Suntrap: The cove of secluded Porthcurno Beach is surrounded by bright cliff-top flowers in spring People travel far and wide in search of peace, tranquility and their own personal Shangri-La.
But one place that offers not only serenity and solitude, but spectacular scenery and all the benefits nature offers is a lot closer to home.
With 80 per cent of Cornwall surrounded by water, the region has the longest stretch of coastline in the UK and boasts everything from dramatic cliffs and secluded coves to family beaches and rolling countryside
Walking along the rugged coastline of the north or enjoying the sunshine in an isolated southern bay, there are 300 beaches for visitors to choose from when looking for their ideal escape.
Southern beaches tend to offer coves and sheltered bays such as Porthcurno Beach, which is just four miles form Lands End. A hidden treasure and a perfect spot for sun worshippers, Porthcurno is surrounded by awe-inspiring cliffs topped with colourful wild flowers and the sand beach and clear sea are patrolled by lifeguards in summer.
Trebarwith Strand is an equally tranquil setting. Once again protected by soaring cliffs, the beach's golden sands and many rockpools are revealed at low tide and visitors can enjoy the view out towards Gull Rock perched in the Atlantic.
Northern beaches are normally characterised as offering traditional seaside scenes with wide expanses of sand leading down to the sea.
Best of British: You could mistake the clear waters of Trebarwith Strand for a Mediterranean destination Watergate Bay, a rarely-crowded, two-mile stretch of sand backed by soaring dunes, is the ultimate beach for adrenaline-seekers.
The Extreme Academy (www.watergatebay.co.uk/extremeacademy.htm) offers lessons in nearly every high-octane beach sport known to man. Never heard of wave skiing or traction kiting? Try them out here, or opt for more traditional surfing and kite-surfing lessons.
Widemouth, near Bude, offers an altogether calmer two miles of uninterrupted sandy beach, promising spectacular sunsets and beautiful cliff walks. Dotted with rock pools and protected by life guards in high season, it is an ideal family beach.
But for visitors really hoping to escape it all, the little-explored south east corner of Cornwall offers some truly peaceful beach options.
The Rame Peninsula is often referred to as the 'Forgotten Corner' of Cornwall.
Alongside picturesque villages Kingsand and Cawsand, little changed for many years, quiet beaches offer the ultimate escape with beautiful coastal paths that seem to go on forever.
Adrenaline kick: The Extreme Academy at Watergate Bay offers a range of different water sports Beyond the beaches of Cornwall, the region offers a multitude of country escapes from rugged moors to rolling hills. With 12 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it can be difficult to choose where to explore first.
The Camel Estuary, a tidal river valley, is characterised by pretty woods and creeks along the river with spectacular views out to see from the hilltops making it an ideal area for walkers and those heading out on two wheels.
Outdoor enthusiasts can follow the Camel Trail (www.cornwall.gov.uk) along 18 miles of disused railway, undulating through the countryside and offering views across the estuary and secluded beaches.
The trail has its main hub in Wadebridge but stretches out to link with Padstow and Bodmin.
Bikes can be hired at numerous shops in each town including Padstow Cycle Hire (www.padstowcyclehire.com/home.htm) and Bridge Bike Hire in Wadebridge (www.bridgebikehire.co.uk)
Take to two wheels: Cyclists can enjoy 18 traffic-free miles following the old railway that forms the Camel TrailThose looking for an altogether more dramatic setting can head out on to Bodmin Moor, where wild scrubland is dotted with granite outcrops and steep slopes lead to gushing rivers and streams. The many picturesque moorland villages and parishes make a welcome stop-off for walkers and bring centuries of extraordinary and sometimes bloody history to life.
With so many protected areas to explore, whether on the coast or further inland, Cornwall certainly provides a huge variety of panoramas to soothe the soul of even the most exhausted of visitors.
source: dailymail
