Visiting Cornwall? Here's what to pack...

So you’ve chosen Cornwall as your holiday destination of choice – yay for that!

Here are a few reasons why you made a great decision, in case you didn’t already know. But I’m sure you do know. It’s fab here!

Anyway you may be wondering what to pack to be best prepared for your visit, so I’ve put together a list of essentials that you may or may not not have thought of, to add to your suitcase in a last minute dash. But first…

Before you leave:

Check the website of the place you’re staying for their specific directions, and don’t rely on the SatNav; they can take you down some very strange routes…
Brush up on your beach safety! If you’re not used to living by the sea, you may not have heard of the flag systems before, so please read up and stay safe.
If you’re driving down to Cornwall, be prepared for heavy traffic queues, especially in July & August. It’s the worst, so bring some entertainment if you’re bringing kids ’cause God knows it’ll be Hell if you don’t.

Things to Pack:

Suncream!
Had to start with this – while it is entertaining for us to watch lobster-faced tourists huddle for shelter in ice cream shops, it’s no good for your skin.
A tide times booklet (or app)
Grab a cheap tide times booklet online or download the Magic Seaweed Surf Forecast app for your phone, and avoid turning up to crowds of sunburnt beach-goers fighting for a sliver of sand.
Cold weather clothing and hot weather clothing
Four days ago (in July, btw) I was wearing shorts and swimming in the sea – today I am huddled up on my sofa with a jumper and blanket as it craps down with rain outside. Just sayin’.
An umbrella
Please see above.
Some kind of shoes that aren’t flipflops
Again, you may end up walking through cold wet puddles, so it’s sensible to bring some other kind of shoes that don’t expose your toes. Trainers are a good shout for hiking along our coastal paths anyway!
A waterproof body bag
I’ve just bought one of these waterproof body bags* to go under my wetsuit and I’m loving it! It’s great if you plan on going kayaking or paddleboarding etc. and you want to keep your valuables (or even just your car keys) somewhere safe. If you’re swimming without a wetsuit, grab some of these waterproof bags* too as an extra layer of protection.
Towels & picnic rugs
You were obviously going to bring beach towels with you right? Add a picnic rug to your list too if you have room in your bags – great for spontaneous walking breaks on the coast, and for keeping warm in the evenings while watching the sunset.
Cash
Of course bigger shops here take card, but small independent shops often have a card charge on small purchases, and if you’re visiting craft shops or stalls you’ll definitely want some cash anyway!
Reusable plastic bottle
Cornish tap water is delicious (despite what some people say), so fill up a reusable bottle each time you go out to the beach or for a walk, rather than buying bottled water from a shop each time.
A good book and/or board games
I recently wrote about what to do when it rains on your holiday, but these two items are just staples for a Cornish holiday anyway! Be prepared folks, because unless you’re incredibly lucky, it will happen here.
A beach tent and/or wind break
This is especially important if you’ve got small children or dogs, as they’re going to want some shade and shelter from the sun (or rain!) during your trip. You can buy these from most beach shops in Cornwall.