United Kingdom

United Kingdom: Cornwall

When

May to Sept

Price

From 1 900€ excl. flights

(based on 2 people sharing)

How long

4 nights

Ideal length

1 / 7

Cornwall, England's south-westernmost tip surrounded by the Atlantic on three sides, retains a Celtic character distinct from the rest of the country, perceptible in the Cornish language still taught locally and in the legends of King Arthur that place his birthplace at Tintagel. The fishing village of St Ives, whose distinctive light drew an international artist colony in the 20th century, today embodies the artistic and maritime identity of a region that has stayed off Britain's main tourist routes.

St Ives, the Artist Colony by the Atlantic

St Ives, a fishing village of white houses clustered around a still-active harbour, drew an international artist colony from the 1920s onward, attracted by a particular quality of light caused by the sun reflecting off the ocean surrounding it on three sides. This artistic tradition endures today through a branch of London's Tate Gallery installed directly facing the beach, as well as numerous artists' studios still active in the old town's cobbled lanes.

Tintagel and the Arthurian Legends

The ruins of Tintagel Castle, perched on a rocky promontory linked to the coast by a suspended footbridge, have been associated since the 12th century with the legend of King Arthur's birth, popularised by the chronicler Geoffrey of Monmouth. Although archaeological excavations have never confirmed any direct link to the mythical ruler, the site remains one of the most symbolically charged places in all of British mythology, visited every year by tens of thousands of Arthurian legend enthusiasts.

Make this itinerary yours

Every Globale Explore Tours trip is tailored exactly to you. Tell us about yourself and we'll create something that's entirely you.

Enquire

Where to rest your head

A Renovated Fisherman's Cottage in St Ives

A renovated fisherman's cottage in the cobbled lanes of St Ives, rooms overlooking the harbour, within walking distance of Tate St Ives and the surrounding beaches.