Living in the vibrant and busy city of London, it is always at this time of the year that I am overcome with thoughts of open fields, idyllic country cottages and rolling surf.

I have always loved the West Country. For me, it is a part of the world that will always be a magical place. A childhood spent on the golden sands and turquoise waters of Falmouth, St Ives, Perranporth and Godrevy have installed in my psyche a sort of homing device. Nowadays, there are so many
hotels in Devon and Cornwall to choose from along with holiday cottages and bed and breakfasts that holidaymakers are spoilt for choice.
Every year without fail, as the first rays of summer break through the London smog I am unsettled with a deep longing for the beaches and cliffs where I spent my summer holidays as a girl.

So, unable to restrain my raging desire to escape the rat race for a couple of weeks and well aware that my boyfriend would take some persuading, I scoured the internet for a classic guide to the West Country.

A sure-fire holiday escape plan is what I needed and I knew exactly what I wanted.

Now to many people, especially young professionals in their late twenties and early thirties, the thought of spending hard earned summer break in holiday cottages in Cornwall is a distinctly unpopular one.

Too old to go camping in Newquay, their memories of cold caravans, dirty B&B's and the notorious Sailors Bar have stained their impressionable memories forever.

I fortunately know that there is a whole range of places to visit in Cornwall and plenty of activities to keep everyone happy.

I love the beautiful sea facing town of St Ives. A place like no other it is renowned by artists all over the country for its unusual and bright quality of light. Some may say that this is down to the small hole in the O-Zone layer but whatever it is, the town seems to take on a kind of ethereal glow when the sets over the sea during the summer months.

You can find the most beautiful places you would never had thought existed in this country. Just make sure you arm yourself with some good maps of Cornwall before you set out to make sure you don't miss any of the hidden gems settled into the nooks and crannies of the county.

After persuading my boyfriend that a holiday cottage in Cornwall would be a better idea than an all inclusive to Morocco - and better for the environment- we set off in my Peugeot, surfboard on the roof rack.

Cornwall, with its vast coastal layout, lends itself very well to water sports and outdoor pursuits. However, what is there to do if the weather isn't fine and the Cornwall tourist information centre is closed?

You can always use the internet to search for inspiration. A good resource for things to do in Cornwall is the Cornwall holiday guide provided by Classic Guide. The guide covers all sorts of activities including family days out and beauty spots - of which there are many.

For the adults, there are many good bars and restaurants offering a variety of local dishes and ales. Cornwall is also well known for its vibrant music scene, with many pubs hosting local bands during the evenings.

With all that is on offer in Cornwall and its beautiful countryside, you shouldn't be short of things to do or places to see.