Yearly Archives - 2021

What Does St Ives Cornwall (UK) Have To Offer?
10Mar

What Does St Ives Cornwall (UK) Have To Offer?

Found at the north coast, St Ives is one of the most loved and well received destinations not just within Cornwall, but across the UK. When you see the scenery, the reason becomes obvious with the built in town on the narrow peninsula, surrounded by many gorgeous sandy beaches.

St Ives & Why You Need To Go

In this article, we will dissect the reasons why you need to visit; the things you can do and the sights you can see within St Ives Cornwall, UK.

Things To Do In St Ives, Cornwall

To start, we will go into depth about the things you can do within St Ives, and then we will look into the jaw-dropping views.

What Does St Ives Cornwall (UK) Have To Offer? Tate St IvesTate St Ives

Tate is a recently built gallery within St Ives that opened its doors in 1993. During the construction stages, it was a talking point throughout Cornwall itself as many speculated this new arrival. The Tate gallery overlooks the Porthmeor beach, giving you the true Cornwall experience right at the iconic entrance of this building.   Tate provides an intriguing collection of art that you can freely roam around to see, including artists such as Alfred Wallis.

What Does St Ives Cornwall (UK) Have To Offer? SurfingSurfing

Surfing is not as uncommon as you think within Cornwall as many love to surf upon these luscious vibrant waves.   St. Ives provides the most popular surfing destination within Cornwall, mainly because of it’s shores. During the winter, Porthmeor offers one of the most ‘challenging’ waves for surfers wanting this challenge. However, surfing doesn't end at Porthmeor, you’d be surprised at the amount of hidden areas in St Ives that also produce fantastic waves.

What Does St Ives Cornwall (UK) Have To Offer? Seal IslandSeal Island

Cornwall is known for its wildlife and has many seal sanctuaries across the area. Seal island is just off the beaches at St Ives an d as the name suggests, the island is populated with grey seals.   You can get to this island by using the St Ives harbour that does trips on a daily basis. From this island, not only can you see the seals and their natural habitat, but you are able to soak the views of Porthmeor and surrounding beaches.

What Does St Ives Cornwall (UK) Have To Offer? The Beaches

Sights To See

We could be here all day explaining to you what makes St Ives a great tourist destination and what you can do, but what could you see in St Ives?

The Beaches

The main attraction to see at Cornwall has to be the sea views and the glorious geology of the beaches across the coast.   The beaches are quite easily the blessing in Cornwall with 4 main beaches along the coast. Porthmeor is the best known of these main beaches as it looks out to the Atlantic ocean. There are many other signature beaches like; Porthminster Beach, Harbour Beach and Porthgwidden Beach, but I’d recommend you read our other article going into depth of the best sea views within Cornwall.

What Does St Ives Cornwall (UK) Have To Offer? Barbara Hepworth Sculpture GardenBarbara Hepworth Sculpture Garden

There is no doubt that one of the places you need to see is the Barbara Hepworth garden full of artistic sculptures.   Barbara was most well known for her abstract sculptures she had created which were placed in a museum before she was tragically killed in 1975. Her workspaces and gardens are open to the public to visit after her death.   We hope you found this list interesting and wish you luck on your future endeavours to Cornwall, we would love to see you!
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Best Sea Views In Cornwall
10Mar

Best Sea Views In Cornwall

Further reading:    In today’s article, we break down the best potential sea views across Cornwall, this list was very difficult to choose from.

The Best Views For The Cornwall Sea

Best Sea Views In Cornwall St. Michaels Mount

St. Michaels Mount

To start our list we thought we would choose something impressive, and these words don't come from us, they come from the tourists that have visited St. Michaels Mount.   What is less impressive than a castle, sat high upon a steep hill and this hill is surrounded by the sea, making it one of the most beautiful sea views upon the cornish coast. From any possible angle, the mount is a jaw dropping few, its gorgeous scenery makes it a staple attraction, not only in Cornwall, but within the United Kingdom.   Off the coast of the Marazion, you can book to visit St. Michael’s Mount on your adventure to Cornwall.

Porthcurno Beach

Best Sea Views In Cornwall Porthcurno Beach

No matter what coastal path you take within Cornwall, it is difficult to find a place that isn’t beautiful.   Porthcurno is a sandy beach, with a gateway to the definition of gorgeous as you look out at the sea view. Most known for its luscious turquoise waters, Porthcurno beach is a place you cannot miss when travelling to Cornwall.   Anyone can visit the coast path of Porthcurno beach and is a very dog friendly place (only in july and august).

