Author: gloversure

Lia Leendertz Q&A: on seasonal energy, hibernation and klys

We spoke to The Almanac author Lia Leendertz about tuning into the season, how she makes home more klys in the winter and the magic waiting to be discovered above us and below our feet in coming months…

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Photography by Kirstie Young

One of your intentions behind writing The Almanac is to “provide a set of keys to unlock various aspects of the seasons and help us all appreciate the moment we are in, rather than stumbling, blinkered, through the year.” Why do you think it’s important to avoid such stumbling?

We can live like that and a lot of us do. I probably do too. I’m not coming at it from the point of view that I am living fully in the moment all of the time.

But it is about mindfulness, about living in the moment, and experiencing things more fully than you might otherwise. That always has benefits mentally. I think there is so much to be appreciated about our seasons. On this island, we have relatively extreme seasons, we have a full range and it actually changes very frequently. And each month is actually pretty distinct. By February, the light is starting to come in and that there’s a hopeful, seed-sowing feeling and by March we’re fully into the anticipation of spring.

There are lots of marvels to be found right there in front of you that are a really lovely thing to appreciate once you tune into it.

Fancy staying in Padstow? Check out our luxury holiday lets in Padstow.

How does The Almanac help us experience more when we’re outside?

One of things I try to do with looking at the stars is to show that this big cosmic universe is literally right there. Take the bright planets, they can be spotted from the most rubbish of skies; you could be in a city centre and look up and see Mars.

“You’ll be able to look up at the night sky with a basic pair of binoculars and glimpse Saturn in all its glory.”

Being able to appreciate that even in our most urban environments and, then my goodness, in more rural places, like Cornwall, which are so great for seeing the stars. In all of these places you can tune into this big cosmic stuff and little, minute stuff in nature. It’s just so exciting, I think.

What are some of the smaller, unnoticed elements of the year you look at in the latest edition of your book?

Coming up, it’s those signs of spring that you can’t help but feel uplifted by, it’s quite ludicrous almost.

In December it can feel like winter is going on forever, all mud and sticks and then these little shoots come pushing through and it’s just irresistible, that feeling of hope, that the world keeps on turning is so reassuring: a little signal from the future, a pointer saying here it comes, all that good stuff, warmth, light, flowers, and buzzing bees, it’s all coming. Also the effect that the lengthening days has on us is irresistible. It takes me by surprise every year.

“We shouldn’t be fully emerging until early February, or early March. We should be tending to our energies in that way.”

And what about later in the year?

The theme for the 2023 edition is the solar system and zodiac – I’m looking at the stories behind the zodiac too.

I’ve been saving it up, because this is a particularly good year for spotting the planets. Sometimes they will line up with the sun so you can’t really spot them. But this year is going to be a really good year.

August is going to be really spectacular. Saturn is going to be at opposition; that’s basically when we are at our closest to it in the cycle, both on same side of sun, at our closest point. When we are looking at the night sky, the sun is shining on Saturn, sort of like a full moon. At the same time the rings are going to be open, be at their most visible. You’ll be able to look up at the night sky with a basic pair of binoculars and glimpse Saturn in all its glory.

There are other opportunities to see the planets just by looking up at the night sky with your own eyes, but Saturn is the big one for 2023.

“There is light coming and there are more active times coming, but this isn’t them, so let yourself have it.”

With klys, Cornish for snug and cosy, we’re looking at how the time we spend outside makes the time indoors more convivial and cosy during the winter months. Is that something you can relate to? 

Winter is when I most want to go for long walks and want to be outside, striding through the countryside, putting some distance under me, getting air into my lungs. I walk a lot more now that I’ve got dogs. Owning dogs, you don’t really get a choice, it doesn’t matter what the weather is like – the horrible wet weather or those lovely, crisp, fresh winter days.

What I have written a lot about in the 2023 edition is the idea of the cycle of the year in terms of our own energies. So in January and February allowing ourselves to be the mammals that we are, to hibernate a little, and not feel we have to thrust ourselves into the business world.

Holywell Bay

Of course, we do have to, but to try, within that, to find ways of being peaceful and calm, recognising that real need to not do the new year, new you thing. This is an entirely inappropriate time of year to be doing that!

“I make quite free with the candles these days. I try and light them every tea time and actually breakfast time as well.”

This is the hunkering down time, hibernation time. We shouldn’t be fully emerging until early February, or early March. We should be tending to our energies in that way. When you’re not out and about doing that active stuff, it’s about really allowing yourself to sink into that, in order to set ourselves up for the year ahead. There is light coming and there are more active times coming, but this isn’t them, so let yourself have it.

How do you create klys feelings inside at this time of year? 

I’m a big fan of candles perhaps even more so than fires. I feel like candles can give you a lot of that sort of atmosphere, that cosiness.

