A weekend in Devon/Cornwall

Hiii. Missed me? 

These blog posts are becoming about as erratic as London weather 😅 and for that I apologize. BUT I want to make a 2023 goal to do more reels/maybe even tik tok so be on the look out on those platforms, but I’ll at least try to do one a month on here.

I’m currently on the train back to London after a lush weekend out in Devon/Cornwall. One of my work colleagues was sweet enough to offer I come visit her, and it just so happened this was the only weekend we both were free for the rest of the year, so I snapped at the chance to escape from the city and head down southwest.

We had grand plans to do some big hikes along the coast and run around the counties, however my clumsy self slipped on a wet leaf Wednesday and completely busted up my left ankle 👍🏻 So we went for a more relaxed, quick snapshot of both Cornwall & Devon while also getting in girl chats, red wine, and puppy cuddles.

How to get there

By train: The closest station to my friend’s home was Newton Abbot, which if you catch the right train is about 2.5 hours from London Paddington. Round trip can cost anywhere from £80-150 roundtrip depending on if it’s peak season (June-August).

*Insider tip- sit on the left side coming in as the train follows right along the beautiful coastline

By car: It certainly helps to have a car in the further parts of Cornwall, but it’s a long drive from London! 5.5 hours to be precise.

Where to stay

I unfortunately can’t give the best recommendations as I stayed with my friend in Ivybridge, however if you want to splurge the Carbis Bay resort was stunning and right on the beach in Cornwall and is reasonable pricing for off season. One night runs ~£300 and includes time at the spa and dinner! Plus look at those beach views 😍

Cornwall

Saturday morning we got going fairly early to drive down to Cornwall. Technically, you are in Cornwall just as you cross the Tamar Bridge in Plymouth, but we were going wayyy down closer to Lands End (the furthest western part of England). The journey took about 1.5 hours, but its mostly one lane roads so if you get stopped behind a tractor/truck, it may take longer!

Some quick fun facts about Cornwall

• Like Wales, the Cornish actually have a bit of their own language called Kernewek as well as their own flag! No wonder people think it’s a whole different country down here haha.

• The county Cornwall has over 300 beaches!

• Cornwall’a motto is “Owen Hag aoll” (One and all) we love the inclusivity!

• There are quite a few Cornish treats to try while you are visiting. Cream teas (which I’d basicaly classify as HUGE scones), Cornish Ice Cream, and a Cornish pasties (like a beef welllington-esque pastry)

After grabbing a quick coffee at the Carbis Bay cafe, we went on a 1.15 mile walk along the coastline to St Ives, a quaint fishing town. St. Ives is really lovely and can easily be explored in half a day before hopping to the next beach town.

Taking a break for my ankle from walking, we grabbed a quick drink & snacks from The Balcony, which has great views out to the beach. I really liked trying cocktails using local Cornish gin. Plus dog friendly 🤗

Obviously seafood is a great choice down in Cornwall. Another cute place next door was The rum & crab shack, which gave me major St Pete FL nostalgia. I can just imagine this whole boardwalk of restaurants are packed during the summer months.

One of my favorite things about visiting St Ives was strolling along Fore Street, where you can shop lots of local independent stores. From artwork, wool clothing, jewelry, or liquor, there’s something for everyone. I actually found a liquor store that makes their own rum!

Another great part of coming to Cornwall in the off season is when the tide is low, people bring their dogs out on leash to run around and play. My friend’s dog was living his best life splashing in the puddles!

After a day of exploring, we took the trail back to the car and came back to the house for pizza and movie night. My kind of Saturday!

Plymouth

Sunday we made our way into the town of Plymouth because there was a Remembrance Day service at the Citadel. Considered “Britains Ocean City”, Plymouth is speckled along coastline and harbors.

The views out to the hoe and barbican were gorgeous, and in the summer they even fill the empty basin as shown in the photo above to create a public saltwater swimming pool.

This is also where the citadel is located, so there is a lot of military influence. We were heading into Plymouth to see the Remembrance Day service at the Citadel. For American reference, this is like our Veterans Day. It was fascinating seeing the famous British pageantry & the personal touches made with families of those who’ve fallen presenting a poppy wreath.

After the service, we walked back down to the harbour area where there are lot’s of pubs & cute restaurants all along the water. Most infamous of them would be The Navy Inn, or “Naked Bar”. Legend has it, if someone yells NAKED, they all strip down. I don’t know this from experience, only word-of-mouth 😂

Since I had to catch my train in the afternoon, we didn’t get to explore much of Plymouth and instead just enjoyed the sunshine with a drink at Pier Masters.

So there you have it, my very quick but relaxing weekend down Southwest. If you’re lucky and have more time than I did, here’s a few other suggestions on things to do:

• Head out to Dartmoor to see ponies

• Do a Plymouth Gin distillery tour & tasting

• Go down to Salcombe, which has gorgeous coastline walking trails & beach town vibes.

• Head to the Duke of Cornwall for afternoon tea

• Dance the night away at the Loft in Plymouth

• Visit Delamore house for some Bridgerton vibes

Sincerely,

Sarah

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