Top 10 Unusual Things to Do in Cornwall

1. Learn About Global Communications

Unbeknownst to many, Cornwall has played a pivotal role in global communications. Its remote location and position on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean are not only perfect for soaking up sea views, but also to test technological innovation. With a visit to PK Porthcurno, learn all about how the first underwater telegraph cables were brought ashore on the Lizard Peninsula, paving the way for fibre optics, and how West Cornwall is playing an important role in present and future worldwide communications. Featuring historical stories, interactive exhibitions and a whole host of activities and events, PK Porthcurno promises to be unlike any museum you’ve visited before or since. It’s also a stone’s throw from the Lizard Peninsula clifftops, so you can tie your visit in with an exploration of one of the most beautiful sections of the South West Coast Path.

2. Attend an Underground Concert

One of Cornwall’s best kept secrets, Carnglaze Caverns was once an open cast quarry and tin mine
.¹ However, in the 18th century miners began digging by hand underground, leading to the formation of three large caverns. Today, the caverns are connected by a series of steps, and one has been flooded to create a spectacular underground lake with crystal clear water. Visitors can head underground to tour the caverns, enjoy a woodland walk in the acres of peaceful woodland surrounding it – or even attend a music performance to experience the impressive underground acoustics.²

3. See Globally Rare Seal Pups

The grey seals we are lucky to see around the Cornish coastline are a globally rare species. However, up to 50% of their population is found in the UK and Irish waters,³ with many of them breeding in Cornwall, making it one of the best places to see them.⁴ A dog-friendly and family-friendly tourist attraction, the Seal Sanctuary rehabilitates abandoned or injured seals before reintroducing them to the wild. You can also see rescued puffins – and a range of farm animals – plus, beavers as part of the woodland walk. It’s a year round tourist attraction, but its best to visit during pupping season from September to March.⁵

4. Visit a Witchcraft Museum

Found on the north Cornwall coastline, Boscastle Museum of Witchcraft and Magic is one of Cornwall’s most unusual tourist attractions – perhaps made more obscure because it is located in a tiny Cornish fishing village. Featuring the largest collection of artefacts relating to the occult, it includes information on magical practices and beliefs from around the globe, plus exhibits on British witch trials.⁶ Historically, the skeleton of 19th century witch Joan Wytte was on display in the museum, however today her grave can be visited in the woods outside Minster Church in the nearby Valency Valley.⁷

Please note, there is only pedestrian access to the Museum of Witchcraft, but you can leave your vehicle in the car park next the Cobweb pub a six-minute walk away.⁸

5. Learn About Victorian Crime and Punishment

Built during the 18th century, Bodmin Jail is a fascinating year round tourist attraction with an unusual history. Over the years it housed thousands of prisoners and was the site of 55 executions, including that of William Hampton, the last person to be hanged in Cornwall in 1909. Today, visitors can discover Cornwall’s dark past, joining guided and self-guided tours which teach you about Victorian crime and punishment throughout the 19th century. After dark there are ghost tours and thrilling paranormal experiences.⁹ Bodmin Jail was also where the Crown Jewels were stored during WWI, meaning layer upon layer of history can be discovered there.

6. Swim in a Magical Mermaid Pool

A unique feature to the Cornish coastline, Cornwall’s mermaid pools can be discovered dotted around the north coast and around Land’s End.¹⁰ Head out on the South West Coast Path and see if you can find a smaller, hidden gem pool. Or, there are popular tidal pools at Summerleaze Beach in Bude, Trevone Bay, Porthtowan and Portreath. For a more controlled experience, you can visit the Jubilee Pool, which is a man-made and lifeguarded art deco tidal pool in Penzance.¹¹ Mermaid pools are a bit like large rockpools, which can be enjoyed at low tide, and are an alternative way to enjoy swimming if you wish to take a break from Cornwall’s beaches.

7. Discover the Lost Gardens of Heligan

Europe’s largest garden restoration project, Lost Gardens of Heligan is a Victorian garden which saw its heyday in the 19th century. It was abandoned at the beginning of WWI, when its workers were called to fight in the war. After being rediscovered at the end of the 20th century, it has been revived into a 200 acre paradise for wildlife and plant lovers.¹² Found near St Austell, just a few miles from the Cornish coast, today visitors can enjoy miles of pathways through the Victorian Productive Gardens, where over 300 varieties of heritage fruit, vegetables, salad and herbs are grown. Much of this is cooked up to cook seasonal meals in the on-site café. You can also explore the romantic Pleasure Grounds, subtropical Jungle and plenty of wildlife throughout the gardens and woodland walks. The Lost Gardens of Heligan is a dog-friendly year round tourist attraction with a range of different things to see and do throughout the seasons.¹³

See: 19 Secret Gardens in Cornwall You’ve Never Heard Of

8. Visit the Ancient Hurlers Stone Circle

Nestled in the heart of Bodmin Moor – filming location of the TV series Poldark – the Hurlers stone circle is a fascinating arrangement of neolithic or Bronze Age stones. They are one of the most impressive examples of ancient ceremonial standing stones in the South West. However, according to Cornish folklore they are in fact a group of men frozen in stone as punishment for playing hurling on a Sunday.¹⁴ Either way, they are an incredible feature of the Bodmin Moor landscape, which is also embellished by abandoned tin mine engine houses and home to free-roaming livestock.¹⁴ Once upon a time, the moors were also used by smugglers to stash illegal contraband stolen from shipwrecks.¹⁵ To visit, park at the car park in Minions and walk a quarter of a mile along the path. In the background you’ll also be able to spot the Cheesewring, a giant stack of stones carved into an unusual shape by the wild Cornish winds over millions of years.

9. Watch a Play Overlooking the Ocean

Not a secret by any means, but an unusual and one-of-a-kind experience, the Minack Theatre near Porthcurno offers the chance to watch a theatrical performance or musical event overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. An open-air theatre carved into the cliffside, you can expect endless sea views from one of West Cornwall’s most spectacular headlands.¹⁵ Plays can be watched at the Minack Theatre during the summer season between April and October and include everything from family-friendly comedy performances, to musical renditions and orchestras.¹⁶ For the ultimate day out, don’t forget to visit neighbouring Porthcurno beach – one of the best beaches in Cornwall.

10. Visit Europe’s Largest Tea Garden

The first tea plantation in the UK, Tregothnan Estate can be found near Truro. Nestled on the Roseland Peninsula, research suggests it has the most suitable microclimate for growing tea in all of Europe, partly in thanks to a deep creek that bathes the gardens in sea mist.¹⁷ Visitors can enjoy tea tasting tours, walk through the grounds, or take a deeper delve into the tea making process with a Tea School or Growers masterclass. There are introduction to beekeeping courses, with the estate producing its own Manuka honey. Tregothnan is also one of Cornwall’s Great Gardens, home to many endangered tree species and the world’s largest camelia maze – making it a blissful place for anyone interested in horticulture or spending time in nature.¹⁸

See: Free Things to Do in Cornwall