By Hannah Tapping
It has been a wonderful Cornish summer. Endless days of sunshine surrounded by clear blue waters. This year in particular, I have rekindled my affinity with the sea. Whether that be in it or on it, getting a dose of ‘vitamin-sea’ every day has been revitalising for both body and soul. It goes without saying that it is the sea, and the surrounding coast, that draws people to Cornwall, whether visiting or relocating. Cornwall boasts some of the best beaches in the UK, our fishing fleet land the freshest of catches that supply Cornwall’s growing number of award-winning restaurants and our coastal properties attract buyers from far and wide.
There is no doubt that Cornwall has become busier as a county over recent years. But that is no bad thing – the tourist industry is one of the main supporters of its economy. Visit Cornwall’s 2014 figures showed that a combination of staying and day visitors generated £2.6bn of business turnover, supporting 53,000 jobs. Their latest Visitor Survey in 2016 also showed that on average 57% of those visiting chose to stay in small coastal towns and villages. The result of this has meant that Cornwall’s waterside hotspots have taken on something of a Mediterranean feel, and in the height of the season they are at once vibrant, buzzing and cosmopolitan.
However, there are some who are looking for a lifestyle that is slower in pace, quieter, a little more contemplative. And that is where the shoulder seasons in Cornwall shine. While some may think that spring and autumn days in Cornwall feel a little like the circus has left town, others relish the feeling of calm, the subtle change in light as the sun lowers in the sky and the slight chill in the evening air. Whilst you’re not guaranteed the heat of the summer, autumn days in Cornwall are some of my favourite. You still get to dine in the same restaurants, visit the same beaches, walk the same clifftops, only sometimes you have them all to yourself!
Image courtesy of Kieran Brimson