Why You Should Visit Cornwall in the Autumn
After the vibrancy and high energy of the busy Summer Holiday period when children are off school, there comes a rather special time of year in Cornwall…
Locals and visitors alike will describe the transition into September as one of their favourite times to be in Falmouth and the surrounding area. Often the weather is still at its sunniest, but the atmosphere is more relaxed and spacious. The surf is usually good, the dogs can go on the beaches again, and there are a range of local events and festivals to be enjoyed.
Here are our six favourite things about Autumn in Cornwall:
A Collective Sense of Calm
When you visit local shops, cafes and restaurants, you’ll feel a sense of balance and calm compared to August where visitors and staff can both be a bit frazzled if it’s been a busy day. September moves more slowly; there’s less need to book ahead, you have time for a friendly chat, and it’s much less likely that your favourite dishes will be sold out! For foodie recommendations, take a look at our blog on the ‘Best Places to Eat Outdoors near Falmouth.’
Beautiful Weather
Now, we haven’t got solid scientific data to back this up, but for the last few years, August has been famously greyer and wetter than we would have liked, and then the sun has shone through for us in September! Last year was the (joint) hottest September on record, and we have a feeling that 2024 could well be the same. Although we start to get those crisper, fresher mornings with mist hanging atmospherically across the water, by mid-morning the temperatures often match those of August and allow for some pockets of peaceful sunbathing.
Warmest Waters
If you’re looking to pair your sunbathing with dips in the sea, September is consistently the warmest time to do it – typically ranging from about 16°C to 18°C (61°F to 64°F). Because the sea takes longer than the air to heat up and to cool down, there is a lag time between our hottest air and sea temperatures, making September the sweet spot for bathing. The most popular beaches for swimming near our cottages are Gyllyngvase in Falmouth (which is lifeguarded) as well as Flushing, Loe Beach, Swanpool, and Maenporth.
If you’ve been thinking about trying kayaking or paddleboarding, but are nervous of falling in during the colder months, September could be the best time to try it out, before the sea gets a little choppier in October. We have a few local recommendations of places to hire or get lessons in this blog post.
Dog Restrictions on Beaches are Lifted!
We know that many of you come to our Dog-Friendly Cottages with your four-legged friends, do you’ll be pleased to know that by 1st September, the dog restrictions end for Castle Beach, Swanpool Beach, Maenporth Beach and many of the beaches on the North Coast that you may be visiting. We’ve got a blog post about the details of dog restrictions here, if you’d like to plan ahead.
During the Autumn, we love a ‘half beach day’ where time on the sand is combined with coastal path walks, wandering around town, and perhaps stopping off for some lunch or a piece of cake in a local cafe. It makes it so much easier when dogs can come for the whole day out, so the 1st of September is eagerly awaited by dog owners in Falmouth!
September Events and Festivals
Once the peak season has passed, local events come back into full swing with several festivals happening in the early Autumn. A few examples we love the sound of are:
‘Potage’ Contemporary Applied Art Fair at Potager Garden 31 Aug & 1 Sept
Fal Beer Fest at Princess Pavilion, 27-28 Sept
FORM Art Festival at Princess Pavilion, 20-22nd Sept
Falmouth Reggae Festival at Princess Pavilion 4-5 Oct
Falmouth Oyster Festival at Events Square, 10-13th Oct
As well as these, you can find a huge range of day workshops, talks and evening events at various local venues including The Poly, Princess Pavilion, The Cornish Bank, Trebah Garden, Hotel Meudon, Hall for Cornwall and The Fish Factory.
Best Surfing Conditions
If you’re interested in surfing whilst you’re down in Cornwall, September is often the favoured time to visit because of the more consistent swells coming in from the Atlantic. It’s also much easier to drive to surf spots than in peak summer, and the waves will be much less crowded once you arrive! Many beaches are still lifeguarded until the end of the month, and if you fancy an evening BBQ the North Coast can provide some stunning sunsets at this time of year too.
Popular surf spots on the North Coast (around 30-50 minutes from most of our cottages) include Newquay Town, Fistral, Porthtowan, Gwithian Towans and St Ives. If you’re looking for surf lessons, all of these places have board hire and teaching available too. We’d suggest contacting them ahead of time to ask their recommendations on when to come and what kind of kit you could hire. As well as surfboards, a lot of them rent out body boards and surf SUPs, so the style of wave-riding is up to you!
If you’d like to make the most of Autumn 2024 in Cornwall, take a look at our Last Minute Offers as we still have some cottages of various sizes available in a couple of locations…
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