Cornwall’s rocky and virtually uninhabited coastline was a smugglers haven in the past. Smuggling reached a peak in the 1800s with tales of French brandy, tea, silk and other contraband entering the region on pirate ships. I’ve been told most of these interesting facts about Cornwall by my family childhood, and I love continuing to detail them to other visitors to the most gorgeous part of the UK. Cornwall’s rich history of smuggling dates back to the 18th and 19th centuries.

In addition, you can visit Lanhydrock the National Trust property near Bodmin. The county of Cornwall sits at the south west tip of Great Britain facing the Atlantic Ocean and is bordered in large part with Devon by the River Tamar. Cornwall is home to over half a million people but is visited by many more tourists each year. Cornwall includes the county town of Truro, Boscastle, Bude, Falmouth, St. Ives, the surfing mecca of Newquay and the Isles of Scilly, accessible by boat from Penzance and air.

Subsequent surveys have suggested that as many as 44 per cent identify as Cornish. Many people in Cornwall say that this issue would be resolved if a Cornish option became available on the census. The question and content recommendations for the 2011 census provided an explanation of the process of selecting an ethnic identity which is relevant to the understanding of the often quoted figure of 37,000 who claimed Cornish identity. The 2021 census found that 17% of people in Cornwall identified as being Cornish , with 14% of people in Cornwall identifying as Cornish-only . Again there was no tick-box provided, and “”Cornish”” had to be written-in as “”Other””. With nearly 200 beaches getting close to the sea isn’t a problem in Cornwall, though the two coasts are very different.

This is where great food meets comfy beds and a hearty Cornish welcome – oh, and a chance to try some of the local good stuff! Wonderfully rural or in a town or village with the hustle and bustle of Cornish life on your doorstep, take your pick. Detach from everyday life as you unwind in the Cornish countryside, surrounded by beautiful landscapes and nature. Sleeping under the stars, barbeques, getting back to nature…sounds idyllic doesn’t it?

Cornwall developed its own language during pre-Roman times and had close ties to the Celtic nations who also had their own languages. Cornwall finally became part of England around the time of the Norman Conquest but kept powers over their most valuable exports namely tin. Tin plays a key part in the story of the formation of Cornwall’s flag with the white representing tin metal against black tin ore which is the black section of the flag. In the 18th-century Cornwall became a part of Great Britain marking the start of a steep decline in the use of theCornish language.

If you want to know what Cornwall is famous for, then read on for our top Cornwall facts to show off your knowledge. Rugby is considered the most popular sport in the county with the biggest club team in the county being the Cornish Pirates who play in the second level of the English rugby pyramid. The county’s representative rugby side have reached the final of the County Championship on 12 occasions with the last of these coming in 2013. Cornwall is historically famous for producing cider but nowadays the major breweries are best known for producing stouts and ales. As you would expect Cornish dishes are largely influenced by their surroundings with many of the local dishes being fish-based. The most famous of these dishes is Stargazy pie where the head of a fish sticks through a pie-crust as if it were “star-gazing”.

According to local folklore, there was a mythical kingdom between Land’s End and the Isles of Scilly. The kingdom was said to be ruled by a beautiful and powerful queen named Lyonesse. Cornwall has a rich history and culture and has been closely linked to Arthurian legend for centuries. The invasion by Barbary Pirates remains a significant part of Cornwall’s history and the impact of these raids can still be seen in the region today. The county’s long coastline, hidden coves, and rugged terrain made it an ideal location for smugglers to hide their illegally imported goods, like as tobacco, tea, and alcohol – when imported legally, these were faced with high taxes.

First recorded in 891 as Cornwalam; the first syllable of the name is taken from the latin ‘Cornu’, meaning horn, describing the shape of the land. The second syllable is derived from the Old English ‘wahl’, meaning foreign; as that was how the English termed the Britons in this area. The rugged coastline around Cornwall has always been treacherous for shipping. One of the worst incidents was is in 1981, when the Penlee lifeboat attempted to save a freighter in difficulty. Tintagel Castle is full of legend and mystery, and these evocative ruins have got to be one of England’s most mysterious and romantic spots.

We hope that these interesting facts about Cornwall have peeked your desire to come and visit this amazing part of the UK. Speaking of Padstow, the Obby Oss Festival is one of the most important weekends in the harbour town, and I’ve been! Many years ago but I was there watching the May Day folk festival take place. Legend has it that Jesus visited here with his uncle, and a small chapel was erected in their honour.

While both share similarities with other similarly named sports, there are profound differences to set them apart. Both are played regularly to this day, so make sure to catch a game or two when you’re visiting Cornwall. Speaking of Port Isaac, this postcard perfect harbour village has been the muse for many an artist. Starting in the medieval times, this village developed a thriving pilchard fishery.