Cornwall is one of the most popular visitor destinations in England, and for good reason; the county boasts incredible coastal scenery, picturesque villages, and spectacular historical sites.
In this series of posts, I'll look at the very best of Cornwall, starting with 14 photos that celebrate Cornwall's incredible landscape. I'll follow that up with a look at the most attractive villages, top historical sites, and finest historic churches. Let's get started.
Bedruthan Steps presents one of Cornwall's most iconic coastal landscapes, where a series of massive granite stacks rise majestically from a broad sandy beach along the rugged north Cornish coastline.
These dramatic rock formations, said to be stepping stones for the giant Bedruthan according to local folklore, were carved by millions of years of relentless Atlantic waves and powerful tides. The beach is accessible only via a steep cliff staircase when tides permit, creating a sense of discovery for those who make the descent.
From the cliff tops, the panoramic views stretch across Carnewas Bay, offering breathtaking vistas where the deep blue ocean contrasts vividly with golden sands and dark, imposing rocks.
The surrounding coastal heathland bursts with colour during spring and summer as wildflowers bloom across the cliff tops, while seabirds wheel overhead and occasionally perch on the massive rock formations.
Owned and protected by the National Trust, this remarkable stretch of coastline captures the wild, untamed essence of Cornwall's natural heritage.
Nestled along the rugged North Cornwall coast, Boscastle Harbour stands as a testament to both natural beauty and human ingenuity. The harbour follows the path of the River Valency as it winds through a dramatic, steep-sided valley before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean.
Protected by two stone quays built in the Elizabethan era, this natural inlet provides a rare safe haven along an otherwise treacherous coastline, its narrow entrance flanked by imposing headlands that shelter boats from the often tempestuous seas beyond.
At low tide, the harbour basin empties almost completely, revealing a rocky bed where fishing boats rest until the returning waters lift them once more. Beyond the harbour mouth, the view opens dramatically to the Atlantic, while behind, the picturesque village climbs the steep valley sides.
3. Crackington Haven
Nestled between dramatic, towering cliffs along the North Cornwall coast, Crackington Haven is a small, secluded bay of remarkable natural beauty. The beach features a mixture of sand and smooth stones, with fascinating rock formations and rock pools revealed at low tide.
The valley setting is framed by steep hills on either side, with a stream flowing down to meet the Atlantic Ocean, creating a picturesque scene that captures the quintessential rugged charm of Cornwall's coastline.
Popular with surfers when conditions are right, the beach is also a favourite starting point for breathtaking walks along the South West Coast Path, where hikers are rewarded with spectacular views across Bude Bay to the north and toward Tintagel to the south.
The area is also significant geologically, with the cliff faces displaying remarkable zigzag patterns of folded shale and sandstone layers that attract geology enthusiasts.
Golitha Falls is a series of cascades and waterfalls on the River Fowey, located on the southern edge of Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, England. Set within an ancient woodland nature reserve, this picturesque site features the river tumbling through a steep-sided valley gorge, creating numerous small waterfalls as it descends approximately 90 meters.
The surrounding area is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to its rare flora, including moss and lichen species that thrive in the damp, shaded environment.
Visitors to Golitha Falls can explore the area via walking paths that wind through the woodland alongside the river. The site is particularly beautiful in spring when the forest floor is carpeted with bluebells, or in autumn when the ancient oak and beech trees display their spectacular fall colours.
Despite being a popular tourist attraction, Golitha Falls maintains a sense of tranquillity, offering a glimpse into Cornwall's natural beauty beyond its famous coastline. The falls are easily accessible from the nearby villages of St Cleer and Liskeard, with a dedicated car park making it a convenient stop for those exploring this part of Cornwall.
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The beautiful village of Port Isaac is well worth a visit in its own right, but this post is about scenic beauty, so I'll concentrate on the spectacular landscape that characterises this stretch of coastline.
The South West Coast Path is your gateway to a landscape of rugged cliffs, rocky headlands, and craggy inlets. This view looks east along the coast towards Port Gaverne. The National Trust owns this area of the coast, as it does many of the most picturesque - and fragile - areas of the Cornish coast.
6. Rocky Valley
Nestled along the rugged northern coastline of Cornwall, Rocky Valley is a place of wild beauty and ancient mystery. The valley is carved by the Trevillet River as it winds its way through slate and granite before dramatically emptying into the sea.
Lush vegetation clings to the steep valley sides, creating a verdant corridor that contrasts with the exposed rock formations.
The area is renowned for its Bronze Age rock carvings, labyrinthine patterns etched into the stone some 4,000 years ago.
This hidden gem, situated between Tintagel and Boscastle, offers a perfect blend of natural wonder and historical significance that captures the essence of Cornwall's enchanting landscape.
7. Rough Tor
Rough Tor (pronounced "row-tor") stands as one of the most impressive natural landmarks on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, rising dramatically to 1,313 feet above sea level. This granite-crowned hill, second in height only to nearby Brown Willy, features a distinctive silhouette of jagged rock outcroppings that appear to have been strategically placed along its ridge.
The summit is scattered with fascinating remnants of human history, including a Neolithic tor enclosure, Bronze Age hut circles, and a memorial to Charlotte Dymond, whose murder in 1844 became a notorious local tragedy.
Walking across its windswept slopes reveals a landscape that has been shaped by both natural forces and human habitation stretching back over 6,000 years.
From Rough Tor's summit, visitors are rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views across Cornwall's diverse landscape, from the mysterious expanses of Bodmin Moor to glimpses of both the north and south coasts on clear days.
