Five to try: Cornish Literary Highlights

Cornwall has inspired great pieces of literature and played a starring role in more than few poems and sonnets. And who can blame the literary minded for falling for Cornwall’s magnificent coastline, atmospheric moors, wooded creeks and ancient villages - it’s enough to fuel the imagination of even the most unlikely of wordsmiths.

Here we follow a rich literary trail around Cornwall and discover the fascinating locations that have inspired some of the most popular writers of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Zennor – D.H Lawrence
Head west from St Ives along the rugged coastline to the ancient coastal village of Zennor. Near to here was the one time home of D H Lawrence who wrote, “One sees infinite Atlantic, all peacock mingled colours, and the gorse is sunshine itself. Zennor is a most beautiful place”. See if you come to the same poetic conclusion.

Launceston - Charles Causley
Walk around the narrow streets of Launceston, once the ancient capital of Cornwall and pick up the feel of local poet Charles Causley, described in his lifetime by Ted Hughes as one of the “best loved and most needed” poets of the last fifty years. Time your visit to coincide with the Charles Causley Festival that usually takes place at the end of June and you will get to see and hear lots of like-minded fans of his work.

Wadebridge – Sir John Betjeman
Spend a morning in the town of Wadebridge, gateway to the spectacular north coast and learn more about the works of former Poet Laureate, Sir John Betjeman, at a small museum located in the town’s old railway station (free entry). Discover where Betjeman got his ideas from at nearby Daymer Bay, a beautiful golden sandy beach at the head of the Camel Estuary and visit his grave at St Enodoc Church.

Lerryn Village – Kenneth Grahame
The village of Lerryn, thought to be inspiration for the wild wood in Kenneth Grahame’s classic tale “Wind in the Willows”, lies on the banks of a gently flowing river spanned by an Elizabethan bridge. Take a walk alongside the river into the said woods or just sit beside the river and see if you can spot any characters from the book, such as otter, toad, ratty or badger.

Mousehole - Dylan Thomas
Head to the postcard perfect village of Mousehole where welsh writer and poet Dylan Thomas spent his honeymoon in the 1930s. Perhaps you can spot similarities here with the village of Llaraggub from his most famous work, Under Milk Wood. Call into the Ship Inn on the Harbour, his favourite watering hole, and ponder.