Spring in Cornwall

Many people come to Cornwall for a spring holiday. The big week is of course Spring Bank Holiday week, but Cornwall is popular for a spring break throughout the season.

The Cornish weather is the big advantage. Cornwall is usually several degrees warmer than the rest of the UK, partly due to its southern location, and partly due to the warm waters of the Gulf Stream which flow around Cornwall's coastline.

In sheltered spots along Cornwall's south coast the countryside is almost sub-tropical, boasting palm trees, exotic shrubs from far-off climes, wild rhododendrons, and thickets of bamboo. Cornwall's parks and gardens contain many horticultural specimens not seen elsewhere, and starting from April the historic houses open their grounds to the public in the Cornwall Spring Gardens Festival.

Now that wet suits are commonplace, people surf all year around on Cornish beaches. But the advent of spring makes surfing a much more enjoyable experience. Around Newquay and Perranporth almost every other car seems to have at least one surfboard on its roof rack. Cornwall's north coast is the UK surfer's paradise.

But of course not everybody comes to Cornwall to be energetic. There is pleasure to be had in sightseeing, exploring Cornwall's unspoiled fishing villages or its historic towns. And on a fine spring day when the sun is high it is not unknown to need nothing more than a T-shirt.

By February the daffodils are blooming and cow parsley brightens the Cornish landscape. In March and April gorse is in flower along the sea-cliffs, and by May wild flowers are making a show. If it's wild flowers that tempt you, then May or June is probably the best bet. By then the Cornish hedges and coastal paths teem with foxgloves and campion.

There is accommodation to suit everybody. Chalets, bed-and-breakfast establishments, farmhouses and cottages to rent, and of course hotels along every esplanade. There are also plenty of events to enjoy in Cornwall during the spring, and of course there is always the excellent food and convivial Cornish hospitality.