An autumn CORNWALL GUIDE FOR THE MILDLY ADVENTUROUS
If you're planning an autumn short break in Cornwall and want something a little different from the usual beach day and fudge shop routine, we’ve got you. This is our guide to the best unusual things to do in South East Cornwall this autumn, from secret sculptures and fossil-hunting beaches to kayaking with seals and tuna spotting.
Whether you're staying at Talland Bay Hotel or just passing through the Looe and Polperro area, these are our favourite hidden gems in Cornwall for those who like their autumn adventures with a side of curiosity.
go kayaking with seals in looe
If you really want to see Cornwall’s wild side, take to the water. Several local companies run guided kayak trips from Looe, and if you’re ever-so-quiet and a little lucky, you might spot the local seal population sunbathing on the rocks. If not, you’ll still make it back for dinner feeling like you’ve earned an extra helping.
EMBARK ON A SEA SAFARI
If you prefer your adventures with a salty breeze and someone else at the wheel, we highly recommend a coastal safari by boat. It’s the easiest way to discover Cornwall’s hidden coves, sea stacks and secret beaches with no hiking boots required.
Your skipper-slash-storyteller will steer you through seal territory, seabird hangouts, and - if you're lucky - past a pod of dolphins. Keep your eyes peeled for a flash of silver too, with bluefin tuna having been spotted off the Cornish coast in surprisingly large numbers. Big, fast and borderline mythical, they're not guaranteed...but neither is sunshine and that’s never stopped us. Make sure you bring plenty of layers and your sense of wonder.
explore the polperro bookshop that time forgot
In Polperro, down one of its many winding alleys, sits a bookshop that has even more character than the books themselves. All creaky floorboards and shelves stacked to the ceiling with tomes of all types. Go in for five minutes and come out an hour later with something delightfully random to pour over with breakfast tomorrow.
watch a storm roll in from the talland terrace
No ticket required. No leaving the hotel even. Some of the best drama on the South East Cornwall coast comes from the sky. Wrap yourself in a blanket, get our guys to make you a hot cup of something, find your spot on our terrace and watch the waves do their thing while you do… absolutely nothing.
hunt for fossils at millendreath beach
Dorset isn’t the only place to get prehistoric. At low tide, the beach at Millendreath is a playground for amateur fossil hunters and those with a talent for spotting the ancient from the ordinary. If you find something spectacular, do let us know. If not, it’s perfectly fine to pass of that slightly random rock as something special. We believe you.
spot coastal art in unexpected places
Keep your eyes peeled along the coast path, because this part of Cornwall has a habit of hiding artworks where you least expect them. From beachside installations to the surreal garden pieces at Antony House, the line between nature and art gets wonderfully blurry.
Ready to escape the obvious this autumn?
Book a stay at Talland Bay Hotel and discover Cornwall’s curious side full of secret walks, slow suppers piled with local produce and a view that never gets old.