Cornwall, it appears, has exactly what it takes to be the ultimate all-round holiday destination. It celebrates picking up six highly coveted awards at the recent British Travel Awards ceremony in London. The awards it received for 2012 are:
• Best UK Holiday County or Region: Cornwall – gold
• Best UK Visitor Guide Website: VisitCornwall.com – gold
• Best UK Coastal Town: St Ives – gold, Fal River – bronze
• Best UK Leisure Attraction: Eden Project– gold
• Best UK Heritage Attraction: Minack Theatre – bronze
• Best UK Waterways/ Lakes Boat Operators: Fal River ‐ silver
Congratulations to all concerned for all the hard work that led up to these wonderful results. The British Travel Awards are particularly valued as they are voted for by the general public. These “Oscars” of the travel industry attracted over one million votes, making this the largest and most valued awards programme in the UK.
This is the fourth consecutive year that Cornwall has won the top accreditation as the Best UK Holiday County. With so many attractions, great accommodation, pristine beaches, quaint villages and a host of festivals, Cornish residents should all be proud of the part they play in keeping the county looking lovely and continuing to offer a warm welcome to visitors.
2012 is also the third time that the lovely coastal town of has scooped the award for Best UK Coastal Town. Known as an artist's haven, and home to the fantastic Tate St Ives, this rambling village of whitewashed cottages and small businesses makes a charming day out for visitors, wherever they may be staying.
With Fal River in third place, the county is well represented for Best UK Coastal Towns. The Fal River Mussel Card offers unlimited access to various attractions around Falmouth and the Fal River including the National Maritime Museum, Pendennis Castle, St Mawes Castle, Glendurgan Gardens, Trelissick Gardens, Lamorran Gardens and Carwinion Gardens.
Double mentions for Cornwall were also seen in the attractions section as the Eden Project won a very deserving Gold Award (just see what they are doing for Christmas!) and the lovely open-air Minack Theatre picked up the bronze award as Best UK Heritage attraction.
For those who have yet to visit this enterprising attraction, the seats are cut into the hillside with a glorious stage backdrop of the Porthcurno coastline. Bring a cushion and enjoy an evening of entertainment. The past program has included artists such as Midge Ure of Ultravox fame and co-organiser of Live Aid with Bob Geldof. Shakespearean drama, Cornish folk tales and live gigs offer something for everyone in this unique amphitheatre, now in its 75th year.
Cornwall County Council representatives and business people involved in Cornwall's flourishing tourist industry look forward to building on these great results for 2013. Why not visit for yourself and see why Cornwall continues to lead the way in UK tourism?
Born in Cheshire, Gillian Birch moved to Cornwall at her earliest opportunity and never looked back. After 20 years, her ongoing discovery of popular attractions, quiet footpaths and local eateries has made her a fount of knowledge as she entertains readers with her informative articles on the hidden gems of Devon & Cornwall from a local point-of-view.