In contrast with the south coast of Cornwall which is washed by the comparatively gentle English Channel, the north coast bears the brunt of the Atlantic Ocean resulting in a coastline that is rugged, wild and rocky, interspersed with the occasional sandy bay.
Although the distance between the two coastlines falls to 15 miles in places, the contrast between the two is remarkable and adds to the attractions of a holiday in Cornwall.
The south coast, known as the 'Cornish Riviera' is the subject of another holiday guide.
Like that one, we start our journey around the north coast at Land's End, the extreme south-western point in Britain.
Once the area housed just a shop and a pub which proudly claimed to the first and last shop and pub in England (depending on which way you were facing), and a signpost which pointed variously at America, Ireland, and your home town (you spelt out the letters and slid them onto one of the pointers on the signpost) and showed the mileage.
It must be the most photographed signpost in the world.
However, nowadays the area has been commercialised with an amusement park.
Frankly it isn't amusing and the area is not worth a visit, except to have your photograph taken by that signpost.
A few miles along the coast is Sennen Cove which has a long sandy beach, a hotel and an old lifeboat station.
Not really worth a visit.
The next 20 miles of coastline is wild and untouched by tourism.
The villages of St Just, Pendeen and Zennor have a few dour granite buildings and there is evidence of old tin mine workings.
This is definitely not an area to include in your itinerary.
We now come to Carbis Bay, an area sheltered from the Atlantic and home to the towns of St Ives, Carbis Bay and Lelant.
St Ives is, of course, one of the most popular resorts in the UK.
The beaches in the area are sandy and have safe bathing.
The quaint town of St Ives is picturesque but gets very crowded.
During the summer visitors travelling by car have to queue and wait for another car to leave before they can gain access.
There is a 'park and ride' near Lelant where you can catch a train into St Ives.
If you intend to arrive in St Ives after about 10 o'clock in the morning you would be well advised to use the train for the last few miles.
St Ives has two beaches and a charming harbour.
Beware of the seagulls! These birds have no fear and will swoop down and take food out of your hand.
This can be frightening, especially for children; so if you must eat out of doors be alert.
They even eat ice cream! If you choose to stay in the area there is a huge choice of hotels, guest houses and self catering cottages and flats.
Leaving the Carbis Bay area, we move north-east until we reach the next area worthy of a visit: Newquay.
A favourite with surfers and once home to the world surfing championship, Newquay has several beaches, the most famous being Fistral which is the best for surfing.
However, if you don't know one end of a surfboard from the other, Newquay has little to offer.
Next up we have Padstow which, like all the other areas of interest on the north coast is set in a bay that is sheltered from the Atlantic.
Once a port that earned its living from its fishing fleet, it is now just a harbour with a few yachts and a tourist attraction; pretty though.
The last place worth a visit on our trip along the north coast of Cornwall is Tintagel home to King Arthur, his Roundtable and Merlin the wizard.
Well, so the story goes anyway.
King Arthur is supposed to have lived in the fifth century and there was a castle in Tintagel at that time, not the present one which was built in the 1230s and started to crumble 200 years later and is now just a ruin.
Cornwall is the most popular area of Britain for holidays.
The best way to enjoy your time there is to tour the whole area and explore both coasts.
Staying in a hotel or guest house can restrict you to being present at set times for meals, a better option is to rent a self catering cottage so you can come and go as you please.
Although the distance between the two coastlines falls to 15 miles in places, the contrast between the two is remarkable and adds to the attractions of a holiday in Cornwall.
The south coast, known as the 'Cornish Riviera' is the subject of another holiday guide.
Like that one, we start our journey around the north coast at Land's End, the extreme south-western point in Britain.
Once the area housed just a shop and a pub which proudly claimed to the first and last shop and pub in England (depending on which way you were facing), and a signpost which pointed variously at America, Ireland, and your home town (you spelt out the letters and slid them onto one of the pointers on the signpost) and showed the mileage.
It must be the most photographed signpost in the world.
However, nowadays the area has been commercialised with an amusement park.
Frankly it isn't amusing and the area is not worth a visit, except to have your photograph taken by that signpost.
A few miles along the coast is Sennen Cove which has a long sandy beach, a hotel and an old lifeboat station.
Not really worth a visit.
The next 20 miles of coastline is wild and untouched by tourism.
The villages of St Just, Pendeen and Zennor have a few dour granite buildings and there is evidence of old tin mine workings.
This is definitely not an area to include in your itinerary.
We now come to Carbis Bay, an area sheltered from the Atlantic and home to the towns of St Ives, Carbis Bay and Lelant.
St Ives is, of course, one of the most popular resorts in the UK.
The beaches in the area are sandy and have safe bathing.
The quaint town of St Ives is picturesque but gets very crowded.
During the summer visitors travelling by car have to queue and wait for another car to leave before they can gain access.
There is a 'park and ride' near Lelant where you can catch a train into St Ives.
If you intend to arrive in St Ives after about 10 o'clock in the morning you would be well advised to use the train for the last few miles.
St Ives has two beaches and a charming harbour.
Beware of the seagulls! These birds have no fear and will swoop down and take food out of your hand.
This can be frightening, especially for children; so if you must eat out of doors be alert.
They even eat ice cream! If you choose to stay in the area there is a huge choice of hotels, guest houses and self catering cottages and flats.
Leaving the Carbis Bay area, we move north-east until we reach the next area worthy of a visit: Newquay.
A favourite with surfers and once home to the world surfing championship, Newquay has several beaches, the most famous being Fistral which is the best for surfing.
However, if you don't know one end of a surfboard from the other, Newquay has little to offer.
Next up we have Padstow which, like all the other areas of interest on the north coast is set in a bay that is sheltered from the Atlantic.
Once a port that earned its living from its fishing fleet, it is now just a harbour with a few yachts and a tourist attraction; pretty though.
The last place worth a visit on our trip along the north coast of Cornwall is Tintagel home to King Arthur, his Roundtable and Merlin the wizard.
Well, so the story goes anyway.
King Arthur is supposed to have lived in the fifth century and there was a castle in Tintagel at that time, not the present one which was built in the 1230s and started to crumble 200 years later and is now just a ruin.
Cornwall is the most popular area of Britain for holidays.
The best way to enjoy your time there is to tour the whole area and explore both coasts.
Staying in a hotel or guest house can restrict you to being present at set times for meals, a better option is to rent a self catering cottage so you can come and go as you please.
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