Apparently, 92 million selfies will be taken daily across the globe in 2022. And 95% of them will be pictures of Cornwall.
That second sentence is an outrageous lie. But it does sometimes feel that Cornwall has way, waaay more than its fair share of the world’s beauty spots. It’s the kind of place where you can pretty much smile, point and click, then post on Instagram to universal acclaim.
But we suggest you’re a bit more discerning than that. Here’s 10 of the prettiest places in Cornwall for a selfie that will show you #LivingYourBestCornishLife.
1) Tintagel
With sweeping clifftop views and legendary stories of Arthur, Merlin and Guinevere, Tintagel is about as quintessentially Cornish as it gets.
Top selfie spot: The Gallos statue. An intriguing sculpture that may or may not be Arthur. Whoever he is, he’s a splendid chap to share the view with.
Runner up: The amazing Tintagel Bridge, spanning a 190-foot gorge.
2) Chapel Street, Penzance
This historic street curving ever-so-elegantly towards the sea is a real highlight of the charming port town Penzance. With the grand Regency facades, wonky pirate pubs and odd building that falls into the sheer bonkers category, this is an absolute gem!
Top selfie spot: The Egyptian House. Don’t ask why – just smile and revel in the eccentricity of this early 19-century ‘mad-sterpiece’.
Runner up: The Admiral Benbow – the pub that stepped right out of a Robert Louis Stevenson novel. And – oh look – a pirate on the roof!
3) The Eden Project
One of the wonders of the Cornish world when it opened in 2001, the Eden Project continues to delight with tropical and Mediterranean planting; not to mention surprise appearances amid the banana leaves by top-notch performers such as Brian Wilson, Elton John, Elbow and more.
Top selfie spot: No contest – it’s a shot of those delicious domes, isn’t it?
Runner up: Bring on those domes, again, lit up at night during a live gig.
4) St Michael’s Mount
Take a castle in the sea, add a selfie and you have one of the most viral-with-your-mates images imaginable.
Top selfie spot. The start of the Causeway snaking out to the Mount. A classic.
Runner up: Take the easterly road out of Marazion and uphill and you’ll find some lovely, lesser-known views of the Mount where the castle appears to tower high over the ocean.
5) Botallack
Come on you Poldark romantics. You know you want to recreate that Aidan Turner and Eleanor Tomlinson moment. Here’s your spot: the Crowns at Botallack, a historic mining site which featured, dramatically, in the series.
Top selfie spot: At the top of the path leading to the Crowns, with the engine houses and crashing sea below. Make sure to gaze moodily past the camera, eyes smouldering.
Runner up: Walk down the path to the engine houses for a close-up of you, the old buildings and the wild seas below.
6) Morrab Gardens
Penzance’s very own subtropical gardens purchased by the town in 1888 are one of a kind. Where else in the UK are you going to find mighty gunnera, fragrant magnolias, jungly bananas and ferny sumacs in an urban centre?
Top selfie spot. Tap into the Edwardian vibe with a shot on the bandstand.
Runner up: If you’re here in spring, it has to be a pic amid the camellias and magnolias. Breathtaking.
7) Minack Theatre
The extraordinary open-air theatre perched high on the North Coast has to be seen to be believed. Plenty of drama for your selfie here, whether there’s a play on or not.
Top selfie spot: Up in ‘the gods’ (the higher up seats), you’ll get a fab, precipitous pic of the theatre below.
Runner up: Frame a stunning shot of the azure waters of Porthcurno beach, which sits below the theatre.
8) Mousehole Harbour
We read somewhere that Mousehole was ‘possibly’ Cornwall’s prettiest fishing village, which is OUTRAGEOUS. It IS the most beautiful fishing village, bar none, and one of the prettiest places in Cornwall. Anyone who says otherwise is definitely from St Ives 🙂
Top selfie spot: Against the railings overlooking the harbour. The boats, the rickety buildings leaning over the water – fishing village heaven!
Runner up: The backstreets: search out vibrant potted geraniums on doorsteps and fat cats in sunny spots for that perfect shot.
9) Frenchman’s Creek
One for those looking for a different flavour of Cornwall selfie, Frenchman’s Creek, just off the Helford River, is the softer, gentler side of the county that inspired Daphne Du Maurier’s famous novel.
Top selfie spot: Plenty of places to choose from here – just hug the riverbank and search for spots beneath the trees where columns of dusty light pierce the river. Magical.
Runner up: On the water. Kayaking is a beautiful way to see this spot and you’ll get fab shots of the oak woodlands.
10) Chun Quoit
This Neolithic quoit sits enigmatically in the wild moorlands of west Penwith, near Pendeen. One of many mysterious ancient sites in Cornwall.
Top selfie spot: Try a selfie with your camera pointing west: you, the quoit and the sun setting over the ocean – perfect.
Runner up: Okay, we’re cheating here by changing location, but another fab ancient selfie spot is the Merry Maidens stone circle, just a few miles away.
Almost all of these selfie spots are within a 40-minute drive of Penzance. Why not make the famous port town your base for a photographic tour of the prettiest places in Cornwall. You’ll discover comfy places to stay, world-class dining, atmospheric pubs, arty happenings and a nautical vibe like no other.