This past week, Nick and I have been down in Cornwall, along with our blogging daughter Louise (thestorytellersabode). We both intend to post about some of the great sites we’ve visited down here once we get home but for now, I just want to say a few words about this lovely county and share a few photos of the main images of the place.
I also want to say a big ‘Thank You’ to staunch Cornishman and fellow blogger draliman for meeting up with us and having a lovely chat and evening meal. It was really nice, as both Lou and I have laughed our heads off at some of Ali’s hilarious stories for months. It was just a pity we didn’t think to take any photos.
Cornwall – or Kernow, as it’s known to the Cornish people – is situated in the far south-west of the United Kingdom:
The region has been inhabited since the Paleolithic (or Stone Age, dating from 2.5 million – 20,000 years ago) and Mesolithic periods, through the Neolithic and Bronze age, and eventually the Iron Ages (around 800 BC onwards). At this time, Cornwall, like all of Britain south of the Firth of Forth, was inhabited by a Celtic people known as the Britons. Cornwall itself was home to a tribe of Britons known as the Dumnonii.
There is little evidence of Roman rule west of Exeter in neighbouring Devon, and later on, in the 9th century, Cornwall often came into conflict with the expanding Anglo Saxon kingdom of Wessex.
For many people from other parts of the UK, Cornwall can seem a rather distant county, one popular with holidaymakers, who all have different images of what the county looks like, or is like in everyday life. The word ‘Cornish’ alone can conjure up many different images. Here are just some of them:
1. Picturesque fishing villages and harbours
2. Old tin mines (as in ‘Poldark’) and later on, copper mines as well
3. China clay (kaolin) mines
4. Lovely beaches, surfers and steep, rocky coasts with caves – and smugglers (as in ‘Jamaica Inn’ and ‘Poldark’).
5. Cornish Pasties, Cornish ice cream and Cornish cream teas (all very yummy!)
6. Iron age villages sites, standing stones and barrows
7. Tintagel – legendary castle of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table
8. Saint Michael’s Mount – island and castle at the end of a ‘sometime’ causeway
9. Beautiful gardens
10. Penzance – a town associated with the opera, ‘The Pirates of Penzance’
11. Nice warm (but sometimes wet) summers and mild winters
12. Moorlands (like Bodmin Moor) and granite tors
13. The Eden Project. We visited this site some years ago (2003) so haven’t any photos on this occasion. So here’s a picture from Wikipedia:
So, until I post about some of these places in more detail, here are a few photos, giving a further glimpse of this beautiful and unique county:
Millie Thom 
Cornwall, a pasty and a meeting of bloggers. I am so-o-o-o jealous. And the Eden Project is on my must-see list. Some day.
It was great, Peggy, and I know you’d really love to meet up with fellow bloggers – and eat Cornish pasties, of course. It’s such a pity we’re all scattered across the globe. Therein lies the problem. Still, for ‘travelling’ bloggers, there’s always a possibility.
(Will try to catch up with posts over the next day or so.) 🙂
I bluddy love Kernow! Pasties AND Cream Tea’s…
Nothing better….!
I couldn’t agree more. It’s no good being on a diet when you go down to Cornwall! Thanks. Cameron. I’ll start doing some catch-up on blogs tomorrow. We only got back last night and I’ve lots of things to catch up on. I want to find out when you’ll be off on your walk. It can’t be far off now.
Catch up but take your time with my little old blog. I would prefer digestion and acknowledgement from a valued source rather than just some bludger having a read and telling me where I have been going wrong….!
Great pics ! Being if Welsh descent I really enjoyed this!!
Thanks, Holly. I didn’t know you were of Welsh descent. So you’re part-Celt, like me (only my heritage includes Welsh on my mum’s side and Irish on my dad’s. I’m quite a mongrel, really 🙂 ). The Cornish people are very proud of their Celtic roots.
Have you tried tracing your ancestry? My Welsh side is Griffiths and my Irish side is Higgins (I was a Higgins before I married). I only know as far back as great-grandparents. When I find the time, I’ll try to trace them all further back.
Millie. Intraced my welsh heritage back to 1700 a man named Preise immigrated to America. So interesting. Am proud to be Welsh. 🙂
It looks very beautiful. I’ve never visited Cornwall, l would love to, especially in summer time. Cornish pasties are so delicious, it’s easy to have one too many. I looks like you had a nice time.
