Should you MOVE TO CORNWALL? What is it REALLY LIKE? - Living full time in a tourist hotspot
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- Опубликовано: 5 фев 2025
- What is it like to live in Cornwall? Should I retire to Cornwall? Is it a good idea to move to Cornwall? What are the downsides to living in Cornwall? How isolated is Cornwall?
If you have ever asked yourself one of these questions, then watch this video. We look at the weather, shopping, isolation, entertainment, healthcare and transport from a local's point of view.
Frequently asked questions:
Do we have meet ups?
We are limited for time because we fit the channel around our family and jobs. We meet up with people who are Patrons and RUclips members, both on group walks and one-to-one. Why not join us on Patreon for meet-up details, ad free content and bonus videos.
Unfortunately we do not have scope for further meet ups but if you happen to bump into us while out and about, we will be more than happy to have a quick chat!
What camera do we use?
Since December 2018 we have used: Canon Powershot G7x MkII
How do I find the books you use?
Most are still in print although some we pick up in charity shops and may be available on Amazon secondhand. Please refer to the video for the book titles. Every video shows the book title. Sorry but we can’t put a link in every description.
Best time of year to visit Cornwall?
We love May, June for flora and fauna, July and September for spectacular scenery.
What is your dog’s name?
Sorry but we do not release the name of our dogs, perhaps you can make up your own name for them.
Sarah and Andrew
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I was born in Cornwall but, due to back problems, could no longer enjoy what I enjoyed most. My wife and I walked the cliffs and moors as our favourite pastime as in the summer getting most places was next to impossible so getting out of the way was preferable. We’d take our sons on to the beach quite early in the morning and leave before our car was blocked in by thoughtless parking. The traffic and the crowds kept me in most of the time in the season because of my spine. Years ago we used to look forward so much to the end of the school holidays when, as if a switch was thrown, it became quiet for the most part. For us, the magic of Cornwall disappeared in the 1980’s, so many people moved down but wanted city convenience and I’ve known so many who moved there hoping that Cornwall would magically fix any marital or personal problems; for nearly all, it didn’t. Our sons moved away for better job prospects and most of our young relatives feel they have little hope, either careers or housing even though they are intelligent and have good school and college qualifications. We moved to Salisbury both to be in the middle of our sons’ areas and for better activities for me. The area around offers so much to people with disabilities and, unlike Cornwall, you can go in any direction to find some activity or attraction and the buses are frequent. If we want the seaside the bus to Bournemouth is regular and free with our passes. The medical services are also excellent, I have had problems fixed in months that I have had for years. Cornwall is underfunded in every department and it isn’t the county we remember with love, there is much more for us here. This is just our experience of growing up and having a family in the county, I hope it is useful to readers.
I agree but then my wife and I left Cornwall decades ago. Now we just visit on holiday and wonder at the huge house building programme.
@@gregb49 The housebuilding programme - yep, destroying everything the County once was. We wonder at it too, and how things are allowed to be built where they are. Money, maybe? IMO, almost certainly that is why. Some time in the next year or so we are going to have what is effectively a 3 storey block of flats built less than 5m away from our small back garden. We're glad we're at the later side of life and are not sun worshipper type people, we hate heat. With a bit of luck, it will block some heat out in summer, and hopefully the occupants won't be too noisy. It's going to the open market, it says so in the planning application papers. Who the hell would want to buy something like that is beyond me. Kernow is nothing like the place it used to be. Now people know why born and bred generations of locals moaned about it. Even back in the 80's I heard locals moaning about single mum's being shipped in from up country. I worked with a lady who, with her husband, had been on the housing waiting list for 40 years and had never heard from the Council about anything. They didn't have kids. She was quite bitter, and I can understand that. They were both local born and bred and couldn't get housing, but they were shipping people in from all over the country - hardly fair really. I could say so much more about this but suffice to say, Cornwall knew that it doesn't work destroying communities, forcing locals to move away and shipping in others - it creates resentment. If I said anything more than that, I'd probably be labelled "far right" by K Stalin. But lessons could have been learned from how it worked out in Cornwall. I'll leave it at that.
@@randomnesspersonified I am so sorry to hear this. I pray for England every day. We in the US LOVE England and the indigenous English! My mother's (RIP) background was English - my ancestors settled in New England in Falmouth, Massachusetts and Connecticut in 1603. But my mother was always very proud of her English heritage and did extensive genealogy research as did my grandmother. I had only been to London in 1986 with my parents and loved it. I had not been back to England; however, this year, I have booked two trips and I am so excited. I visit London in May and Cotswolds in August. When I stumbled on a place called Cornwall and Plymouth, I was amazed. I am looking to visit Cornwall next year in late spring or early summer - unless I can squeeze it in this year. It is one of the most beautiful places I have seen online. And the history is wonderful. I am looking at The Nare hotel. BLESS YOU
I hate the way they’re destroying the villages and all our green spaces with bland housing concrete jungles 😢
i am Cornish and lived here for 80 years. I have just read all 200 plus comments and found that some sum up Cornwall so very well so I have been thinking how canI add to this? The County is FULL to bursting in the Summer - not able to park unless you are there at the crack of dawn. The County is damp so if you suffer from arthritis etc don’t even think of moving here.. You do need a car to give you any quality of life. I do have a NHS dentist but lists are now closed. Our prices are based on tourist prices and our car parks are well over priced and difficult to use. HOWEVER I have never lived anywhere else and I AM PROUD TO BE CORNISH and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. We loved the video Sarah and Andrew - you summed up living here very very well 10/10
Lovely comments. I think it's sad the way housing has been turned into holiday lets or 2nd homes and caused so much suffering for younger generations of locals to find a home. Love to you and thanks for sharing your experience ❤
thnx for sharing mate, curious about cornwall and considering going here for a surf trip from Oslo when we reach summer.
If you move to Cornwall. (Or anywhere for that matter). Be prepared to actually live there. Be part of what it offers, instead of arriving and then trying to London-ify the place. These places are not show villages, there to serve 7 weeks of intense tourism.
