It’s the rare visitor on holiday that gets to see the entire village involved in local tradition harking back to medieval times. If you stay in a St Columb Major holiday cottage around Shrove Tuesday you’ll experience first hand (and possibly with a birds eye view depending on the location of the rental) what’s known as ‘hurling’. Once popular across Cornwall, but now played only in St Columb Major and St Ives, the game involves several hundred villagers forming two teams with the aim of carrying a silver ball to goals set two miles apart. It’s played over a number of hours so plenty of time to choose a team and give them a cheer!

St Columb Major is a great base for a whole host of exciting days out in North Cornwall. Head north to Wadebridge where you can cycle part of The Camel Trail or if you’ve little ones in tow that are nuts about Thomas the Tank Engine then a visit to the Bodmin and Wenford Railway is a must. It’s the only full size railway still operated by steam locomotives in Cornwall. Toot toot!

Head south from St Columb Major to visit surfer paradise, Newquay. You’ll find Towan Beach at the heart of the town, a sandy beach with lifeguard cover from May-September. At low tide the beaches of Great Western and Tolcarne are also accessible making one long powdery playground for all to enjoy.

A short break or longer in a St Columb Major cottage will provide the perfect place to rest your head and recharge your batteries, enabling you to fully enjoy all that North Cornwall has to offer.