Surrounded on three sides by the sea and separated from England by the River Tamar, Cornwall is virtually an island and almost a 'nation apart'. Thanks to this isolation from the mainland, ancient standing stones known as menhirs, dating back to the Bronze Age - three thousand years ago - are still standing today. It was not until the middle of the last century when Brunel's great railway bridge carried the first train over the Tamar into Cornwall that visitors began venturing into this land beyond England.

Known as the land of King Arthur, Cornwall was for many centuries entirely Celtic, until eventually the Cornish were conquered in AD926. Legend has it that Arthur, a Celtic ruler born in the late 5th century AD led the last great Celtic battle against the Anglo-Saxons. Tintagel Castle, believed to be King Arthur's birthplace, is much visited today. In later years, the Normans left a legacy of great castles, for example, at Launceston, Restormel and Trematon, but during the Middle Ages, there was less need for fortified buildings, hence the building of manor houses such as Cotehele, one of Cornwall's most beautiful great houses. During this time, Cornwall enjoyed great prosperity as Europe's largest supplier of tin, while her sailors and fishermen gained renown at home and abroad. Many unspoilt villages and coves still exist along the dramatic coastlines where the region's seafaring history of fishing, shipwrecks and smuggling can often be discovered through displays of old photographs and artefacts in the local inns.

Inland, winding country lanes meander through the countryside, ideal for walkers who want to get off the beaten track. Today, Cornwall has much to offer the visitor, with its rich Celtic heritage, castles and great houses. Thanks to a mild climate, unusual and exotic plants flourish here, and the region offers a variety of beautiful gardens to visit such as the hanging garden at Trebah.