Cornwall: home of ancient kings and their wizard sidekicks, hearty pirates of the singing type, and of course, who could forget piping hot pasties filled to the brim with meat and veggies?! Yet to mention such stereotypes is to barely scratch the surface of what this magnificent county has to offer visitors. From world-class beaches to spectacular nature, and from Michelin-starred restaurants to luxury spa retreats; Cornwall has it all in abundance. But is Cornwall accessible?
Cornwall is often high up on the ´must-see` list of most UK-bound tourists, but despite the fact that one’s mind may evoke images of British summertime when contemplating a trip to Cornwall, with this article I aim to shake that notion up a little bit and encourage more people to visit Cornwall in the quieter – albeit also chillier – winter months.
Back in December 2021 my friend and I had the opportunity to take a road trip down to Cornwall, courtesy of the Cornish tourism board: Vist Cornwall, and we spent a total of six days exploring as much of the region as we could. In the interest of full transparency, Visit Cornwall paid for three nights’ accommodation for us, covered all our admission fees for three of the six days we were there, and also gave us a food and beverage allowance for a total of three days. Despite this, however, all views and recommendations are genuine and from my own personal experiences.
Accessible Things To Do In Cornwall
- The Eden Project
No trip to Cornwall can ever be considered truly complete without a visit to the Eden Project. Spanning over 13 hectares, the Eden Project features impressive outdoor gardens and both a Rainforest and Mediterranean-covered biome. The quarry-turned-park in which the Eden Project is located is expansive, with a long ramped walkway from the main entrance to the housed biomes, gift shops, and cafeteria area. You could easily spend the whole day at the Eden Project, taking your time to study all of the intricate details and learn about the various plants, habitats, and species. There are also several fascinating spots to sit and have a bite to eat, a refreshing drink, or just sit back and reflect on the serenity.
The Rainforest biome in particular is a really mesmerising place to explore. It houses over 1,000 species of plants from Southeast Asia, West Africa, and South America. If you’re lucky, you might also spot a partridge bird or five.
Most areas of the Eden Project are accessible – with lift access to certain buildings which require it, accessible bathrooms (including audio description), ramps, and mobility scooter hire. The Eden Project also offers a changing places bathroom.
- Land’s End
If you’re going to take a trip to Cornwall then you may as well go all-out and visit one of Britain’s best-loved landmarks: Land’s End. Situated on the Penwith Peninsula, Land’s End boasts some exquisite scenery and plenty to see and do on-site, including a Jolly Roger 4D film experience, a Cornish farmstead, and more. There are gift shops, a restaurant & bar, and a selection of cafes and kiosks to choose from.
Geordie’s Notes: beware when travelling to Land’s End in the winter months. I visited at the start of December and everything on-site was closed, except for the famous Land’s End sign, for which you still had to pay £5 to take a photo next to it.
Initial entry to the Land’s End facilities was still chargeable, however, despite everything being shut to visitors.
- Lizard’s Point
A great alternative to Land’s End is Lizard’s Point which some say is an even prettier spot and often far less touristy too. Lizard’s Point is the most southerly place in Britain and features a beautiful lighthouse, jaw-dropping views out to sea and along the cliff faces, an old boat house, and a cute cafe. The boat house and cafe are accessed via a steep ramp, however, it is possible to drive a car down to the smaller car park next to the cafe. Closer to the lighthouse there is also a Youth Hostel called YHA Lizard Point – which is a very affordable accommodation option situated in truly beautiful surroundings. The hostel has two adapted rooms that are accessible for some disabled guests – it has spacious sleeping quarters and a larger ensuite bathroom with a wall-mounted shower seat and grab-rails. Sadly, most if not all of the walks leading to and from Lizard Point are not suitable for wheelchair users. There are often steep descents, muddy bridleways, and difficult stiles to negotiate.
To drive to Lizard’s point it takes about an hour to get there from Land’s End – but passes a lot of picturesque scenery and quaint little Cornish villages along the way. There are plenty of opportunities to stop off somewhere during a leisurely drive from one spot to another, and on a summer’s day, where time and daylight are on your side, meandering this gorgeous coastal route can be a touristic gem in and of itself.
