cottages4you blog: inspiration for your cottage or villa holiday in UK, Ireland and Europe

Those who plan Cornwall holidays often include trips to the coast in the itinerary.

Walks along one of the region’s many picturesque beaches are a great way to explore the area.

But those of you who prefer more action during your stay could try something different and head to the south-west’s largest sailing regatta.

Henri Lloyd Falmouth Week takes place from August 7th-14th and will showcase some amazing yachts during the race at the pretty Cornish seaside town.

If you and your family like a reminder of traditional life, you should check out the Falmouth Classics race, where 150 classic yachts race in Falmouth Bay and Carrick Roads at the start of the week.

VisitCornwall promises there will be plenty for the kids to do, with all sorts of on-shore events for youngsters.

And if you fancy a night out from your Cornwall holiday cottage, why not head to the 1970s night and Caribbean cocktail night on Events Square in the evening?

Posted by Matt Smith, cottages4you

Click Here for more details about the week.

Cornwall holidaymakers with an interest in art may consider visiting some of the region’s well-known galleries.

But taking a trip to some lesser-known establishments could offer you a real insight into some of the local talent.

The Thelma Hulbert Gallery in Honiston, Devon, is just one of these smaller organisations that promises to offer some great displays of work.

Following its renovation, the building – once home to the late artist Thelma Hulbert – will open at the end of May, Devon24 reports.

Curator Angela Blackwell says: "People love it here, because it is an old house. It is quite homely. People have said they don’t feel intimidated, because it has got a nice, friendly feel to it."

And during a stay at your Cornwall holiday cottage you should make time for a trip to nearby Devon and pay a visit.

Opening hours are extended to Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 BST to 17:00, which should provide the perfect chance for a trip to the gallery.

Posted by Ben Webster

Those lucky enough to be taking a Cornwall holiday at the time of the 2010 Eden Sessions will now be able to catch Vampire Weekend, alongside a whole host of great acts.

The New York group – well known for catchy singles such as Oxford Comma – are due to open the sessions at the Eden Project.

Appearing with special guests Broken Bells, the band will play on June 24th and get the musical event underway.

Tickets for this particular gig will be released on April 27th, but there are plenty of other acts to check out over the summer if your Cornwall holiday doesn’t coincide with the first performance.

Other acts in the line-up for the Eden Sessions include Mumford and Sons and Jack Johnson.

You could also visit the Eden Project, which has a range of activities to suit the whole family, throughout the year at a cost of £16 for adults and £6 for children.

Posted by Matt Smith

Families planning a stay in a Cornwall holiday cottage in May might be lucky enough to catch the Helston Flora Day proceedings.

Held on May 8th, the celebration is thought to have been around for centuries and – as the name suggests – is full of flowers and greenery.

Cornwall holidaymakers who like a spot of dancing should find plenty to enjoy at the event.

Visit Cornwall says there promises to be "dancing here, prancing there, jigging, jogging everywhere".

You might need to set your alarm if you want to enjoy the whole day, as it kicks off at 07:00 BST with a morning dance at the Guildhall.

If you miss that, you should certainly try to make the Hal-an-Tow at 8:30, which is a combination of a dance and a play that is said to be "boisterous".

The main dance of the day begins at midday and is led by a Helston-born couple, with ladies dressed in ball gowns and men in morning dress.

Helston is situated close to the coast, so those heading on a Cornwall holiday near the sea might also like to pop to the town and enjoy the day.

Posted by David Sollberger

If you’re heading to a Cornwall holiday cottage in the near future, you might consider packing some items of artwork to earn a bit of money.

That’s because the UK’s first art car boot sale was such a success that Cornwall can expect to see it return.

Events Cornwall organised the day – held in Truro in April – and director of the organisation Claire Eason-Bassett told the Western Morning News it had been a "roaring success".

More than 200 people came along to the event, which showcased the work of over 30 artists.

If you’re going on a holiday to Cornwall but aren’t too handy with a paintbrush, you might rather head to the sale as a buyer.

Ms Eason-Bassett said next year’s Truro Art in the City Festival – which has been running for two years – will "almost certainly" see a return of the sale.

"But we are thinking about rolling it out more generally," she revealed.

