A guide to driving around Cornwall
Driving around in Cornwall undoubtedly gives you the utmost freedom to explore the highs and lows of the countryside. The roads are narrow, sometimes battered and broken as a sign of the times, oftentimes they rise and wind up toward hilltops and abruptly drop with sheer slopes leaving you attempting to heed the onset of uncontrollable momentum as you roll down the hillside road. It's certainly unique, no question about it. But, having lived here I have seen first hand how oftentimes unprepared people are for how different these roads can be in relation to the rest of England. Don't however let this sway the intrigue, nor let it ally your stay in your luxury apartment in St Ives to staying in one location, Cornwall has so much more to explore and for the most part it has been my raison d'être to implore people to explore. Without further ado, here are some of the best things to bare in mind when you're out on the road in Cornwall.
Be prepared for animals.
It goes without saying that animals do, more than often cross the roads regardless of where you are in the country. In Cornwall it's worth keeping in mind that more often than not you might find yourself on a back road in the depths of Cornwall, flora and fauna surrounding you in every direction, so being mentally prepared for an oncoming fox, badger or cow is well worth keeping at the forefront of your mind. Because lets be honest regardless of size everybody has places to go and people to see so being able to share the roads here is without question a must.
Furthermore be prepared to be in the midst of agriculture. Cornwall is full to the brim with farms and farmland, because of this you will find that the roads are interspersed with tractors and heavy machinery at almost any time of the day, main roads and back roads you will find farmers ferrying their way through local traffic. If you're lucky (and not in a rush) you may find yourself in the middle of farmers moving cows across the road, keep in mind that it's probably best to slow down if not stop to avoid startling them.
Ready yourself in reverse.
Just like before, being able to share the roads in Cornwall is standard fare, oftentimes the hedgerow comes together as though the two walls either side of the road try and meet one another. Through every twist and turn of a Cornish back road you run the possibility of coming head to head with oncoming traffic, being aware and ready for this at every turn will certainly help when faced with the prospect of reversing back a considerable distance. Being able to anticipate the potential of this happening is without doubt hard unless you know the roads well, so keeping in mind that going slow around corners is quite probably the best and most safe way to go about your journey can only help in the long run.
The back roads aren't always the best roads.
Keeping this maxim in mind can only help when travelling around Cornwall, whether you have a small car of a large vehicle getting around the Cornish back roads isn't the most effective way to travel. These roads, whilst being the most visually appealing were not really designed to handle the wear and tear of the modern automobile. Larger cars may find themselves wedged up against the side of a hedge in full bloom, half on the road; half in the mud. It's probably not the best way if you're looking to get from A to B (town to town), but of course if you're looking to spend a bit of time in the W, X, Y and Z (anywhere you'll probably need a map to find) of Cornwall, whilst being certainly well worth the trip, it might be worthwhile readying yourself for a back road journey of many ups and downs.
Do not however be dissuaded from driving throughout Cornwall, it is certainly one of the most intriguing and inviting places throughout the country. While the Cornish roads require a bit of advance understanding before undertaking they are without question on of the best ways to experience the entirety of the county. Staying with us at the Sail Lofts means you will always have a place in St Ives to park up afterward without the worry of needing to navigate the streets for a perfect spot, it also means you have access to a team in the office who are always at hand to give you recommendations of where to go and what to see. If you're looking for luxury apartments in St Ives and want to branch out and discover more of Cornwall then what are you waiting for? Get in touch with one of the team (who will be more than happy to talk about what Cornwall has to see) and book a stay in the heart of St Ives by calling 01736 799175 or take a look online to find out a bit more...