I lived in South Devon (Dartmouth) 1993-2001 and all I saw was wealthy ppl rip the heart out of the community with second homes. I rented a flat for £15 a week back then, in Dittisham, now probably one of the most expensive in South Devon. It was a wonderful time to live there, I think I caught the last vestiges of old Devon. Now I couldn't afford to buy a hole in the road there.
But you can't undo what's been done.
Well said.
@@OlafProt Add Bristol to this list
Thanks Sarah & Andrew,
I moved to Cornwall with my job 40 years ago (not quite a local yet). I decided to stay after retirement and thoroughly enjoy living here 52 weeks of the year. Getting involved with a community is essential and one of the best things I did was join a Bowls Club. (St Ives). Here you make friends, keeps you active and in winter especially gives you a reason to go out what ever the weather is like as you are cosy in your Clubhouse playing short Mat. Yes facilities are limited, but your surroundings more than make up for that. What do you need to enjoy your life anyway! Just walking the coastal path is a joy. Your health is important and you need to try and stay healthy as much as possible and Cornwall gives you all the opportunities to stay active., whether walking or playing a sport.
I've moved down here, 7 years ago, to my forever home as I retired early, looked after my Mum for her last 4 years and I'm still getting used to the varied weather, love the mild winters, and sunny summers. From a male perspective, shopping is good, in fact bumped into Andrew yesterday in one of my favourite ones. Many friends now come and stay, which makes live varied, and your videos give me amazing paces to go and visit. Keep up the brilliant work, love learning about the history.
From a male perspective 😂
Could you do a walk for disabled who cannot walk more than a few metres please or places to visit?💜
@@TheShimmerwitch Take a look at Countryside Mobility, they are a charity that supply off road Mobility scooters all over the Southwest. They have some great locations including Bottalack and many National Trust Gardens.
Take a look at Countryside Mobility, they are a charity that supply off road Mobility scooters all over the Southwest. They have some great locations including Bottalack and many National Trust Gardens.
Moved down here 3 years ago...yes there are a few downsides..but overall don't regret it...
Perfect sum up of Cornish life, well informed and a good balance of life there. My ex In Laws live in Polyphant. Beautiful but isolated with only one bus per week. A small shop has opened, a life saver, but the need for a reliable small car is essential. Their regret was retiring there and not before. Raising children throws you into the community, easier to integrate. Our visits in winter were always greeted with dull, grey, mizzle filled skies. I live near the most popular beach in Sussex and we too become prisoners in our home on warm sunny days. Cornwall is on another level with tourist summers, not good but other than farming, its the life blood of the County. Oh and the water rates, they were 3 times more than the highest rates up country in the 90's, I dread to think what they're at now. A lot of research is needed before committing to moving.
We moved to Cornwall three years ago and don't have a car. It is perfectly possible to get around if you have patience and choose carefully where you live - Falmouth or Truro are great for bus links. My partner travels to work by bus and we have walked the entire coast by bus. A journey by Cornish bus may take a bit of planning, but we've always been able to get where we want to and back again!
Been down here 10 years now and still loving it. Your top 3s at the end have summed it up perfectly. For anyone looking to retire to anywhere other than where they've lived all their lives it is SO important to understand how hard it can be to integrate with the locals. You'll never be Cornish, you need generations of ancestors in the churchyard for that, but you can mix in if you're prepared to put in a bit of effort. There are lots of local clubs and organisations which welcome new members and this is a great way to make new friends. On the subject of friends, when you first move down you'll have to run a calendar for your visitors. Everyone will want a free holiday staying in your spare room. But.... after a while this will quickly tail off to just a few regular (family) visitors and even these will become less frequent so be prepared to spend half your life going back up the line to see people. But... at the end of the day it's a wonderful place to live summed up by Harry Glasson's Cornwall My Home.
Our neighbour was a cockney and he used to say that even though he has lived here for 25 years he still hadn’t earned his Cornish passport! 😂 Sarah :)
Lots of good advice. If I'm ever asked by someone I always say come in peak season and return in January. The difference is enormous.
I’ve lived in Cornwall since the age of 9, I’m 61 now. I absolutely LOVE it! I took a while to settle in at first as although only 9 it was still very different to having lived in West London. But since around my mid 20’s I’ve thanked my lucky stars that my parents upped sticks a brought us here. I have lived in Looe for 25 years this year in a Cottage overlooking the woods and river. Bliss. I also like the countryside so make sure I get in to that too. Best of both worlds 😊
That is awesome! Sarah :)
This is one of your first class videos, full of well considered and sensible answers to the question, which I'm sure are spot on. In truth, nowhere is perfect when it comes down to the realities of daily living, including the long winters and increasingly severe climate change impacts. Often, something that feels so special for a fortnight can quickly become everyday and taken for granted if it's your new normal, so be careful what you wish for!
Moved into Porthleven from Hertfordshire with wife and youngest daughter 5 years ago, set a business up in Newlyn and employed a couple of local lads, best thing I’ve done👍🏻👌🏼🙏🏼❤️
Perfect! Sarah :)
That’s a really really interesting video and as a resident I think you’ve explaining living here very well indeed. It’s not for everyone and can understand that but personally we wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.
Your breakaway from just covering walks is working very well, keep it up and thanks 🙏
We are enjoying a more mixed content; walking videos will still feature but not as often! Sarah :)
My husband and I moved to Camborne from the Peak District (Staffordshire Moorlands) in 2021, during lockdown - so we had to buy our bungalow without actually seeing it in person! My husband was already retired, and I was self-employed working from home, and I wound up my business in 2024, so now we're both retired.
If you want to buy a house within sniffing distance of the sea, expect to pay between £50,000 and £100,000 more for a sea view, for the same sized house as one inland. Being in north west Camborne, we can drive to the north coast in 10 minutes (Gwithian beach or Portreath) and get to Perranporth or Hayle within 20. That was a compromise that we were prepared to make - maybe some people wouldn't want to do that, but it made living in Cornwall affordable for us. There are still houses on the market in Camborne or Redruth for around £250,000 or so, or in the smaller villages, so it is possible to get somewhere under the 'national average'.
