The best list of gift ideas from local Cornish brands and businesses.
Okay, so I’m officially starting to get excited about Christmas! Each year, I put together a gift guide of Christmas gifts for Cornwall lovers and people who want to support our county’s wonderful small and independent Cornish brands, and this year, I’ve decided to combine a couple of years’ worth of posts into one ULTIMATE guide, which I plan to keep updated each year.
These gift ideas are all things I have personally tried and tested, and LOVED, myself – this is NOT just another round up list put together from internet research. These are all Cornish brands and businesses I have had the opportunity to work with or pay for myself and therefore I’m super excited to be recommending them!
Please go ahead and bookmark this page (save it in your browser) for easy access whenever you need to buy a gift for someone (or for yourself!), not matter what time of year it is. These ideas aren’t just for Christmas, these could be for birthdays, anniversaries, or just a random treat.
Table of Contents:
Use the below links to jump quickly to the section you’re looking for.
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Cornish Food & Drink Gifts
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Cornish Fashion & Accessories Gifts
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Cornish Beauty & Skincare Gifts
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Cornish Home & Lifestyle Gifts
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Cornish Stationery Gifts
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Cornish Books
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Cornish Experience Gifts
Cornish Food & Drink Gifts
Josh’s Chocolate
We all have a chocolate lover or two in our lives who appreciate good quality bars with fancy flavours! Josh’s Chocolate should be your go-to for Christmas chocolate gift giving and stocking stuffers, with their delicious range of flavoured chocolate bars, and their Gigantic Buttons range, all made in Cornwall. I love the names they’ve given to each bar (very Cornish and outdoorsy), and the illustrations are beautiful as well.
Visit the Josh’s Chocolate website to buy yours
(+ get 10% off if you use the code ‘anna10’ at the checkout!)
The Raw Chocolate Pie Company
The Raw Choc Pie Company are vegan, dairy free, gluten free, soya free, refined sugar free, organic, fair trade, and DELICIOUS! They have tonnes of flavours to choose from and even fudge bars too that you can buy online; the perfect stocking filler treat!
View the Raw Chocolate Pie Company website.
Rebelicious Drinks
I’m so excited about this Truro based company! Not only is their branding just the BEST (go check out their website, it’s so fun!), their CBD oil infused soft drinks are delicious too. They’ve created a ‘Real Cola’ and ‘Cream Soda’ using ethically sourced ingredients, and 11mg of CBD oil for the ultimate relaxing beverage.
View the Rebelicious Drinks website.
Stargazy Rum
Produced by one of my favourite St. Ives restaurants, The Rum & Crab Shack, Stargazy Rum is an absolute must have gift for rum lovers this Christmas! It’s an indulgent caramel rum liqueur made with Cornish sea salt and gorse-flower, and the branding is all the Gatsby glamour I need in life!
View the Stargazy Rum website.
Aluna Rum
While we’re on the topic of rum, Aluna Rum is another beautifully branded, Cornwall based company creating a vibrant, Caribbean taste with their low sugar, fresh flavour. I’d recommend adding a splash of this to your hot chocolates this winter!
Tarquins
You can’t go wrong with a bottle of Tarquins. Known throughout the UK as a premium gin with iconic branding, there are so many amazing flavours to choose from too! My personal favourite is the British Blackberry Gin, but this year their special limited edition Figgy Pudding Gin has my heart too! They also offer fun gin tasting tours at their distillery outside of Padstow too.
Penzance Gin
Created in Penzance and inspired by the Art Deco beauty of the Jubilee Pool, Penzance Gin is a deliciously flavourful tipple that can be enjoyed either with tonic and a slice of orange or on its own over ice (I don’t normally say that about gin, but this tastes divine!).
Floreat Wines
This sparkling, botanical wine is not only vegan, low alcohol and low calories, it’s also infused with a blend and balance of herbs and vitamins, for the ultimate guilt free tipple.
Visit the Floreat Wines website.
