Poldark's Cornwall: rugged Coastlines, idyllic Seaside Towns

---

Cornwall’s Rugged Coastline

It's been awhile since I've traveled out of the US, so I was thrilled (although I had been to England four times) to see Cornwall, “home” to Poldark and friends. This trip was a dream come true! Along with my dear friend, Melanie, who lives a three-hour drive away,  we explored many of the major tourist areas recommended by those who either lived or had visited Cornwall—and we were grateful for their recommendations. We didn't waste a bit of time!

The image above doesn't do the Cornwall Coast justice. Located at Land’s End landsend-landmark.co.uk, it's rocky, rugged, and wild all in one. And part of the southern coast, affected by the Gulf Stream has a subtropical climate where succulents and palm trees flourish. Who would have guessed?

Below you can see the location of Cornwall www.visitcornwall.com/film-and-tv in reference to the rest of England.  There are more beach areas on the northern coast, which has its own charm. Besides a few hours inside shops and restaurants, most of our four day trip was spent outdoors. As an extra blessing, the weather was sunny and warm the entire week. Unheard of in the UK! 

The beach below is found in the seaside town of Charlestown and set between the rocky cliffs, with a pebbled shore—a bit bumpy for my comfort. Charlestown was used as a setting for the village of Truro in the film series, Poldark. More about that later. Click on the image below for a pano shot of the harbor. Cool!

---

Trebah Beach in WW2

​Trebah Beach (below) accessed by the Trebah Gardens https://www.trebahgarden.co.uk/beach, was used in WW2 by Americans to prepare for D-day in 1944. Another example of the rocky outcrops found on the southern coast of Cornwall.

---

St. Ives

Our first stop was St. Ives www.stives-cornwall.co.uk, located north just around the tip of the peninsula, otherwise known as Land’s End. It was, in my estimation, the most charming seaside town in Cornwall. Being the first day of a 6-week summer holiday (July 29th), the place was packed with beach-goers and tourists, wandering down the steep streets, peeking into tiny but charming shops. Below are a few pics of our short visit to St. Ives, ending with a lovely gluten and dairy-free meal enjoyed at a table overlooking the expansive beach. It reminded me of San Sebastian on the northern coast of Spain where royalty would take their holidays. 

---

The Mysterious Minack Theatre

The Minack Theatre https://www.minack.com/plan-your-visit, built or carved into the rocky cliffs near her home, was the creative invention of Rowena Cade—artist, costumer and actress who adored Shakespearean plays. She wanted to recreate a Grecian theatre, and so she did, with sweat, muscle and her gardener, Billy Rawlings. Bringing sand from the shore below with a pulley, she mixed it with other compounds to design an amazing architectural wonder high above the ocean. Rowena carved designs with a rusty screwdriver to give the appearance of age. 

Billy Rawlings, eager to plant succulents in this subtropical paradise, helped Rowena fashion beds of unique plants gracing the walkway on either side of the path to the theatre. Below, you will see this one-of-a-kind creation.

---

St. Michael’s Mount

Two larger-than-life structures in one day. Whew! We did quite a bit of walking and climbing today on St. Michael's Mount https://stmichaelsmount.co.uk/. Up, up, up and down, down, down. This time, the architectural wonder was not on the edge of a cliff, but on an island high on a hill (or mount). And depending on the tide, to get access, one must catch a boat or walk across the water on a path visible only during low tide. How cool is that? Below is a video showing that phenomenon:

Here are some images of the lush property and landscape, the setting for many folk legends. A battle, during the War of Roses in 1473 was fought here, then later a chapel was built in the 1400s. It was added to, then came the castle (1600s) and finally the East Wing, inhabited by the St. Aubyn family since the 1800s, although the family owned the property since the 1600s. Here's a fascinating fact: it's patterned after Mont St Michel in France. Find out more history here: https://stmichaelsmount.co.uk/explore-the-mount/history-legends/ Enjoy your armchair tour. Believe me, you will be thankful to have avoided the steep and uneven stone stairs leading to the top!

---

Well, that's enough for now. I'll save the second half of our trip for next month. I’m scheduled for robotic knee surgery on September 26th, so it will be easier for me to create my blogpost this way. Hopefully, I will feel up to the challenge!

Have you visited Cornwall? Or anywhere else in the UK? What is on your bucket list? I'd love to know below!