Portwrinkle Beach

Best Sea Views In Cornwall Portwrinkle Beach

Looe is one of the places to go when looking for the best views in Cornwall, but more specifically Portwrinkle beach is a great choice to visit.   Portwrinkle Beach is off the south of Cornwall, based in Looe. Originally, it was an old fishing village in the 17th century, making it a good tourist attraction choice if you can adventure without shops! It had a car park cafe, allowing you to relax and breath the Cornish air upon Portwrinkle beach.   Like Porthcurno beach, Portwrinkle beach has a seasonal ban in place for dogs (July & August are the only exceptions), but anyone can visit Portwrinkle beach at any time.

The Lizard Peninsula

At the south of Cornwall is where the Lizard Peninsula exists. It’s looks huge when stood upon the cliff tops, giving this area a place on the “best sea views in Cornwall” list.   What makes the Lizard Peninsula special is it’s extremely rare geology and scenery, making it a beautiful place for plants to grow. Surrounding the peninsula are restaurants that specialise in freshly caught seafood that you can snack on as the peninsula’s air hits your face, a true holiday resort.   With many things to do and many places to visit, the Peninsula is arguably the best place to visit in Cornwall and even the entirety of the UK.   Here at TwiceAsNice, we hope this article has helped you pick a place you would love to visit within while staying with us in Cornwall, UK.    We would love to hear about your experiences if you have been, thank you for reading.
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How Good Is Surfing In Cornwall UK?
25Jan

How Good Is Surfing In Cornwall UK?

How good is surfing in Cornwall?

Cornwall County has a variety of attractions that make it a popular destination throughout the year. The milder climate is an allure to all Britons. The ideal location bordering the Atlantic Ocean provides a long coastline suitable for maritime sports. Cornwall has close to two hundred beaches that complement the variety of sports and especially surfing.  Surfing is a sport whereby one rides on the top of a wave while standing or lying on a surfboard. There are numerous surfing spots. Certain spots satisfy the dream of a surfer. Surfers are travellers and are always in search of the ultimate wave. Beaches do not have the same wave quality. Surfers sit within proximity as they have identified the wave that brings the best thrill.  At Cornwall, several beaches are renowned around the world. Various factors determine a surfing spot. Firstly, there is a wide swell window. A swell is a subsequent series of mechanical waves that move along the interface between water and air. Reliable offshore winds facilitate this.  Secondly, there is to be a long-wave face. The wave face ought to break down steadily. An ideal surf spot should provide these waves throughout the year. The long stretch of beach and warm temperatures has made Cornwall the United Kingdom's surfing capital. It hosts several professional surfing competitions in Europe. The most visited surfing beach in Cornwall is the Fistral beach at Newquay. Fistral beach provides swells of up to eight feet. Many individuals rush here in the summer as it gets crowded. It is amongst the best-surfing destinations. High cliffs and dunes support the beach. It has held several surfing competitions such as the Famous Night Surf, Broad Masters championship, and National Surf championship. Gwithian beach has a long beach supported by dunes which makes it ideal for surfing. The constant swell throughout the year brings in many enthusiasts.  There are several shops and restaurants for enthusiasts. Many shops offer surfing gear for hire at affordable rates. Once at Cornwall, one cannot lack a surfing spot. This makes it the ideal surfing destination due to its numerous locations. Cornwall is a popular surfing destination as it also provides surfing training. There are several surfing schools for beginners. The Escape Surf School at Newquay has over fifteen years’ experience teaching surfing. Training involves how to hold the surfboard and get to feet to surf. Stabilising the surfboard is critical to enjoying the surf.  Fistral Beach Surf School is open throughout the year and enjoys the most surf training in the United Kingdom. General surfing safety tips are available. These include keeping a safe distance from other surfers and the board's position when a wave is coming.  There are plenty of other schools in Cornwall. These include Padstow to Bude and other areas. If one is seeking to surf in the UK, then Cornwall County provides the best surfing spots. Those with limited experience are welcome as there are several training facilities. The professionals are encouraged to sign up for one of the surfing competitions and display their skills amongst the best.
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Is Cornwall A Great Place For Families To Travel?
18Jan

Is Cornwall A Great Place For Families To Travel?