Espresso Martini Jars from Brew Cornwall
Sophie from Brew Cornwall runs the most beautiful mobile coffee van you’ve ever seen, taking the best brews all around Cornwall. I am so envious of her coffee-fuelled van lifestyle, and I love her new ‘Espresso Martinis in a Jar’ idea that make the cutest stocking filler gifts and go down a treat!
View the Brew Cornwall website
Yallah Coffee
If you have any coffee lovers on your list to buy for, I’d highly recommend checking out Yallah Coffee! Based in Falmouth, their blends are super tasty and beautifully packaged. You can buy individual packs, their special Christmas Gift Set with a few options to try, or give the gift of a ‘coffee subscription’ for 6 months! They’ve also just released a decadent drinking chocolate with Chocolarder as well.
View the Yallah Coffee website.
Cake Jmo
Kate honestly makes the best brownies I’ve ever tasted, and over Winter, she’s started creating these beautiful hot chocolates bombs too! Balls of chocolate filled with marshmallows, so that when you pour over hot milk, the bombs explode with mallowy goodness. They make stunning gifts!
Cornish Fashion & Accessories Gifts
El Camino
I love this gift idea for travel lovers from a company in Newquay called El Camino! You start with a handmade cord bracelet, and add on your own customisable beads and steps that relate to your travel stories. There are stainless steel ‘country steps’ or ‘small steps’ to choose from (I have a ‘Cornwall’ step, and a ‘Montenegro’ step – my two favourite places in the world, so far!), as well as glass coloured region steps or beautiful ‘ocean’ steps (I have the ‘Atlantic ocean step’, of course). With each step you buy, you also get some coconut spacer beads too. Such a great concept for a gift that will remind your loved one of all their favourite places!
Created by Niki
My wonderful best friend Niki has set up her seaglass jewellery business and I love all her pieces! I’ve been with her on many seaglass hunting adventures around Cornwall and she always finds the best bits. From necklaces to charm bracelets and Christmas decorations, go and check out her shop on Etsy!
Tegen Jewellery
I’ve always been a huge fan of Tegen Jewellery ever since seeing their photoshoots, and many of my friends wear her beautiful rings too! Her bohemian style jewellery (from necklaces to bracelets) make fantastic gifts, with her sea glass collection being my absolute favourite. They are so elegant and a true keepsake of Cornish seas.
View the Tegen Jewellery website.
Stephanie Stevens Jewellery
We are blessed with so many talented jewellery makers and artists here in Cornwall, all offering a variety of different styles and skills. I love Stephanie’s attention to detail, and I wear my ‘Semple’ necklace all the time.
Visit Stephanie Stevens website.
Best Makes Cornwall
Best mates, Becky & Tara, have a huge range of beautiful handmade clay earrings on their website, all in unique and quirky patterns that are designed to make a statement. These make really affordable, fun gifts – though you’ll probably find it tricky to decide which pairs you love best!
Visit the Best Makes Cornwall website.
The Sea Tree Company
I’ve worked with Olivia creating an online shop for her beautiful jewellery, and she’s been kind enough to send me some of her gorgeous gemstone bracelets too! It’s no exaggeration when I say I wear these bracelets most days; she has so many colour combinations based on birthstones, or intentions (eg. confidence, happiness, strength etc) and I always get compliments too.
View the Sea Tree Company website (that I designed!)
Rach Richardson Jewellery
Rachael creates the most beautiful porcelain and platinum jewellery, with designs that are minimal yet natural feeling. Her pieces are exactly my style, and would make perfect gifts for anyone who loves a classic, monochrome style but with a subtle Cornish essence. From porcelain seashells to hammered platinum petals, each design really feels like you’re wearing a piece of art!
View Rach Richardson’s online shop
Cornish Beauty & Skincare Gifts
Bloomtown
With soaps, lip balms, sugar scrubs, hand & body wash, face masks, body oils and more, Bloomtown is now my go-to for any beauty or skincare related gift (and for treats for myself, of course!). Their products are all vegan, cruelty-free and palm oil free, and they’re based here near Falmouth too!
