New traditions
9th October 2024
As the festive season approaches, create new traditions by the coast on a Christmas holiday in Cornwall. From Christmas morning sea dips to boxing day drinks at your favourite sea-view pub, spending Christmas in a different landscape means creating new festive rituals to return to year on year.
Add that little extra magic to your stay and form lasting memories with these new coastal traditions you could try. Think:
- A Christmas morning sea dip
- Festive drinks
- Coastal walks
- Family beach games
- A shoreline scavenger hunt
- Stargazing
- A seafood Christmas dinner
Visiting with a large group? Discover our large holiday homes perfect for big families or friend groups.
Christmas morning sea swim
This one is local tradition: every year you’ll see Cornish folk (many with santa hats on) running into icy waters on Christmas morning.
Start the day with a dash of exhilaration and dip in the closest sea to your retreat. Then, return back to your retreat, light the fire and get cosy as you unwrap presents with your loved ones.
Christmas drinks
On Christmas afternoon, swap the living room for a seafront pub and raise a glass to coastal wonder. There’s sure to be a lively festive atmosphere, and heading out for a drink is a great way to fight the post-lunch slump whilst taking in some of Cornwall’s incredible views.
If you’d rather stay in the warmth of your retreat, check out our festive drink recommendations and enjoy a cocktail making session.
Christmas Day coastal walk
Another way to wake yourself up after your festive feast is to refresh with a Christmas Day walk along the South West Coast Path. Rather than nodding off in front of the TV after one too many pigs-in-blankets, get the kids togged up and set off in search of sea vistas.
Beach games
The classic beach day isn’t just for summer, and despite the chillier weather, kids enjoy spending time at the beach all year round. This Christmas, get togged up and pack some sand-based activities for family fun on the shore. Think sand tobogganing, beach cricket, boules, sandcastle competitions, pebble skimming…. when the beach is your playground, the possibilities are endless.
Beach scavenger hunt
A tradition that the little ones especially will enjoy. Set out on a Christmas treasure hunt along the shoreline, investigating what’s been washed in by the tide. Keep what you find as a Christmas keepsake, or search for a pretty shell or interesting rock to trade with one another. It’s a great way to get the little one’s appreciating nature’s wonder and make gift giving about small acts of love.
Stargazing on Christmas Eve
On Christmas Eve, trade the twinkling indoor lights for the celestial wonders above. Wrap up warm and take a blanket on the beach (or your balcony), gaze at the starlit sky, and share stories beneath the cosmic canopy. It’s a quiet and magical prelude to the days of celebration ahead.
Seafood dinner
When you stay in a self-catered retreat, you have the freedom of your own space to cook, sip and lounge in. Why not switch it up and cook something based around the delightful local produce which the fishermen bring in every day? Sure, seafood isn’t typically included in traditional Christmas cuisine, but if you’re spending the season in Cornwall, infusing your Christmas dinner with a local twist adds all the more novelty to the task of cooking the big lunch, and will have the family coming back for seconds – and thirds.
If you’d rather skip the cooking all together, many of Cornwall’s restaurants host delicious Christmas dinners. Dine in an award-winning Cornish restaurant with a sea view and make your festive stay extra special. Be sure to book in advance to avoid disappointment.
Image credit: Graham Gaunt photowork
Escape the ordinary and embrace coastal wonder this Christmas with Beach Retreats, creating new traditions by the coast. Book your Christmas stay.
