Touring the Lizard - our Cornish cottage holiday
Cottages updated today
Our idea was to enjoy a typical Cornish cottage holiday. But what was typical? We decided that sea views, sea food, sea faring and sea walks had to be involved. So we chose The Lizard - that lumpy peninsula of granite thrusting into the sea just before the final tip of Cornwall. We felt that the rental holiday cottages in this area had the best facilities to offer us.
The holiday cottage that we chose was perched on a high cliff with stunning views of the sea direct from our bedroom window! That ticked off one requirement. It also had direct access to the sea below for leisurely strolls along the practically private, three mile long beach. Tick two. What's more, we were only 30-45 minutes from St Ives and Penzance and our cottage was minutes from several local villages - all offering a mouth-watering range of fresh fish menus. Tick three requirements.
As for sea-faring, we were reminded of that at every turn. Local pubs, usually called 'The Anchor' or 'The Jolly Smuggler', were draped with cork buoys and fishing nets, giant crabs and lobsters adorning walls, anchors outside inns and tourist shops. Colourful fishing boats were pulled up on beaches at every turn to bear witness to the fact that the sea was a big part of their lives around here.
But The Lizard had more to offer than just comfy holiday cottages. St Michael's Mount, a fortified castle atop a rocky promontory was just up the road. This gave us a great day out, climbing the winding streets and relaxing taking in the view at the top.
On another day, we strolled out from our holiday cottage and took in the impressive Goonhilly Satellite Station, the largest and oldest satellite station on earth. There are over 60 giant satellite dishes in the 160 acres site and we learnt that this is a communication station, NOT a tracking or observation station. The dishes are antennae, not telescopes for looking at stars. I particularly enjoyed the gift shop where I spent ages browsing the range of special Cornish gifts, gadgets, gizmos and the latest communication products.
Falmouth beckoned on another day. Famed for beaches and castles and infamous for smugglers and pirates, Falmouth is a perfect day out. We even checked out the playful seals at the National Seal Sanctuary, a rescue centre and tourist attraction, where we could watch these delightful creatures cavorting happily in pools and underground viewing tanks.
The Lizard Peninsula is famed for the diversity of holiday cottages that it has to offer. The little towns of Mullion, Helston, Porthleven, Coverack and St Keverne have dozens of cottages that are available to rent for self catering holiday makers.
What with all the eating, sightseeing and relaxing, we felt we had tasted the best Cornwall had to offer.
Now you have read about holiday cottages to let on the Lizard peninsula, go back to the main Cottages-to-Let Cornwall page or read on: