Cornwall advice

All I can tell you is a few of my favorite places. The Minack is wonderful. Add Tintagle Castle, Tintagle Postoffice, Port Isaac (if you like Doc Martin), The Lost Gardens of Heligen, The Edin Project, Lands End (just so you can say you were there).
I'm no help with itineraries but, Cornwall is so small and so beautiful, IMHO you need only to decide where you want to stay and make day trips. The time before last I was there we based in Mevagissey. Love it. One of our favorite "sports" was watching cars trying to navigate the narrow streets. Mousehole is also cute. Smaller than Mevagissey and with fewer pubs. Try to get to The Lizard also.

We stayed in Penzance and checked out Cornwall by day trips (as Laurel's states it's not a huge area). Penzance is easy to drive around compared to the narrow, one way streets of St Ives. The Minack theatre was one of the high lights of this trip - don't forget to go for a stroll on the beach below. Park at Sennen Cove and take the easy trail to Lands End - very rugged coast line. St Michael's Mount is a worth the low tide walk. For St Ives, park ASAP and walk or take transit into the center. If you would like our recommended B&B for Penzance just reply back. Good travels.

I would love the name of the B&B. Also, driving times from Penzance to other spots. I'm reading a lot about traffic- we will be there mid week.

We were very happy with our stay out on the Lizard at Housel Bay Hotel........Staying in the country it was easy to get out to other sites - we enjoyed Lost Gardens of Heligan, Mousehole, Merry Maidens Stone Circle, Men-en-Tol, Zennor, St. Ives, Tintagel, Dozmary Pool, Restormel Castle, and just poking around the various coves. The south shore is softer than the north shore which has rocky cliffs.......If you want to try the north shore, we stayed at Headlands Hotel on an earlier Cornwall trip. It's very close to Point Issac.......Land's End is a bit of a tourist trap, just like John o'Groats in Scotland, up at the opposite corner of the island......Both of the hotels I mention are small hotels which serve dinner; people sit around and chat in the lounge in the evening. Nice atmosphere at both and both have great views.

We stayed at the Glencree House in Penzance (hosts Lynsey & Andrew). It's in RS's guide and is a lovely house with an excellent breakfast. Check their web site. There's parking on the street and a short walk (1 1/2 blocks max.) to the water. Take a nice stroll along the seaside promenade into the center of town. Don't miss a meal at the Dolphin Inn - a nice pub on the edge of the harbour. More than just seafood, I had a great pork loin dinner there. A real character bar decorated with all sorts of maritime memorabilia. To give you an idea of times: we drove over to the Minack theatre, wandered around, drove down to the beach, wandered around, drove to Sennen Cove, walked the trail to Lands End, looked around, returned to Sennen Cove, drove back to St Michaels Mount, walked out and back and then returned to our B&B, walked into town and had a late dinner. WE do not rush but we also do not loaf and my wife takes a lot of photos so this was all accomplished at a very easy pace. Hope this helps with times.

Mosehole, very small fishing village near Penzance. Takke the time to just wander around the harbor and have a fish lunch. Small, so no need to rush through it. Lands End, quite dramatic St Ives "artsy" with a cute harbor. Tin mines
You can easily get to Devon and even Somerset sights- Dartmoor, Exmoor, Tarr steps (ancient clapper bridge)Clovelly, Dunster (nice little town with wonderful main street), Selworthy village. We even pushed to Doone valley

Joanne, While looking at B&B's, take a look at the one we stayed at in Mevagissey. ALSO do not forget to have a cream tea with proper Cornish clotted cream.
www.buckinghamhousemevagissey.co.uk

HIGHLY recommend Downs Barn Farm B&B in St. Buryan, just outside Penzance. 2 beautiful bedrooms, wonderful hospitality, and close to Minack, Merry Maidens stone circle, St. Michaels Mount, Mousehole, Lands End, etc. Check out Downs Barn Farm on Tripadvisor.

Lands End was a tourist trap. Loved, loved, loved Minack Theatre! Stayed in Penzance and loved it.

Thanks to all who responded. We have booked 2 nights at teh Glencree House and will travle there from Bath- Has anyone done this? How long did it take and what did you see along the way. i am trying to decide between the north (stopping at Cheddar, Tinagel or??) or south routes ( maybe through Dartmoor) to arrive at Penzance before dark. The minack has a show at 8- has anyone seen the evening shows? Would you recommend? Lots of questions! Thanks in Advance

Lands End is what it is. You don't have to spend any money doing tourist trappy things if you don't want to. Cheddar or Tintagel. I've been to both. Tintagel no question.

Lands end is one of those special places- avoid the 'tourist cliches' if you wish, but do go out to the end and enjoy the view. tintagel is similar, the castle ruins are extremely interesting, the village itself seems overrun with tourist traps. But you dont have to indulge in the traps

Joanne, my wife and I are heading to Cornwall (also by car from Bath) in June. Plan now is to stay in St. Ives (Primrose Valley Hotel) and train from Penzance back to London to end our trip. Primrose Valley looks like a nice place. I would be happy to message you after I return with anything we can learn about Cornwall or places we stop on our drive from Bath to St. Ives, if you like.