Home / When to Stay / January
Feeling jaded from festive celebrations? Don’t fret. Cornwall is the ideal place to restore and revitalise, where you can greet the new year with fresh ocean air in your lungs and sand between your toes. Being by the coast will ready you for the year ahead, the ebb and flow of the tide sweeping across the sand symbolic of a fresh start and new opportunities. Here are some things you can do during January in Cornwall.
New Year’s Day dips
Feeling brave? Join other revelers for one of many organised New Year’s Day swims in Cornwall. The January 1st dip is a tradition here, a refreshing start to a new year. The icy water will make you feel energised and alive- and will beat the post-New Year’s Eve hangover! Try Sennen Cove, Gyllygnvase Beach, Crooklets Beach, Bude or Cadgwith Cove to be a part of the community spirit.
Windy walks
Pull on the wellies and wrap up warm to experience Cornwall’s long low-tide beaches at their best. With the waves whipped back by the wind, sea foam flying, a cool mist setting over the horizon and the January sunshine lighting the sand silver, a Cornish beach in winter is a sight to behold. All of our retreats are within walking distance of the beach, or stride out further along the South West Coast Path to explore the nearby shores. Plus, there’s a good chance you’ll have the beach to yourself.
Visiting Cornwall in January is the perfect time to bring your four legged friend, as many beaches only run seasonal dog bans during the summer months. Find a dog friendly holiday for January, and browse our locations to pick your favourite beach for pup-friendly strolls.
Hot chocolate stops
January breaks in Cornwall are made for hot chocolates by the coast. Warm back up after your walk (or find any excuse) for the sweet, sticky glug of hot chocolate, adorned with all the toppings. Wrap chilly fingers around this tasty treat and enjoy a coastal view from one of Cornwall’s many seafront cafes. This drink is best served on a particularly cold, stormy day, allowing you to relish in the warmth of the indoors as you gaze out to the waves beyond. Our favourites include The Beach Hut, Watergate Bay; The Blue Bar, Porthtowan; Gylly Beach Café, Falmouth; and Porthmeor Beach Café, St Ives.
Get arty
If things get too wet, head for cultural cover. From art and craft in Newlyn, to pottery and sculpture in St Ives and galleries and museums galore– Cornwall’s world artistic centre is easily accessible to all. Step out of season and wander tropical biomes at the Eden Project, marvelling at spiky cacti; admire contemporary paintings and installations at the Tate St Ives; delve into Cornwall’s world of mysticism and folklore at the Witchcraft Museum in Boscastle. Whatever your tastes and interests, a visit to Cornwall in January means plenty of chance to explore the counties many cultural attractions.