I make quite free with the candles these days. I try and light them every tea time and actually breakfast time as well. A breakfast candle is really gorgeous. It’s not about saving candles for best. Every day, and every morning, while it is still dark early in the morning; it doesn’t take any more time and just makes you settle in and feel: ‘ok, I’m allowed a little magic moment even in the most everyday of times’. Whether before you rush out to work or getting the kids to school, it’s a little, special cosy moment. So, yes, making free with the candles at all times.

We’ve looked at how connecting with the natural environment through foraging can bring something special to the table at this time of year. Do you have a foraging tip for right now?

Every week I go on woodland walk nearby and every week at the moment I’m scouring the ground looking for wild garlic shoots because they will start to come up really soon. They’re such an amazing and easy plant to forage, and so abundant when you find a patch.

It’s also very easy to identify, by smell as much as anything and has loads of uses. You can make very easy pesto and add it to bread, You can use it like chives and chuck it into all sorts of recipes. It’s a really good gateway plant into foraging generally. And a really nice sign the world is turning the way we want it to. I love the way that wild garlic just can’t resist, even if it’s so cold, if daylight is increasing it’s coming up, no matter what

Want to learn more about how to make the most of your travel? Read our blog on how to do slow travel.

Receive seasonal updates and more from Lia on Instagram, and find a copy of The Almanac 2023 here.

Find your klys retreat and embrace the seasons by the shoreline.

Self-care treatments with The Wellness Concierge

We recently caught up with our friends at The Wellness Concierge, previously named Hauora at Home. A Cornish beauty service, The Wellness Concierge offers luxury treatments within the comfort of your home or a self-catered holiday retreat.

Here’s their director, Sara, discussing their latest rebrand and what’s coming up for 2023:

“In 2021 The Wellness Concierge was born, at a time when I was looking to make meaningful change in the rural beauty and wellness industry. My dream was to create a mobile, five-star service that authentically took into consideration the holistic wellness of our clients. I felt that I could use the knowledge that I had amassed over my 20 years in the industry to create a service that was deeply authentic and engaging.

Fancy staying in a holiday retreat with a hot tub? Check out our cottages with a hot tub for a relaxing getaway.

The Wellness Concierge

The clamour of modern life means the demand for self-care is more prevalent and time sensitive than ever. In a world where our lists are never-ending and our schedules demand us to juggle multiple commitments, time has become our greatest currency.

At the Wellness Concierge, we give you some of that time back. We specialise in five-star treatments delivered straight to your door. By removing the commute to treatment appointments, you can reclaim these moments to spend with yourself or your family. Our concierge team will organise your various treatments, giving you the space and freedom to relax.

Check out our locations and retreats across North Cornwall.

The shift to upmarket, at-home treatments is a conscious approach to modern wellness. The Wellness Concierge is looking to move away from the preconceptions of mobile beauty and redefine at-home self-care for the 21st century.

Another way that we do this is to lean into our values that make up the foundations of our business. We want to put a spotlight on the entities that support us: our therapists, the landscape that surrounds us and the community we exist within. A thriving business must do good whilst doing well, and we believe we are supported by the local communities that we live within. We strive to give back to these groups that make our work possible, and at present, we work with The Women’s Centre Cornwall. We also work alongside Ecologi with a view to becoming a climate positive company.

We offer a selection of treatments from massage to manicures, personal training to yoga and all in the comfort of your home or holiday home.

Experience tranquillity with yoga on a Cornish beach, where the serene coastal backdrop enhances your practice and rejuvenates your spirit.

We truly hope you connect with our evolving wellness service. We pride ourselves on growing with and for our clients. We want to see our service through your lens and the lens of our dedicated team. If you have any questions for us please reach out on hello@thewellnessconcierge.co.uk.”

If you’re interested in their range of at home treatments, browse their new website to find out more.

Book a self-catering retreat and enjoy some self-care by the sea. 

Get cold, get warm

Klys is all about embracing the coast in its winter guise, with added warmth inside. Choose from our klys selection for warming-up after being outdoors: a beachside sauna, a hearty pub lunch on the creek or stretching out in thermal waters.

Wintery, wind-swept clifftops, deserted creeks, chillingly refreshing waves, these winter treats by the sea are often best enjoyed if you can step into a captivating klys moment immediately afterwards or even before. We set out to find some of the best spots to warm-up and get that klys feeling – Cornish for snug, cosy – after enjoying the fresher air.

Fancy staying in a holiday retreat with a log burner? Check out our cottages with a log burner for a cosy getaway.

Walk to get warm

The Pandora Inn isn’t the only Cornish pub that enjoys a fine waterside setting and long history but it’s one of the best. The wood panelling and thatched roof of this 13th-century inn make for the perfect klys setting.

While some customers may arrive by boat, the Pandora has made available a small collection of walks that begin near Mylor Creek and include the inn as part of a circular route, created by south west walks writer Sue Viccars.

