Search

Inspired by Cornwall

Molly Newport
12 hours ago
3 min read

It's an absolute privilege to break up the rhythm of our day to day cycles and spend the long summer days exploring new places and gathering up inspiration to bring back to the studio.

Recently I ventured down to the seaside in Cornwall and spent some time soaking up the tiny fishing villages, the beautiful countryside and hoovering up plenty of Cornish pasties.

Staying near Wadebridge, my mum was my tour guide operator, she chauffeured myself and our cocker spaniel around taking us to some beautiful places.

Tall plants in foreground with a calm sea and distant hills in the background. Boats float on water under a partly cloudy blue sky.

I've always been fuelled by spending time outdoors, walking and bike riding. Fresh air and seeing new things is like a brain cleanse to me, a sort of meditation that helps me to focus when I eventually go back inside. I've never been great at sitting still and limiting screen time is beneficial to my busy mind. This was very much a holiday of mooching, hiking, bike riding and splashing in the sea.

Dog standing on rocky hilltop with expansive green fields in the distance under a cloudy sky, creating a serene and open atmosphere.

Brown Willy

Following Mum's pointy finger to 'look at some trees' we instantly went off piste and ventured into thick grass, ditches and scrambled over a barbed wire fence... fortunately the AllTrails app came to the rescue and we weren't destined to live in that cow field forever. Heading in the correct direction, we visited Showery Tor, Rough Tor and Brown Willy on Bodmin Moor. A 4 mile walk with 715ft elevation there were some stunning views at the top.

The official route had cows with calves in the fields and a mutual wariness for all parties involved meant that we nipped past without any trouble but I wouldn't have wanted to hang around them for too long. Cheese butties and a few scenic photos of the dog was the cherry on top and we headed back to camp where I illustrated the day in my drawing journal with a glass of wine.

Camel Trail

(Spoiler alert - no actual Camels were spotted - I know, I was disappointed too)

I did see the very beautiful Camel Estuary on the other hand. The trail runs on an almost completely flat disused railway line which makes it accessible for most people as well as great for walking and cycling.

We started in Wadebridge, cycling to Bodmin and back and then did a second leg from Wadebridge to Padstow. Our version of this route was roughly 23 miles and took about 2.5hrs - we hadn't quite put enough time on the parking meter so the last bit was quicker than the leisurely pace we set off at...

There are loads of places en route to hire bikes, eat ice cream and sip coffee whilst taking in the scenery.

Steel bridge with railings over n estuary, leading to a town in the distance. Blue sky and a few clouds create a calm atmosphere.

Lush garden with red and yellow flowers in front of large geodesic domes. Cloudy sky, greenery, and serene atmosphere.

Eden Project

The Eden Project has always been firmly on my Places To Visit list. I wasn't at all prepared for how impressive this site is in person. So much so that I'm in the process of making it it's own blog post.

In the meantime I'd like to shout out to the fabulous lady donning her gorgeous Venus Fly Trap dress for the occasion.

Cardinham Woods

We were able to take Dilys the dog into The Eden Project grounds (but not into the Biomes or cafe) so her treat for being well behaved was a visit to Cardinham Woods for a play amongst the trees. Not far from the Eden Project, the woods are a great place to adventure - it was warm and misty with rain when we visited but I imagine it would be lovely and cool in the trees on a hot day. The walking trails are very accessible and the cycle routes looked like great fun too. It was a very plant heavy day - perfection!

Tall pine trees line a dirt path in a dense forest. The sky is overcast, creating a serene and tranquil mood.

Port Isaac

The home of TV series Doc Marten and full of tiny cute seaside cottages on winding streets, we squeezed in a quick trip to Port Isaac. It was an idyllic afternoon with a little paddle in the sea and a visit to the boutique little shops. We walked up the neighbouring hill to appreciate the seaside town in full view.

Coastal village with houses on green hills, overlooking a bay with boats. Cloudy sky and calm mood. People on the sandy beach.

Constantine Bay

Finally one of our last stops was Constantine Bay. We nipped over to the dog friendly section of the beach where Dilys enjoyed playing in the sea. Between the RNLI lifeguard flags the sea was like surfer soup, packed with keen wave catchers waiting for that perfect timing. Just looking at the colour of the sea you can see why so many people are drawn to the beaches here.

Calm beach scene with gentle waves on golden sand, turquoise water, and distant rocky islands under a partly cloudy blue sky.

I really can't wait to visit again, I'd love to add more places to my list. I've heard great things about the Lost Gardens of Heligan, please add your recommendations into the comments - especially any cafes and restaurants too!

Keep your eyes peeled for the Eden Project Blog post, I'll send that out soon,

Take care!