With its beautiful beaches, magical sunsets, great food and abundance of peaceful holiday homes, Cornwall is a perfect choice for a couples trip. If you’re off on a Cornish break with your partner, you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to things to do there, as it’s not only family days out the county excels at; there are a whole host of activities for when it’s just the two of you.
Whether you’re looking for fun things to do for couple days out, date night ideas or places to visit as part of a romantic getaway, we’ve rounded up our favourite suggestions for spending time together in Cornwall.
Romantic things to do in Cornwall
Visit the beach
With the region well known for its stunning beaches, a coastal trip is sure to be a given if you’re staying in Cornwall, but it doesn’t have to be all buckets and spades. The county has a real variety of beaches to explore, and many of them are perfect for couples. Try Kynance Cove for a romantic stroll on the sand, discover the location behind a famous Poldark scene at Porthgwarra Cove in West Cornwall, or take a classic seaside day out at one of the plentiful great beaches in Cornwall.
Go wine tasting or experience a Cornish wine tour
Wine loving couples can take advantage of the opportunity to indulge on their holiday by visiting one of the great vineyards in the area. Many offer Cornish wine tours as well as wine tastings – if you like the sound of sipping local wine or a friendly guided tour of a winery to find out more about the process behind the taste, somewhere like Camel Valley Vineyard or Trevibban Mill Vineyard should be on your list.
Not a wine fan? Why not try something similar at a brewery or distillery instead – Healey’s Cornish Cyder Farm, Bluntrock Brewery, Tarquin’s Cornish Gin Distillery Tour and Padstow Brewing Co Brewery Tour are all great options.
Put your skills to the test with a cookery class
For a fun activity that’s as delicious as it is entertaining, why not try your hand at a cookery class or workshop together? It’s something a little different and a great way to spend time together on holiday while picking up some new skills.
Rick Stein’s cookery school in Padstow runs full or half day cookery courses as well as one-dish evening workshop experiences that make for a brilliant way to immerse yourself in the culinary spirit of the county – tasting the fruits of your labour afterwards, of course!
Get closer to nature and observe Cornwall’s wildlife
Both peaceful and interesting, birdspotting and wildlife watching are great options for a day out in Cornwall for couples. It’s possible to see a whole host of marine life and birds in different areas of the region, so there’s something to please keen wildlife enthusiasts as well as those who are simply drawn to the idea of spotting seals or dolphins in their natural habitat.
Mutton Cove at Godrevy point is popular for spotting seals (as well as great views across St Ives bay), The Rame Peninsula offers great birding, and just off Padstow is Puffin Island, where the only breeding Puffin colony in Cornwall can be found.
See a show at the Minack Theatre
The Minack Theatre is a celebrated arts venue built into the granite rocks at Porthcurno; the perfect place to catch an open air performance set against the dramatic backdrop of the sea and coastline. Even if you’re not going to see a show, it’s still well worth a visit; for the location and the views, for a tour, or to peruse the small but fascinating Minack gardens.
If you are fans of the theatre, Hall For Cornwall is another great arts venue where you can enjoy musical theatre, drama, dance, classical music and everything in between.
Pay a visit to Lusty Glaze
Said by many to be Cornwall’s most romantic venue, Lusty Glaze is a stunning privately-owned cove on the North Cornish coast which hosts exquisite beachside weddings. You won’t be surprised that its a coveted spot to get married when you see it – the dramatic cliffs and ocean backdrop are picture perfect – but it’s also a great place to enjoy a coffee or a stone baked pizza together.
Treat yourselves to a spa day
If you’re looking to unwind together as part of your getaway, time spent in a relaxing Cornish spa is sure to fit the bill. Enjoy a couples massage or therapeutic treatment, or just sit back and enjoy the facilities – and the views, for many spas in Cornwall benefit from the beauty of fantastic locations.
If you’re staying in the North Cornwall area, the Fistral Beach Hotel and Spa offers well-priced spa day packages, or brilliant local business Saunas by the Sea offers the chance to use wood-fired saunas amongst spectacular scenery. They’re sure to leave you feeling like you’ve spent proper quality time together.
Explore on foot with a walking tour
Dust off your comfortable shoes and get a deeper understanding of the area by joining a walking tour of one of the region’s towns or villages. There are great tours to be found whichever corner of Cornwall you’re staying in; heritage tours of Newlyn, historic Charlestown Tours and even ghost tours from Falmouth Uncovered.
In our own area of Cornwall, you can explore the hidden paths of the village of Port Isaac and discover the Doc Martin filming locations with John Brown of Port Isaac Tours, knowledgeable local guide and member of The Fisherman’s Friends!
Discover castle ruins at Tintagel
There are multiple options for exploring ruins or castle across Cornwall, but for couples in particular, North Cornwall’s Tintagel makes an excellent day out. Tintagel Castle, a thirteenth century landmark steeped in Arthurian legend, is perched on an outcrop that can be reached by a bridge. The landscape surrounding it is rugged and dramatic, with more than a touch of mystique and romance about it, making it a captivating visit that’s perfect for couples.
