Can you recommend anywhere good to visit in Cornwall

ask Margie

A. Cornwall is brimming over with towns, beaches and resorts to visit. Some of the most popular include the following:

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St Ives: Cultural heart of the county. Today it has a Tate Gallery (which opened in 1993), but it has always been a favourite destination for�artists because of its natural light and charm. Turner and Whistler both lived here, and more recently other artists including Barbara Hepworth, Ben Nicholson, Peter Lanyon and Patrick Heron made it their home.

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Bodmin: A good place to start any visit to Bodmin is at the Bodmin Beacon, where you will find a 144ft statue of Lt. Gen. Sir Walter Raleigh Gilbert (he was from the town and the statue commemorates his services in India in the 19th century). Other good places are Bodmin Gaol, the Church of St Petroc (which dates back to the 15th century and is the largest in Cornwall), the Bodmin Town Museum (which chronicles the history of the town) and of course Bodmin Moor.

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Camelford: Situated on the River Camel at the edge of Bodmin Moor and is within 10 miles of the north Cornish coast close to Bude and Wadebridge. It is a good place to stay if you wish to the tour North Cornwall as it is within easy�of beaches, organised walks and fishing expeditions. It's also�a great shopping centre for�souvenirs, or to stock up on supplies. Some say�Camelford was the original site of King Arthur's Camelot.

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Tintagel: The legend of King Arthur attracts thousands of tourists to

Tintagel every year. If you get past the souvenir shops, visit some of its

main attractions which include King Arthur's Hall of Chivalry, the Chapel of Our Lady of Fontevrault and the castle ruins.

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Padstow: On the western side of River Camel, the town of Padstow - sometimes jokingly dubbed 'Padstein', because of its association with TV chef Rick Stein - is protected from the prevailing south-westerly winds and is famed for its harbour and cottages, as well as it restaurants and fresh fish.

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Bude:�A popular seaside town that boasts a wide sandy bay surrounded by cliffs and contains a natural breakwater. Like other areas in Cornwall, eg Newquay, Bude is famous today for the size of its waves and it very popular with surfers�- especially the Atlantic-fronted beaches at Summerleaze and Crooklets (other good beaches include Duckpool, Sandymouth, Crackington Haven and Northcott Mouth).

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Newquay: Cornwall's most popular holiday town, as it boasts seven miles of sandy beaches and attracts visiting surfers in their hundreds. Away from the beach you can enjoy the zoo, Waterworld, the Sealife Centre, Lappa Valley Steam Railway and the Trenance Leisure Park.

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Rame Peninsula (around the villages of Kingsand and Cawsand): This area (in south-east Cornwall) is one of the least tourist-infested places in Cornwall and is a good destination if you're after a quiet holiday�- especially as it is surrounded by water on three sides (by Plymouth Sound, the river Lynher and river Tamar). It has secluded beaches, beautiful countryside and is a great place to set out walking; its coastal path from Cremyll to Mount Edgcumbe Park is considered by many guidebooks (including the Shell Guide) to be the most beautiful in England.

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Looe: This popular fishing port is full of narrow streets and tea shops, and its main attractions include Banjo Pier, the Old Guildhall Museum, the Living by the Sea Exhibition, Looe Island, the nearby Monkey Sanctuary, and its fantastic beaches at Whitsand Bay. It is also within walking distance of Mount Edgcumbe Country Park (865 acres).

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Polperro: Famed for its smugglers coves and houses that look like boats, Polperro is a very popular tourist destination today as it offers a real slice of Cornish maritime history and local culture. Its main attractions include the Museum of Smuggling, the fishing quay, and the House of Props. It also boasts some great restaurants.

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Falmouth:�A good place to stay if you plan on visiting the south-west

area of Cornwall, especially the Lizard Peninsula and St Just. Its main tourist attraction is Pendennis Castle, which was built by Henry VIII in 1564.

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Fowey: Quaint "olde worlde" town full of narrow cobbled streets,

Tudor and medieval cottages and tea shops. The author Daphne Du Maurier lived here for several years and the annual Du Maurier Festival (held in May) has put the town on the map, as has the Fowey Regatta Week in August.

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Land's End:�A point of pilgrimage for many visitors (and charity walkers) as it marks the very tip of the country. Visit nearby

Sennen beach if you make it down this far, especially if you're into surfing as the waves are spectacular.

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St Austell: Since china clay was discovered here in the 1850s it has formed the main backbone to the town, and today English China Clays is still one of� the main employers in Cornwall.

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Penzance: You won't find many pirates here today, but you will find a statue to the chemist Sir Humphrey Davy, the District Museum and Art Gallery, the Lighthouse Pier, a heliport which will take you over to the Scilly Isles, and lots of shops and cafes.

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Redruth: Once the centre of metal mining (primarily copper and tin) in the UK , it�maintains a lot of the architecture of a mining town today.

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Truro: The main city and administrative centre for the county. Its

cathedral dominates the city centre and it dates back to 1880.

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Q. What is the best way to reach Cornwall

A. There are several ways to reach Cornwall:

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Rail: High-speed trains from London are provided by First Great Western (more information 0845 7000 125). You can also travel with your car by First Great Western Motorail (0845 601 0847).

Wales & West:�Provide services via Bristol from main cities throughout the country, eg Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff. More information 0870 9000 773.

National Rail Enquiries�- information on timetables and rail fares can be obtained at www.railtrack.co.uk or by phone on 08457 484950.

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Road: Join the M5 at Exeter (from other routes in Britain) and follow the signs for the A30 or the A38 for destinations within Cornwall.

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Coach: National coaches go direct to St Austell, Truro, Newquay,

Falmouth, St Ives and Penzance from several destinations in the UK. For more information call 0870 580 8080 or visit�www.gobycoach.com.

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Air: British Airways operate four flights a day between London Gatwick and Newquay Cornwall airport. More information from 0845 77 333 77 or www.british-airways.com.

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by Karen Anderson