10 Things to Do in Cornwall in October
- 1 year ago
- Activities, Attractions, Events
Each month we pick 10 things that will get you outdoors, tickle your tastebuds, move you, inspire creativity and ensure you’re making the most of Cornwall. What with Halloween, Harvest Festival and half term on the horizon, here’s what we’ve got lined up this October…
View of the month: Cape Cornwall
When autumn whips the sea into a frenzy and swells march across the horizon, embrace the wild October weather from the promontory of Cape Cornwall, where the Atlantic meets the Irish Sea. Once thought to be the most westerly point of Britain (until the Ordnance Survey realised that Land’s End trumped it), the tremendous amounts of water movement attracts an abundance of wildlife, including a seabird colony just offshore on Brisons Rocks. Feel the raw power of the landscape when you stand at the landmark chimney (lookout for the Heinz plaque), then clamber down for a wild dip in Priest’s tidal pool, before a cuppa or hearty soup from the Little Wonder Cafe in the National Trust car park.
Attraction of the month: Trelissick Apple Weekend
5-6 October 2024, Trelissick, Truro
October is the month for apple scrumping, cider, crumbles and lattice apple pies with lashing of Cornish clotted cream. So where better to celebrate the mighty apple than at Trelissick’s apple-themed weekend? An array of activities include an apple press in the stables, apple identification, picking and pruning advice in the orchard, traditional family games and archery. With not long to go until Halloween, we wonder if there’ll be some apple bobbing, too. Admission to Trelissick applies; free for National Trust members.
Creative ARTS event of the month: Stranger Beasts
1-6 October 2024, Geevor Tin Mine, Pendeen
The start of October is your last chance to see Stranger Beasts – a wild and wonderful outdoor theatre performance on the spoil heaps of the iconic Geevor Mine. Hailed as ‘a love song to the land and a wild cry to the skies,’ with its roots firmly planted in myth and fairytale, West Cornwall plays a starring role in the tale of a girl bound to change the destinies of her land and her people. This incredible performance from Wildworks is a celebration of Cornwall’s long-standing traditions of community, welcoming strangers and outdoor performance. And it’s only £5 per ticket.
Activity of the month: Surfing England Interclub Championships
5-6 October 2024, Porthtowan Beach
We’ve often said that autumn is the best time to go surfing in Cornwall; when the punchier swells roll in, the holiday crowds roll home, and the water’s still warm from the summer rays. Not only is Porthtowan one of our top beaches to hit the waves (Tris Surf is the place for kit and lessons), but on the first weekend in October it’s the venue for the Surfing England Interclub Championships. Sign up a team to battle it out in the surf or come along to watch, catch a few waves between heats and soak up the surfy vibes from the Blue Bar.
Bar of the month: The Elephant
Port Eliot Estate
Lovingly dubbed ‘The Nelly’ by locals, this boutique bar opened its stable doors in spring, to invite locals and visitors into an intimate and unique venue for cocktails, craft ales and blues music. Exposed brickwork, quirky artwork and low-hanging lighting with green velvet seating make it a cosy hangout in this sometimes forgotten corner of Cornwall. If you haven’t visited already, there’s all the more reason to go there on 19 October, for a Saturday blues session with The Big Dog Boogie Band.
Festival of the month: Falmouth Book Festival
14-20 October 2024, various venues across Falmouth
Isn’t autumn the time of year that you want to curl up with a good book beside the fire, or rouse your own muse and put pen to paper on the longer, darker evenings? Glean inspiration from the line-up of authors sharing words and wisdom at October’s Falmouth Book Festival. This vibrant celebration of literature brings renowned authors, poets and storytellers to various locations in Falmouth, offering engaging talks, workshops, and family-friendly events, from fiction and poetry to discussions on the creative process. Whether you’re a reader or a writer, it’s bound to ignite your creativity and word-craft.
Feel Good this month: Reset, Movement Workshop
19 October 2024, Watergate Bay
Gosh, there are so many ways to keep feeling the inner glow in the autumn months – from sauna rituals and wild swims to wellbeing and journalling workshops. The one we’re booking on is movement expert and osteopath Lizzie Bird’s Reset workshop – three hours of mobility, strength work and relaxation that will encourage you to find your autumn flow. Tea, snacks and a sea-view jacuzzi the stunning venue are all part of the rejuvenating journey. We’d day that’s £25 well spent on a Saturday morning.
Foodie event of the month: Autumn Feast Nights
18 & 19 October 2024, Carbis Bay
October is harvest time, which means there’s no better time to tuck into the rich and ripe ingredients plucked from Cornwall’s land and sea. As the golden light bathes the landscape and the evenings draw in, dine on autumn delights such as Venison Wellington, Cornish mulled cyder, butternut squash and apple crumble at The Orangery Restaurant on the Carbis Bay Estate. Work up an appetite on a blustery coastal walk, and be prepared for an evening of feasting and making merry, with a live Cornish band setting the mood. Tickets £55pp and include 6-courses with a welcome drink.
Music of the month: Mad Dog Mcrea at the Minack
4 October 2024, Minack Theatre
Now there’s so much music for your ears this October, so it was tough to pick just one. But from the Woodburner Sessions at Lusty Glaze to the songs of Joni Mitchell at The Poly, the one unmissable event this month is Mad Dog Mcrea at the Minack. From songs of adventure, drinking, love and life, to traditional songs of gypsies, fairies, legless pirates and black flies, Mad Dog never fail to capture their audience with a unique mixture of folk rock, pop, gypsy jazz, bluegrass and ‘shake your ass’ music. What with support from Cornish sea-punk, folk band, Jolly Roger, it’s bound to be a high-octane performance and a ruddy good ol’ time.
Walk of the month: Newquay’s Zombie Crawl
26 October 2024, Newquay
While we’d usually highlight a seasonal walk for its scenery, if you only do one walk in October, make it the quirky and creepy Zombie Crawl through the waterside streets of Newquay. This buzzing surf town is a stunning setting for an autumn amble, and this one starts with face painting and zombie outfit making workshops, so you can set off in spooktacular style and join in all sorts of thrilling activities on your seaside stroll.
What are your favourite events and things to do in Cornwall in October? Let us know in the comments or on @cool.cornwall
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- Activities
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