The county of Kernow is as diverse as anywhere else in the world, filled with awesome Cornwall destinations that will blow your mind. From quaint fishing villages to sandy beaches, miles of craggy granite coasts to verdant forests, open moors to exceptional architecture and everything in between, you need not fail to visit some of them when you pass by. There is a world full of wonder twice as nice awaiting the kids with destinations such as Adrenalin Quarry in Liskeard, Lappa Valley in St Newlyn East, Camel Creek Adventure Park in Wadebridge, Tamar Valley Donkey Park and St Ann's Chapel, and Cardinham Woods, Bodmin. Some of the most interesting places to visit with family include:

Padstow – Foodies’ Palace

Wondering where to get some grubs in this wonderful city? Look no further than Padstow which is by a long shot the best place for a tourist’s food break. You could have an outdoor dinner every night in this beautiful seaside town. In an attempt to fill out your taste buds, purpose to visit one of the four Rick Stein’s restaurants and if you are a curious cyclist, Padstow also offers a great location to stay in awaiting the renowned Camel Cycle Trail.

Newquay – Surfers’ Heaven

Newquay fascinates global sufferers because of its constant array of waves and spectacular beaches such as Great Western Beach, Watergate Bay, and Fistral Beach. It also frequently hosts surfing tournaments and events including the yearly Board-masters Festival, branding it of the best places to go on vacation in Cornwall for those who fancy surfing breaks.

St. Ives – For Lovers Of Art

This is the art centre of Cornwall and the home of the Barbara Hepworth Museum, Sculpture Garden, and Tate St Ives alongside many other smaller galleries. It attracts world-class artists, exhibitions, and events all year long, you will always be right if you are searching for Cornwall's art scene. Similarly, St Ives is a lively and vibrant seashore town with numerous popular beaches in the area.

Fowey – Couples’ Paradise

This is for those who fancy history and love to learn about the encouragement behind the works of favourite authors. Fowey is one of the top-tier places to visit in Cornwall. You can learn about Kenneth Graeme’s motivation for his well-known story of delightful Wind in the Willows River Cruise which is at Fowey Estuary.

Port Isaac - Best For Walkers

Any clue where that famous TV series about hot-tempered Doc Martin was shot? Well, if you visit Port Isaac, you may spot the landscape and perhaps some of the places in the area. Explore and see if you can locate the houses that were Doc Martin’s neighbours. It is also an excellent getaway destination to free oneself from the hustle and bustle of the city. Set off to the stunning rugged coastline, its elegant spot for strollers boasting of its easy access to the South West Coast Path.

Final Thoughts

It feels all too rewarding to see Cornwall feature in one of the top family and peer destinations, with the rise of staycations which immensely buzzes the market. Family retreats are usually full of fun entertaining activities for young stars and the whole family ranging from waterparks to boat trips.
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02Jan

A New Year, A New You

Will 2021 bring any of us good fortune, or will it be more of the same?

