For those who like a slow-living, healthy vibe staycation, look no further than Cornwall. It’s the perfect place for the solo female traveller, and has so many beautiful beaches and attractions, it is a great way to spend a holiday in peace.
1. Go To Cornwall To Slow Down!
This county has always been popular for family holidays – but don’t let that stop you! It’s perfect for solo travellers too – take it as an opportunity to slow down, reduce alcohol intake and reconnect with yourself. Have quiet days outdoors, read books, swim in the sea and watch the sunset to have the most enjoyable experience. Cornwall feels like a collection of small towns full of friendly locals, and a very safe place to enjoy Britain’s most stunning coastline.
2. Don’t Write-Off Hostels!
I know in a perfect world we would all like a private beach front apartment for our holiday, but reality means we can’t all afford it. But that can’t stop us going away and having a fun holiday. I stayed in a lovely hostel in St Ives for a very reasonable price, and in a female dorm I felt totally safe and was happily surprised to find women of all ages in there! It’s more of a family hostel than a party hostel, and it makes things so much more affordable. In Newquay, I rented a single room, which was only slightly more expensive and helped me feel safe and private, but still amongst a bustling atmosphere.
3. Make The Most Of Every Sunset
With the sunset in summer being after 9pm, you have lovely long days and a stunning golden hour to enjoy daily. Don’t let a single one go to waste, it’s so invigorating to get out there for a short walk and watch the beauty of the world go by. Here are some I enjoyed the most in my 10 days on the beach while splashing about in the low tide.
4. Keep The Food Costs Cheap! Save Money For Activities!
Spending every day on the beach or going for walks meant it was much simpler for me to get meal deals every day. Admittedly I did feel awkward sitting in restaurants alone, but in the end I realised for a couple of meals a day it was much more affordable. Just watch out for the seagulls!
5. Research, Research And More Research!
I can’t stress this enough, make sure your visiting places that fit your vibe. Newquay is super popular with the young crowd, and is a great place to meet larger groups if that’s your vibe. But with that comes some social anxiety for me, I wish I’d spend more time in a quieter place like Penzance. Also I regret not understanding the train lines in Cornwall. It took me 3 changes to get from St Ives to Newquay and 4 good hours of my life. The infrastructure isn’t there, so if you’re a non driver, plan and pre book transport.
6. Come With Plenty Of Swimwear…
I had the idea that I would buy some cute little bikinis from local stores, but I genuinely couldn’t afford it in the end! Unless you urgently need some new swimwear, I would avoid. Take more than you need, it hardly takes up space in the luggage anyway!
7. Walk As Much As Possible!
It’s been years since I stepped outside and spent every day walking a few miles instead of driving short distances. A slow-life holiday forces you to do just that, and it’s a very liberating feeling. Download some e-books, podcasts or albums to keep you entertained on some long walks to the beach. I loved a little route in St Ives that took me along the cliff edge to Porth Kidney beach. Seeing all the greenery amongst the beach settings is so beautiful in the height of summer.
8. Don’t Travel During Boardmasters!
Unless you actually going to the festival – I can’t stress enough how important it is to avoid this particular weekend. The trains to Newquay were jam packed, the hostels more of a party spot then I was hoping for, and Fistral beach was an intense body crush. The benefits are that you can watch the surfing competitions, and there are more stalls and food vendors than usual. But this is not the slow holiday experience I was hoping for, and i was very ignorant of the festivals dates! Big regret.
9. Watch Out For Hard Water
This is an everyday hair wash issue for me anyway, and at home I use a shower filter. However, when on holiday, the best thing to avoid the sea water, sun, SPF and general water quality impacting your hair colour and texture, is this hard water sachet. Mix the powder in with your shampoo as soon as possible after hitting the beach and give it a good scrub. In my photos you can see how the water impacted my own hair and hair extensions – a costly mistake! Especially my blonde girls out there – protect the colour at all costs!!!!
10. Try Out Every Beach
When I spent 4 days in Newquay, each evening at sunset I walked along the coast line to 4/5 different beaches, and enjoyed the view at a different one every night. They were so empty at that time but still so warm and safe feeling. The ambience of families hanging out having a barbecue in the quiet, golden light was so cozy and safe feeling. I even felt brave enough to get my stand out and have a mini photo shoot with myself. Definitely see as many beaches as you can. I personally loved ‘Lusty Glaze’ the most for vibes.
11. Don’t Pressure Yourself
It’s easy to set really high to-do lists when you go on a solo trip. But it’s normal to feel a little anxious when in the moment. So you don’t feel like socialising a great deal or trying out a surfing class? Don’t pressure yourself. Holidays shouldn’t feel like a ‘to-do’ list and getting used to doing things alone can take time to build the confidence. I really beat myself up about wanting nights in alone rather than hanging out in bars, because sobriety isn’t a popular topic and I should ‘want’ to meet new people. But honestly, I go away to be by myself and experience a place, not everyone is a social butterfly, or wants to be!
12. Try Not To Hang On To Negative Experiences
When I went on my solo trip, I had a bad experience in a hostel. The place itself was lovely, and it was just one of those things. But two drunk men got in to a physical fight, and in the end I had to intervene to provide medical assistance, and report it to authorities. I felt suddenly so unsafe and frightened, even though I had a private locked room. I was so close to going home early after that, but a lovely girl helped me feel much better about the situation and even helped me feel less anxious for my remaining time. For a while after my holiday, I held on to that experience as a core memory, but that accident faded away, and the positives far outweighed the benefits. The hostel staff and other holidayers were very supportive, and helped me understand it was a freak occurrence, not a regularity. My anxiety likes to trick me in to believing danger is always around the corner, perspective is always helpful.
13. Plan Your Day Trip and Travel Options Way in Advance
If you have your heart set on some amazing day trips to places like Tintagel Castle, or The Eden Project, maybe even St Michael’s Mount, make sure you figure out how you are going to get there in advance – especially if you are without a vehicle. Most of these places may have a nearby train station, however the public transport is not the most advanced in Cornwall, and you may need to organise bus routes. This need increases if you travel between Mid July – August as this is the British summer school holidays and Cornwall will be very busy with families.
For example, if you are staying in St Ives, getting to St Michael’s Mount isn’t as simple as one bus – but two buses and a ferry. With some planning, I’m sure you will manage no problem. To list a few other lovely day trips and attractions for your consideration; Land’s End, The Minack Theatre, The Lost Gardens of Heligan, The Isles of Scilly & Carbis Bay.
