In my opinion there is no better way than to spend an idyllic few days in the West Country, taking walks and exploring Cornwall's rich history.

Hiring out a country cottages in Cornwall was easy. With so many second homes in the region, many property owners are looking for easy ways to make money during the seasons that they are not occupying their expensive West County retreats.

I found my hideaway on the internet after typing the phrase 'cottages in Cornwall' into Google. The websites I found also host options for many other West Country destinations including Devon, Somerset and Dorset. I made a note of this for my next trip.

Here are some of my favourite places of interest to visit in Cornwall.

St Michaels Mount
St Michaels Mount is a landmark on Penzance's stretch of coastline. An otherworldly sight, the castle perches on a small rocky crop that becomes an island when the sea is in. The Castle is only accessible on foot when the tide is at its lowest. St Michaels mount is steeped in history and you can take even take an official tour of the island. The castle sits for a great many artists who come to Cornwall and is a breathtaking landmark to take photographs of. St Michaels Mount casts an especially beautiful and romantic profile against the evenings setting sun.

Geevor Tin Mine
Tin mining has played a large part in Cornish history and until 1990 Geevor was a working mine. After the international tin price crash of 1985 Geevor was forced to close after the mine ceased to make any money. After opening as a museum in 1993 the preserved site offer guided tours through eighteenth and nineteenth century workings. The museum also includes a shop and café for visitors. The Museum and Heritage Centre is situated on the outskirts of Pendeen in far West Cornwall.

National Maritime Museum
The National Maritime Museum is a beautiful wooden building built into a modern plaza on Falmouth harbour. There are lovely new shops and restaurants from where you can enjoy a sunny afternoon and a brilliant view of the passing boat traffic.
The museum houses some of Cornwall's fascinating maritime history and is an ideal family day out. The museum has regular exhibitions and displays and offers delightful sailing cruises on little boats around the harbour.

Falmouth harbour is the third largest natural harbour in the world and is definitely worth a visit even if you do not go to the museum.