard has so many coves and harbours to visit and photograph.  Like Mullion, Cadgwith, Coverack.  Beaches at Kynance owned by the National Trust but other beaches at Polurrian where you could be the only person there, what a treat? That would not be the case at the time of writing this for sure, mid summer!

Poldhu Cove some free out of season parking and a cafe open 365 days of the year whats not to like?

Driving a few more miles on snaky Cornish stone hedge lined roads east. Something that I would certainly not want to do at the height of summer to the port of Falmouth.

The Lizard Is On My List Every Time

Dodging cars possibly towing caravans and some local drivers who I understand do know the roads.  However add in a lost or unsure tourist is a recipe for the odd one or two prangs? This more industrial port town has the excellent National Maritime Museum. Here the streets around it are busy most of the year with shoppers. Linked to Truro by train that too is one of the best ways visit the county town.

Avast there…and indeed a vast collection at the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth.

Historic castles built by Henry VIII that guarded the strategic harbour entrance at Pendennis and St Mawes.  Both are open for large periods of the year and out of season open mostly at weekends.

Ferries run from the port to take you across to the coastal and fishing village of St Mawes.  On what is called the Roseland Peninsula with some excellent hotels and self-catering cottages are very popular with the yachting and boating community.

Cornwall out of season for me is what they call a, no brainer!

A wink to say give this ‘out of season’ thing a go next time you are thinking of heading to Cornwall’s west…pass it on!

Making the most of any holiday is what we all want. But also doing it in such a way as not to stress you to a point that the whole exercise seems pretty pointless.  If you are sitting in traffic jams, cannot find a place to park or it seems you are queueing for everything.

Stress Not Out Of Season In Cornwall

Then as the TV advert says ‘stress not’.

For me there can be no other time to visit West Cornwall other than around March or late October. Holiday cottage fees are less, often hotels and guest houses too. You can park, even if you still have to pay, you can explore towns and villages in quite reflection.  Taking in the sheer charm and beauty of West Cornwall ‘out of season’…Out of this world!