Cornwall is England’s most south-westerly county, quite small and not much income, aside from tourism. This is an area where locals can’t afford to buy homes, as prices have been pushed up by rich Londoners buying second homes, and leaving them empty most of the year.
The good news is that the mild climate (influenced by the Gulf Stream) creates a unique ecosystem, so some of England’s most wonderful flora and fauna area found here.
Always follow the Countryside Code, to keep all creatures safe.
Read our post on keeping dogs safe by the seaside. Lifeboat crew ask for people to keep dogs away from cliffs (they often have to rescue pooches).
Many beaches are not dog-friendly year-round so check (some disappear at high tide).
Also read our posts on:
- Choughs (Cornwall’s national birds)
- Relaxing Seaside Resorts of Cornwall
- Teach yourself Cornish!
- Vegan Cornish pasties!
- St Michael’s Mount (an island off Cornwall’s coast)
Ancient Monuments and Mining Heritage
Cornwall’s story stretches back thousands of years. The standing stones at Men-an-Tol and Merry Maidens hint at a mysterious past. Engine houses from Cornwall’s mining days line clifftops, reminders of when the area led the world in tin and copper.
Truro: Cornwall’s Only (small) City
Truro is Cornwall’s only city, with a small population of around 20,000. Its name means ‘three rivers’, and the former wealth of those in running tin mines can still be seen today with still-standing Georgian townhouses on the street named after MP Sir William Lemon.
His son Charles Lemon also became an MP and had a tragic life, with all his three children dying while young. The stunning cathedral was finished in 1910 and hosts many community events and concerts.
Truro Cathedral dominates the city skyline with its tall spires and Gothic Revival architecture. Step inside to see stunning stained glass, carved stonework, and peaceful chapels.
Since the 1700s, locals have gathered at Truro’s Pannier Market. This covered market in Lemon Quay is packed with stalls selling fresh food, crafts, clothing, antiques, and local treats.
Mousehole, Cornwall: A Charming Seaside Village
Mousehole (say “Mowzel”) sits quietly at the edge of Mount’s Bay, its tiny harbour ringed with granite homes. Whether you love history or coastal walks, this unique spot has plenty to discover. Just a few miles from Penzance.
There are many dog restrictions on local beaches (and they are not allowed in the harbour), though other areas are dog-friendly.
Mousehole’s narrow streets twist between rows of centuries-old cottages. Many houses date back to the 18th century, showing off traditional Cornish architecture with thick granite walls and slate roofs.
The South West Coast Path runs through Mousehole, offering breathtaking walks in both directions. Head towards Lamorna Cove for a scenic ramble, passing wildflowers and hidden coves. Or visit the memorial to Dolly Pentreath—the last native Cornish speaker.
Cornwall’s Project for Nature & Wildlife
Tor to Shore is Cornwall’s ambitious project to protect the county’s amazing nature and wildlife, including choughs (Cornish crows). Community volunteers are helping to rewild local areas and promote sustainable farming around Helman Tor, Par River and St Austell Bay.
More than 700 acres of heathland, scrubland, bogs, ancient & wet woodlands. Also home to endangered dormice and nocturnal beavers, whose dam-making skills help to prevent local flooding.
Local heathland habitats have declined by around 85% in just 150 years, so restoring them can help a range of local birds including cuckoos, yellowhammers, grasshopper warblers & stonechats.
The local willow tit is one of England’s rarest birds, and providing wet woodland habitats with mosses, lichens and ferns gives suitable habitats. Another species to benefit is the rare marsh fritillary butterfly, whose numbers are now endangered.
Extraordinary Encounters with Cornish Wildlife
Wild Treasures is a beautifully observed book by a wildlife photographer, on her close encounters with native wildlife in the Cornish countryside and by the coast.
Over a year, get up close to all the creatures, with Hannah as your expert guide.
She regularly rises early each morning to go catch site of a creature to appear among a hedgerow, scurrying across open fields or taking flight across towering cliffs and sandy beaches.
In these brief moments, she is able to see and capture animal behaviour, that the general public may not get to witness.
I love the changing seasons. An old oak sheds its acorns on the forest floor, while wildflowers begin to bloom in early spring.
We follow the clock of the natural world. The wildlife know this too.
The chiffchaff and the cuckoo are the first to announce the spring season as they welcome it in with their song.
And the grey seal pupping season (coupled with the arrival of redwings) signify the return of the autumn and winter months.
In this book, the author shares her incredible stories and beautiful photographs, along with often funny meetings with Cornwall’s wildlife through the seasons.
From brown hares in spring to watching an otter cub hunt in winter wetlands, she even witnesses the unique bioluminescence of a glow-worm in summer. A remarkable diary and informative celebration of Cornish creatures.
Wild adventures found on every page! Her words both glue you to the story, but also encourage you to get your boots on and find these precious spectacles for yourself. Megan McCubbin
About the Author
Hannah Stitfall is a wildlife presenter for the BBC, and also makes independent wildlife films. After specialising in investigating wildlife crime at university, she studied wildlife film-making in Bristol, and loves to use her knowledge and talent to inspire others to love nature.
When not working, she is usually in a damp soggy field somewhere filming Cornish wildlife, or hiking with her dog.