Basho Skincare
I honestly had no idea about the wonders of face oils until I tried Basho skincare. Their all-natural, organic oils feel totally luxurious, come in a range of calming scents, and work wonders for the skin.
Visit the Basho skincare website.
Beauty Kubes
These plastic-free, vegan shampoo bars make a great stocking filler gift for the zero waste warriors or savvy travellers in your life. These come in so handy if you’re on a trip with just hand luggage, and they make your hair feel squeaky clean too.
Visit the Beauty Kubes website.
The Cove Bathing Co
Bianca from The Cove Bathing Co has created a truly luxurious brand that really feels like having a spa day at home. I’m obsessed with her fragranced bath salt collection (all named after Cornish beaches!), and she also sells reed diffusers, bath milks and oils too.
Visit the Cove Bathing Co online shop
Wild Cornish Soap
Handmade artisan soap bars made using the traditional cold process method. These soaps smell amazing, with festive scents available too, but Wild Cornish Soap also offer gift boxes and bundles too.
View Wild Cornisj Soap’s online shop
Meva Soap
I love browsing the Meva soap online shop – it feels like a candy shop for all things handmade bath bombs, shower mousses and other cute and quirky bath goodies. These make perfect colourful gifts.
View the Meva Soap online shop
Cornish Home & Lifestyle Gifts
St. Mawes Scent Room
Lucinda makes hand-poured soy wax candles and luxury reed diffusers using her own fragrance oil blends, naming them after the beautiful coastal locations around her. She kindly sent me her Black Rock candle and diffuser, and I absolutely love how sleek and minimal her packaging is (simple black & white is right up my street!). The Black Rock scent is a warm, rich spice with black pepper and golden saffron, and has made my house smell incredible!
View St. Mawes Scent Room on Etsy.
Alesa Designs
Local illustrator Aleksandra has a range of beautiful graphic prints of different places in Cornwall available on her Etsy shop. I absolutely love the pastel colours she uses, and the quality of these prints is really high too. She also has a gorgeous Cornwall Calendar for 2021 featuring 12 of her illustrations as well.
Cornish Coastal Candles
With candles, wax melts and reed diffusers, there’s something for everybody in the Cornish Coastal Candles range. The scents are amazing, and they’re all hand-poured with 100% soy wax (vegan/cruelty free) here in Cornwall too. You can’t go wrong with these as gifts for Christmas!
View the Cornish Coastal Candles website
Bahasa Bamboo Toothbrushes
Based in Newquay, Bahasa is a fantastic little business focusing on sustainability! Their uniquely designed range of bamboo toothbrushes would make fantastic stocking fillers for your environmentally conscious friends. They are totally plastic free and really high quality too.
Atlantic Blankets
I don’t know why but I think blankets, throws, and picnic rugs really make the best gifts! I think it’s because it’s not something you’d usually spend too much on yourself, but when you have a REALLY nice one you end up loving it forever. I’m obsessed with their recycled cotton collection too – so pretty.
Visit the Atlantic Blankets website.
Ebb + Flow Towel
I absolutely love Ebb + Flow’s selection of beautiful Hammam towels; I have the Hendra one (grey and white, obviously!) and I’m always bringing it places with me. It acts as a picnic rug, scarf, blanket, towel AND a super pretty photo prop too. I washed mine recently and plan on keeping it indoors through Winter as more of a ‘decor’ towel in the house.
Wild Sea Calligraphy
Lyndsey from Wild Sea Calligraphy not only creates beautiful personalised calligraphy gifts (think baubles, engraved glasses etc.), but also sells her amazing calligraphy-at-home kits, which supply you with everything you need to practice calligraphy yourself at home. I have spent so many hours using mine and find it so therapeautic!
Visit the Wild Sea Calligraphy website.