I’ve been to Cornwall a couple of times before, but never right down to the very tip, as we did this time. We were determined to visit the Iron Age sites down there, you see, and get right out to Land’s End. We did have a wonderful time, thanks, Daniela, and gorgeous weather, too. Oddly enough, we didn’t have any Cornish pasties, but we had a few nice Cornish ice creams. Cornwall is definitely a great place for a summer holiday. There are some gorgeous beaches for little ones to play on, as well as interesting places like the Eden Project. Perhaps you’ll go one day. Thanks for the nice comment. 🙂
It’s funny seeing pictures of places I recognise, looking forward to seeing more! I’m glad you guys had a good time, and you got good weather which makes a big difference.
It was also great to meet up with you all, it was a lovely evening and my first ever “real life” blogger meet-up 🙂
We had a great week in your lovely county, Ali, and meeting up with you was the icing on our cake. It really was a shame none of us thought to take a snapshot or two, though, and that the time passed so quickly.
Yes, you are the first real-life blogger we’ve met, too. 🙂
The weather was fantastic all week, just right for visiting so many sites. We have thousands of photos between us!
We were eleven hours getting home. 😦 Roadworks on the A30 (which you know about!) were bad enough, but as soon as we reached the M5 is was several stretches of roadworks and accidents, one after the other.
Back to normality now.
Yes, the meal seemed almost over before it had begun! Looking outside now, you definitely had the best of the weather last week. Sorry about the roadworks – 11 hours on the road should have got you into mid-Scotland at least 😦
We were so lucky with the weather! This week is set to be very miserable, I believe. The sunshine made visiting all the sites perfect – and meeting up with you was lovely. And yes, I’d have quite liked a week in Scotland. 🙂
It’s sporadic rain showers and sunshine this week. Not too bad – it wouldn’t have been a washout by any means – but last week was way better!
Dear Millie, thank you so much for introducing us such a beautiful place! I honestly fell in love!
Thank you, Ann. Cornwall certainly has a lot to offer. There are so many great old sites to visit, as well as lovely fishing towns and gorgeous stretches of coastline. Most people could find something they like in Cornwall. 🙂
What a beautiful place Millie, and the cornish cream tea sounds very tasty! I am checking out your daughter’s blog…how wonderful that you both blog 😀 Have a nice weekend!
Cornwall is lovely, and we were so lucky in having gorgeous weather all week. As you know, so often British holidays can be completely ruined by rain! I now have another dozen posts to do. I’ll just add them to my great long list. 🙂 Thank you for popping over to Louis’s blog. We only got back last night, and have so many things to catch up on. I’ll be over to read your recent posts in the next day or two. Enjoy your weekend, too. 🙂
Yes, I would love a Cornish pasty, please! I’ve never been there; it seems like such a lovely place, with so many interesting places to visit. I feel more peaceful and relaxed just looking at the photos. And how wonderful that you got to visit with Ali while you were there! You mean bloggers exist in REAL LIFE? Who knew? Looking forward to seeing more photos and learning more.
Hi Joy. Yes, Cornwall really is quite a unique county. There are many different sides to it, each attracting different visitors. There’s plenty of historical interest – everything from ancient sites to the old tin mines, olde-worlde fishing villages – and connections to several authors and famous novels. Young families tend to visit the sandy beaches and others come to surf – although the breakers are small compared to the ones you’re probably used to.
I recommend blogger meet-ups! It’s so nice to see someone you’ve ‘talked to’ in Blogland in real life. It was a great opportunity for us to meet up with Ali. he’s a really nice guy. 🙂
It sounds wonderful — I have a real soft spot for historical, as you know, and for anything quaint as well. I’m not sure I’d like to live somewhere very quaint, but it sounds lovely to visit. Very peaceful and relaxing. And yes, extra bonus if I get blogger meetups! Now I have even more excuse to figure out some way to get back to England in the near future!
Oh Millie, Millie, Millie! You have made me soooooo hungry! I love Cornwall, and cornish pasties, AND cream teas! Isn’t Britain great?? 🙂
P.S. You probably haven’t noticed yet, but I have done a blog in YOUR HONOUR today! You could say you were my inspiration… the wind beneath my wings… my muse… but that might be all rather TOO Un-British! Lol.