Walking down to the Pandora Inn

Image Credit: @bethia_naughton

Explore magical creek-side landscapes in relative tranquility. And if the rain sets in, or you’re feeling the cold, the promise of a locally-sourced lunch or just a warm drink in the ancient inn keeps things klys.

Cold water to thermal water

Getting warm after a cold water plunge can sometimes be hard work, but combining a cold water swim in the Jubilee Pool’s art deco seawater lido with a warming dip in the Geothermal Pool is sublime. Of course, if you’re cold enough just being out and about in bracing onshore winds, the Geothermal option comes standalone too.

Image credit: @jessica_hardy12

Built dramatically into the coastline at Battery Rocks in Penzance in the 1930s, the pool began its new life as a community-owned asset, with added Geothermal Pool, in 2020. The pool reopens for 2023 on 17 January 2023, with booking available now for coming weeks. Post-swim warmth is also available in the café, a bright space for food and drinks poolside.

Post or pre-surf sauna?

Dotted around some of north Cornwall’s surfing hotspots you can find the soft, klys warmth of timber-clad saunas – bringing our Cornish version of hygge a little closer to its Scandinavian relative.

Image credit: Saunas by the Sea

At Baby Bay, Polzeath and Harlyn Bay, Saunas By the Sea, brings the restorative, relaxing sauna experience to the beach promising time to still body and mind after coastal exhilaration.

Just wrapping up its North Fistral residency is the Olla Hiki Sauna. This sauna experience is described as the chance to “enjoy the cosy and immersive heat of the sauna and then take the plunge into a cold river, the sea or throw a water bucket over you to reinvigorate and to feel truly alive.”

Want to stay in Fistral? Have a look at our luxury holiday cottages in Fistral.

Find your folk

After a day in the elements, why not warm the soul with an inherited melody from Cornwall’s celtic heritage and lyrics stirring-up past sailing adventures. Country pubs and town hotels host local folk clubs of varying styles across Cornwall from Bude to Penzance every week.

Take a chance on a thatched roof and a roaring fire, or make a date via Folk in Cornwall Magazine. Venues include the centuries’ old Albion Inn in the village of Crantock on the north cost and the delightfully cosy Moth and Moon in the centre of Falmouth, further south.

Make your winter break more klys out in the winter wilds, paired with a relaxing, restorative time warmed by the earth at Jubilee Pool, wood fire sauna-style or old-time fireside.

Find your place by the sea for a klys escape.

Discover transformation with our guide to rejuvenating escapes and soulful experiences, promising renewal and inspiration.

Six retreats for Valentine’s Day in Cornwall

We know how important uninterrupted, quality time with your loved one is. We also know how difficult this can be, with day-to-day life often getting in the way. This Valentine’s, escape from it all and make time for one another on the expansive Cornish coast. We have the key to your secluded retreat moments from the shoreline, where you can have the space you need to be together. Here’s our pick of six retreats perfect for a Valentine’s getaway.

Visiting Cornwall for a romantic adventure? Check out our romantic cottages.

Glenfeadon Castle, Portreath – sleeps two

This unique and cosy converted folly is the dream retreat for two. Hidden amongst trees and shrubbery sits an adorable courtyard, featuring a firepit for cosy evenings and an outdoor roll-top bath for romantic al-fresco bathing. Head out on long, bracing walks along the coast path towards Porthtowan and Chapel Porth, before snuggling up on the sofa back at your retreat for an evening in.

Fancy staying in Portreath? Check out our other Portreath holiday retreats.

Starboard, Falmouth – sleeps four

If you’re looking for something modern and sleek, this sophisticated fourth floor apartment overlooking the picturesque Gyllyngvase beach is perfect for you. Gaze out towards the bobbing boats from the water-facing windows and enjoy spectacular sea views from the wide balcony. Step out of your door and explore the buzzing town of Falmouth, or simply take the 30 second walk to the beach and relax.

Harbourside Cottage, Boscastle – sleeps two

Enjoy a romantic weekend in a town rich in mysticism and folklore at Harbourside Cottage in Boscastle, famous for its tales of witchcraft, fairies and piskies. Take gentle strolls through secluded woodland, towards Pentargon waterfall and St Nectan’s Glen. If you are looking for a peaceful setting with a touch of magic, then Boscastle is the place for you.

Pilots Cottage, Mousehole – sleeps four

Slow mornings beckon lazy lie ins, before your morning coffee stroll. At Pilots Cottage, a cosy fisherman’s cottage, time is yours to spend however you like. Because when you’re just 60 metres from Mousehole’s harbour and sandy beach, what’s the rush? Pilots Cottage comes complete with a log burner for romantic evenings in.

Samphire Cottage, Widemouth Bay – sleeps four

Make your time together count at Samphire Cottage, a beautiful rural cottage tucked away in the Bude countryside. If you’re looking for uninterrupted time ‘away from it all’, this is the place for you. With wildflower planted gardens and views across the rolling hills to the ocean in the distance, hand-in-hand coastal walks await.

