1.Walks

Cornish folk spend a lot of their time on their feet during the winter, and with the South-West coast path offering over 300 miles of coastline to explore it’s no wonder why! Hike some clifftop walks on the north coast, or visit the calm and sheltered banks of the Helford River.

2. Tate St Ives

Wandering around the newly refurbished Tate St Ives will allow you to look at the Cornish landscape with fresh eyes. The perfect day out for a rainy day in Cornwall. Drink a hot chocolate on the top floor and enjoy wintry views of the sea over the rooftops stretching out towards Godrevy.

3. The Eden Project

Make use of the ice-skating rink at The Eden Project before warming up in the sub-tropical biome. There are few better ways to escape the chill in Cornwall this winter!

4. National Maritime Museum Cornwall

Explore Cornwall from the comfort of this incredible museum in Falmouth, with exhibits on all things maritime certain to delight anyone with even a passing interest in boats.

5. Visit a famous Cornish garden

The famous Cornish Gardens of Trebah, and the Lost Gardens of Heligan are wonderful for crisp winter walks in Cornwall. Get lost among the plant life and wonder at what can grow in Cornwall during the winter months.

6. Go storm watching at Porthleven

Images of Portleven make the news at least once each winter, as storms roll in and batter the harbour side in the most dramatic fashion. Watching the waves from the safety of one of the cosy pubs is a firm favourite pastime of ours during the winter, one of our favourite things to do in Cornwall just gets even better when the weather is really wet and windy.

7. Visit the Minack Theatre

Sitting outside in the winter to watch a play might not sound like one of the best things to do in Cornwall this winter, but The Minack is not your normal theatre! Hewn from the cliffs above Porthcurno especially for a performance of ‘The Tempest’, it’s worth a visit even if there’s nothing playing.

8. Have a hot chocolate taste test

With a thriving coffee and cafe scene, we’ve set ourselves the challenge of tasting every hot chocolate in the county. Whilst our final verdict is not yet in, we can say that they always seem to taste better with a great view! Try Gylly Beach Cafe in Falmouth, or The Unicorn in Porthtowan.

9. Go swimming

Whilst swimming in the sea might be out, Ships and Castles in Falmouth offer a great fun way to get into the water.

10. Watch a film at an independent cinema

The Poly in Falmouth plays a range of movies from old classics to new ones. Visit the Newlyn Film House on your way home after an afternoon in Mousehole.

11. Take a scenic drive

When it’s a bit too windy for a clifftop walk, seeing the dramatic scenery from the road is the second-best thing. Journey from St Ives to St Just along the B3306, stopping off at the Gurnard’s Head for lunch.

12. Visit a country house

Often decked out for Christmas, step into a vision of Cornwall past by visiting a country house. Trelissick and Godolphin are two of the best, looked after by the National Trust. A visit to St Michael’s Mount is an unforgettable experience at any time of year.