Although Cornwall does get crowded in the summer, I think many of the people commenting here about the crowding are missing the point a bit - if you get up and out before 9.30 am, you can still park in St Ives in the top car park, even in August. You can go for a walk on the beach in the evening, and be able to park quite easily then. The A30 does get very busy, so plan for that, and use other roads if you can.
Healthcare can be tricky with only one major hospital, however, this area is teeming with people offering alternative therapies such as chiropractors, homeopaths, acupuncturists, etc., which is far better than when I lived 'up north'. It depends what sort of healthcare you want. If you want dentistry, though, you do need to go private, as the waiting lists for NHS, even when possible to get on a list, can be up to ten years!!
I'd agree that having a car is necessary - buses are not that frequent or reliable (but better than Peak District services - we used to have 2 buses a week, one into Leek and one out, on a market day only!).
Tradesmen can be 'slow' (they'll come 'dreckly'!), but there are Facebook groups that will recommend people if you ask. The better ones seem to be people who have moved to Cornwall, rather than people born here, in my experience, unfortunately.
As your video was mainly filmed in Truro, it's worth mentioning that parking in Truro is not that plentiful, but the Park & Ride is really good, and cheap.
I feel that Penzance is a far better 'shopping experience', and has quite a few supermarkets in the retail park, with many independent shops in the town itself.
I think that not having all the big chains in Cornwall is actually a plus - it depends what you want. But coming to live in Cornwall and then not liking what it DOES have, but wanting what it DOESN'T have, is kind of missing the point.
The one thing I wasn't properly prepared for is how WET it gets in Cornwall in the winter - days and days of it! And it can be a lot windier, too. But last winter, we only had three mornings when it was frosty, and one day with an inch of snow, so the mild climate mitigates the rain, to some extent.
If you live here all the time, then if you DO get a sunny day, even in January, you can make the most of it and go to the beach for a few hours - booking a week in August when you live up country doesn't guarantee good weather.
I love it here, and I'm glad we moved down when we did.
Love Staffordshire too but not as much as Cornwall (love theme parks Alton towers is fantastic)
I've had a love affair with Cornwall all my life. My Grandparents moved to North Cornwall when I was two years old, and stayed for the rest of their lives. I visited and stayed with them every summer and went to live with them in my early teens. I had to leave Cornwall a couple of years later, and spent the next 15 years longing for "home", and trying to get back with my own family. I made it back in 2012. We lived in Penzance, and absolutely loved it, but it does get ridiculously crowded in the summer. Also, it really is out on a limb, if you have to travel out often. We have lived in Launceston for a decade now (where I lived with my Grandparents) and we are very settled and at peace here. We often wonder whether we might like to retire back in Penzance one day. For now, myself and my husband have businesses here. My husband is a tiler, and is kept plenty busy. If you are in the building trade, you'll never be short of work. Launceston being just over the Devon border (was once Cornwall's capital), my husband can cover Devon and Cornwall with his trade. We do get a lot of visitors here in the holidays, but not nearly as many as the seaside towns. To live in Cornwall, there is an awful lot to consider before you commit, as it's a whole different life down here. I've known many people who've decided it's not for them, and gone back up country! For myself, and many others though, it's just home, and we take the rough with the smooth. I just couldn't live anywhere else.
Really great video! Fell in love with a tiny Cornish village by the sea last year, didn’t want to leave. Imagined how wonderful living there would be, but realistically the things you’ve mentioned need to be taken into account. Also most cottages had a key box so holiday rentals, and you need a community I think. Still left a piece of my heart there!
Glad you enjoyed it! Sarah :)
My wife is Cornish; I am not. Moved to Cornwall about 12 years ago and I have always found it hard. I love the place, and I have wanted to move here since meeting my wife. I have found it hard going. Would I live anywhere else, no the Sea keeps me here. I am about 8 years away from retirement, which scares me as I see how hard it can be. Still, take each day at a time and go with the flow.
As a retiree, joining in with local community activities has been absolutely life changing with making friends and having a social life. There are lots of local activities in most villages.
Another enjoyable and informative video Sarah and Andrew. I retired and moved to Penzance last March and my husband, who worked away, joined me just before Christmas. We had really enjoyed summer holidays here and that's when we decided to move here, but I came here for short breaks out of season to see what it was like without the sunshine, busyness and places closed. I wasn't put off.
We love the sense of community here, how relaxed it is (although the 'dreckly' approach to life can at times be frustrating ) and how friendly everyone is. In Penzance and Newlyn there is plenty to do. We have two cinemas, music venues and an open air theatre. I made an effort to join things and have new friends and hobbies. We have the train and bus station five minutes away and we make good use of the public transport. I get to go to Truro for my M&S fix and it only takes 40 minutes by train. We have some very good shops including bakers, greengrocers, fishmongers and butchers. The banks are still open. A great medical centre and brilliant independent pubs, restaurants and coffee shops.
It does rain a lot and we do feel the damp. We make good use of our dehumidifier. The hills are doing my knees in and parking can be a big pain but we definitely feel at home here and I just love living here.
Well done! We really enjoyed this video. Made me realize that Cornwall checks many boxes for things I am looking for in retirement. Biggest concern is healthcare. I am healthy now but of course that is not guaranteed. Where we will live, we also have a huge influx of people, but it is during our winters. Our summers are becoming unbearable with the increased heat, so I stay inside mostly for three or four months. So, some things are similar. Lots to think about when you choose a place to "start" retired life. Thanks so much for all the research and information you provide.
Always a lot to consider when uprooting yourself from familiar surroundings, Sarah :)
A great video. I agree with everything that you've said. I'm born and bred in Cornwall and never want to leave. I am retired now. I live in the east of Cornwall, close to Plymouth, so I still have some beautiful beaches and scenery to enjoy, and can I nip across to Plymouth if I want their amenities. I do love west Cornwall though, and take a short holiday there every year so I can enjoy the iconic beaches and natural attractions in that area.
Good video. Don't fall out with anything you said at the end. I retired to Cawsand last year [age 52] with my wife. We moved from Taunton but we were born in Devon. Brilliant community here in Cawsand all year round. 4 great pubs and a restaurant open all year. Shopping is more difficult but online grocery shopping is easy. Going to the tip is a pain - you have to go to Saltash! You should have mentioned Trago Mills - that's our one stop shop; you just need to be organised.
Love Cawsand! Sarah :)
Totally agree with your comments. I used to come to Cornwall on holiday as a kid & loved it. I had the opportunity to move to Cornwall 33 years ago for work & took it. I wouldn’t move away from Cornwall now for anything, even though the summer can be a nightmare. I am a year away from retirement now & am looking forward to it. Love Cornwall, hate going back up country. We have to put up with the busy tourist season for a few months but it’s like that year round up there. I hate going back to the South East now.
Wow this is cool ❤ we love Cornwall
A great video, I don't envy you the task of summing it up! We retired to Mevagissey 4 years ago and love living here, it's a proper community with so much going on all year round. We know more people here than ever before! We love the coastline. I'd like to add that as well as Eden Project, Lost Gardens of Heligan offer a really well priced annual pass for locals as does Wheal Martyn (clay mining museum with much more such as live music and art exhibitions), Caerhays Castle Gardens, Pinetum Gardens in St Austell, Tate St Ives and probably more. There's a lot to do in Falmouth in the town which also has wonderful beaches. I agree about the winter weather, very damp and wet get a lot of foggy weather here. This winter it has got us down a bit TBH and for the first time ever we're planning some winter sun in Spain, flying from Newquay for the first time ever!! Cornwall is very special and unique, but might not suit everyone especially those who love plenty of retail therapy with big names!! I'd say a car is essential and you need to be able to reverse!! Good luck with the retirement 😊
Been in Cornwall for 8 years or so and have found it most wonderful. Just recovering from cancer and chemo that was all provided by Trelisk hospital Truro and was top quality treatment. I do not drive so transport is hard. Sundays are staying at home days for us and being a family. I'd say it needs a change in mindset to adapt to the pace of life here. Make sure your ready to put your feet up a bit more and wrap up warm.
I hope you enjoy a good recovery, Sarah :)
You do have Trago Mills a must when visiting Cornwall
We moved to st Dennis 4 years ago it has a great community spirit and we don't have the crowd's in the village during the summer. We moved from a town up country that had become not a nice place to live. If I could sum up living in Cornwall in one word it would be ( safe). Too walk around our village and not have to worry about thugs and undesirable people is amazing my family's happiness and quality of life has never been so good and that's a big thank you to Cornwall and it's amazing people.
Probably your best video yet id say , well who would not like to live in Cornwall 😊 , id say firstly if you really really love it enough in the first place then you have the impetus to bear the ups and downs the weather , the marauders in summer , the isolation in the colder months ,any of the kind of difficulty that you explained , but I would say most importantly your health , if your fit and healthy enough to actually enjoy the place that to me is the most important thing for anyone to consider , yes the clean fresh environment has tons of benefits but if you can't get out and enjoy what is the point , 😢 financially well if you're considering the move then you're fairly confident about what it all costs in the first place , and lastly wheels , you're going to need them choose what for your independence and to save you going insane 😁 , I like lots of folk considered it years ago but unfortunately I was surgically brain damaged so can't walk 50 yards without difficulty so imagine if id already lived there , it really would have been my worst nightmare , not so glamorous then is it , great video and a definite must watch for anybody that loves the place 😊
Thanks for another great video. I do have to say I was slightly disappointed that there wasn’t more-“We don’t wunt them there outziders movin darn ere!!!”😂. I think you gave a very balanced and informative view. I empathise about the seasonal balance of people throughout the year and how that impinges on the local people. I’m 70 now but as a young kid my family went to Cornwall every year for our Summer Holiday. My Dad worked for British Rail and so got free passes. We’d often have a caravan in the days when that was a cheap option. So I have a place in my heart for Cornwall. Having said that, would I move there? No. I’m a bit philosophical and don’t buy into the “grass is greener” type thoughts and so just stick to my happy memories. I can understand people wanting to move there and good luck to them and I hope it achieves all that they dream of. Each to their own 🙂. May you, as locals, live a long and happy life there together. 👍❤️.
What a great video, lots of helpful and informative info and consideration of people of all ages and stages! I guess there are also lots of varied volunteering opportunities both seasonal and year-round for retirees and for anyone else too! Thank you so much for your videos - really appreciated 🎉
I used to live in Falmouth Cornwall. Sarah and Andrew are certainly right about certain things. We moved into a road where locals lived we were welcomed with open arms. The summer is definitely right lots more people. But we lived in Ideal location near the beach so we used to go down the beach early in the morning or early in the evening when the holiday makers, either weren't up or gone back to their hotels.
Great video thank you both. We were going to move down a number of years ago but circumstances changed. You covered most the things we did in our own research and more. We think you answered the question incredibly well.
Thanks again, please don’t give up
Glad you enjoyed it! Sarah :)
Love ❤️ ❤️ love your video Sarah and Andrew and I have wonderful memories from May 2019 . Going to visit Cornwall again in June . Travelling from Australia
Hi, Sarah and Andrew 😊 You have done some really good research here. I have the same impression after having been to Cornwall many times and to several places, also once in the winter. I myself think a good network, family and friends are very important factors in my own life. And though many things are not as I like it where I live (Bergen, Norway), I will not move to somewhere else, not in Norway and definitely not abroad, no matter how lovely it is to be visiting for a short time. So I will keep revisiting Cornwall, preferably avoiding the busiest periodes, and staying in B&Bs, pubs and small hotels. And I certainly don't need to buy furniture or electric appliances when on holiday 😂. Here in Bergen we have a lot of bigger chain stores and less of the smaller retail companies. And the smaller ones tend to be quite expensive.