Cove Cottage, Sennen – sleeps six

Sennen Cove is seeped in romance, with a wide, sandy beach, tiny art galleries and traditional pubs serving comforting home cooked meals and fresh fish. This cottage, set in the heart of the town, is perfectly styled to maximise comfort and cosiness whilst still having a contemporary edge. It sleeps six, meaning you can still enjoy a romantic Valentine’s getaway with the kids in tow.

Discover some of the best ways to spend Valentine’s Day in Cornwall.

New year, new ways

What a klys – Cornish for cosy and snug – approach for the year ahead, and to those annual life-changing resolutions, looks like…

The New Year is upon us. The Christmas parties are over, and you may have overindulged in, well, just about everything. And with a New Year, comes the inevitable resolution making. As convention dictates, you might want to lose weight and get fitter. Perhaps you’d like to strike a better work/life balance. Maybe you just want to be happier? But what if, instead of focusing on those big, nebulous goals – which inevitably end up overtaken by events and unachieved by December – you adopted a klys approach to change?

Visiting Cornwall for a workcation? Have a look at our holiday lets perfect for extended stays and working.

Defined as snug or cosy, the Cornish word klys is all about making the most of the beautiful wilderness we have here, before sinking into the warmth and snugness of the indoors as the winter deepens around us. In other words, by making lots of small, tangible changes to your everyday – revolved around the concept of klys and in turn engendering feelings of contentment – you may actually reach those bigger goals as a happy by-product.

“Listening to an album from start to finish, to cooking a slow meal or simply watching the waves as they pummel the sand from the comfort of your window seat, these are all activities guaranteed to boost your wellbeing, physical and mental.”

“When I started feeling the drag of winter, I began to treat myself like a favoured child,” writes Katherine May in Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times. “I assumed my needs were reasonable and that my feelings were signals of something important. I kept myself well fed and made sure I was getting enough sleep. I took myself for walks in the fresh air and spent time doing things that soothed me. I asked myself: What is this winter all about? I asked myself: What change is coming?”

Keep making time to live slower this winter

Winter is cold, winter is dark. But perhaps it’s an opportunity to slow down; to meditate on the last year, to consider where the coming year will take you, and to focus on easily-achieved activities that restore rather than drain. Central to klys is the idea of experiencing the bracing, raw elements in the Cornish wilds, before retreating to a wood fire and a warming hot drink – your skin tingling and your soul full.

Step out of your front door and go for a rejuvenating walk by the sea (or if you want a rush of feel-good dopamine, and are well-prepared, a bracing dip). Instead of mindlessly scrolling through social feeds when you get inside, make a conscious effort to do something that doesn’t involve technology ­– or the, often bleak, news cycle.

“The feeling of klys needn’t be confined to solo activity – in fact, it’s a feeling amplified by sharing experiences with others, especially friends and family.”

From settling down in a comfortable chair to read a book by the fire or listening to an album from start to finish, to cooking a slow meal or simply watching the waves as they pummel the sand from the comfort of your window seat, these are all activities guaranteed to boost your wellbeing, physical and mental. Any time of year, but particularly now.

For klys times, make it friends and family time

The feeling of klys needn’t be confined to solo activity – in fact, it’s a feeling amplified by sharing experiences with others, especially friends and family. Think of it as an extension of the feel-good festive season gone by. While the winter weather can be harsh, these conditions make the vast expanse of a deserted beach outside – with friends and laughter and a couple of cosy hours spent in the pub after(with loved ones and locals alike) – all the more rewarding.

Check out our other locations and other retreats across South Cornwall.

“Give yourself to winter and the pursuit of klys, and come springtime, you will find yourself fortified and energised for the seasons ahead.”

Choosing to adopt a klys way of living for winter means adapting to the cold season accordingly. Not being afraid of nature and the elements, but rather embracing them wholeheartedly and being open to how they can make you feel, how they can change you.

“In our relentlessly busy contemporary world, we are forever trying to defer the onset of winter,” writes May. “We don’t ever dare to feel its full bite, and we don’t dare show the way it ravages us. An occasional sharp wintering would do us good.”

Want to learn more about how to make the most of your travel? Read our blog on how to do slow travel.

Give yourself to winter and the pursuit of klys, and come springtime, you will find yourself fortified and energised for the seasons ahead. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll have unwittingly achieved those goals you normally set yourself every January.

Experience klys this January, in a beachside retreat where you can embrace the elements outdoors before getting cosy indoors. Browse our selection below.

Klys drinks

A spiced cocktail from Curio, Christmas in a cup from Country Cordials and mulling nectar with the Cornish Mead Co, raise a glass to klys…

Diving deeper into klys, we sought out drinks with the potential to enhance the snug sensation captured by the Cornish relation to Denmark’s hygge. As we batten down the hatches on long dark evenings, these local producers create drinks that are both liquid warmth and fuel for the festive spirit.

