Cornwall

The Story Behind the Images - Cornwall

Cornwall is a county of contrasts, with the coastline dotted with rugged cliffs and picturesque fishing villages and an interior dominated by the bleak expanse of Bodmin Moor.

The moor boasts fabulous rock formations such as the Cheesewring near Minions, while around the edges of the moorland are pretty villages like Altarnun and St Cleer. Near the latter is Golitha Falls nature reserve, with a lovely riverside walk to a series of beautiful waterfalls.

If it is waterfalls you want, though, look no further than St Nectan's Glen, near Boscastle, where the water has worn a circular hole straight through the rock. Above the waterfall is a hermitage founded by St Cedd, a 6th-century monk.

A few miles away is Boscastle, one of my favourite places in Cornwall. Here you will find a museum dedicated to witchcraft and a picturesque Tudor harbour still used by fishing boats. A walk along the rugged coast from Boscastle brings you to Tintagel Castle, said to be the site of King Arthur's Camelot (or, alternately, Arthur's birthplace).

The Atlantic coast of Cornwall is exceptionally dramatic and draws photographers to places like Bedruthan Steps. The 'steps' are a series of spectacular series of rock stacks stretching across Bedruthan Beach. At Crackington Haven you will find knife-edged reefs extending out into the bay. At sunset, the rock formations are incredibly dramatic.

But if it is drama you want, look no further than St Michael's Mount, near Penzance. St Michael's Mount is an island reached only by a cobbled causeway from the village of Marazion at low tide. Perched on top of the island are a medieval castle and the ruins of a monastery. I've visited St Michael's Mount at least 4 times and keep being drawn back for more.

If you travel east along the coast from Mount's Bay you will discover some of the prettiest fishing villages in Cornwall, among them Polperro, known as a centre for the pilchard fishery but more famously for its heritage as a smugglers' haven.

Perhaps my favourite village in Cornwall is Helford, at the north-east corner of the Lizard peninsula. Helford is blessed with some of the most beautiful thatched cottages in England, clustered along the banks of a tidal estuary.

Favourite Places to Photograph in Cornwall

  • Boscastle harbour
  • St Nectan's Glen and Kieve
  • St Michael's Mount and Mounts Bay
  • Bodmin Moor
  • Helford village

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