Elsewhere in the region
The majority of our students report that they are more than satisfied with all the social and recreational offerings of Penryn, Falmouth, and Truro. However, the surrounding area provides many options for students and visitors who are in the mood to explore a bit further afield. A variety of destinations offering adventures in recreation, shopping, history, and culture are just a bus or train ride away; for those who want to leave the county altogether, Newquay Airport (located within an hour’s drive of the Penryn Campus) operates every day of the week, offering quick flights to London, Manchester, and the Isles of Scilly.
The Eden Project is a groundbreaking facility erected on the site of a former china clay pit. It features a collection of biomes that house plants from around the world; this includes the largest indoor rainforest in the world. Exhibitions on art, science, nature, and culture can be found scattered throughout the greenhouses and also around the beautiful outdoor gardens that surround them. A skating rink is created on-site each winter, while in the summer visitors can attend a series of outdoor concerts from a variety of musicians ranging from Sigur Ros to Elton John. There are a number of eateries on the grounds, as well as an extensive gift shop.
Cornwall’s North Coast comprises over forty miles of ruggedly beautiful landscape between Bude and Perranporth. It is a popular destination for surfers and beachgoers, but also offers fantastic opportunities for photographers, hikers, and nature-lovers. History buffs won’t want to miss out on Tintagel Castle, a medieval fortification often linked to tales of King Arthur.
The Lizard Peninsula is home to the southernmost point on the UK’s mainland. It offers a stunning and dramatic landscape where you can fully appreciate Cornwall’s unique geology and the habitat that it provides to a variety of rare flora and fauna—including Cornish choughs, which have only recently returned to breed in the county after decades of being locally extinct. The Lizard is considered a National Character Area and is part of Cornwall’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Visitors can dine on locally caught seafood and duck into pubs to hear performances of traditional Cornish music.
The Isles of Scilly comprises approximately 145 islands located in an archipelago 28 miles to the southwest of the British mainland. The islands have been inhabited since the Stone Age and are sprinkled with ancient ruins. The archipelago is famous amongst birdwatchers because it is an important rest stop for migratory birds, but also tends to receive many blow-ins swept in by storms in North America and the Mediterranean region. The Scillies are also well known for being one of the sunniest areas in southwestern Britain. Tourists can take in the wildlife on Gugh/St Agnes, visit the Abbey and Gardens on Tresco, enjoy the shops and cafes on St Martin’s, or bask on the beach at St Martin’s. Water taxis are available to ferry visitors between the inhabited islands (including the above, plus Bryher).
My favourite trip my friends and I ever did was an all-day road trip taking us to Kynance Cove, the Lizard, St Michael’s Mount and Land’s End. The weather was perfect and the views spectacular...we did lots in one day but you could just visit any of these places on its own and it’ll be an amazing day out.
Daniel, studying Politics and International Relations