With only a few weeks left before Christmas, you may have your entire festive period organised. But if you are thinking about a last-minute getaway over the Christmas and New Year break, Cornwall has something to offer everyone.
With regular flights to Cornwall Airport Newquay from Manchester, London Gatwick, Dublin, Birmingham and Leeds-Bradford, you could be celebrating on the beach in just a few hours.
So if spending the festive period somewhere different does appeal, what does Cornwall have to offer?
A Christmas Day Dip
A great tradition throughout Cornwall is the Christmas Day or Boxing Day swim – if you want to be taken seriously, just forget the wetsuit! Many events ban anything other than swimsuits or fancy dress, and often hundreds will turn up (although this may also be for the mulled cider on offer).
St Agnes, Coverack, Bude, Sennen and Polzeath are some of the villages that organise a Christmas Day swim, with Poldhu, St Ives and Charlestown running theirs on Boxing Day. Perfect for working some of that Christmas chocolate off!
We have some great Christmas Lights
Many villages in the county pride themselves on their Christmas light displays. Mousehole’s lights are legendary, with the village and harbour illuminated from 16th December through to 4th January. Angarrack, near Hayle, is also popular with locals and visitors alike, with many villagers lighting up their houses and gardens for charity.
After Dark at The Eden Project
Seeing the Eden Project at any time of the year is spectacular but their new ‘After Dark’ experience includes giant projections, light sculptures and live music. This is in addition to the annual Santa’s Grotto, festive horticulture displays, craft activities and ice skating, and gives all the family the chance to ramp up the Christmas spirit. Runs 24th November to 30th December.
Enjoy some Theatre in the Woods
Rogue Theatre’s annual shows around Christmas are famous in Cornwall, an immersive outdoor experience taking place in Tehidy Woods, regardless of the weather. This years Winter Wood offers myth, legend and festive spirit up to three times a day in the run up to the New Year.
Celebrate heading into 2019 on the beach
New Year celebrations are often associated with big cities, but the compact sizes and great locations of many Cornish villages can mean that they are a fantastic place to end one year and see in the next.
St Ives is one of the best known, with the streets around the harbour closed to traffic and the party spilling onto the beach if the tide allows. Make sure you dress up so that you don’t feel like the odd one out and enjoy the fireworks lighting up this picturesque village as the clock strikes midnight.
Flybe flies from Manchester, London Gatwick, Birmingham and Leeds-Bradford.
Aer Lingus fly from Dublin into Cornwall Airport Newquay.