Thank you for your research and lovely video 😊 Torunn 🥰
Hi Torunn! Sometimes visiting is the better option! Sarah :)
@CornishWalkingTrails yes absolutely. And then I have the opportunity of going to many different places as a visitor 😊👍🏻
Very informative video. Love your county
Hi
Excellent well balanced video on living in Cornwall.
Relocated from Kent to Cornwall 32 years ago when my children were 11, 9 and 2.
We have all loved living and growing up in this beautiful County. Proud to say my 6 grandchildren are all Cornish, and even prouder to find out through my DNA and ancestral research that my grandmother, and great grandparents and great great grandparents going back to 1600 hundreds were from Madron, Penzance!!
Our educational schools are first class, with good colleges for further education. Coastal and inland walks keep you fit.
As others have said, there are many activity groups you can join. We started dancing and have so many wonderful friends that we have made.
Cornwall..... Yes make it happen 😃🤟
I visit Cornwall all year round (I no longer come down during the 6 weeks holiday, I just don't enjoy how busy it gets) and absolutely love it out of season. I'm very undecided about moving down permanently, though, as much as I love being there, as house prices are high and salaries are low and I feel I'd be giving up more than I'd gain if I left Staffordshire. I was last in Cornwall in early December and can't wait to head down the M5 in April (it would be sooner but for having no leave left at work).
The same situation in Dorset also, low pay high housing prices
Sounds great! Enjoy your break! Sarah :)
I moved to Cornwall when my children were just starting secondary school. Looking at where we used to live, we have no regrets, even though it has been tough. Biggest wrench was leaving their grandparents behind. I've lived here long enough to not miss the big chain stores. We have just been up country to visit family, and my daughter went on just eat. There were over 200 places to order from. Here we are lucky if there's 3!
Brilliant video, you covered it well. Regarding health care, you didn't cover dentists. It is near on impossible to get an NHS dentist. I haven't had a dentist in 15 years, and emergency dentists either just fill or remove.
A very informative vlog, having lived in Cornwall for over 25 years I could identify with the problems you highlighted, I eventually got the mix right, by spending the summers in Cornwall and the winter in jamaica, but now retired I have slipped to 3 months in Cornwall and 9 in the carribean. 😊
A very honest video
We have been trying out life in Cornwall this Winter season through a long holiday let
We love the beaches and scenery but do find getting around tedious and choices limited compared to our life in Cardiff
Your videos have been very inspiring
Thank you
we come down twice a year usually June and/or September, and we live close to Cardiff, our eldest also went to Cardiff Uni, but it depends what you want, if I go into the City it could be once a year at that, sometimes less than that, an Ikea visit maybe once a year, but I tend to get things online as I loathe shopping! Our weather is very similar to yours but the scenery is only similar if you head to West Wales, mainly Pembrokeshire. The health situation as we are heading into our 60's would be a concern, not so much now as we are both fit, & rarely visit the GP, but in later years it could be, and we wouldnt be able to afford to live on the coast. Our transport links here are good as we are not rural, its free from aged 60, and we also get free prescriptions, so as much as my dream would be to live in a coastal cottage in Cornwall, the pragmatic side of me says we are more likely to stay put, and just travel down to get our Kernow fix - and yes the dreaded green algae and mould from mild, wet Winters
Food for thought. Thanks
I've put comments on F/B, but have loved your presentation, as always.
Thank you.
Thank you for another interesting video. I can only suggest to the lady who is considering moving to Cornwall to think hard. Obviously the majority of comments here come from people who subscribe or watch this channel and so may be biased in favour of Cornwall but nonetheless there are plenty of other areas along the south coast where the scenery is just as good, house prices are no more expensive providing you avoid the commuter rail links to London and have a greater range of facilities within easier reach. You will probably find travelling either by car, bus or train a bit easier. If you do want the odd trip to see the big city lights or to visit family you will probably find it easier and cheaper to make those journeys. Good luck with whatever you decide.
Me any my partner are moving to Perranporth in the next few weeks. Moving from Bristol. We cannot wait! 😊
Are you retiring or got a job there, not a lot going on outside the summer months.
@@70sboy98 my partner works remotely and I’m a self employed wall and floor tiler. I will be looking for work once down there. We’ve moved for a better work life balance. Sometimes it feels like people just live to work. My partners 28 and I’m 31 we have no kids as of yet and felt it was now or never.
@@benm9311 I truly wish you luck and happiness even if am jealous as hell, wanted to move to Cornwall years ago but my wife wants to stay in Yeovil ( shithole ) and can’t understand why. 🤞🤞🤞
Thank you. Nice video, once again.
Hmm , the busses do get around , while in the Bude , Boscastle area , narrow road , met a bus , 50 m reverse mode into the layby :-)
Nothing would persuade me to own a car !
Last winter I stayed at Penzance for a couple of months and managed to get to quite a few places by bus and I had a pretty good time 😊
I was born in Cornwall and lived half my life there. It was wonderful to watch this video (I went to Truro boys school), and I have very fond memories of my time spent in the county.
I now live in London but spend time visiting family in Cornwall when I can. Cornwall is laid back and not like other parts of the UK. If you think you will miss the convenience of major shops, restaurant chains, and delivery services like Deliveroo and Uber Eats, don’t move to Cornwall. If you can’t wait to turn your back on all the aforementioned, then Cornwall is the place to live.
You escaped! 😂 Sarah :)
We used to catch the train from Penzance to go to Plymouth for the day, I was a teenager then, it was so exciting ha,ha.
We have similar memories! Loved crossing the Tamar bridge! Sarah :)
@ Me too ☺️
A great informative video, thank you!! 👍
Thankyou , this was so informative and I also found the comments really interesting as well.
We retired here 11 years ago and wouldnt change a thing. We are in Newlyn and have settled in really well. We find public transport to the main places fine as we have the train station and bus station in Penzance, but buses to town if you live up the hill in Newlyn, as we do, are a little more scarce.
