Get Away From The Rat Race In Cornwall

Cornwall is about as far as you can get from the major English cities – London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, and more. The pace of life in these cities today gets ever more hectic, to the extent that some people feel as if they are for ever going round in circles, yet getting nowhere fast. It is no wonder that we need so many holidays. Fifty years ago we got two weeks every year, and that was it. Today that figure is 5.6 weeks holiday per year, although employers are allowed to include the eight bank holidays in that entitlement. (It rather depends on your contract of employment and whether or not you are required to work on bank holidays as many people are).

Some people take the opportunity to jet off to Spain or Ibiza, others go to Disneyland, while still others go to Italy, France, Malta, the Caribbean, and a selection of many other places.

However, many people prefer to stay in England because there is nothing quite like the English countryside and, of course, it can cost considerably less than flying off to foreign climes. The question is: where to go? There are not too many places in the country side where you can completely get away from the sound of a motorway somewhere in the distance, although there are some. The Norfolk Broads is a case in point, where you can spend a fortnight gently cruising the broads and their connecting rivers, mooring up almost wherever you please. Some parts of Northumberland are peaceful. The Lake District can be, too, although it does get a lot of visitors, and the same can be said for parts of the Cotswolds.

Another favourite choice is Cornwall. As we said, it is about as far from the major cities as you can get, yet surprisingly is only a four hour drive from London or Birmingham.

There are plenty of things to do in Cornwall. One very popular attraction is the Eden Project. This is a botanical garden housed in tropical biomes (which are in effect very large greenhouses) covering the area of 30 football pitches. They are full of plants which have been collected from around the world.

Of course, Land's End is famous for its' views. You can visit the First and Last Inn either on the way to Land's End or on the way back. There is also the Land's End restaurant where you can enjoy lunch or dinner looking out over the Atlantic Ocean. There are also gift and souvenir shops such as Penwith House, the First and Last House, and the West Country Shopping Village where you can buy clothing and memorabilia.

Four miles from Land's End at Porthcurno is the Minack Theatre. This is an open air theatre carved out above a gully with a rocky outcrop extending out into the Atlantic. Watching a performance here is the experience of a lifetime.

Of course, no visit to Cornwall would be complete without a visit to Tintagel Castle which is a medieval fortification perched on the peninsula of Tintagel next to Tintagel Village. You get there by Land Rover which costs £2 for an adult, £1 for a child, and you can even take your dog for 50p. Tintagel is steeped in mystery and is said to be the birthplace of King Arthur. You can also visit Merlin's Cave which is nearby.

Near Mevagissey are the Lost Gardens of Heligan. This 200 acre garden has been completely restored and is typical of the 19th century style of garden with areas of different designs and a wide variety of different plants. It is now one of the most popular gardens to visit in the UK.

There are plenty of places to stay in Cornwall, ranging from B & B's to four star hotels, and there are campsites as well. There are also luxury self-catering in Cornwall holiday cottages and even beach houses which you can rent. These can be excellent value for a family of four or more, and will work out far less expensive than a hotel. You get all the luxury of a hotel yet can still call it your own home for the duration of your stay.

Amazing Holiday Homes owns two large beach houses with astounding views across the Rame Peninsular and Whitsand Bay with luxury self-catering in Cornwall. These homes are the last word in luxury and are located just 100 feet from the water's edge. One home sleeps from 2 – 7 people, while the larger one sleeps up to 10.