Fancy staying in a holiday retreat with a hot tub? Check out our cottages with a hot tub for a relaxing getaway.

Image credit: Lily Egbers

Spiced and stormy

On stormy days, crowds gather at Porthleven to watch in awe as waves crash into the old harbour. This is an appropriate birthplace for Curio, a spirits company that endeavours to capture the sensory experiences of life by the sea: the wild, the moody, the calm.

“It makes me think of an evening sitting by an open fire, listening to the crackle, savouring the drink’s zesty taste and being completely absorbed in that special moment.”

Launched in 2012 by husband and wife duo, Rubina and William, Curio experiments with a range of flavours from harvested seaweed to hand-foraged samphire. This winter, Rubina recommends their cardamom vodka cocktail and sea salt caramel rum to ignite an internal glow that contrasts to the tumultuous weather outside.

“The cardamom vodka cocktail is made with cranberry juice and tonic water, garnished with cinnamon and star anise. It makes me think of an evening sitting by an open fire, listening to the crackle, savouring the drink’s zesty taste and being completely absorbed in that special moment.

Image credit: Lily Egbers

“Whereas I also love adding the salted caramel rum to a flask of hot chocolate for a walk along the beach. It’s the perfect, sweet touch that compliments the fresh air on a wintery morning. It just makes you appreciate your surroundings, what life brings you and all there is to be grateful for.”

Cordial cosiness

In a converted outhouse deep in the Tamar Valley, Sally at Country Cordials uses a gentle heat treatment to pasteurise her fruit, flower and herb-based cordials. On clear nights, the ceiling windows reveal a dazzling starry sky. Sally recommends both her traditional apple flavour as well as the honey, lemon and ginger – also available with a kick of chilli for an invigorating klys feeling.

“Making cordials is also a warm process too. It’s wonderful coming into the unit the next morning with those warm fruity aromas still filling the air.”

“The apple cordial is soft, smooth and soothing – it’s like Christmas in a cup. But our honey, lemon and ginger puts things right. It feels healing with an explosion of rich nutrients and vitamins. People often drink it in dry January and say it’s well worth giving up alcohol for.

“One of the best things about our cordials is that they’re really versatile. You can play with them; they are amazing as a sauce on ice cream, in cocktails or even in stir fries.

“Making cordials is a warm process too. It’s wonderful coming into the unit the next morning with those warm fruity aromas still filling the air. Friends often just stand there, breathing it all in.”

Check out our holiday properties in Mousehole to experience everything the area has to offer in Winter.

Mulled nectar

Founded in the fishing village of Newlyn, Cornish Mead Co. is run by Sophia and her brother, Matthew. The company was the brainchild of their great grandfather in the 1950s. The medieval drink ­– with its appearance of golden nectar – is at the heart of their recommendation for conjuring cosiness.

Image credit: Cornish Mead Co.

“If I was going to describe mulled mead as a colour, it would be a dark oak or velvety ochre.”

“We recommend mulling our mead with some juice, or even cider and wintery spices like cinnamon and oranges. It really works because it’s sweet, which surprises people; there’s a warmth and depth to it.

“If I was going to describe mulled mead as a colour, it would be a dark oak or velvety ochre. With one sip, it’s like a big fleecy comfort blanket being thrown around you and it goes brilliantly with dark chocolate or a cheese board.

“But the company is also about family heritage and celebrating Newlyn’s history where mead has always been the people’s favourite. The drink is all about warmth, love and community; it’s about being part of something and celebrating friendships. Community is where people keep an eye on each other and that’s a hug in itself really.”

Get klys and cosy in a winter retreat by the coast, where you can sip seasonal drinks with a sea view. Browse our selection below.

Indulge in shoreside-inspired drinks, bringing the taste of the coast to your glass for a refreshing and memorable experience.

We won in the British Travel Awards!

We’re thrilled to announce that last week, we were named ‘Best Small Company for UK Holiday Home Rentals’ in the British Travel Awards. Thank you to everyone who voted.

Interested in staying in our most luxurious holiday cottages? Check out our luxury coastal cottages.

Our second accolade in two weeks, the British Travel Awards hosts the largest consumer poll for leisure travel in the world, relying on the feedback of you, our guests, to determine the best holiday companies in the industry.

Check out our locations and retreats across North Cornwall.

We were so grateful to receive such positive feedback, with not only our beautiful properties, but the exceptional service we offer before, during and after your stay shining through as some of the many reasons you love staying with us.

After all, the most important thing for us is that you can spend your time by the coast doing what matters – enjoying the beach and immersing yourself in the coastal lifestyle we enjoy every day.