- Perranporth Beach (and others)
Less than a twenty-minute drive from Newquay is the wonderfully idyllic Perranporth Beach which has sand chairs available via Cornwall Mobility and can be hired by calling 07881 521730. At Perranporth Beach, you’ll be met with long golden sandy beaches and a great selection of cafes and bars where you can pick up drinks and snacks right throughout the holiday season. When the tide is out you can even walk (or roll with the beach chair) up to 2 miles to Ligger Point, which all-in-all allows for a pleasant jaunt for a couple of hours – just don’t forget to splash in the waves whilst you’re at it.
Geordie’s Notes: Perranporth Beach is not the only beach in Cornwall that has accessible beach chairs – there are in fact, several. To find out which beaches have them and find the number to call to hire a chair, you can check the following online PDF provided by Cornwall Mobility.
- Carnglaze Caverns
Despite not being fully accessible for all visitors, Carnglaze Caverns is certainly worth checking out, not least because it’s conveniently located not far from the A38, near to Bodmin, and so acts as a cute little stop-off when either heading towards southern Cornwall or departing. Only the upper chamber of the cavern is accessible for a wheelchair user, but don’t let that put you off. It’s still a really cool experience to see inside the cavern system, which is now used primarily for events such as weddings and concerts. There is also a small museum-style area with a big display of rocks and minerals that were found within the cavern. The entrance to the cavern is set on a leafy hillside, with the entire place encompassing a sense of relaxation and showing nature at its interesting best.
- Royal Cornwall Museum
If perusing around a museum is more your vibe and you’re looking for an accessible way to wile away a few hours, then look no further than the Royal Cornwall Museum in Truro.
The museum is closed on both Sundays and Mondays.
Geordie’s Notes: I have never personally been to the Royal Cornwall Museum, however, I checked online ahead of its inclusion in this blog post. I felt satisfied with the level of access at the museum and therefore wanted to add it as a suggested place to visit. In my humble opinion, we always need a ‘rainy day’ option, even if museums aren’t your usual priority.
- Take a Stroll Along the Harbour – St. Ives
St. Ives is one of the most picturesque towns in all of Cornwall and is certainly one of the more must-see places to visit when you’re in the region. If you’re looking for a spot to take a beautiful stroll, which is not too strenuous from a mobility point of view, then the Harbourfront in St. Ives is a great shout!
Dotted with several quaint eateries and watering holes, not only will a walk along the water edge offer up some fantastic views, but it’ll also serve as an opportunistic place to grab a bite to eat, or spend an hour or two people-watching with a drink as the waves gently rock the harbours numerous fishing boats.
From the harbour you can also cut through an idyllic little residential area and come out on the other side of a miniature peninsula. There you’ll discover the Tate St Ives – which is a monumental building and plays host to some amazing British artwork, mainly produced by artists which have a link to the St Ives region. The Tate St Ives is usually open every day (except Mondays) from 10 am to 4:20 pm.
Accessible Accommodation in Cornwall
- Lewinnick Lodge – Newquay
The layout and decor of Lewinnick Lodge were subtle yet very stylish. The colour schemes and furnishing were not at all overbearing – and you definitely got a sense of luxury throughout the property. The ensuite bathrooms in particular were extremely chic, with a deep freestanding bathtub and a walk-in shower which is all level access. The hotel can also provide shower chairs for those that need them. Rooms are on both the first floor and the lower-ground floor, with convenient lift access to both areas. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner can be enjoyed in the Lodge’s restaurant area, where you’ll receive table service.
One of the more iconic aspects of the lodge is its jaw-dropping location – perched precariously upon cliff-tops and offering stunning views of Newquay’s rugged coastline. It really pays to book a room with a sea view where you can make the most of their complimentary use of in-room binoculars to hunt for birds and catch a closer look at the waves crashing in.
Geordie’s Notes: The Lewinnick Lodge is where I stayed with my friend while we were in Cornwall. We stayed in the off-season and loved our three nights spent there. The staff were extremely friendly and attentive and we enjoyed a complimentary meal on the first night which was absolutely delicious. I would 100% stay there again.
In the interest of full disclosure, I would like to point out that our stay was fully comped and booked, and paid for by the Visit Cornwall tourism board.
