May holidays in Cornwall and Devon

Spring is in full swing and summer is just around the corner. Our pick of May happenings take advantage of warmer waves, flowering woodlands and historical celebrations.

See the first bluebells

Scout out Pencarrow House and Gardens near Bodmin, Godolphin Woods near Helston, Ennys Gardens near Penryn and Glendurgan near Falmouth for beautiful carpets of bluebells – a sure sign that spring has arrived in the county.

The English National Surfing Championhips

The cream of British surfing return to Watergate Bay with junior, womens, mens and longboarding titles up for grabs. Want to join them in the water? Learn to surf with the Extreme Academy, located on the slipway down to the beach.

Helston Flora Day

The thud of the big bass drum starts the heart as well as Helston’s ancient Flora Dance, where townspeople dance up and down streets decked in flora and fauna. Watch dances at 7am and 5pm, the children’s dance at 10am, a midday procession at noon and the Hal-en-Tow which re-enacts the battle between St George and the dragon.

St Ives Food, Drink and Literature Festival
Porthminster Beach, St Ives

Middle to late May – Bringing together two of our favourite things on one of Cornwall’s most scenic beaches. A festival that attracts demos from Celebrity chefs such as Gizzi Erskine, Jack Stein and The Fabulous Baker Brothers while eight days of book launches, workshops and open air poetry readings continue things in a literary sense.

Food festivals

and beach walks.