The Prettiest Places in Cornwall: Unbelievably Beautiful Places to Visit

Bookmark the prettiest places in Cornwall and plan your next trip to England's southwest collection of unbelievably beautiful places.

The Prettiest Places in Cornwall

There's no doubt about it. Even Devon agrees: Cornwall is spectacular. From rugged coves to glittering seas and mystic ancient history, Cornwall keeps on drawing visitors down to the southwestiest of southwest England. 

Here, we round up the prettiest places in Cornwall to help you plan your trip. 

the Cornwall and West Devon Mining UNESCO World Heritage Site

Hang on a minute. Are we really saying that a mining site ranks as one of the prettiest places in Cornwall. Yes, in a way, we are. 

The Cornwall and West Devon Mining UNESCO World Heritage Site stretches across 20 000 acres and, for sure, parts of it are not beautiful. It preserves and commemorates the explosion in industry that accompanied the pioneering mining for tin and copper across the area. 

You wont' be able to visit all the areas in a single trip, but make an effort to seek out the Caradon Hill area in a remote area of Bodmin Moor. 

Bodmin Moor

The Beast of Bodmin may never have been reliably spotted but the moor is real enough. Great hiking routes pass out from a place called Minions into the granite Bodmin Moor in northeastern Cornwall. 

Lizard Peninsula

You can always rely on the National Trust to sniff out a good beach. Kynance Cove on the Lizard Peninsula is one of the most beautiful places on the Cornish coast, and that's saying something.

the Eden Project

A reclaimed china clay pit doesn't sound like the basis for one of the prettiest places in Cornwall. But once you visit the magnificent Eden Project, you'll realise why it's on this list. Huge domes bubble out of the earth to create extraordinary "biomes," including one Mediterranean and one Rainforest zone.

Porthcurno Beach

Another spot of stunning natural beauty is Porthcurno Beach in Cornwall's far west. Chosen as a backdrop for episode two of Poldark, Porthcurno Beach is also popular with families as well as film schools because of its broad expanse of sand and flowing stream. The internationally renowned Minack Theatre stands on the cliffs overhead, built in the 1920s as part of Rowena Wade's theatrical vision. You can also visit the Telegraph Museum if you can tear your eyes away from one of the prettiest places in Cornwall to go inside. Or, you can just spend your time relaxing on the sandy beach.

Daymer Bay Beach

Perfect for a beach holiday, at low tide the sands of Daymer Bay Beach welcome families for the fun and provide all with a great view across the Camel Estuary.

This part of north Cornwall is also the location for Chef Rick Stein's Cornish enterprises, such as the Rick Stein Cafe and The Seafood Restaurant.

The Lost Gardens of Heligan

As well as being one of the prettiest places in Cornwall, the Lost Gardens of Heligan surely have one of the best names. The gardens themselves spread across 200 acres, taking visitors through Italian gardens, lakes and subtropical tree ferns through the "jungle" section.

But what's the lost part? In the chaos and shadow of World War One, these gardens became overgrown and forgotten about. A chance encounter thirty years ago through a stone door led to their rediscovery. 

Adults will love the sense of peace; children will love the resemblance to the goddess Te Fiti from Moana.

Tintagel Castle

With its dramatic suspended walkway, Tintagel Castle is not only one of the prettiest places in Cornwall but also one brimming with suspense. Its past is interwoven with the legends of King Arthur and the sheer drops and steep slopes mean that modern day voyagers need to remember to wear sturdy shoes.

Land's End

Few can deny the mysterious pull of "Land's End," the most westerly point in Cornwall. Surrounded by characteristic churning, foaming surf, the rocky headland juts out between the English Channel and the Celtic Sea. It's a great place for hiking or just for driving up with a camera and enjoying the view.

For the truly energetic, Land's End also lies on the South West Coast Path, England's longest waymarked footpath and National Trail.

Port Isaac

Cornwall excels in picturesque fishing villages but Port Isaac has a special claim to fame: Squeezy Belly Alley, one of the narrowest thoroughfares in the country.

The fishing port is a good spot for taking scenic boat trips along the coast or hiking to nearby Tintagel or Polzeath. It's part of a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Heritage Coast Area so, as you'd expect, beautiful beaches await.