Circular&Co Reusable Cup (formerly rCup)
As travel mugs go, this is definitely the best I’ve tried! We use it most days. This 12oz is made from recycled single-use paper cups, and is also 100% recyclable itself too. The reason why it’s our favourite is because it is 100% leak proof – trust me, we’ve tried and tested it!
Visit the Circular&Co website.
Kernow Alstroemeria
These locally grown flowers are absolutely beautiful, and can be very festive too. KA also offer a subscription service, delivering new bunches of flowers to your (or your loved ones) door on a regular basis, which I think would make a lovely gift that keeps on giving.
Visit the Kernow Alstromeria website.
Green&Blue
For any gardeners and outdoors lovers in your life, definitely go and check out the Green&Blue website for their awesome range of modern, quirky garden decorations – such as their ‘bee bricks’ and bird feeders.
Cornwall Stationery Gifts
Daily & Weekly Desk Planners from byRosanna
A bit of shameless self promotion for my design business! I sell these A5 daily desk planners and A4 weekly desk pads over on my other website’s shop, and I think these make great gifts for any self employed people you know or anyone who likes to stay organised.
Hometown Journals
Designed and brought to life by Hannah (who previously created the inFalmouth magazine), Hometown is a creative journal that helps you to see and explore your local area in a new way. There are 130 fun and mindful exercises inside, and it’s all beautifully illustrated by Falmouth based illustrator, Josie Staveley Taylor too. This would make an incredibly thoughtful gift!
View Hometown Journals on Etsy.
Spilled Ink Stationery
I worked with Ellie last year creating her brand and logo design for her new Cornish stationery business, and I think these would make beautiful little gifts. Who doesn’t enjoy receiving gorgeous illustrated notebooks at Christmas?
View the Spilled Ink Stationery website.
Cornwall Inspired Books
A Guide to Wild Swimming Cornwall
If you love your ocean dips, this book is must-have! I actually went to school with the girls who have built the Wild Swimming Cornwall brand, and it’s amazing to see them doing great things with their blog, social accounts and releasing this book.
Buy for £15.99 from their online shop
Eat Surf Live
I absolutely love this little Cornish guidebook! It’s so quirky and unique, with a mish mash of recommendations, journal entries, beautiful photography, poetry and even traditional Cornish recipes. I’d highly recommend this as a stocking filler!
South West Independent Coffee Guide
We all have that one person in our lives who is weirdly fanatical about coffee, right? Well, this one is for them! Specifically talking about indie coffee shops and blends in the South West of England, this would make the perfect ‘coffee’ table gift (get it??) for your coffee-crazy pals.
Wild Guide: Devon, Cornwall & South West
This book is absolutely fantastic for anyone who is obsessed with the outdoors and loves things like wild camping, secret coves, sea swimming and finding hidden spots for campfires and bbqs. Such a great reference book that is a guaranteed hit!
Cornish Experience Gifts
Pampering
Some of my favourite gifts to receive have to be these types of experience gifts that leave you feeling pampered and totally spoiled, such as a message or a special spa / beauty treatment!
- At-home treatments with Home Spa Cornwall
There’s nothing quite like finishing a long relaxing massage, only to roll off the table and into your PJs onto your sofa in the next room! No driving and no stress necessary. - Luxurious treatments at No3 Lash & Brow Bar in Truro
For anything lashes, brows, nails and tanning, No3’s beautiful big new salon on the heart of Truro feels super luxurious; a great place to grab a gift voucher for a loved one who needs a treat. - Splurge with a spa day
I’m very fortunate to have tried quite a few different spa days around Cornwall, so please do take a look at through my previous reviews!
