6 Delicious Reasons to Visit Cornwall this Summer

With 300 miles of glorious coastline, an inspiring field-to-fork restaurant scene and some of the UK's most idyllic hotels, there's so much more to Cornwall than cider and pasties 1. Have a shell-cracking feast on Bryher Visitors to the idyllic Hell Bay hotel on the island of Bryher, off the coast of Cornwall, can gorge on all kinds of tasty crustaceans this summer at its annual pop up eatery, Crab Shack. From May to September, amazing claw-cracking feasts are held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings. The rustic banquet, popular with islanders and tourists alike, offers crab, mussels and scallops fresh from the surrounding waters, served up with hearty chunks of fresh bread, fries and salad. Aprons, messy fingers and shell-cracking are all part of the experience! hellbay.co.uk 2. Sleep with a sea view When it comes to hotels with great food and breathtaking views, Cornwall has some real beauties to choose from. The Scarlett, perched on the cliffs overlooking the golden sands of Mawgan Porth in North Cornwall, takes eco-chic to the next level. This sustainable hotel has clearly been designed with the surrounding landscape firmly in mind, taking full advantage of the thrilling cliff top location and sea views. Highlights include the outdoor 'natural pool', which is free from chemicals and uses a living reed bed as a filtration system, and the wonderful cliff top hot tubs nestled nearby, where you can warm up and take in the views with a glass of bubbly. Or, for a thoroughly modern beach break, try The Beach at Bude – a stunning boutique hotel with an impressive two AA rosette restaurant headed up by local up-andcomer Joe Simmonds. scarlethotel.co.uk and thebeachatbude.co.uk 3. Eat field to fork at Nancarrow Owned by the same family since 1782, Nancarrow is a gorgeous organic farm near Truro hosting a number of exciting events throughout the year. Raising beef, lamb and pork alongside vegetable plots, the farm’s magical seasonal feasts provide guests with a rare opportunity to enjoy produce in the setting in which it has been reared and grown. Nancarrow’s chefs are immersed in farm life, from planning the kitchen garden to butchering the livestock, so fantastic food and drink is assured; think glowing festoon lights, beef smouldering on a courtyard fire pit and lots of local tipples. Last autumn Nancarrow hosted '1,000 Mouths’, a collaborative effort between leading chefs to prepare a series of feasts for 1,000 people using a single bullock. A similar event is planned to take place in October, so look out for it! nancarrowfarm.co.uk 4. Visit ice cream heaven A whole farm dedicated to ice cream? Sounds good to us! The Parker family have been making the creamiest Cornish ice cream on Callestick Farm near Truro since 1989, always using top quality milk from their own grass fed cows. You can grab a scoop fresh from the farm – where you can also see the ice cream being made – or pick up a tub from shops and cafes all over Cornwall. Top flavours include Clotted Cream & Rhubarb, Lemon Curd and Sticky Toffee Pudding. callestickfarm.co.uk 5. Feast on real ale and stunning pub grub Founded in 1851, St Austell Brewery is one of the county's oldest and most exciting producers. And as well as producing numerous delicious ales, they also run some of Cornwall’s best pubs, inns and hotels. One of our favourites is The Chain Locker – a charming and cosy inn with luxurious rooms, located on Falmouth’s Custom House Quay inside one of the town’s oldest buildings. Whatever the time of year, glorious oysters and fresh seafood can be found on the menu – delicious washed down with a pint of Proper Job, St Austell Brewery’s multi-award-winning IPA. For more information, visit westcountryinns.co.uk or staustellbrewery.co.uk 6. Try perfect handmade pasties With an artisan bakery, well-stocked deli and one of the best selections of cheese in the area, Etherington’s Farm Shop in Scorrier is a true celebration of Cornish produce. Selling everything from freshly baked sausage rolls and perfectly aged steaks, to artisan preserves and charcuterie, it’s a great spot if you want to shop for gifts, pick up some treats for a picnic or even stock up your holiday home kitchen. The farm shop also sells a great range of beers and fine wines and the gin selection is seriously impressive, with local options including Tarquin’s, Trevathan and Curio. Etherington’s Bakery is famous for its Cornish pasties – the team hand-make and crimp nearly 1,000 a day – which are also available to buy online, while the on-site Butchery Academy offers courses on knife skills, sausage making and more. etherington-meats.co.uk