Put a bowl with some salt in it that will stop the black mould as the salt absorbs the moisture etc
I usually visit North Cornwall in February and November. Really nice when it's quiet and relaxed atmosphere
Anyone thinking of moving 'permanently', for whatever reason: Rent for six months October-March in your preferred area THEN make your decision. That's especially true if you have no family already in Cornwall to 'tell it like it is' - it's the best way to test how far reality matches your dreams.
Healthcare: the older you are, the closer to Treliske your final resting place should be - unless you don't mind having to move twice!
Public transport: everyone loves to knock the railway, but Plymouth-Penzance main line has two trains each way per hour throughout the day, more than ever. Truro-Falmouth is also half-hourly all day. Newquay is to get an hourly all-day service later this year. S'nives trains also frequent plus the very popular park n ride at Lelant, and Looe is sort of hourly. All well and good but you will need a car unless your a handy walking or cycling distance to a station!
Hi Sarah and Andrew! I loved the blog today. It was eye opening. My husband and I are retired but taking up roots would mean leaving our family behind. I would still like to visit Cornwall or the UK itself. Thank you for your informative video😄
Thanks for sharing!! Sarah :)
Hi Sarah and Andrew. I would love to live in Penzance. I went there in March and the night before I traveled down it snowed. I still loved it in the winter although it was cold wet and very windy so that wouldn't bother me. Yes I don't drive and buses waiting for an hour for one wouldn't be a problem as if I go to Brent Cross shopping center and you leave as they closing you can wait for an hour or longer for a bus.
Thanks for sharing!! Sarah :)
Have to agree with your top three reasons for living in Cornwall..it's a fantastic place
Warning! Dont go low on petrol - it is miles to the next petrol station! Buses in Cornwall get stopped by visitor traffic and I agree with you, you have to allow at least an extra half hour because of the visitors. Also, learn how to reverse when you meet a large car in a narrow lane!!
Really good video, love coming down for holidays.
We love Truro always have at least 1 day there. But never come in school holidays far to mad then.
Sounds great! Sarah :)
We retired to Illogan and found integrating very easy. Joined golf club and immediately expanded friendship base. Owning a dog also opened jeeting and greeting the locals. Supermarket access in pool was easier than living up country. Cornwall will always be part of our lives.
Perfect! Sarah :)
All those food chains missing from Cornwall ! But at least you've got a Greggs😆And like you I need a sat-nav to get round our local Asda. You highlight transport links and healthcare. Both of these are pretty dire these days wherever you live.
Too true! Never stepped foot in Greggs!! 😂
You made some really good points. We've spent lots of time in all seasons and weather as we only live in Devon. We love it, Cornwall, but the amount of visitors and difficulties moving about in Summer, plus the distance to go if you want to travel made us decide not to retire there, and besides.. where would we holiday? 😂 Thanks for a great video again xx
My daughter and family live in Pool near Redruth. My daughter married a school teacher. He now works at Pool academy. My daughter is a nurse at Hayle. I sometimes go down either at Christmas or the summer. The weather in the winter isn’t very nice. My grand children go to activities like rugby and judo etc. . I’m in Yeovil in Somerset and I don’t drive so I get the train down.
Thanks for sharing! Sarah :)
Perhaps the title of the video should be Should I live in Truro. Remember that the top place to live in Cornwall is Saltash - from an earlier video. We have an excellent bus service & easy access to Plymouth. This is perhaps why Saltash performed so well in the survey on places to live that you reviewed.
Hi Sarah and Andrew, Do you still have a Trago Mills in Cornwall? For many years, I had great holidays in Cornwall, I am now 72, and I would love to return to Cornwall. Thank you for a very interesting video ❤❤❤❤
Trago at Two watèrsfoot on the A38, near Liskeard quite a big one. Also a smaller one I think in Falmouth. Used to moan about Trago but now a trip to the A38 one a real treat for me. They have modernised a bit which I am not as keen on but still great and Peacocks and hens still there.
Yes we do, 2! Sarah :)
Thank you for your presentation. I've put comments on F/B.
Lovely documentary.
Awesome like and shared out in you tube community. ⌚
Move back , out of the question for me .
Exchange rate issues .
When I came to SA in 72 , was R1.69 to the pound .
Now over R22 !
I have a nice 3 bed 2 bath , pool . Close to the beach . Nice .
If I sold , would get 100k pounds only .
where would that get me ? A crime zone ? Not in Cornwall .
we always went on Summer Vac to Bude and area .
very different in winter in some ways , was there in November , life goes on .
Sea pool got an upgrade and had swimmers , guess it was warmer in the water :-)
Stayed in the same hotel as before , good crowd in the evenings , great atmosphere and food . Ice in the car :-)
Somehow seemed immune from some of the ills facing the country .
An Haven , Crackington :-)
When back in England must have my pilgrimage to Cornwall :-)
We retired here over 10 years ago having spent our whole lives in a big city and do not regret a single thing
Used to take over an hour and a quarter to drive 8 miles to work in the city
Poor quality hospitals and overwhelmed health care systems
Shopping malls full of chain stores without character or charm
Multi Plex cinemas without character or charm unlike the small Cornish cinemas
Easy access to places like B and Q
Forget IKEA - hell on earth😮
Plastic chain pubs without character
Local roads here are a nightmare due to high hedges and curves but after a few years you get used to them.
Tourists ( and some mad locals) driving here but city is far worse with driving aggression
Roads here in Cornwall are actually far better for pot holes than the city we have found
Car parks in Cornwall are far too expensive
The A30 widening has just moved traffic jamb down into Hale now
Biggest downside is that anywhere up country is a distance.
