Cornwall has it all for groups
Cornwall is one of the UK's favourite summer destinations, and whilst visitors flock to this far west corner for its sandy beaches, delve a little deeper and you will find there is a lot more to see and enjoy.
A host of world class galleries and museums, boat trips, cliff top walking, cycling are just a few ideas. If history and heritage is more your group's thing, there are a host of historic houses, castles, museums and World Heritage Sites. Plus there is of course iconic attractions such as St Michael's Mount, Lamorran Gardens, Minack Theatre, Tate St Ives, Land's End and Tintagel Castle.
It's hard not to fall in love with Cornwall. Almost completely surrounded by the sea, a magnificent coastline wraps around the county for almost 300 miles. There are lots of things which make Cornwall so special; from its dramatic coastline and fishing harbours; the spectacular beaches that provide a natural playground and of course the Cornish pasty and cream teas.
The historical artefacts at the Shipwreck Centre are the largest private collection of this type on public display in Europe. Brought together over the last 45 to 50 years, it forms the basis of one of the most unusual and interesting collections open to the public. There are nearly 8,000 artefacts from over 150 shipwrecks.
These rare artefacts bring stories of the sea to life with rich tales of triumph, treasure and tragedy.
The displays are enormously varied, ranging from World War II exhibits, 400 year old cannon, coins, Nanking porcelain to items from the Medina, Invincible and the entire collection of recovered artefacts from the tragic warship Ramillies sunk in 1763.
And don't forget Cornwall's booming food and drink scene which is earning a world-class reputation. Cornwall now has a multitude of award-winning local food producers and chefs putting the region on the culinary map.
It is difficult not to be stunned when you visit Caerhays Castle and its 140 acre spring Gardens which are the home of the Williams family.
The natural beauty of the coastline and its steep valleys, the architectural surprises, the inescapable sense of history and the range of activities and facilities that the estate offers, all set the scene for a wonderful day of discovery and exploration.
The gardens originated from the work of plant hunters in China at the start of the 20th century. Caerhays bred the very first x williamsii camellias and is today the home of a Plant Heritage National Collection of Magnolias containing over 600 species and named hybrids from around the world. The spring gardens have an international reputation and have been described as 'world class'.
The castle itself was designed by the famous Regency architect John Nash around 200 years ago and both the building and the two families who have lived and worked at Caerhays have played significant roles in the history of Cornwall and its former tin mining industry. You can visit the castle and gardens in the spring time, walk in the grounds and visit the stunning beaches and coastal paths which make up the estate.
This is a renowned shooting estate, a popular wedding venue as well as often being used for filming, as a photographic location and for corporate hospitality. Enjoy the tranquility, beauty and history of the whole estate for a day, or for longer if you choose to stay awhile in the restored Georgian splendour of The Vean or in one of the estate’s many holiday cottages.