This is probably the hardest start of a New Year that any of us have ever faced. Usually, December 31st is full of people wishing each other good luck on the stroke of midnight, exchanging hugs and kisses. This year, it’s more likely to be a collective worldwide deep breath while we brace ourselves for whatever January brings. 2020 has brought us the hardest 12 months in modern history. This year, there will be no Times Square celebrations, no crowding along Princes’ Street in Edinburgh to watch the amazing fireworks displays, in fact, this new year eve we will all be staying home - just like every other day of the year in 2020. To celebrate the new year, usually by means of giant New Year’s Eve parties, is one of our most cherished years on year traditions. But when the clock strikes midnight this year, will we even really notice? The start of 2021 is likely to bring even stricter lockdown restrictions across most, if not all, of the UK. With the NHS seemingly about to crumble under the pressure of Covid admissions, cases higher than at the peak of the first wave, and the Nightingale hospitals all scrapped due to a lack of staff to operate them, how can we possibly be facing anything other than a second national lockdown to start the New Year? It’s highly likely that this year’s New Year resolutions will be more like ‘I must not hoard toilet paper’ rather than anything truly life-changing, because, honestly, how can we collectively cope with any dramatic changes in our lives when the high likelihood of a national lockdown is the only thought in our minds? So if there’s any chance of the ‘new year, new you’ that this time of year usually brings out in all of us taking place this year, it’s got to be in the simple things in life. None of us is in the frame of mind to cope with anything major in our lives right now, not when we have the major thought of an out-of-control pandemic to occupy our daily lives. Simple, yet effective, changes to our everyday lives are likely to be all we can cope with right now. The easiest one for us all to make is to take that daily walk, for a full hour, and work at increasing our pace and distance covered over time. Getting outside in the fresh air is vital at all times, but when we’re locked in our homes for extended periods of time, it becomes even more important than ever before to make sure we go outside and move around on a daily basis. Getting outside for some fresh air In our part of the world, going for a walk along Cornwall’s glorious beaches and surrounding countryside is no hardship at all, in fact, it’s an absolute pleasure at any time of the year. In winter, the miles of golden sands and beaches that Hayle and the nearby towns are famous for maybe somewhat colder than in the summer months, but they are every bit as beautiful. It’s oddly deserted right now, but still bleakly wonderful here. We can’t wait to welcome visitors, and their dogs, back to our chalets sometime this year. We obviously hope it’s going to be very soon that we get the okay from the Government to begin taking bookings and renting out our pretty little homes-away-from-home, but, let’s be clear, all of our lives are more important than a holiday. Right now we need to all do our part to get through this. We can though, make sure we look after ourselves while we do so. Getting outside for that brisk long daily walk will be hugely helpful to you. And if you don’t have miles of golden beaches to walk along right now, don’t worry, we’ll be here for you before you know it. Have a Happy New Year from all us in Hayle, at Twice As Nice Holiday Chalets.
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Staycation - The Covid-Friendly Holiday
01Jan

Staycation – The Covid-Friendly Holiday

Well, it’s been quite the year, hasn’t it?! No-one’s New Year’s predictions last year could have possibly come close to the reality of 2020, that’s for sure. As we exit one of the most testing years in modern history, we may all be thinking longingly about a holiday away to rest, recharge, and recuperate. But are we safe to do so?  Venues, heritage sites, and tourist attractions remain closed. Most of the country’s counties and cities are within high-risk areas (as this article is being written, London and the whole of the South-East are about to enter into Tier 3 restrictions too). Public transport has almost ground to a halt, except in the cities, as Covid really strikes hard. So how can we even begin to plan a holiday for 2021 safely? When will we be able to get into a swimming pool at a holiday resort again, and is holidaying in Britain going to be that much safer?  With the restrictions on air travel set to continue, that last point looks to be a definite ‘yes’. So the good old-fashioned British Staycation looks to be back with a bang: but is it? With international borders either closed or imposing strict quarantine regulations - of up to 14 days for some countries - for the first time in living memory, holidaying within the UK is highly likely to be big business in 2021...providing we’re out of our current Tier 3 lockdown, of course. If we all wear masks and practice social distancing, can we guarantee that we won’t catch Covid if we go for a holiday anywhere in the British Isles? Sadly, it seems as though the answer right now is an emphatic ‘no’, so we do need to first make sure we’re all safe to travel. Right now, all the devolved countries in the UK - England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - have different rules and may require you to self-isolate even when travelling within the UK.  But, does that mean you shouldn’t plan a getaway in the Peak District or Cornwall for next year? No, but it does mean you should plan sensibly. At present, if you’re in a Tier 3 area - which most of the Country now is - you can’t travel out of your immediate area for a holiday, no matter how much you may want to. It’s not all doom and gloom though: the vaccine has arrived and has already begun to be delivered around the country. With the vaccine now being rolled out, starting with health workers and the most vulnerable in our society, we have the first glimmer of hope that we may achieve normality early in 2021. We’re not there yet of course, and there’s an anxious time ahead as we wait to see what damage the Christmas relaxation will do. But if we all now stick to the rules, it does seem as though the finish line may be in sight. So wash your hands, sanitise them - and everything you touch - regularly, wear a mask at all times when you leave home, keep two metres apart (especially in places where you don’t know the other people, like at the shops) and remain vigilant at all times. If we do all that, 2021 should be able to bring us the opportunity to relax, away from it all on a beautiful Cornish beach, with the people we love. We can’t wait to welcome you again, but, until it’s safe, please do continue to be extra careful and to look after those around you.
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