Hope you enjoy reading, when you get a chance!
Have a good weekend. ❤
Hedgey x
What a fantastic comment, Angela. Thank you so much – and yes, Britain is great, with so many wonderful places to visit and post about. I can’t keep up with myself at the moment. I’ve a very long list of posts to do before I visit any more places this year.
That you’ve done a post in my honour is truly awesome 😀 and I’ll head over to it as soon as I post this comment! I hope you’re enjoying your weekend, too. We only got home last night, after eleven hours on the road! Traffic jams everywhere – roadworks and accidents as well as the usual Friday traffic. It was crazy. Now I’m about to hop . . .
Wow, sounds awesome to meet up with fellow bloggers at such a perfect place. I can feel that you enjoyed it very much. 😀
It was lovely, Ineke, and I would have loved you to have been there. You know Ali, too, from all the flash fiction challenges. It’s so good to be able to meet other bloggers in person. But, of course, Cornwall isn’t difficult for us to get to, whereas New Zealand is the other side of the world. One day… 🙂
One day! With the internet it sometimes feels as if you are sitting talking over a cup of tea. So near and still worlds apart.
That’s so true. Phones and the internet make the world seem like a very small place.
That’s for sure! 😀
haha, this is not nice at all (Joking!) – Cornish Pasty and clotted cream etc……. where on earth do I get this out here in South India? 🙂 Love reading all about it thou and dream. Thanks, my friend. Carina
Thanks Carina. From some of your recipes in which you use canned cream, I’d gathered that fresh cream wasn’t available. Both Devon and Cornwall are famous for their clotted cream – and cream teas, of course. All very nice, but not too great for the waistline. 🙂
Millie, I can get fresh cream (occasionally) – but it is not worth the hussel. I have to take a taxi to get to the hypermarket and back and in the end I pay 3 x more for the taxi then for the ‘cream’. And of course, nothing can compare to beautiful D & C cream! And btw, I lived in London, South Kensington, for many many years with my first (late!) husband, and we had then a small Cafe nearby which served the most delicious cream teas!!!! But since we both were not “sweet” people, we only visited when we had foreign guests 🙂
I’m amazed by the number of countries you’ve lived in, Carina. You must be quite a linguist! I imagine running a cafe was wonderful. I wanted to do that for many years, but never had the opportunity. Cream teas are sold in many areas of Britain nowadays. We’ve enjoyed them in the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District, too. They just call them ‘Cornish or Devonshire-style cream teas’ – or simply ‘cream teas’. 🙂
Thank you for all of this information on the Cornish culture. I really do intend to travel there some day. The sustainable garden will definitely be at the top of my “to see” list.
What a beautiful land! Is it a rag tree in the picture?
Thanks, Inese. The tree is called a ‘cloutie tree’. It’s an age old tradition and (at Madron Well, where this tree was) it involves healing the sick. (It seems to vary a little with different sites). At Madron, the idea is that a person tears off a small piece of fabric covering the area of the body that is ailing. At the material decomposes on the tree, it’s supposed to take the illness/disease/soreness out of the body. From the look of this tree, it seems that people still come here to try it out. Is that what a rag tree is for?
Oh, it is something slightly different. The rag tree is for any wishes. People put ribbons and stripes of fabric on a special tree that is known for its
powers. Usually it is a very old hawthorn tree. I have to look up the cloutie tree – never heard of them. Very interesting.
I love Cornwall. We went to see the Eden project, visited St Ives, we stayed in Torquay in Devon and Clovelly and toured all around. You bought back great memories.
Thanks, Charlotte. I love Cornwall, too. There are so many different types of sites to visit, so it’s ideal for touring. I now have photos and information for so many posts, I’ll be lucky to get round to doing them half of them! We were so lucky with the gorgeous weather last week, too. And meeting up with draliman (Ali) was just perfect.
OoooW! You’ve been to Cornwall! You should have dropped in on your way down the A30!