Here’s just some of what we do to make your coastal stay even more exceptional…

  • We hand pick our selection of cottages, apartments and family homes, only taking on the very best retreats on the Cornish coast.
  • Our holiday cottages and apartments are chosen for their high standards of interior décor, local amenities and of course, the walk to a fantastic Cornish beach.
  • Backed up by a friendly and helpful reservations team who visit our properties and know the local area, we remove ‘booking anxiety’ by helping guests to choose and enjoy a memorable Cornish holiday.
  • You’re guaranteed the five-star service from our housekeeping team, who work around the clock to keep our retreats pristine and perfect, ready for your arrival.

Btaawards Reach 278

After collecting the award in London, our MD Andy said:

“Precious time spent with friends and family is now more important than ever. To create the perfect holiday, we put ourselves in our guests’ shoes to help them to experience that special beach feeling, with every touch point tailored to create the coastal elation we know so well.”

Thank you to all who voted for us in the awards – we look forward to welcoming you back to your beachside retreat again soon.

Andy and the Beach Retreats team

Get the look of the Interior Design Masters winner with our expert tips, bringing award-winning style into your home.

Klysa glow

James Bowden for land&water

Image credit: James Bowden for land&water

From rain on her face to a roast in the oven, land&water’s Pix Ashworth shares what klysa means to her…

Sea spray, frosty mornings, bobble-hat shaking winds. A pumping heart rate clambering up the coast path; surging endorphins emerging from the sea. Winter days outside in Cornwall can be thrilling – and all the better for coming inside to hot drinks and good food, good books and good company.

“Time outside makes us feel better inside,” says Pix Ashworth, founder of natural bath and body brand, land&water. Hailing from Watergate Bay on Cornwall’s north coast, the land&water collection captures “that warm glow we feel after time in the elements”.

This sensation chimes with the whole idea of klysa – the Cornish word meaning ‘to make snug’ – when “the outdoor elemental wilderness makes the indoor cosiness feel all the more inviting and impactful”.

Visiting Cornwall for a romantic adventure? Check out our romantic cottages.

Image credit: Goodrest Studios for land&water

So we invited Pix to share some favourite winter scents and sensations, inspired by that uplifting balance between time outside and inside at this time of year…

Image credit: Goodrest Studios for land&water

OUTSIDE

Rain on my face

“We live a few miles inland amongst farmland, and there’s a 5km circular walk I do regularly at the weekends. A mix of blustery winds, patches of sunshine and the odd rain shower is the perfect winter walk for me. As long as I’m warm, the sensation of rain on my face is refreshing, invigorating and somehow satisfying – it completes that ‘blast of fresh air’ feeling.”

Want to stay in Newquay? Have a look at our luxury holiday properties in Newquay.

Land and water woman and sea

Image credit: James Bowden for land&water

Glowing cheeks

“When I picture this sensation, I think of the very moment that I open the door to our house, arriving back home after walk. Sometimes it’s almost dark, in those shortest winter days – even if it’s only late afternoon. But it’s a life-affirming moment, full of positivity and simple happiness.”

Warming pasties

“Our winter beach trips always involve pasties. We cook them at home, wrap them in baking paper and then lots of tea towels to keep them warm. That moment of cold hands opening them up on the beach – followed by that delicious waft – is something else… A heady mix of warm pastry, steak and salt-filled air.”

INSIDE

Wood fire

“Our little sitting room at home is known as the ‘Snug’ (should we rename it the ‘Klys’?). The first thing I do every winter evening when I arrive home is light the open fire. It’s as much about the atmosphere it creates as the warmth it gives off – and there’s something very soothing about watching the flames come to life.”

Image credit: Goodrest Studios for land&water

A roast in the oven

“It’s unusual for a winter weekend to go by without a roast meal. For me, that smell emanating from the kitchen is synonymous with coming in from a blustery walk or a family football session in the garden – happy chaos and the anticipation of fabulous food.”

Bath salts

“Hot baths are a staple in the winter and I particularly cherish them after time out amongst the elements. The scent of the pure essential oils, particularly the restoring lavender and indulgent linden (it’s a smell to sink into!) hang in the air long after my bath.”

Image credit: Goodrest Studios for land&water

Join Pix for a winter walk, talk and swim on the beach and cliffs at Watergate Bay:

Create your own klysa experience with land&water’s Bathtime bundle:

Land and water bath and body bundle

“Slow, glow, soak, breathe, moisturise… The Bathtime bundle gifts the full reset and restore experience, to light up the day’s downtime and emerge soothed – and softer all over. Bundle includes: one Candle 220g, one Bath Salts 250g, one Pulse Point Oil – Soothe 9ml, and one Body Lotion 250ml.”

Pix by the fire land and water

Browse Pix’s tips for winter self-care, from good reads to playlists and experiences, over on the land&water Journal.

Experience a surface-level change of pace, and enjoy slowing down and savouring the simple joys of coastal living along the Cornish coast.

