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CORNWALL
AREA GUIDES
(For a list of all the prime country estate properties sold
recently,
scroll down to the bottom of this page)
** CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR DETAILS OF EQUESTRIAN PROPERTIES FOR SALE IN CORNWALL **
About the County
of Cornwall
(For a list of all the prime country estate properties
sold in Cornwall recently, scroll down to the bottom of this
page)
click on relevant link below to view further information on...
Country,
Equestrian, Farm & Waterside property for sale in Cornwall
Property
prices of prime properties in Cornwall
Private
& Public schools in Cornwall
The
leading Country, Farm & Equestrian Estate Agents in Cornwall
Main Towns : Newquay, St. Ives, Falmouth, St. Austell, Bodmin
Moor, Lizard Point, Lands End, Redruth, Bude and Bodmin areas
of Cornwall and the surrounding area of Devon.
Cornwall & Devon are packed full of
attractive sea resorts. In Cornwall there are surfer's paradise
areas such as Newquay on the western coast.
In North Devon these include Woolacombe,
Bude, Ilfracombe, Westward Ho! and Minehead.
In South Devon you are again spoilt for
choice with Lyme Regis, Sidmouth, Exmouth, Dawlish, Teignmouth,
Torbay, Salcombe and Dartmouth . Further inland you will find
the Dartmoor National Park and exciting local communities
in towns such as Tiverton, Honiton and Barnstable.
If watersports are your life, there are
many areas just suited to making this easy and pleasurable
– whether your interests are in sailing, windsurfing
or fishing. There are numerous moorings for your boat/watercraft,
sailing clubs and watersports tuition.
With its own culture and language, and its spectacular scenery
and warm climate, Cornwall feels a world away from the rest
of England, and the current high prices are entirely justified.
Commuting to London from Cornwall is
near impossible. In the past this ensured that houses in the
county were remarkably good value, especially away from the
south. However in recent years, as people increasingly buy second
holiday homes, prices across the southwest have shot up. As
a result Cornwall property is now at the top end of the price
range.
According to the July 2004 Hometrack price
index, the overall average price for a property in Cornwall
was £154,400, compared with £153,300 in Devon
and £146,800 in Somerset.
You do get what you pay for, though, which,
in Cornwall, is spectacular scenery and coastline, better
weather, character properties, and a peaceful way of life.
The Sea's Influence
No inhabitant of Cornwall lives more
than 18 miles from the sea. Maritime trade - and piracy -
may have declined, but Cornwall's coastline ensures that tourism
is one of its two main industries. Rugged cliffs characterise
the north coast, sunlit estuaries the south, and a third of
the coast is in the hands of the National Trust.
The waters are extremely clean by European standards, and
the excellent surfing breaks are becoming an increasingly
important draw for visitors. Newquay's new surfing centre
is proving popular, and has helped contribute to the town's
newfound status as the capital of UK surfing.
Food and Drink
The sea, of course, helps contribute to
another important element of Cornish life: food. Seafood is
fresh and delicious, and is championed by the likes of Rick
Stein, whose superb restaurant in Padstow serves only the
finest - and has a waiting list to match.
That other fine Cornwall delicacy, the
pasty, is also ever popular. 'Designed' so that miners could
eat a good meal with dirty hands and then discard the crust,
you can find almost any flavour, from the traditional beef and
potato to the slightly more novel jam and custard. Malcolm Barnecutt's
pasties in Wadebridge come highly recommended, but you can find
good quality bakers anywhere as long as you look beyond those
that cater primarily for tourists.
Lifestyle
Cornwall's other main industry is agriculture:
small family farms still prevail, as the rolling landscape
is not suited to large-scale farming. Beef and sheep farming
are most common, while since the foot and mouth crisis crops
such as oilseed rape and maize have become more prevalent.
Since the 18th century, artists have been
attracted to Cornwall for its light and rugged beauty. Artists
such as Norman Garstin, Barbara Hepworth and Bernard Leach
have all sought inspiration in Cornwall, and there are many
excellent studios and galleries in most towns.