St Nectan's Kieve is a mesmerizing waterfall sanctuary nestled within a deep wooded valley near Tintagel on Cornwall's north coast. The waterfall itself is a remarkable natural phenomenon where the River Trevillet has, over millennia, carved a perfect circular basin into the rock before continuing its journey through a hole in the stone and falling as a spectacular 60-foot waterfall into the pool below.
Moss-covered walls rise dramatically on all sides, creating an intimate amphitheatre draped with ferns and ivy that seems almost designed for contemplation. Long associated with spirituality and mysticism, St Nectan's Kieve has been considered a sacred site since pre-Christian times and continues to attract those seeking connection with nature's deeper energies. The approach to the kieve involves an enchanting woodland walk alongside the river.
Throughout the glen, colourful ribbons, crystals, and other offerings adorn the trees and rock crevices, left by visitors drawn to the site's reputed healing properties and magical ambiance.
Trebarwith Strand is a spectacular beach nestled along Cornwall's rugged north coast, accessible only when the tide retreats to reveal a sweeping expanse of golden sand. Flanked by towering slate cliffs and dramatic rock formations, this hidden gem transforms twice daily with the rhythm of the tides, sometimes disappearing completely beneath the waves.
The beach is approached through a narrow rocky valley where a small stream meanders toward the sea, creating a picturesque entrance that opens suddenly to panoramic coastal views. Popular with surfers for its consistent waves and with families for its rock pools teeming with marine life, Trebarwith Strand captures the wild, untamed essence of Cornwall's coastline.
Just above the beach sits the picturesque hamlet of Trebarwith, with its traditional stone cottages and the Port William pub perched on the cliff edge, offering spectacular sunset views across the Atlantic. The South West Coast Path hugs the cliff tops here, providing breathtaking walks toward Tintagel in one direction and Port Isaac in the other.
During summer evenings, the beach becomes an enchanting setting as the sun sinks below the horizon, casting golden light across the wet sand and illuminating the distinctive silhouette of Gull Rock, which stands sentinel just offshore.
10. Willapark
The South West Coast Path runs along the coast from Boscastle in the direction of Tintagel. Just outside Boscastle Harbour the path comes to a headland known as Willapark, where a whitewashed coast guard station stands looking out over the ragged cliffs.
Inland, you can see the remains of Forrabury Stitches, a medieval field system, but if you look out to sea, you see one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in northern Cornwall. Wooden benches stand near the cliff edge, inviting you to sit and admire the views. I suggest you take up the invitation.
11. Rame Head
Rame Head is a striking headland located on the Rame Peninsula in south-east Cornwall, extending dramatically into the English Channel. This distinctive promontory is crowned by the ruins of a small medieval chapel dedicated to St Michael, which stands on the site of an earlier Celtic hermitage.
The headland rises approximately 100 metres above sea level, offering spectacular panoramic views across Plymouth Sound to the east and along the Cornish coastline to the west.
The area surrounding Rame Head is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and forms part of the South West Coast Path, attracting hikers and nature enthusiasts throughout the year. Its exposed position and unique ecological conditions support rare flora and provide an important habitat for seabirds and wildlife.
12. Pentargon Falls
Pentargon Falls is one of Cornwall's most dramatic coastal waterfalls, cascading directly onto the beach from the high cliffs of a hanging valley near Boscastle on the north Cornish coast. The waterfall plunges approximately 100 feet from the precipice of Pentargon, a steep-sided inlet or "zawns" carved by the sea into the rugged coastline.
What makes this waterfall particularly remarkable is its unique position - unlike many Cornish falls that flow in woodland settings, Pentargon Falls drops straight from the cliff face to the shoreline below, creating a spectacular sight when viewed from the coastal path.
The falls are fed by a small stream that flows through farmland before reaching the cliff edge, meaning that the waterfall's volume varies significantly with rainfall - appearing as a magnificent torrent after heavy rain or reducing to a gentle trickle during drier periods.
The waterfall is accessible primarily via the South West Coast Path that runs along the cliff tops between Boscastle and Tintagel. There are breathtaking panoramic views of the rugged coastline and the surrounding area features abundant wildflowers in spring and summer, nesting seabirds, and the dramatic landscape that characterises this protected section of Cornwall's heritage coastline.
13. Lantic Bay
Waves roll in with force on the elongated horseshoe of Lantic Bay, near the Fowey estuary. The National Trust owns this stretch of coastline, and a footpath crosses a farm field from a Trust car park to join with the South West Coast Path on the clifftops above a secluded beach.
Few people come here, but those that do are rewarded with a glorious stretch of golden sand and pristine coastline. I came on an early evening in spring and found that I had the beach to myself. but what I remember most was the force of the waves that crashed in on the rocks that guarded the sand, sending spray high into the air.
14. The Cheesewring
The Cheesewring is a remarkable natural rock formation situated on Bodmin Moor. Rising dramatically from the windswept landscape, The Cheesewring consists of a series of massive granite slabs delicately balanced upon one another, creating top-heavy towers that appear to defy gravity.
The rock formation is named for its resemblance to a traditional press used in cheese-making. This extraordinary geological feature was formed over millions of years through a combination of weathering and erosion processes. The contrasting rounded edges and angular shapes of the stacked stones create a striking silhouette against the sky, drawing visitors from far and wide.
Steeped in local folklore, the Cheesewring has inspired numerous legends, including tales of giants who competed by throwing these enormous stones. The surrounding area offers breathtaking panoramic views across the moors and toward the coast, making the journey to this ancient monument well worth the effort.
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