Tintagel is also a characterful and charming village that is home to several traditional pubs, restaurants and tea rooms – ideal for visiting before or after the castle.
Pack up a picnic for two
Whether it’s a grassy green, secluded cove or clifftop viewpoint, Cornwall is just bursting with pretty and romantic spots for a picnic. Pack up a bag or basket with local treats and a bottle of something – if there’s a deli near where you’re staying, they’re bound to have some great picnic food options – and get out to eat al fresco.
If the weather is too wet or chilly, you can always have a cosy indoor picnic in your holiday home instead!
Try your hand (and feet) at paddle boarding
Paddle boarding has been growing in popularity over the past few years, and whether you’re experienced on a paddle board or have never touched one before, Cornwall is a great place for it. Plenty of beaches and stunning coastal spots offer paddle board hire, allowing you to explore at your own pace and enjoy being out on the water.
A particularly good location is Port Quin, a quiet and unspoiled location with clear water, a rugged harbour and hidden coves, where you can hire a board from Cornish Coast Adventures – or opt for a lesson or kayak tour, if you prefer.
Cycle your way through the county
Active couples who love the great outdoors are sure to love Cornwall’s landscapes, and one fun way to to see more of your surroundings is by hopping on bikes. Whether it’s an energetic jaunt to blow the cobwebs away or a leisurely cycle with stops along the way, there are a wealth of cycle trails and routes as well as bicycle hire available in all corners of the county.
The Camel Trail, based near us in North Cornwall, is a relaxed and accessible trail suitable for all abilities, or to take in the breadth of Cornwall and explore further afield, try a section of The Cornish Way.
Indulge in a Cornish cream tea or Afternoon tea
An unmissable activity for any couple in Cornwall is to enjoy a Cornish afternoon tea or traditional cream tea. There are some brilliant places to treat yourself all over the county, and many also offer the option of accompanying your tea with something sparkling. We particularly like Cherry Trees Coffee House and Greens of Padstow, or The Old Tea House in Wadebridge.
Just remember to put your jam on before your cream…
Visit picturesque villages
For couples who like to pick up a camera or immerse themselves in all things aesthetic, there are an abundance of scenic villages just waiting to be discovered. Wander pretty streets, watch the world go by at idyllic ports and soak up the essence of each new place by making sure that a few of the beautiful villages that Cornwall has to offer are on your holiday itinerary.
Helford Passage is particularly romantic, St Just in Roseland is a pretty village well known for its picturesque church, Rock is charming and high end, and for traditional seafaring spirit there is a whole range of brilliant Cornish fishing villages that fit the bill.
Take a boat trip together
Discover Cornwall by sea when you take a boat trip together, whether it’s an organised tour with a group to admire coastal views, or hiring a boat for an afternoon on the river. Even when going as part of boat trip with a group, getting out onto the water can help you escape the crowds, spot some of the local marine life and get an entirely different viewpoint of the area.
There are plenty of options for trips around – Wavehunters do brilliant sea safaris – or go at your own pace by spending time on Newquay Boating Lake, where you can hire small boats, canoes or pedalos.
Watch a sunset or sunrise
There are few things more classically romantic than a sunset or sunrise – and Cornwall has some really fantastic ones, as well as beautiful places to watch them from.
For those who prefer an early start and the peace of a still morning before anyone else has risen, sunrise from our south facing coastal spots like Coverack and Fowey is glorious – or for those who prefer to watch day turn to night wrapped in a blanket, try North Cornwall’s Holywell Bay and Fistral Beach.
Visit the Bedruthan Steps
On the coastal road between Padstow and Newquay is a delight of a destination; Bedruthan Steps. This dramatic stretch of coastline takes its name from the slate outcrops scattered along it and is an unmissable place to visit for couples. The beach is currently closed, but a walk along the coastal path that follows the clifftops is well worth doing. You could even combine it with the next activity…
Enjoy a spot of stargazing
You and your partner, beautiful scenery, and an expanse of stars; this could be the ultimate date night. Cornwall is home to some spectacular stargazing opportunities, with two of the best places to see the night sky in all its glory being Carnewas and Bedruthan Steps, and St Agnes Head. Both are dark sky discovery sites, meaning they provide great sightlines, are away from light pollution, and have good public access.
Nothing at all
There’s a lot to be said for the joy of doing absolutely nothing when you’re on holiday, and Cornwall is the perfect place to take a break from the usual pace of life. We speak to a lot of guests about what they enjoy doing best when they are in the area, and one of our returning visitors reminded us that sometimes doing nothing at all is truly the biggest pleasure.
Especially if you are on holiday with a partner, time together to just be is often overlooked, so whiling away the afternoon in your holiday cottage or comfortably pottering about may be just what you need.
Is Cornwall good for couples?
We can only answer with a resounding ‘yes!’ – Cornwall is a great destination for couples. Brilliant for romantic getaways, chilled out breaks and active trips where you discover new places and experiences together, the county has something to do for every kind of couple, with fantastic food and wine options to accompany them and beautiful holiday homes to stay in.
Ready to fall in love with Cornwall? If you’re planning a visit and looking for holiday homes in Cornwall, we’re sure we’ve got the one for you!