- The Headland Hotel – Newquay
Elsewhere in Newquay, there is another hotel worth an honourable mention which is just a stone’s throw away from Lewinnick Lodge. The Headland Hotel – like Lewinnick Lodge – stands proudly on a cliff-edge and, in fact, can be seen from Lewinnick Lodge depending on which side of the building you’re gazing from. The Headland Hotel is perhaps most famous for being the filming location for the original version of ‘The Witches’ – a Warner Bros. adaptation of a classic Roald Dahl book with the same title. The Headland Hotel offers a state-of-the-art multi-million-pound luxury spa, as well as a fine-dining restaurant, boutique bars, and stunningly beautiful rooms. The Times Newspaper voted the Headland Hotel as being the ‘best seaside hotel in 2020’. Not only does the Headland Hotel offer a range of accessible rooms and cottages, featuring accessible equipment, but they will endeavour to hire any additional equipment that you may need to make your stay more comfortable, ahead of your arrival.
Geordie’s Notes: Even if you’re not staying at the Headland Hotel (like we weren’t), it’s still worth a visit – especially if you’re a fan of The Witches. Non-guests can still frequent the bar and restaurant area and the food they serve is really good (speaking from personal experience)!
- St Moritz Hotel – Wadebridge
Moving north of Newquay to the town of Wadebridge, you’ll find excellent accessible accommodation at St Moritz Hotel. The accessible suite at St Moritz offers some of the most inclusive amenities in Cornwall, including a ceiling tracking hoist from the bed to the bathroom, wide doors, alerting doorbell, fire alarm vibrating pillows, low sinks, emergency ceiling drop cord, induction loop (RNID), and much, much more. A phenomenal array of added extras for guests with mobility requirements in a gorgeous hotel and spa setting. Their website describes their venue as being a ‘Miami-inspired hotel on the north Cornish coast, surrounded by our endless natural playground’.
Geordie’s Notes: I have not personally stayed at, nor visited, St Moritz Hotel personally. I have, however, read fantastic reviews online and saw on their website that they have extensive accessibility features in their accessible suite. I’m definitely making it a priority of mine to stay there at some point in the not-too-distant future.
- Premier Inn & Travelodge – Various Locations
If you’re searching for something a little more budget-friendly then there are a number of Premier Inn and Travelodge hotels to choose from – most of which offer accessible rooms for guests with disabilities. These rooms will feature spacious layouts, bathroom grab rails, wider doors, and a roll-in shower with a fixed shower seat. The design of these hotels is always pretty much the same standard – you know what you’re going to get ahead of booking, but it’s good to have a fairly cheap (yet reliable) option to fall back on.
There are Premier Inn hotels in St Austell, Helston, and Camborne, just to name a few. You can also find a number of Travelodge hotels with accessible rooms, including ones in Roche, Wadebridge, and Hayle.
Geordie’s Notes: I often stay at either a Premier Inn or a Travelodge when I’m gallivanting on a tight budget. Premier Inn in particular is a favorite of mine as I feel the standard is pretty high and the staff has always been professional and courteous when I’ve stayed there. Premier Inn’s accessible rooms also seem much more modern and spacious.
Accessible Places to Eat in Cornwall
- Rick Stein, Fistral Beach – Newquay
If you’re familiar with British TV chefs then there’s a decent chance you’ve heard of Seafood maestro Rick Stein. The famous Cornwall admirer spent many a happy summer here as a child and has since returned numerous times for both pleasure and to film food-based documentaries in the region. Now you can sample some classic Fish & Chips prepared in the way Rick likes – by heading to the Rick Stein Fish & Chip restaurant on Fistral Beach, in Newquay.
The restaurant offers both sit-in dining and takeaway services, with the main sit-in areas overlooking the gorgeous Fistral Beach. Traditional Fish & Chips isn’t the only culinary delight on the menu, however, as guests can enjoy flavours from all across Asia, too.
The restaurant is all level-access and there is a wheelchair-accessible toilet for disabled guests to use. Disabled parking spaces can also be located close to the property.
- Zacry’s Restuarant – Newquay
Beautifully situated on the beach at Watergate Bay is Zacry’s Restaurant, which also forms part of the Watergate Bay Hotel. Zacry’s boasts a very relaxed atmosphere with stunning views of the ocean to match.
