Cornwall is an area at the tip of the south-western peninsula of Great Britain. It is bordered to the north and west by the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east of the county of Devon, over the River Tamar.

Activities of interest in Cornwall

There is an enormous amount to attract visitors to Cornwall. From the breathtaking scenery of Land's End to the magnificent Eden Project, this area has something of interest for all visitors. Whether looking to surf in the clear blue Atlantic, take in an art gallery or simply meander through a seaside town, Cornwall is an unmissable destination.

Known for its beautiful shoreline with towns such as Falmouth, St Ives and Penzance to name a few, nowhere in Cornwall is more than 16 miles from the sea.

For botanical enthusiasts, St Austell is home to the Eden Project (above), a visitor attraction which includes the world's largest greenhouse. Inside the artificial biomes are plants that are collected from all around the world. The Lost Gardens of Heligan, rediscovered in 1990 after slumbering for over 70 years and Trebah Gardens in Falmouth also showcase a wide range of spectacular flora and fauna.

Fans of celebrity chefs can enjoy a trip to Rick Stein’s Fish & Chip Shop and Deli in Falmouth or Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen in Watergate Bay, as well as an array of restaurants, cafes and bars dotted throughout Cornwall to suit all tastes and budgets.

There are many museums, art galleries and castles for visitors to explore. The Tate in St Ives houses its own modern displays as well as visiting exhibits. The National Maritime Museum in Falmouth is where visitors can learn the history of the local sea farers and Pendennis Castle, Falmouth, was built in 1539 for King Henry VIII to guard the entrance to the River Fal.

In Falmouth itself there are cycle trails to suit all levels, excellent sailing waters in the Fal Estuary and out to sea, every imaginable water sport including surfing, kayaking, kite-surfing and gig rowing and scenic walks.
 

Getting to Cornwall

By Road: The M4, M5 and M6 motorways are the routes to Cornwall. Follow the M5 to Exeter, after which you will either take the A30 or A38 into Cornwall, depending on your final destination. Alternatively, you can enter Cornwall via North Devon, then there is the Altlantic Highway, the A39, which you can join at junction 27 on the M5.

By Rail: First Great Western operate high speed services from London Paddington, South Wales and the Cotswolds to Cornwall, including sleeper services also known as the Night Riviera Sleeper Service from London Paddington. First Great Western also operates services on Cornwall's branch lines. Contact National Rail Enquiries for train times and fare information on 08457 48 49 50. www.nationalrail.co.uk.

By Coach: National Express serves Cornwall from destinations throughout the UK. Coaches travel to St Austell, Truro, Newquay, Falmouth, St Ives and Penzance. Connecting services to Cornwall are available from Bristol, Birmingham and London. National Express provide an extensive network of coach services. Telephone 08705 808080 for information. Coaches depart from Stand B2/B3 from Central Bus Station close to Cardiff Central Rail Station. www.nationalexpress.com.

By Air: Visitors can fly to Newquay Airport from various regional airports in the UK and mainland Europe.

The history of Cornwall begins with the pre-Roman inhabitants, including speakers of a Celtic language that would develop into Brythonic and Cornish. Cornwall was part of the territory of the tribe of the Dumnonii. After a period of Roman rule, Cornwall reverted to rule by independent Celtic chieftains. (There is little evidence that Roman rule was effective west of Exeter.) After a period of conflict with the Kingdom of Wessex, it became a part of the Kingdom of England which was subsequently incorporated into Great Britain and the United Kingdom.

During the British Iron Age Cornwall, like all of Britain south of the Firth of Forth, was inhabited by the Celtic people known as the Britons. The Celtic British language spoken at the time eventually developed into several distinct tongues, including Cornish.

Universities in Cornwall:

The University of Exeter and University College Falmouth are founding partners in the Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC), a unique collaboration between six universities and colleges to promote regional economic regeneration through Higher Education, funded mainly by the European Union (Objective One and Convergence), the South West Regional Development Agency and the Higher Education Funding Council for England, with support from Cornwall Council.

The two institutions share and jointly manage the Tremough Campus - the flagship hub of the CUC partnership - in an arrangement that is unique in the UK.

Notable alumni:

Newsreaders and presenters Luisa Baldini, Sophie Long and Julia Botfield, artists Tacita Dean and Sarindar Dhaliwal, John Dyer (painter), Liz Fuller, actress, Gerard Woodward, novelist and poet and Anthony Maule, fashion photographer.