Get the New Year off to a great start with a winter break in Cornwall this January! Think there’s not a lot to do? Think again! We have 10 fabulous things to do in January as Cornwall enjoys a milder winter climate than the rest of the UK.
Once the summer bustle (namely busy roads and crowded attractions) is over, Cornwall is a beautiful county to roam and enjoy. Many attractions are still open in January, pubs and restaurants offer warming drinks and crackling log fires and prices are surprisingly low, especially when it comes to accommodation.
Our suggestions include taking a cathedral tour and checking out the Maritime Museum in Falmouth. Go ice skating at Eden, spot sleeping giants, try a sauna, or take a New Year dip in Newquay Harbour… and that’s just for starters!
- Take a New Year dip in Newquay Harbour
- Get in a spin at Eden pop-up ice rink
- Walk off the calories on the South West Coast Path
- Enjoy a Nordic experience in Cornwall!
- Spot Sleeping Giants at the Lost Gardens of Heligan
- Mark the New Year at Land’s End
- Sit by the fire at the Cobweb Inn Boscastle
- Dive into the National Maritime Museum Falmouth
- Paint a pot at Kilncraft
- Tour Truro Cathedral
Take a New Year dip in Newquay Harbour
There’s a tradition in many Cornish coastal communities for brave swimmers to take a dip on New Year’s Day. The gathering of brave bathers and spectators meets at noon at Newquay Harbour – wetsuits optional! Many people choose to brave the chilly sea to raise money for charity, and the official charity swim is in aid of CLIC (Cancer and Leukemia in Childhood). They ask swimmers to pay an entry fee of £5 which all goes to this worthy charity.
So, contact all your social media followers, family and friends and get them to sponsor you for your New Year Dip for CLIC! If you’re wrapped up warm and cheering on the event, there will be buckets for throwing in your contributions.
Get in a spin at Eden pop-up ice rink
The Eden Project always has a pop-up ice rink to entertain visitors once the outdoor gardens are over. However, you can still explore the biomes in January as they are beautifully warm, maintaining a tropical or Mediterranean climate all year round!
The ice rink opens in mid October and is usually in full swing until February. You are recommended to book a time slot online for your skating session. Boots and skates are included in the price and you can hire skating aids for £4 if you have young children with you. Family tickets cover four skaters for just £28 at standard times but note that this is on top of general admission.
Walk off the calories on the South West Coast Path
Most of us are feeling a little heavier after an indulgent Christmas and New Year. Whenever you are staying in Cornwall you will be within easy reach of the South West Coast Path that runs continuously around the coastline of Cornwall (and Devon!).
Pick a stretch of coastline, strap on your boots and enjoy a bracing walk with the best possible sea views. You should avoid exposed areas if it is extremely windy as gusts can be dangerous.
Enjoy a Nordic experience in Cornwall!
The Scandinavians are well versed in things to do during the long cold winters. Their culture encourages them to indulge in wood-fired saunas and hot tubs followed by a roll in the snow or icy baths (or lakes) as part of a healthy regime.
You can recreate this Nordic Experience for yourself at Water and Stone Wild Spa in Newquay. Sweat out impurities in the wood-fired sauna before hitting the cold plunge pool and ice bath which apparently releases endorphins. Trainers are on hand to help you control your breathing and enter a calm meditative state. Kids are welcome and can have fun with the drench bucket!
Spot Sleeping Giants at the Lost Gardens of Heligan
Nature sleeps during winter, and so too do the Sleeping Giants at the Lost Gardens of Heligan! Once you’ve explored the main gardens, Charcoal Kilns and greenhouses, follow the Woodland Walk through 60 acres of the Lost Valley and ancient Heligan Woodlands.
Keep your eyes open to spot the Giant’s Head, Mudmaid and Grey Lady emerging from the frozen ground. These sculptures are covered in moss and ivy and can be difficult to spot when summer is at its peak, but once the leaves have fallen and the ground lies bare, they are a great feature.
Mark the New Year at Land’s End
Where better to start the New Year than this iconic landmark? At New Year there’s a traditional guided walk from Sennen Cove to Land’s End but even if you miss the organised walk, you can enjoy this scenic hike at any time during your January visit to Cornwall.
Start at Sennen Cove and follow the coastal path in a southwesterly direction along the cliffs for 1.1 miles. Return the same way or head inland on permitted footpaths and lanes to Trevilly and Sennen Village on a slightly longer route. Highlights include the stunning white sand at Sennen Cove, the towering granite cliffs at Land’s End and the sea cave at Najizal. It will certainly blow the cobwebs away!
Sit by the fire at the Cobweb Inn Boscastle
You can’t beat a bracing walk followed by a tasty meal in front of a roaring fire. Don’t bother with all the work that it entails – just enjoy a stroll around the lovely coastal village of Boscastle before visiting the historic Cobweb Inn. The bar has two crackling fires and the pub is known for its excellent homemade pub grub featuring local produce.
There’s always a friendly welcome and a buzzing atmosphere – just what you want on a chilly January day in Cornwall!
Dive into the National Maritime Museum Falmouth
The National Maritime Museum in Falmouth is open year-round and, being mostly undercover, it’s a great place to visit in January. This Cornish attraction always has themed special events and temporary exhibits such as Monsters of the Deep, Sea Song Sessions and even Boat-building lectures. We can’t promise those exact events will be on when you visit, but there will be something equally fascinating.
Permanent attractions include 15 galleries of exhibits on five floors. They cover the history of boat-building in Cornwall, some famous boats and more than a few shipwreck stories and relics. Check out the RNLI exhibit and the underwater windows in the Tidal Zone. It’s amazing!
Paint a pot at Kilncraft
Why not paint a pot, attend an open studio session or book a workshop at Kilncraft in Wadebridge? Book ahead and enjoy a hands-on creative session with a pro to guide you. Pottery painting is suitable for all ages and you can have it professionally fired ready for collection before you return home. Whatever you make, it will be a memorable souvenir of your January break in Cornwall!
Tour Truro Cathedral
Right in the heart of Truro, Cornwall’s county seat, you’ll see the towering triple spires of Truro Cathedral. Built in 1887, it’s one of the newest cathedrals in the UK and was designed by John Loughborough Pearson who also worked on Westminster Abbey.
The best way to appreciate the cathedral building and its treasures is on a guided tour with one of the docents. They take place Mondays to Thursdays at 11am and cost just £5. At other times, pick up a guide book from the Cathedral Shop and enjoy your own guided tour of this historic masterpiece. It’s the ideal indoor thing to do while visiting Cornwall in January.
That’s our round-up of things to do in January in Cornwall so get your holiday cottage booked now and look forward to some affordable winter fun!
What about next month? Here’s our guide to the top 10 things to do in Cornwall in February.
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.