The restaurant’s motto of ‘think global, source local’ couldn’t be more brilliantly executed, with exquisitely prepared food served to customers with plenty of worldly twists. If you want to sample the best that the season has to offer, why not enjoy executive chef Niel Haydock’s ever-adapting three-course menu, which really extenuates how good local Cornish produce is, all year round?
Dinner is served from 6 pm til late, and the three-course menu for adults comes in at around £55 per person.
Zacry’s is wheelchair accessible and access to the restaurant can be found via the Watergate Bay Hotel main entrance. The restaurant is cashless and bill payments can only be made by debit or credit card.
Geordie’s Notes: Zacry’s Restaurant used to be where Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Cornwall was situated, prior to it going out of business. Why am I telling you this? Well, if like me you find yourself searching online for accessible places to eat in Cornwall then websites such as wearecornwall.com still have Fifteen as a recommendation on their site.
- No. 4 Breakfast & Bistro – Perranporth
Sometimes all you need is a little bite to eat for breakfast, lunch or even brunch in between. If you’re in the Perranporth area then why not check out No. 4 Breakfast & Bistro if you’re peckish? You can find a wide variety of cafe-style lunches and snacks, ranging from toasted sandwiches, soups, sweet treats, and much more – all within a stone’s throw distance from the beach, and with ample parking in the huge car-park opposite.
- Rowe’s Cornish Bakers – Throughout Cornwall
Speaking of tasty snacks, what trip to Cornwall is complete without sampling at least a dozen Cornish pasties (per day)? Most Cornish pasties found in Cornwall are a failsafe and will be both pipin’ hot and utterly delicious. But if you’re searching for consistency no matter where you end up finding yourself in Cornwall, then go for Rowe’s.
You’ll find a Rowe’s in just about every major town in Cornwall, with over 20 different stores throughout the South-West.
Geordie’s Notes: Keep things nice and traditional. Sure, all the fancy variations and additional tasty treats that bakers such as Rowe’s offer can be delicious, but you’re in Cornwall – so why not keep it as it should be? Have a good bite on an original Cornish pasty and just thank me later. So peppery, so filling, so mouth-wateringly good.
- Kota Restaurant – Porthleven
If you find yourself positioned on Cornwall’s southwestern tip and are searching for a splash of fine dining to quell your evening hunger, then why not sample the delicious dishes that Kota has to offer in Porthleven? Enjoy Kota’s superb tasting menu, set at either four or six courses, depending on your preference, or indulge in their set menu which covers either two or three courses. There’s also an impressive range of vegetarian and vegan options as part of a four or six-course menu.
Geordie’s Notes: The restaurant is described online as being wheelchair accessible, though I have not personally visited Kota myself to double-check this. I also do not know for certain if there is an accessible bathroom for customers to use. Contact details for Kota can be found on their website.
Geordie’s Round-Up On Accessible Cornwall
So there you have it guys, seven recommendations on accessible things to see and do in Cornwall, four suggestions on accessible places to stay, and finally, five accessible recommendations for places to grab something to eat. All-in-all visiting Cornwall for the first time was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. We elected to stay an additional two nights on top of the three nights which were comped by the Cornish Tourism Board and therefore really felt like we made the most of our time in the county – maximising all that we could see and do whilst we were there.
It goes without saying that for a rugged county like Cornwall, flawless accessibility isn’t going to be found at every turn. It is, however, reassuring to know that there are a lot of things that you can still take pleasure in doing in Cornwall and there are plenty of accessible accommodation options and places to enjoy a nice meal. There are certainly enough accessible locations to facilitate creating an itinerary and making Cornwall a viable vacation destination. I would stress, however, that having access to either a car or a van would be highly advisable – given that Cornwall’s rural landscape makes getting from place to place rather difficult – even for those without mobility needs! There is, of course, public transport – but this brings with it its own unique set of challenges – with having to figure out timetables and plan accordingly. The last thing you want to happen is to find yourself stranded somewhere!
All that being said I really had a brilliant time in Cornwall and would highly recommend visiting if you’re either based in the UK or are visiting. It’s yet another example of a truly wonderful location that is often overlooked by foreign travellers who spend the majority of their time in London when visiting the UK.