Trades people do cost a bit more in Cornwall but they have to travel greater distances for jobs and materials adding cost and time to jobs
If you love the countryside and rugged coast as opposed to the shopping mall it's a great place! All we can say to anyone who moans about life in Cornwall is trying living in a depressing land locked city, we appreciate there is much poverty in Cornwall but cities are full of poverty as well, our only regret in moving here over 10 years ago is that we were unable to live our whole lives here, final note, we do have family less than an hour away and seeing ones children regularly is important so bear this in mind
Best wishes Dave and Joy
I really enjoy your opinions and agree with almost all you say, both of you !
Holiday every year since 2000 - 2015 because of private life events!
Truro Mevagissey King Harry Ferry
The hall for Cornwall in Truro is great and a great Price!
The Lizard, Helston, St Ives. Agree Transport is poor! Have a car is a must!
If it ain’t in Mallets, you probably don’t need it… but we do go over to Plymouth for a Christmas shopping trip. Entertaining appraisal from you both. I say, got to love a a windy wet winter and hopping on the push bike for most of tourist season. Dislike big modern cars on Cornish back roads, I think it’s all their ‘proximity’ sensors stopping them pulling into the hedge like the rest of us to get past. You could probably go on all day chatting about this and that…. and that’s the truth in any Cornish shop check-out queue.
I was party to several chats in the Post Office queue before Christmas!! 😂 Sarah :)
I live 12mins from Cornwall in Devon and everything you said also applies here in Cream on first land! although Ikea and the motorway are only 50 miles away, grockle (holidaymakers) season during the summer! But we also get the annual passes with the post codes for the price the grockles pay for a week even free pre season trial days to test the staff. The holiday camp bars are open to locals off season, Ive driven a Land Rover through Port Isaac and a Citreon C1 a few weeks ago and that scaffolding was there (so I think you was too), NHS way less than ideal ALTHOUGH its not less than every other county it just takes twice as long to get there, the roads are narrow and bendy so you have to drive slower and that's one big mistake the grockles make and as for electric cars so far this year I am in profit with my electric company as they have payed me more compensation for outages than my bills. as a towney that moved down here 12 years ago WE NEED MORE SKILLED WORKERS not retired people NOT OFFICE STAFF but HANDS ON WORKERS ! anyway great video as usual and Im in Cornwall Sunday I will give you a wave xxxx
We have loads of the 20mph on London too... Which is kind of daft as you crawl around most of the time anyway 😂. This is a great video. I always feel there a lot to consider when thinking of retiring. As we get older we may need to make use more of public services so what services are nearby and access to them? That quiet home in the country might suit you when you are 55 or 65 but when you are 80 and may be in failing health and poor mobility you can be stranded and lonely. Public transport is shanefully dire in country areas and many towns still, and same for dentistry and healthcare an issue if you have to travel far. Just have to think it through carefully. Will this be your final hone as you move into old age and if so will it be the ideal choice. ❤️
I go down to Cornwall on holiday regularly. You can do it without a car but you have to time your day carefully. I have to save for taxis as getting back from anywhere late is not an option on public transport in the majority of places. Love your videos I would join but saving my money for annual hol to Cornwall.
My sister went to live in Bowling Green Redruth. Bought an old cottage..loves it.
The thing to remember that house prices,transport ,entertainment very in different parts of uk
Recently moved down we found prices in supermarkets are quite often 2or 3 pence different in same supermarket up north
All so if you need anything quite often you have to travel a distance from where you live
As my wise old Mum used to say, being on holiday somewhere is not the same as living there. We moved from London to a coastal village in West Sussex, there isn’t much here but the essentials aren’t far away.
I wonder if you could do a walk past st Ives bay caravan site ? I was there in 1976 and would love to go back but probably won’t get there now as I’m partially sighted now and not allowed to drive now.
Great videos.
Transport by bus has improved in the last few years,. Whenever I visit I use the Go-for Cornwall app. As I am not allowed to drive I have to use public transport. However you notice a drop in service in the winter months.
As I am now medically retired I am looking to retire back to my home county and had considered Bude where my sister lives, however it is expensive due to people investing in holiday homes. I have therefore been looking just across the border in Holsworthy. in North Devon, where it is a bit cheaper. It gets a reasonable bus service. I can access the shops in Plymouth, Exeter or Barnstaple rather than Truo.
Living in Bude the problem is trying to book an appointment at the Doctors and if you have school age children the schools are full .Another problem is the rental property's are expensive if you can find one and buying is very expensive. The transport system is very hit and miss .Bude is a lovely place to live but you really need your own transport.
@@christinestubbs2827 Public Transport is better than it used to be, but I have chosen Holsworthy to live. It is not too far from my sister and reletives in Bude. However you are correct you ideally need a car, but as I am visually impaired that option is not there. There are GP's in Holsworthy and I will have access to a form of dial of ride as well
Bude is somewhat remote but such a beautiful place! Sarah :)
I would love to live in Cornwall.
I’m hoping to retire back to Cornwall, we lived there for 18 years & have so much connection, my parents lived & died there, we moved away for various reasons & it was the right thing to do at that time. Cornwall calls me back constantly, so it just feels right, we will see 💙🩵💙
Food well the Pasty in Cornwall is the home of the Pasty. And hot or cold they are so good.
I think public transport depends on where you live. My mum lives in Penzance and doesn't drive and there's lots of fairly regular buses. Truro similarly has lots of regular bus services. If you live in a smaller village or somewhere more rural then you definitely need a car.
Visited Cornwall every year at different times of the year and contemplated retire there. But was put off when we spoke to a recent incomers , the comment you get 'you need a compelling reason to move down here' and the place dies in winter. The weather thick fog, horizontal rain and gale force winds take your pick. More seriously if you have chronic health problems Cornwall is not for you, a friend living in St Just needed emergency treatment, if the air ambulance is not available it is a 60 mins blue light run to Truro and the ambulance has to get to you first. You must have a support network or be very independent!
Lived in Perranporth for 3 years, loved it summer tourism is a nightmare as you say getting anywhere doing anything is impossible. When you just want to nip to the shop and you're trying to dodge around ambling ice cream eating tourists or long queues in your shop of choice it makes you want to scream. Attractions are fabulous but believe it or not when you live there the only time you go is if you have visitors.
