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Can you recommend a base in Cornwall?

Hello,

Looking for a place to use as a base to visit Cornwall over 2 1/2 days........

We want to do a stop at St. Michaels Mount on arrival day.....then onto Mousehole, St Ives, Land's End. the on the last day the coast up to Tintagel before we are then going to Bath that night.

Would you use one place as a base or 2 separate nights in 2 separate locations.

We will have a car. We will be coming from Windsor the first day by the way of Stonehenge. (We land then go directly to Windsor for 2 nights then Cornwall and this is mid-October)

thank you for any and all advice.

Posted by
3122 posts

You're tracing a route that doesn't really lend itself to a central base. On your first day, if you're leaving from Windsor and stopping to see Stonehenge, you will not have time to do justice to St. Michael's Mount. Note that Stonehenge is not just a matter of parking your car and having a look at the henge -- the car park is next to the (excellent & large) visitor centre, with indoor and outdoor exhibits, and you can either walk or take a shuttle bus about 1/4 mile to the henge and back. No matter what route you take from Stonehenge to Cornwall, you'll be mostly on secondary roads so your average speed will not be much more than 40 mph. Taking that into consideration, your first night might be in Truro, the only city in Cornwall.

Next morning, head for St. Michael's Mount, then on to Penzance, Mousehole, St. Ives. Well, I guess you could return to Truro for the night, but if I were you I'd stay in Tintagel or someplace near it for the second night. Then in the morning you could walk around and enjoy the charms of Tintagel before you get on the road toward Bath.

In mid-October the days are relatively short, so you'll want to make the most of the daylight while it lasts. Also be aware that some seasonal places will have closed. St. Michael's Mount castle is open (except Saturdays), but the gardens appear to be closed for the season.

Posted by
776 posts

OMG......I missed an entire day in this description.....I think I need to get more sleep.....

So sorry about the confusing post.

The day we leave Windsor we are stopping at Stonehenge and then driving towards Saint Michaels Mount (not sure where to sleep that night or if we will even see the mount that day) and then the next day starting our visit to the area.

Posted by
3122 posts

Ah! Glad to see there is an additional day allotted.

The day you leave Windsor, you definitely will not have time to see St. Michael's Mount. Remember the tides as well as castle closing time. Even if you skip Stonehenge or just glimpse it as you drive past on the A303.

Overnight in Truro probably makes sense, but if you want enough time to really experience Stonehenge and the nearby Woodhenge, you could sleep in Exeter or Plymouth.

Posted by
776 posts

Good info.....thanks for the recommendations. Will look into them asap.