Active Days Out
For adrenalin junkies and fun-lovers, take a look at some of these fun days out you can try in Cornwall:
- Segway Lakeview Experience
My mum bought this experience for Alex and I and we had the best time! Ant is so kind and friendly and really helps build up your confidence. - Tamar Trails Tree Climbing Experience
Climbing through the trees on ropes, doing zip lines and drops… this was so much fun and I’d definitely recommend for all ages. - Koru Kayaking Kayak or SUP Adventure Tour
Take a tour of the stunning Helford river via the best method of transport possible – kayak or stand up paddleboard! These tours are so much fun and would make the perfect gift for any explorer or sea lover. - Cornwall’s Great Escape Room
If you’ve never tried an escape room, you’re missing out! These are so much fun, and would make a great gift for kids or adults. - Newquay Activity Centre
Whether you fancy a coasteering session, surf lesson, paddleboarding etc. NAC has you covered! I’ve tried a few of their activities and it’s always great fun; again another great place to grab a voucher for someone.
Food & Drink
Lots of bars & restaurants are doing things a bit differently right now, but for the most part at the time of writing this, most places are still open and needing the support of locals to keep them going through this tough Winter! One of the best ways you can support them is through buying gift vouchers for your loved ones to enjoy a meal on you.
- Afternoon Tea
There are plenty of hotels and places that offer delicious afternoon teas in Cornwall, but my favourites have to be the Scarlet Hotel (for a super luxurious treat), and Hotel Meudon (eat out on their terrace looking out over their beautiful gardens, followed by a walk down to the beach!). - Restaurant meals
There are so many amazing restaurants here in Cornwall I wouldn’t know where to start in recommending them! But luckily I have reviews of most places I’ve visited (there’s a lot!) here on the blog, so go and check them out. - Wine Tasting
Why not book a private wine tasting session for a loved one who enjoys a tipple and good food. The Bottle Newquay offer some great value sessions!
Retreats & Fun Weekends
These would be on the pricier end for a gift, but perhaps for someone very special…
- Cornish Wave Adventure Weekend
This was one of my favourite weekends ever; we spent a weekend learning to surf, trying coasteering, and wild camping in a beautiful hand-made campsite. This would make an incredible, memorable gift! - Freewave Surf Academy Retreat
Based in Bude, these retreats can be enjoyed privately if you book as a large group, or individually, which means you can meet lots of other surf enthusiasts and learn together in a luxurious house over the weekend. I absolutely loved this experience! I’m not sure when they’ll be planning the next one, but it’s another great business to buy a voucher from too.
Getaways
Again for someone super special, why not book a nice or weekend away at a beautiful Cornish hotel or stay? I have LOTS of recommendations in my ‘Where To Stay’ section of my blog, or below are 3 of my favourites…
- Lewinnick Lodge (Newquay)
The rooms at Lewinnick Lodge are so beautifully designed and serene, with views over the ocean, I can’t wait to go back there someday! - The Valley Cornwall (nr. Truro)
These luxury 5* gold holiday cottages are set within beautiful countryside and have all the facilities you need for a relaxing stay in the heart of Cornwall. - Greenbank Hotel (Falmouth)
We stayed in one of the suites here and it was total luxury! With views over Falmouth harbour, you really can’t beat it.
Remember to also go and check out Cornish Christmas markets that are happening where they can this year! Browsing craft stalls with beautiful handmade items made by local makers is a great way to find unique gifts for your friends and family. There may be fewer than previous years but I have still heard of a few going on, so take a look on Facebook or in your local community forums to see how you can support small Cornish crafters this year.
Not on the list yet? It’s not too late to be added to this Cornwall gift ideas resource!
Get in touch with me at contact@thecornishlife.co.uk if you’d like to be featured. Even if there’s not time for 2021, it would be great to hear from you about being featured in next year’s Christmas gift guide too!
* Indicates affiliate link, but I am only recommending items here that I have personally used and loved!
This is informative medical catheter supplier
I’m reading this in March 2021 and absolutely love the huge range of products, drinks and experiences you’ve mentioned. And actually, I purchased from a lot of these local businesses in the run up to Christmas last year – they made really beautiful gifts and treats (of course some of the things were for little old me…!). It’s great to see such a lovely variety mentioned, I feel it’s really important to support small, local businesses and I’ll continue to do so throughout 2021 also. Thanks so much for a great round-up.