Calming, soul-nourishing and inspiring; just a few words Cornwall’s top lifestyle blogger Anna Clark describes living in the south west of England. We caught up with Anna who runs ‘The Cornish Life’ blog, her open journal for exploring each corner of Cornwall…
Did you grow up in Cornwall?
From age 2 I grew up in Cornwall and have wonderful memories from my childhood going to the beach on weekends and school holidays (particularly around Godrevy, Chapel Porth, Perranporth, and Holywell Bay!).
As a teenager, I definitely took our beautiful home for granted though, and didn’t realise how lucky I was to live in such a gorgeous part of the world until I’d spent a couple of years living in Bristol and Guildford. It was fun while I was there but I definitely discovered that I’m truly a country/seaside girl at heart!
Tell us about ’The Cornish Life’ and what inspired it?
When I was living in Guildford I realised how unhappy I was being away from the sea, and the other things I love about Cornwall such as the small community feel and safety. I decided to move back, and fell back in love with Cornwall, making it my mission to discover more of it and really appreciate it more. In doing so, I started blogging about my adventures as a kind of journal, and absolutely loved being able to share my love for ‘Kernow’ with others!
What are some of your favourite areas or hidden spots to explore in Cornwall?
It’s really hard to pick but I would definitely say the Falmouth and Mawnan Smith areas of Cornwall are some of my favourite. I live nearby and I know all of the beaches and little coves around here like home. Plus there are some great cafes and bars in Falmouth too! Being on the south coast and quite sheltered, the sea is usually fairly flat so great for swimming and kayaking in this area.
Kayaking on the Falmouth coast
That being said, the areas around Godrevy to Porthtowan are really special to me too as I grew up there and have amazing memories from this bit of coastline.
I also love the Lizard as well! It’s so wild and different to the other areas of Cornwall, with each area having its own charm. There’s Helford village and all the gorgeous coves along the river, all the way to the snorkelling haven of Coverack, to the western beaches of Mullion and the famous Kynance Cove with their dramatic cliff formations.
Kynance Cove on the Lizard Peninsula
View Forever Cornwall’s collections of properties on the Lizard!
What are some of your favourite foodie spots in Cornwall?
Cornwall has some truly amazing restaurants and foodie spots, and I have tonnes of recommendations on my blog (https://thecornishlife.co.uk/category/cornwall/eat-cornwall/), however, if I was to pick a couple of top spots, they’d be:
– Slice of Cornwall (near Falmouth – the most amazing waffles and brunches!)
– The Longstore (either in Truro or Charlestown – incredible meat & seafood dishes)
– Ugly Butterfly (in Carbis Bay – super fancy, fine dining for a special occasion)
Breakfast at Slice of Cornwall
Where are some of your dog friendly walks?
My dogs love a good run around on the beach and a dip in the sea! Their favourites are definitely Perranporth & Mawgan Porth (which are dog friendly all year round and are HUGE beaches at low tide), and also Gwithian. There is a seasonal dog ban but there are areas (like the dunes/towans) that they’re allowed all year round and again it’s a vast area so great for letting their energy out.
If beaches aren’t so much your thing, there are some lovely woodland areas that are super dog friendly, such as Cardinham Woods, or Idless near Truro.
View dog friendly retreats…
What are some of your favourite things to do in Cornwall?
I am definitely a beach girl and I love to be either in or on the ocean! My favourite water activity would probably be kayaking, because you can explore so much more from the water and get to all the secret coves that just aren’t possible by boat.
I also love packing up a nice picnic and heading out to a cliff or countryside location with a comfy blanket and plenty of snacks. Even better if there’s a sunset involved!
Are you an early riser for the sunrise or all about the sunsets?
I love both but I WISH I was good at rising early for the sunrise, because it definitely feels more special – I think because fewer people make it up that early to see! I have a post about the best places to see the sunset in Cornwall here: https://thecornishlife.co.uk/best-places-watch-sunset-cornwall/
Sunset at Gwithian Towans
What’s an area you haven’t yet explored but is on your ‘Cornwall bucket list’?
There’s a specific part of the coast path around the top of the Roseland peninsula that I’m desperate to explore. It’s called ‘Dodman’s Point’ and it looks like there are some gorgeous little coves around there that I’d love to visit!
There are so many places I haven’t been to yet – it really does feel like a lifetime’s pursuit. If you’re ever looking for ideas to go on your Cornwall list, I have a bucket list with 100+ ideas in this post: https://thecornishlife.co.uk/ultimate-cornwall-bucket-list/
Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to visit Cornwall?
First and foremost, I think it’s really important to be respectful of Cornwall’s environment as a visitor. We have such stunning areas of countryside and beautiful beaches, with loads of wonderful wildlife, that it’s heartbreaking to see it being abused. Be sure to take litter and things like disposable BBQs home with you safely after a day at the beach and support independent shops and cafes where you can.
I have more details on how to visit Cornwall sustainably here: https://thecornishlife.co.uk/visit-cornwall-sustainably/
Secondly, if you’re able to visit Cornwall in the shoulder months of May and early June, or September & October, this is best for avoiding the crowds and enjoying the weather and cheaper prices. And don’t forget, Cornwall is also beautiful in winter too!
