Sandy beaches, sea birds, dramatic coastlines and scattered wild flowers bobbing in the wind form the scenery of the Lizard peninsula. This peninsula is home to peaceful coves and is an excellent spot for surfing and kayaking.

The recent popularity of the Harry Potter books has revived interest in all things wizardry, making The Museum of Witchcraft a fun way to spend a damp afternoon. Explore unusual artifacts related to witchcraft, from scrying mirrors to talismans or dried toads.

St. Michael’s Mount, Cornwall, UK by Alex Healing

On the summit of a rocky, windswept island perches St. Michael’s Mount a medieval church and castle. Reachable only by boat at high tide or along a winding causeway at low tide, St. Michael’s Mount features sweeping architecture complete with turrets and gun batteries. Clinging to the steep cliffs is a terraced garden overflowing with sub-tropical flowers.

For a fun day of rides for people of all ages, try Flambards theme park. Don’t miss the Victorian Village, where the Victorian era has been re-created complete with cottages and shops, such as the butcher’s shop and the apothecary.

Rumored to be the birthplace of King Arthur, Tintagel Castle is a magical site full of ancient, crumbling ruins. Waterfalls plummet down the cliff sides into the Atlantic below. Meanwhile, hidden underneath the castle is Merlin’s Cave, which is flooded with water during high tide.

Take a train ride through a secret garden with miniature trees, wind you way through a maze and follow a trail to a hobbit house at the Hidden Valley Discovery Park. Armed only with a map and your powers of observation, try going on a treasure hunt for lost crystals hidden throughout the park.

Spend a romantic evening at an inn famous for its exciting history of contraband smuggling, the Jamaica Inn. This inn is the inspiration for the book of the same name by Daphne du Maurier, who chanced upon the inn after getting lost in a storm. The inn has a large collection of smuggling artifacts and is located on the Bodmin Moor, where you can wander and get lost in its natural beauty.

Lost Garden of Heligan, Cornwall, UK by joannevc

“Don’t come here to sleep or slumber,” reads the inscription uncovered in a tiny room buried under collapsed stonework in the Lost Garden of Heligan. Overgrown and neglected for the better part of a century, the garden has been gloriously restored with a lovely Victorian garden, woodlands and a lush sub-tropical garden.

On a chilly, rainy day, nothing is more pleasant than a visit to a traditional Cornish pub, such as the Famous Barrel. Bask in the glow of the fireplace while enjoying cask ale in this 100-year-old pub that features a front door made from a section of a brewer’s barrel.

If you’re an adventure seeker, head to the Adrenalin Quarry, home of the longest zip line in the UK. Booking isn’t necessary; just show up and jump. Or try The Giant Swing, which hangs 150 over the water-filled quarry.

Cornwall has an abundance of activities from the cozy to the invigorating. It is a place of enchantment, bursting with history against a backdrop of stunning landscapes.

Sarah writes for Highcliffe Holidays, who have a great selection of Polzeath Cottages self-catering accommodation. They love pets and are proud to be amongst the top providers of dog friendly cottages in North Cornwall.

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The area where the Needles can be found is known as the Jurassic Coast. It is here that the land has been folded as a result of tectonics over the course of millions of years. As a result, the almost vertical strands of rocks can be seen throughout the region. Chalk is one of the more resilient rocks and as a result has continued to stand long after the clays and sandstones have washed away.

The Needles, Isle of Wight, UK by Peter Pearson

It was known that back in the beginning of the eighteenth century, there were four needles in the formation. However, in 1764 a storm ravished the area and knocked over one of the rocks. The name the Needles dates back hundreds of years. Today though, the rocks have lost their needle-like appearance as a result of erosion by the waves.

Another popular attraction in the area is the Needles Lighthouse which was built back in 1859. It has been operational ever since. However, in order to reduce costs and manpower, the lighthouse was automated back in 1994.

There is also an amusement park that can be found on a nearby cliff that over looks the geological land formation. Known as the Needles Pleasure Park, it has grown to become a very popular destination in the area. The park is most well known for the chairlift that takes people to Alum Bay and back.

The headlands that overlook the Needles are home to several gun batteries as well as an experimental testing facility for rockets. While the batteries were in use during the 1950s and 60s, they have long since been decommissioned. The rocket test facility is located mostly underground and was operated by as many as 240 people during the 1960s. Part of the underground facilities have been completely restored and are currently open to the public.

There are a number of old Coastguard cottages that can be found in the area. Now under National Trust, the cottages are available for rental throughout the year. People who wish to have a party in the area, or that would like to visit and stay can rent the Coastguard cottages.

Most of the park and surrounding countryside can be travelled using bicycle or on foot. However, when there is a high wind warning in the area, the site where the batteries are located is closed for safety reasons.

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