6 practical tips for your visit to Cornwall
Some pratical advice to keep you, your family and those around you safe and happy
1. Water safety
Cornwall has plenty of strong currents, rocky access routes and (shock) the water can be pretty cold — a recipe that can create unforeseen dangers if you are not poperly aware of your surroundings. As well as getting dragged out, or injuring yourself, cold water shock should also be considered if you are swimming or jumping into the water.
Whether you are exploring a beautiful cove, having a leisurely paddleboard around local waterways or opting for a touch of open water swimming — do some research beforehand and know what to do if something goes awray.
Check here to see if you beach will be lifeguarded. Not all beaches are: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeguarded-beaches. If it is, familiarise yourself with the flag system and whether it’s commonly used by watersports as well as ‘bathers’ as there might be two flag systems in play on one beach.
Two good resources to consult for water and beach safety are:
2. Tide times
The tide times change throughout the month and it’s vital to check them when you are planning to head to the beaches of Cornwall.
The tide presents opportunities (swimming!) but also dangers — you can easily get cut off or in trouble, particularly when walking around to certain coves and it can travel at quite the speed. The depth changes as the tide comes in so this is something to be wary of.
Simply google ‘tide times’ and the location you are planning to go for example: ‘Tide times Marazion’ and use any of the links. You can also purchase a small yellow book in corner shops that have the tide times for the year.
A resource to get you started: https://www.cornwalls.co.uk/weather/tide_times.htm
3. Leave it as you found it, or better
Please, don’t litter. Be considerate of residents, other visitors and the stunning flora/fauna.
If you see litter, if possible, pick it up safely and dispose of it in an appropriate bin. There are (unfortunately) always opportunities to do a very quick beach clean when you are out and about; I see a lot of fishing rope, bottle caps and wrappers. Don’t forget to pick up after your dog too, there are plenty of dog bins.
Perhaps a fun activity could be joining a local beach clean with the family?
Bring a bag with you for rubbish — plan ahead if you are spending the day in very rural or remote locations or perhaps hiking the lovely South West Coast Path.
4. Emergencies
If you are in need of non-emergency urgent medical assistance during a visit to Cornwall, first call your local GP. If they are closed call 111 who will direct you to the most appropriate service. Don’t directly contact local GP practices unless told to by 111 as they are already stretched very thin particularly in the summer.
It goes without saying to call 999 in an emergency situation and ask for the Coastguard if it’s a coastal emergency.
5. Wildlife
Seals
The UK is home to 38% of the entire world’s population of grey seals and 30% of the European subspecies of common seals. ^https://www.cornwallsealgroup.co.uk/2021/04/give-seals-space/
Disturbances of any kind can be detrimental to their wellbeing.
A campaign launched by Seal Alliance has outlined this handy poster chock full of tips to help keep seals happy and safe
- If a seal is looking at you, it’s already been disturbed — you should move slowly and quietly further away.
- It’s important to observe seals only from a safe distance. Do not approach them, swim near them deliberatly or feed them.
- Keep dogs on their lead near areas seals might be living
Gulls
Don’t give a gull an opportunity.
The Seagulls in places like St Ives often steal food from anyone that takes their fancy. They aren’t fussy; they’ll choke down a pasty, a tray of chips (fries) or your beloved ice cream should you give them the chance. It’s best never to leave food unattended, keep your food as close to you as possible and even shelter any food while eating it. The council would like to break the behaviour of the seagulls by teaching them not to steal food but there’s a long way to go. Don’t be naive. I’ve seen countless gull-ible tourists get dive-bombed and lose out on their snack.
Keep your children close, they can be easy targets and may get upset at the sight of a massive bird lauching it’s sharp beak at them.
Nor should you purposefully feed the seagulls or other birds — it’s classed as littering and you may face a fine.
If we all plan ahead and take simple steps to look out for each other, the environment and wildlife then we’ll be able to continue enjoying the wonder of Cornwall for years to come.