A klys Christmas

The Danish practise of hygge – roughly translated as ‘cosiness’ – has swept the world in recent years. We think hygge’s Cornish cousin, klys, merits equal attention this festive season. What does making a klys Christmas mean?

Fancy staying in a holiday retreat with a log burner? Check out our cottages with a log burner for a cosy getaway.

Though the Cornish word klys means cosy or snug, enjoying a klys Christmas isn’t just about cocooning beneath blankets indoors. Nothing makes time spent inside feel cosier than having made the most of winter’s daylight hours with invigorating outdoor activities, enjoyed together.

To make the most of your klys Christmas in Cornwall, wintery walks could be top of your to-do list. Wandering windswept landscapes offers a bracing contrast to time spent on the sofa, making your retreat back inside all the cosier. And by visiting in winter, you’re likely to enjoy even the most popular beaches and clifftops to yourselves.

“Wandering windswept landscapes offers a bracing contrast to time spent on the sofa, making your retreat back inside all the cosier.”

Check out our holiday properties in Mousehole to experience everything the area has to offer.

With Cornwall famous for its mizzle – a combination of mist and drizzle – it’s worth remembering the old rule that there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes. Wrap up in warm, waterproof clothing and bring along a hot thermos to maximise your enjoyment of the great outdoors.

“Yellow, coconut-scented gorse flowers make a tasty tea that’s prized as a digestive aid – which may well come in handy come Boxing Day.”

Struggling to get the family out of the house? Try giving your walk a focus, such as foraging for ingredients. Yellow, coconut-scented gorse flowers make a tasty tea that’s prized as a digestive aid – which may well come in handy come Boxing Day.

To make tea for two people, pick two tablespoons-worth of yellow flowers, bruise a little to release their scent, then infuse for 7-10 minutes before serving. As the plant is notoriously prickly, protect your hands with a thick pair of gloves while picking.

Life in the wild

Otherwise, why not don a pair of binoculars and try a spot of seal-spotting. Cornwall is home to two species, the grey seal and the common or harbour seal, and there’s plenty of seal hot-spots to be explored along the Cornish coast. Top choices include the sheltered Mutton Cove at Godrevy Point and Porthgwarra and Gwennap Head, near Penzance.

Seals at Mutton Cove, Hayle

Be sure to keep a respectful distance – especially as grey seals give birth during the winter months – while you enjoy seeing these beautiful creatures in their natural environment. Read our Out in the Wild blog for more about safely spotting coastal wildlife.

“These days, the wellbeing benefits from a quick plunge in cold water – not least an exhilarating rush of endorphins – are better understood.”

A time for traditions

If you’re feeling brave, why not start a new tradition? Though they are not for the faint-hearted, Christmas-day dips in the sea have long been popular in Cornwall.

These days, the wellbeing benefits from a quick plunge in cold water – not least an exhilarating rush of endorphins – are better understood.  And there’s nothing cosier than warming up afterwards. Make sure you prepare for a dip to stay safe and sound. The RNLI and Outdoor Swimmer magazine both have some further reading to aid your preparations.

Read our blog on why celebrating Christmas and New Year’s in Cornwall is the perfect time to explore and begin new traditions.

James bowden winter swimmers

Walk into the past

Away from the coast, there’s plenty of outdoor heritage sites to be explored. Ancient ruins abound: from ancient hillforts and villages such as the Iron Age site Carn Euny in Penzance, to the Bronze Age stone circles and monoliths found from West Cornwall to Bodmin Moor. But if wet weather puts a dampener on things, there’s still plenty of ways to enliven your stay.

“Give a klys flavour to your festive table with supplies from farmers markets or farm shops. Try a wedge of the unique nettle-wrapped Cornish yarg on your cheese platter, or adding a Cornish label to your list of usual tipples.”

Stock-up for the return indoors

Christmas markets abound with handmade gifts, and food and drink produced in the county. The Made in Cornwall Christmas Fair in Truro exclusively hosts traders awarded Made in Cornwall status. We’ve written a festive list of other markets taking place this year.

Give a klys flavour to your festive table with supplies from farmers markets or farm shops. Try a wedge of the unique nettle-wrapped Cornish yarg on your cheese platter, or adding a Cornish label to your list of usual tipples.

Pictured: Padstow Christmas Festival

In Penwith, west Cornwall, the team at Ninemaidens use the fine honey gathered from their hives to make their mead. Or for a non-alcoholic locally-sourced option, Adrift by Rock’s Pentire is a botanical spirit made using coastal rock samphire and sea salt.

Christmas can all too easily become a stressful time of year. Making the most of the daylight hours in the outdoors, focusing in on what’s around us, discovering, creating traditions or stocking up on local delicacies, can make time spent indoors together all the better. Why not try a klys Christmas by the sea?

