heligan's heroes....

Absolutely, without doubt, stick to the coast . . . there's nothing like the beach in Cornwall in the spring. Don't miss the Lost Gardens of Heligan either! (Although the Eden Project is spectacular, I really felt in Heligan that I had entered another world -- truly spellbinding!) Tintagel Castle is another must-see, although it’s not for the faint-hearted (lots of steps)! The views are stunning and there is such a sense of mystery about the place it'll set you to tingling! Merlin's cave is worth a look, but you have to catch it at high tide. Dodge the touristy shops selling cheap pewter Celtic jewelry and ceramic elves in jars, and you'll have a fantastic time.

Quick Tips:

For driving, stick to the coast! The coastal roads are incredible, if your car is capable. Make sure you cut across the moorland to the east coast if you can . . . Land's End is more of a "just so I can say I have been there" kind of place, as it’s extremely touristy. If you do go to Land's End, make the effort to drop into the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) outpost where you can watch gannets dive-bombing fish off the coast!

Best Way To Get Around:

Although there is public transport (I have done Cornwall before by train), there is nothing like the freedom of being able to drive over the moors . . . beast watching!

Beautiful accommodation on a cliff overlooking Blue Anchor Bay on the coastal road down to Perranporth. Friendly staff, lovely local food, and pleasant, warm rooms. The price includes an exquisite breakfast in a room full of works by local artists. But by far, the best thing about it was the pub garden overlooking the beach! Wrap up warm and enjoy the view!

If you like hostelling, you can't get much better that this. The YHA hostel is a converted World War II outpost on a cliff overlooking the bay. The accommodation is clean, staff is very friendly, and the kitchen is large and well-equipped (you won't need to take ANY cooking utensils/plates with you).

A short walk down the cliff from the hostel is the beach. Perranporth Beach is stunning, with wide, flat expanses of sand and cliff outcrops jutting out of it, which become inaccessible at high tide. There is a bar on the beach called "The Watering Hole", which serves amazing seafood salads and has live music every Friday and Saturday. Honestly, you'll think you're in Australia!

Eden is a self-contained set of bio-domes collecting botanical species from around the world. I think that even someone who does not like plants can appreciate the architectural structure and the environmental management that goes in to such a place. The structure itself is situated in a large area of gardens, which are designed to grow with time. Naturally, I would say that for botanical reasons, the best time to go would be the heat of summer. Although, I went in the spring and still found it warm enough to picnic outside. Eating is expensive at Eden, though if you stick to the left hand side as you go in, you can get some really tasty sandwiches. (The other side is a pricey restaurant.) The gift shop is extensive and has a wide range of souvenirs and recycled products. It’s really cool. Oh, and there's a weird puppet show in the lobby about our dependence on plants . . .

Heligan should be called the Eden Project because it’s absolute paradise. I actually wish that I had gone to them on separate days, but their proximity to each other makes it fairly irresistible. The problem is that in my opinion, Heligan absolutely blows the Eden Project out of the water! If I had seen Eden alone, it would have stunned me, but as I saw Heligan on the same day, it paled in comparison to Heligan's Lost Gardens . . . It’s hard to believe it lay undiscovered for so long! If you like botanical gardens, or woods, or nature, or walking, or natural sculptures . . . it is absolutely essential. Hope you're fit though!