Eden Project
One of the main draws for tourism in Cornwall
is the extraordinary Eden Project. Consisting of the world's
largest geodesic domes, the Project brings together a spectacular
array of plants from all over the world, separated into two
biospheres, the Humid Tropical Biome, featuring a jungle environment,
and the Warm Temperate Biome, including Mediterranean, South
African and Californian plant species. The success of the
Eden Project has also had a positive knock-on effect on businesses
in the surrounding area as well as the rest of the county.
Cornwall really is a world apart from the
rest of Britain, with a different climate, a different language
- that can still be heard in some areas - and a different
lifestyle, and there can be no doubt that the high property
prices are entirely justified.
Property Market
The southwest of England, especially Cornwall,
has been at the forefront of the property boom over recent
years. According to Colin Benney, Manager at Stratton Creber
Estate Agents in Truro, prices have gone up by about 50% in
this time.
Although the first six months of 2004 were
very active, along with the rest of the country, the Cornish
market has failed to pick up after the usual Summer lull:
'In my view prices are levelling out as supply comes more
into balance with demand. It's a tougher market, with fewer
transactions, but without the panic buying we were seeing
earlier on in the year,' said Mr Benney.
Major towns
Penzance, Falmouth, St Ives, Truro, St Austell, Fowey, Par,
Newquay, Bodmin, Bude, Launceston.
Transport links
Train: There is a direct, regular train from London Paddington
to Penzance. The journey takes around 5 hours.
Plane: There are now regular, cheap Ryan
Air flights from London Stansted to Newquay airport, which
have no doubt helped Cornwall more attractive to second homebuyers.
The journey takes just over one hour. Other operators also
run flights from around the UK.
Car: Penzance is 283 miles from central
London, via the M4, M5 and A30. St Austell is 265 miles.
Public schools
Duchy Grammar School, Truro (01872 862289). Co-educational,
day and boarding, age range 3-18. Inter-denominational.
St Joseph's School, Launceston (01566 772988).
Girls aged 4-16, boys 4-11. Day and boarding. Interdenominational.
St Petroc's School, Bude (01288 352876).
Co-educational preparatory school, age range 3-14. Day and
boarding. Church of England.
Bolitho School, Penzance (01736 363271).
Day and boarding. Co- educational. Interdenominational. www.bolitho.cornwall.sch.uk
The Truro School, Truro (01872 272763).
Co-educational, day and boarding, age range 3-18. Methodist.
www.truroschool.com
Truro High School for Girls (01872 272830).
Day and boarding, age range 3-18. Girls only (with boys allowed
age 3- 5). Anglican. www.trurohigh.co.uk
Leisure
Yacht clubs: the Royal Torbay and the Royal Cornwall, Falmouth.
Hunting: the East Cornwall, North Cornwall,
South Cornwall, Western and Four Burrow. World-class surfing
at Newquay. Royal Cornwall Show held annually on its own ground
at Wadebridge.
Fishing: rivers Camel, Fal, Fowey, Lyd and
Tamar.
Notable golfcourses: Newquay, Rock and Padstow.
THE BEST CORNWALL COUNTRY HOUSES
FOR SALE IN 2004
(A breakdown of what was for sale & purchase prices)
Trewarthenick Estate, Tregony, Truro (1737 acre estate, 2.5
miles frontage on River Fal, grounds by Repton): £9m
Sources: Land Registry data in the public domain, our own
research via contacts (selling agents, buyers, solicitors
etc.) and information published in Country Life magazine.
Where a private sale/exchange of trust took place (i.e. no
registration at The Land Registry) figures stated are asking
prices. Whilst every care has been taken in the preparation
of this information. Sands does not guarantee or accept responsibility
for its accuracy. E&OE.
To benefit from impartial and expert
advice when buying a prime UK country or London property contact
leading Property Search Agents, Sands Home Search.
Telephone: 01425 462549 (+44 1425 462549)
Website: www.sandshomesearch.com
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