Find the right beach location for your klys retreat.

Top 10 Cornish Christmas markets for 2022

Christmas is coming, and that means one thing – Christmas markets. Inspired by Europe’s vibrant market culture, this year will see Cornish towns and villages deck the halls, and the streets, with festive cheer. With fresh Cornish produce, bespoke arts and crafts, delightful street food and plenty of mulled wine, a Christmas market in Cornwall is the best way to get into the spirit of the season, and pick up some stocking fillers along the way.

Here’s our pick of the best Christmas markets in Cornwall.

Find out why Christmas time is the best time to visit Cornwall and some of our holiday retreats to stay in at Christmas time.

Padstow Christmas Festival / 1 – 4 December

In the heart of Padstow you’ll find one of the largest Christmas festivals in Cornwall. With celebrity chefs such as Rick Stein and Paul Ainsworth making an appearance, the streets will be filled with the aromas of delectable seafood from a range of cooking demos. Visitors can also fill their boots (and stockings) at the Christmas market, with stalls selling artisan bread, meats, cheeses, gin, craft beers and much more. Topped off with a firework display, lantern parade and live music, this is a great way to get festive as December begins.

Browse our retreats near Padstow.

Fowey Christmas Market / 2 – 4 December

This popular Christmas market sees a variety of stalls line the streets of this picture-perfect harbour town. Find the very best of local handmade goods, from artwork, crafts, jewellery, food and drink, and give a loved one a gift that can’t be found elsewhere. The market opens with a Father Christmas and Fowey Town Band Parade through the town, and each day there will be live music and street performers spreading Christmas cheer.

Stay in Fowey this Christmas.

Fowey christmas market donkey and elves

Cornwall Christmas market @ the Eden Project / 23 – 24 November

The mesmerising Eden Project will be opening their doors on the 23rd and 24th of November for their vibrant Christmas market. With up to 70 independent stalls, you won’t find a better setting for a Christmas fair, with the tropical rainforest biome, Mediterranean biome and sprawling gardens to explore. Pre book your visit for either the evening of the 23rd where you can enjoy wine and supper included in your ticket price, or the daytime fair on the 24th which includes lunch, wine and free admission to Eden.

Find a retreat nearby.

Bude Beach Huts / 10 – 11 December

Step into Christmas, seaside style, at Bude’s beach hut market. The Beach Huts will be transformed into local stalls, selling a wide range of handmade, artisan goodies suitable for all ages. Set on the beautiful Crooklets beach, enjoy a takeaway lunch or hot drink on the sand before getting stuck into some serious Christmas shopping.

Stay in Bude this Christmas.

Porthleven Christmas Market / 2 – 4 December

This historic harbour will come to life on the 2 – 4 December with a selection of handpicked stalls, showcasing the very best of Cornish produce and crafts. If you’ve got little ones in tow, Porthleven market is perfect, as Santa will be making a special appearance!

Retreats in Porthleven.

Truro Made in Cornwall Fair / 25th & 26th November

Head to the capital of Cornwall for a festive Christmas fair. Its tradition to head to Truro for its annual late-night shopping season, and this Christmas market kicks things off, allowing you to sample unique goods for sale. With a backdrop of fairy lights and the town’s striking Cathedral, a visit here will get you in the mood for Christmas.

Find a Cornish Christmas break.

St Ives Christmas market / 2 – 4 December

St Ives is Cornwall’s artistic hub, with a magical quality of light that has inspired painters and sculptors for decades. This year, browse their very own Christmas market, where you’ll find one-of-a-kind pieces, alongside live music and festive drinks. Once you’ve explored, why not check out the Tate gallery or head into the town for more boutique shops and restaurants?

Sleep in St Ives.

Healey’s Cider Farm Festive weekends / 12 November – 18 December

Spanning over six weekends, this family friendly farm will transform into a festive haven filled with crafts, Christmas music, mulled cider and hearty food. Starting from mid November, this event is sure to get you in the Christmas spirit, and allows you to start ticking off the Christmas wish lists.

Want to stay in Newquay? Have a look at our luxury holiday properties in Newquay.

Penryn Jubilee Wharf Fair / 10 – 11 December

Celebrate the first creative Christmas market at Penryn, hosting a range of stalls selling jewellery, ceramics, gifts, candles, skin care and tasty treats. Treat your loved ones, or yourself, to a bespoke Cornish creation this Christmas.

Stay in Falmouth.

Wadebridge Christmas market / 2 December

All of the family will love this festive event, where a roaming Santa and cheeky elves will be around to hand out sweets to the children. With late night shopping, charity stalls, a Christmas shop window competition, feel the buzz of the festive season in this coastal town halfway between Padstow and Polzeath.

Find a retreat on Cornwall’s north coast.

Discover five enchanting Christmas Day walks in Cornwall, where stunning landscapes and festive cheer create a magical holiday experience.