Posted by Andrew Hill

Britons heading on a holiday in Cornwall could nip out to the local pub and sample a real ale (or eight).

According to Adrian Tierney-Jones from the Telegraph, the Blisland Inn in Blisland, Cornwall, is one of the top ten places in the country to drink great beer.

He describes the inn as: "Gregarious rural local overlooking the only village green in Cornwall, with up to eight real ales (many Cornish) dispensed from handpump or straight from barrel."

Mr Tierney-Jones explains how the trend for drinking real ales seems to have taken Britain by storm.

So you might want to head out of your holiday cottage in Cornwall and make the most of having one of the country’s best real ale establishments nearby.

But with so much choice, what’s the best beer for you?

According to the publication, bitter has warm fruity notes, while lager can be more delicate and floral when produced by British craft brewers.

The Campaign for Real Ale has been in existence since the 1970s and promotes good-quality real ale and pubs.

Posted by Matt Smith

Animal-loving families spending holidays in Cornwall could pay a visit to some of the region’s newest guests.

The Humboldt penguin colony has joined the National Seal Sanctuary in Gweek, which is home to the only underwater penguin viewing area in Cornwall.

If you had fun watching Happy Feet or marvelled at March of the Penguins, this could be the ideal day out for you.

"There are six penguins that needed a home and were asked if we would like to have them. We have the room so we said yes. All the staff are so excited," Laura Ward from the sanctuary explains.

And if you’re travelling far to your stay at a Cornwall holiday cottage, spare a thought for the penguins, which come all the way from the coasts of Chile and Peru.

There are thought to be less than 10,000 surviving pairs of the species, so this is a great chance to see them in person.

And you might also want to sneak a peek at the seals which live at the sanctuary, with more than 40 pups rescued by the organisation.

Cornwall is home to many great holiday destinations, but it seems St Ives might be the best, according to a recent accolade.

The Coast Awards 2010 named the town the Best Family Holiday Destination thanks to its mix of activities on offer all year-round.

Organiser of the awards and deputy editor of the magazine Alex Reece says: "We’re not surprised that St Ives is a hit with readers. For a small town, it offers such variety – from bucket-and-spade beaches to high culture."

So it seems families staying in holiday cottages in St Ives will not be short of entertainment.

Among the popular attractions are Tate St Ives and the Porthminster Beach Cafe, which head of tourism at VisitCornwall Malcolm Bell says are "instrumental" in the town’s popularity.

The Tate gallery offers visitors contemporary and modern art exhibitions and is situated by the beach so is a convenient place to escape the midday sun or a bout of rain.

Posted by Ben Webster

Those wanting to check out some art during their stay in a Cornwall holiday cottage this month will not have to travel far to do so.

In a post on the Guardian website, tourism body Enjoy England noted the area is home to the Tate St Ives art gallery, featuring a variety of both modern and contemporary works.

The site has been open since 1993 – before the Tate Modern was established in London – and is currently running an exhibition of British Artist Dexter Dalwood’s work from the past 12 years.

Local artwork is also on show at Tate St Ives – which has been described by Enjoy England as a "friendly gallery overlooking the sea" – and those wanting to pay a visit will not have to break the bank to do so, with adult entry costing £8.55 and admissions for concessions priced at £4.40.

Between March and October, the gallery, which can be found at Porthmeor Beach, is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00 GMT.

Posted by Toby Lawrence

Those staying in holiday cottages in Cornwall this spring should pay a visit to Anthony House, which offers a wealth of stunning flowers and luscious green gardens, it has been claimed.

Nigel Colbourn, writing in the Daily Mail, stated that visitors will be amazed by the blankets of colour stretching across the landscape.

"This Cornish spring garden, owned by the Carew Pole family, has an extensive collection of magnolias, rhododendrons and camellias, ensuring magnificent spring colour," he said.

The gardens and woodland areas are open from Saturday to Thursday until October 31st.

He also recommended a visit to Seaton, located on the south Devon coast, while a journey on the tramway through the Axe Valley to Colyford is also a pleasant experience.

The spectacular scenery of Anthony House saw film director Tim Burton use it as a location to shoot the recent remake of Alice in Wonderland, which stars Johnny Depp.

Posted by Matt Smith