Experience the Cornish Coasts Road Trip with Hertz Car Rental
Cornwall has a character all of its own, and there is no better way to experience it than from behind the wheel. From wild Atlantic beaches and hidden coves to ancient castles and world-class gardens, this corner of England is full of surprises at every turn. Use the Hertz Road Trip Planner to map out your Cornish adventure.
CORNISH COASTS, COVES AND COASTAL ROAD TRIP INSPIRATION
Plan your next holiday with curated Cornish road trip ideas, discovering hidden beaches, dramatic clifftops and iconic landmarks with your favourite rental car
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The Cornish Coasts
Newquay - Newquay
England’s West Country has an identity and culture to rival even the proudest regions – and Cornwall is at the heart of it all. There’s natural beauty galore with coves and beaches around every corner. You’ll also find ancient castles surrounded by blooming gardens and open-air theatres in stunning settings. Fast-forward to the modern science of the Eden Project, and round it all off with some hearty Cornish cuisine.
The Cornish Coasts
Stop 1: Fifteen Cornwall 1/11
Watergate Bay is the eye-wateringly gorgeous setting for Fifteen Cornwall, an airy Italian restaurant run by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver. The beach views and delectable dishes make a strong play for being the best things about this venue, but there’s something that tops even those two. This is where Oliver pioneered his apprentice programme, putting young people in need of a second chance on the frontlines of the kitchen – and all the restaurant’s profits are donated to charity.
The Cornish Coasts
Stop 2: Perranporth Beach 2/11
The main attraction in this modest seaside town is the three-mile-long beach, like a slice of sandy wonder. You may bump into some Poldark fans as the author of the original novels, Winston Graham, used to live here. However, the real reason people are lured to this coastal spot is the soft sand and the surf offshore. If you have a board in the back of your car, suit up and paddle out in the Celtic Sea.
The Cornish Coasts
Stop 3: Tate St Ives 3/11
Transforming a former gasworks in 1993, the Tate St Ives is a world-renowned contemporary gallery on the Cornwall coast where mind-bending art displays are complemented by hands-on activities. This marked the Tate institution’s second venture in the town – the first, the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, is just five minutes’ drive away. Why St Ives? Hepworth and other artists showcased in the museum formed a coterie of artists here after World War Two, and this pays them ample tribute.
The Cornish Coasts
Stop 4: Minack Theatre 4/11
Beaches don’t come much better than Porthcurno. It’s a great place to sunbathe in summer, with the dramatic heft of Logan Rock looming in the background. But for sheer drama – literally – Minack Theatre is calling your name. This open-air, cliff-top venue was the pet project of the late Rowena Cade, a local resident who transformed her back garden, fuelled by community spirit. It’s been hosting plays and Shakespeare productions since the 1930s. Book ahead to get a good seat.
The Cornish Coasts
Stop 5: Trengwainton Garden 5/11
As you double back through Penzance, that famed piratical port, you’ll pass a series of leafy havens, Tanglewood Wild Garden, Tremenheere Sculpture Garden and, perhaps best of all, Trengwainton Garden. The latter is a National Trust property, originally planted in the 1920s. Today the walled gardens bloom with beautiful trees, rhododendrons and magnolias, as well as a fragrant variety of exotic plant and flower species. Have a look for the contemplative ‘Silent Spaces’, home to the tea room and gift shop.
The Cornish Coasts
Stop 6: Kynance Cove 6/11
A coastal idyll found on the eastern side of Mount’s Bay, Kynance Cove’s turquoise waters and white sands have been a magnet for those in the know since the Victorian era. Rock stacks wind their way in and out of the shoreline, with crashing waves to jump over and atmospheric caves to explore – all of it framed by the dramatic beauty of the Lizard peninsular. A once lesser-known gem, it’s now a hotspot for visitors, so get here early in the morning to see it at its most tranquil.
The Cornish Coasts
Stop 7: Lizard Point 7/11
The Lizard Peninsula is ruggedly beautiful, with jagged cliffs plunging into the sea and fresh ocean air blowing all around you. Many a ship has foundered on these rocks over the centuries, but thankfully the watchful eye of the 1751 lighthouse has saved even more. It’s still in operation today, offering guided tours right to the top. The rare – and once endangered – Cornish Chough bird can be spotted from here as can basking sharks, if you have a keen eye.
The Cornish Coasts
Stop 8: Pendennis Castle 8/11
When Henry VIII feared coastal invasion even more than the vengeance of his former wives, he built a series of castles along the west coast to protect Britain. Pendennis Castle is one such redoubt, completed in 1542 and subject to centuries of action thereafter. It was still reinforced during the world wars. Today it has been decommissioned, allowing you to tour the keep, gun deck and more, while during the summer you might chance upon a concert in or battle re-enactment the grounds.
The Cornish Coasts
Stop 9: Eden Project 9/11
Even if weren’t a brilliant visitor attraction, the trademark biomes of the Eden Project already stand out in the Cornish landscape. Once a clay quarry, it’s now a series of greenhouses and gardens that celebrate and preserve biodiversity. It’s fascinating if you have an interest in conservation, but also delivers bucket-loads of family fun. Indoors, the Rainforest biome is always popular, although the recent addition of a zipline and free fall jump outside have only added to its lure.
The Cornish Coasts
Stop 10: Polperro Harbour 10/11
If you were tasked with designing the quintessential Cornish seaside village, chances are you’d draw up Polperro. With its charming harbour cut into the cliffs, bobbing fishing boats and stone cottages navigated by narrow, cobbled streets, it’s the veteran of a million photos and paintings. In times when it was more remote, it was widely used by smugglers as a den. Today it’s an essential stop-off on a tour of Cornwall and prime spot for a crab sandwich.
The Cornish Coasts
Stop 11: Fistral Beach 11/11
Every discussion of the best Cornwall beaches includes Fistral. This spacious beach attracts surfers both amateur and professional, local and global, as well as sunbathers galore. Rock pools fringe the golden sand, while the onsite surf school helps wannabe surfers catch their first waves. If you prefer life on land, it’s a blissful place to walk your dog and only moments away from the charming town of Newquay, which is filled with delightful restaurants, cafes and souvenir shops.
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