Christmas in Cornwall: A Festive Coastal Escape

by lanyon | Dec 15, 2025 | Family Friendly, Latest News, Local Area

🎄 Christmas in Cornwall: A Festive Coastal Escape

There’s something truly magical about spending the festive season in Cornwall. From twinkling lights in charming harbours to cosy walks along dramatic coastlines, Cornwall transforms into a winter wonderland that’s perfect for making lasting memories. If you’re dreaming of a festive escape that blends seasonal cheer, local culture, and natural beauty — Christmas in Cornwall delivers. Here’s why you should consider celebrating the holidays here this year:

🌟 Festive Markets & Seasonal Events

Cornwall comes alive in December with a host of Christmas markets and festive celebrations that showcase the best of local food, craft gifts, and holiday spirit.

• Royal Cornwall Showground plays host to the Cornwall Christmas Market, one of the county’s largest festive events — complete with handcrafted gifts, delicious seasonal treats, live entertainment, and visits from Santa himself.

• Truro’s Christmas market brings artisan stalls and local produce to Lemon Quay, with longer opening hours and late-night shopping options through December.

• Smaller village markets and indoor festive fairs around Healey’s Cornish Cyder Farm and Tolgus Mill add charm and variety to your Christmas shopping.

These events are perfect for finding unique gifts and soaking up the joyful atmosphere of the season.

✨ Charming Lights & Local Traditions

Cornwall’s coastal towns and villages sparkle at Christmas. One of the most famous seasonal spectacles is the Mousehole Christmas Lights — a dazzling display of lanterns and illuminated scenes that light up the harbour and draw visitors from far and wide.

Plus, local traditions like the Montol Festival in Penzance celebrate ancient winter customs with fire, music, and creative performances that give your Christmas trip a uniquely Cornish flavour.

🌊 Winter Coastline Walks & Wildlife

Christmas in Cornwall isn’t just about events — it’s also about connecting with nature. Wander the coastline along the South West Coast Path, breathe in the crisp sea air, and enjoy peaceful, crowd-free beach walks. Winter is also a great time for wildlife watching, especially seal spotting along the north coast where grey seals often haul out on beaches through January.

The dramatic winter sea, rugged cliffs, and golden sunsets make Cornwall’s landscapes especially atmospheric at this time of year — perfect for photographers and nature lovers alike.

🍷 Cosy Evenings & Seasonal Workshops

Beyond markets and walks, Cornwall offers festive creative experiences like Christmas wreath-making, decoration workshops at beautiful garden venues such as Trebah, and late-night candlelit shopping evenings in historic towns like Lostwithiel.

Whether you want to settle in with a locally brewed mulled cider, take part in a creative workshop, or simply enjoy the warmth of a traditional pub and roaring log fire, there’s something for every festive mood.

🏕️ Why Stay at Lanyon Holiday Park

Located in the heart of Cornwall, Lanyon Holiday Park is the perfect base for your Christmas adventure. Our park offers:

• A peaceful countryside setting, ideal for winter walks and festive day trips.

• Dog-friendly facilities — bring your four-legged companions and enjoy outdoor adventures together.

• Great access to Cornwall’s best attractions, markets, and coastal towns, all just a short drive away.

We’re open year-round, making Christmas stays and winter breaks at Lanyon an easy and memorable choice for families, couples, and adventurers alike.

✨ Make This Christmas One to Remember

Whether you’re exploring festive markets, admiring harbour lights, or walking windswept beaches, Cornwall at Christmas offers something special. Add in the comfort and convenience of staying at Lanyon Holiday Park, and you have the perfect recipe for a festive getaway filled with joy, adventure, and seasonal charm.

Wildlife Watching in Cornwall: What You Can See and Where

by lanyon | Nov 7, 2025 | Family Friendly, Latest News, Local Area

Wildlife Watching in Cornwall: What You Can See and Where

Discover Cornwall’s incredible wildlife, from dolphins and seals to rare birds and butterflies—plus the best places to spot them near Lanyon Holiday Park.

Cornwall isn’t just a paradise for beach lovers and surfers—it’s also a haven for wildlife enthusiasts. With its diverse habitats, from rugged cliffs to heathland and estuaries, Cornwall is home to a wide variety of animals, birds, and marine life.

If you’re staying at Lanyon Holiday Park, you’re perfectly placed to explore some of the region’s most exciting wildlife hotspots. Here’s what you can expect to see—and where to go for your best chances of spotting it.

1. Marine Life: Dolphins, Seals, and Even Whales

Cornwall’s waters are teeming with life, and if you’re lucky, you might spot:

• Common dolphins and harbour porpoises dancing through the waves

• Grey seals lounging on the rocks or bobbing curiously in the surf

• Basking sharks (in summer)—the gentle giants of Cornish seas

• Even the occasional minke whale or humpback off the coast!

Where to watch:

• Godrevy Point – Just 20 minutes from Lanyon, this is a top spot for seal watching, especially in autumn and winter.

• Porthgwarra & Cape Cornwall – Ideal for spotting dolphins and seabirds.

• Mount’s Bay – Great views from Penzance or Marazion, sometimes including basking sharks in early summer.

2. Birdwatching: From Coastal Cliffs to Woodland Paths

Cornwall is a birdwatcher’s dream, offering a chance to see everything from garden favourites to rare species:

• Choughs – A symbol of Cornwall, these rare red-billed crows are now making a comeback on the cliffs.

• Puffins – Spotted at sea around the Isles of Scilly and occasionally along the coast.

• Oystercatchers, curlews, and sandpipers – Common on estuaries and beaches.

• Buzzards, kestrels, and peregrine falcons – Often seen soaring above headlands.

Where to watch:

• Hayle Estuary RSPB Reserve – Just 15 minutes from Lanyon, brilliant for wading birds and wildfowl.

• The Lizard Peninsula – A known chough hotspot.

• Stithians Reservoir – Inland, but a favourite for ducks and rare birds.

3. On Land: Foxes, Deer, and Small Mammals

While harder to spot, Cornwall’s woodlands and moorlands are home to:

• Foxes and badgers

• Roe and red deer

• Hedgehogs, stoats, and rabbits

Where to watch:

• Tehidy Woods – Near Lanyon, this peaceful woodland is great for spotting squirrels and birdlife.

• Bissoe Valley – A quieter area that’s rich in native wildlife.

4. Insects and Pollinators: Butterflies and Bees

In spring and summer, Cornwall comes alive with colourful butterflies, dragonflies, and buzzing pollinators.

Look out for:

• Painted ladies and red admirals

• Silver-studded blue butterflies

• Hummingbird hawk-moths darting around gardens and hedgerows

Best spots:

• Clifftop meadows near Portreath or Chapel Porth

• Wildflower-rich paths around Godolphin Hill or Penrose Estate

5. Wildlife at Lanyon Holiday Park

You don’t even need to leave the park to enjoy nature. At Lanyon Holiday Park, we’re surrounded by Cornish countryside teeming with life. From early morning birdsong to evening owl calls, there’s always something to discover.

Bring your binoculars—you might spot:

• Swallows and swifts overhead in summer

• Rabbits grazing in the early morning

• Buzzards circling above the fields

A Wildlife Watcher’s Paradise

Whether you’re a seasoned naturalist or just curious about what’s out there, Cornwall is a spectacular destination for wildlife watching. With so many beautiful and accessible locations near Lanyon Holiday Park, you can enjoy close encounters with nature—without straying far from your pitch.

Ready to explore Cornwall’s wild side?
Book your stay at Lanyon Holiday Park and start your nature-filled Cornish adventure today.