I would have loved to have ‘met up’ with you during our stay in Cornwall, but not on either the way down or the way back! The journey was quite a long one as it was, and with holiday traffic, it made it a lot longer. It took us eleven hours to get home, due to road works, first on the A30, then on-and-off all the way up the M5. There was also an accident somewhere at one point on the M5. Perhaps if we’re down in Devon or Dorset sometime we can arrange something. 🙂
I’m really behind with visiting people’s blogs, so I’ll try to do a little bit of catching up this coming week. Hope all is well with you and the family. 🙂
Thank you. Yes, all well. Sorry to hear you had a torturous journey, but no holiday to Cornwall is complete without one 😉
A “Sweet” meeting with blogging friends in one of the most fascinating regions of the UK!Interesting post Millie,I also like your “blogging daughter’s ” work.Take care my friend 🙂
PS:Finally I bought 2,one for my sister and one for myself.We can’t wait to receive them ….
Yes, it was lovely to meet up with Ali – very ‘sweet’ (although we had a meal and not cream teas, on this occasion 🙂 ). He’s such a nice man, and really loves his home county. I couldn’t see him living anywhere else.
Louise does have a wonderful blog. She’s very creative, in lots of ways. Not only does she write (she’s editing her first book at the moment) but she does great sketches and paintings and is a really good photographer.
I really hope you aren’t disappointed with my book. It is historical fiction, and it follows closely events in King Alfred’s life. Of course, interactions and characters are of my own making. No one really knows what people from so long ago were like. Eadwulf’s side of the story is fictional.
I’d be very happy if you let me know what you think of it, once you’ve read it. Honest opinions are important. A million thanks for buying the book (x 2) as well! 🙂
The right man at the right place … Ali does honour his home country.
As for Louise,I have already visited her blog and I enjoyed some lovely and well-worded posts.She is so talented!!”Like mother,like daughter … “, Thanks for letting me know about her first book,I’d love to buy it too.She is such a promising young lady …
I’ve a feeling that I’ll enjoy your book not only for the interesting content but also because I like your writing style.I’ll definitely tell you my honest opinion.Thank you Millie.
Thank you, Doda. 🙂
That’s an interesting trip, and I’d love to see The Eden Project!
Absolutely stunning Millie. Your pics are amazing. My brother visited Cornwall several years ago, and he literally raved about it, its uniqueness, it’s beauty, a place he said just has so much to offer, and would just love to visit again. Your pic’s certainly show that. Thank you so much for sharing 🙂 x
Thanks, Lynne. Cornwall is really lovely and we really enjoyed our visit down there. I’m glad your brother enjoyed it, too. It’s almost like being in parts of Wales, with the many Celtic place-names everywhere. Most villages are really quaint, the coastal ones steeped in history of sea-faring, fishing and smuggling. It’s one of Britain’s most popular holiday destination, so it does get packed in the summer – which spoils things a lot for residents there. Traffic jams can be manic. Early June, when e went, wasn’t so bad. 🙂
Sounds so amazing. Well, here is hoping one day I get to travel a bit, Cornwall will be a place to visit for sure 🙂
Would love to visit the iron age village sites, and the Eden project that should be interesting.
Brilliant photos Millie.
I’m sure you’d love Cornwall, Chioma. There are so many different things to see. We’ve been a few times now and still have places we want to visit. (Sorry about the late reply. I’ve just found a couple of comments I must have missed.)
Such gorgeous pictures! Wow!
Thank you. 🙂 I’m glad you like them! Cornwall is a pretty and very quaint county, and quite a law unto itself.
Wow! Millie it sounds so awesome…Cornish Pasty and clotted cream and finally meeting a fellow blogger. :)The idea of meeting a fellow blogger seems so fascinating. I follow Ali and had read his version of the meet up and Louise’s too. It certainly seems that you’ll had a great time together and that too at such a beautiful place.
Thanks again for sharing the wonderful photos with us, Millie. 🙂
Yes, it was really lovely to meet up with Ali. He’s the first fellow-blogger Lou and I have met in person. He’s such a nice guy, too. I talk to several people via email, and maybe we’ll meet up someday. Who knows. So many of my blogging friends are so far away, as you are. Ali is, at least, within driving distance. 🙂
So true Millie. 🙂 Perhaps, one day….
Absolutely lovely place! Heard quite a lot about it!
Thank you, Arv! Cornwall is very lovely, and for tourists there’s so much to see – from ancient sites and old tin mines to quaint fishing villages and seaside and surfing towns. And of course, there are always Cornish pasties and cream teas. 🙂
Till the time I don’t visit England.. I have your blog to discover and travel -thanks for info and beautiful post Millie! 🙂