I had to move back up country due to circumstances, that was 30 years ago, im not Cornish but i love it, if i could go back i would, its where my heart is.
I am considering moving to Cornwall from N. Somerset as my daughter and family live there or an alternative is West Somerset , Quantocks , Minehead etc. I have two lists one for Cornwall and one for W.Somerset. Your comments regarding Cornwall mirror my thoughts exactly. I could compromise, move to W.Somerset and enjoy Cornwall via. your excellent videos.
A lot to think about! Sarah :)
How's Storm Eowyn your way? Hope you both are okay and keeping dry!
Another brilliant video but can I correct the electric vehicle charging comment, I live near Looe and review all things electric. Most Cornwall Council main car parks have rapid vehicle chargers, Tesla chargers, most of the larger petrol stations have rapid chargers and there are over 2500 medium range chargers in car parks, holiday parks etc.
Reality from someone born here and now retired waited 8 hrs for 111 doctor, have to wait 3 weeks for non urgent Dr's appointment. Was hospitalised 2nd Jan no beds and 27 ambulances out side with patients in them. Turfed out in morning with discharge note, Internet gone down so couldn't contact partner, phone signal at home is useless, given free bus pass but needed to change buses 3 times to destination and about 4 hrs travel time, suffering from chronic copd and cancer of stomach and lungs got a taxi cost £ 65.00 one way 20 mile distance. Most rural single lanes not resurfaced in over 50 years, only just got an unbroken dual carriage way from Camborne to the rest of the country. Waited from the time I was 10 till now to get that, 59 years. Tractors hauling vedge on main commuter routes create long queues and frustration as well as travel time all year round. Some of the most expensive council tax and water charges any where in England, with little benefits. Last two years we've seen probably less than 21 days of sunshine per year the rest has rained. Gales occur most times of the year when it's raining, over 30 mph winds normality up to 80 mph in storms. Some years 47 storms is not uncommon. Tradesmen in short supply mostly plumbers and electricians and very hard to pin down to a date for work. Constant wet causes damp in most buildings especially traditional stone built not good for certain medical conditions and sad syndrome a common problem. Slow Internet likely in many areas Some with little or no chance of upgrade with fibre.
Good points and thoughts in your post
I don’t think the medical and hospital situation is currently any better anywhere else in England though; living in the middle of the country and in or near many towns and cities here the hospital situation is sadly really no different from what you have described.
Similarly can be hard at times to find good work needed on house or etc until you know reliable people and have a good network,
and the potholes here are terrible!!
Moved here 4 years ago and still love it. Invest in decent wet weather clothing for the winter though 🙂
Great advice, Sarah :)
I had the same reaction to Greggs, it was why?
Really good video, we thought about moving down from Glasgow, but although my wife drives, I'm 63 and have never been interested, and you definitely need a car to get around. Also, last year i had to go from Mousehole to Truro hospital in the early hours due to an emergency and a taxi was £160 each way. 😬
Wow! An extra sting when you fall ill, Sarah :)
You didn't mention festivals, there are a few Inc Boardmasters and during the Winter months a lot of the local pubs have live music most weekends. Looe's music Weekender is brilliant where all the pubs get involved and put on live music for free.
And I'd love the disconnected feelings from the rest of the country 😂😂
We had to stop somewhere! Sarah :)
The prices of Tradesmen in Cornwall is diabolical, for example a local builder wants to charge £100 per hour, that equates to £800 per day! really this is just for one builder. A garage dealer only charges £70 to 80 pound per hour and can get a car fixed in under 3 hrs on average so thats only £240 quid and your moving again. Another thing is actually trying to find any tradesman (builder /roofer ) to come and look first, the reason i think is most tradesmen jump on the bandwagon of working on all the new house builds in Cornwall, leaving others to pick up the slack.
Weather is getting worse in Cornwall each year, the summers really are rare, gone are the nice hot summers, replaced by mist and fog, and consistently grey skies. How the holiday trade will survive i really dont know as most of the attractions have closed down, so for families visiting it will be a nightmare keeping kids amused. The roads are almost always full even in the winter, because the local council are always allowing developments right on top of an already congested route, with no ideas of enlarging the roads at all. Sorry to paint such a horrid picture of Cornwall but ive lived here for over 45 years and watched a once lovely quaint place go downhill so fast.
My maternal cousin🙏🙏🙏 and ex husband🙏🙏 moved from Birmingham to Charmouth, just 10 mins away from Lyme Regis in 1971. They had 3 children, 1 lives in the village now. She is 62/3
Her husband was born in Charmouth in 1957.
He has been a tradesman/carpenter and he has charged ENORMOUS prices for his work over time
Yes £hundreds a day.
He has had to give up -hip and knee replacements over the last 10-12 years
Now they rely on income from a holiday let
What you describe isn't exclusive to Cornwall, it's more a reflection of life in this country. I travel to most parts of the UK & I wouldn't consider living anywhere other than the beautiful Cornish village in which I reside.
Relax guys, this is a terrific video, thank you for your insights and practical advice - it is great to see Cornwall through your eyes.
Glad you enjoyed it! Sarah :)
Gone are the days of Talk of the town, heady days. North Cornwall is not so mad as south of Truro, having lived here for nearly 40 yrs i have never had an issue with work, opportunities or entertainment value, and i live in the sticks.
I lived over 16 years in Cornwall, briefly St Blazey and Newlyn, four years in St Just and the rest in Penzance, mostly in a place we eventually bought there. Loved the independent and supermarket shopping options in and around Penzance, walked to the sea virtually every day - including for storm-watching - was involved in various clubs and things both mainstream and more alternative. Loved the informality, if you saw someone in a suit, you knew they either worked in a bank or had a funeral to attend! Eventually moved away to near Cardiff to be closer to stuff but would have moved back if I could've afforded it. Torquay was the nearest I could get for my budget, so here I be!
Thanks for sharing! Sarah :)