I say, ‘oggy’, you say, ‘oi!’
‘Oggy oggy oggy, oi oi oi!’
You’re probably thinking, ‘what does that even mean?’. Well, this rambunctious chant originated in the county of Cornwall. Deriving from the Cornish name for pasty—hoggan—the word oggy is now used to merrily convey the very important message, ‘pasty pasty pasty, yes yes yes.’
Alongside its pride in its meat-laden crimped pastries, you might notice that Cornwall has plenty of other gorgeous attributes to boast about. Whether you’re channeling Poldark along some ruggedly handsome cliff tops or drinking a tankard of ale in the famed smugglers’ haunt, Jamaica Inn, the rich history and unyielding beauty of this peaceful peninsula will capture your heart for years to come.
So, without further ado, oggy oggy oggy…
Party with Poldark
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Over the last few years, the clifftops and intimate coves of Cornwall have shot to stardom in the television series, Poldark. People throughout the country quickly became enamoured with the rugged, sculpted and unruly manscape, I mean, landscape… splayed across their screens. If you fancy experiencing these dashingly handsome scenes for yourself, head to Cornwall to visit the film locations. From the romantic, craggy Kynance Cove to the crystalline waters of Porthcurno—famed for the open-air Minack Theatre—it won’t be long until you’re swooning over this county’s gorgeous assets.
Tate St Ives
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One of the four iconic Tate art galleries can be found outstretched along Porthmeor beach, St Ives—the only outpost to reside outside of a UK city. Its unusual location makes more sense when you acknowledge the artist heritage of the town; from Barbara Hepworth and Alfred Wallis to Mark Rothko, this beachside settlement has inspired its fair share of artistic greats. In the early 90s, Tate decided to renovate a former gasworks and fill it with installations and pieces produced by local and international artists—thus the Tate St. Ives was born. For the primo Cornish experience post gallery, grab a cone of clotted ice cream and plop yourself by the shore. Beware the seagulls! They especially love stealing food from culture vultures.
Yarr me hearties – Pirates
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From piskies to King Arthur and the knights of the round table, Cornwall’s obsession with mysticisms and traditions has played a substantial role in creating the county’s identity.
None more so than the daring and roguish, the swashbuckling pirates. Home to some of the world’s most famed and fiendish seafaring criminals, a look through Cornwall’s timeline provides reels of intrigue. From the likes of Blackbeard and Lady Killigrew to the ‘Prince of Pirates’, Sam Bellamy, the rugged coastline encasing Cornwall has borne witness to its fair share of smugglers and priceless treasure troves. For a taste of this fascinating past, journey to the idyllic port town of Fowey to walk in the footsteps of the infamous Mark Mixtow, before popping your feet up at a waterside pub for a tankard of ale and a portion of scampi—ohh arr.
Cuisine
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As the old ditty goes:
Pasty at night,
shepherd’s delight,
pasty in the morning,
shepherd’s… delight.
Basically, the Cornish pasty can do no wrong.
Traditionally crafted by miners’ wives as a wholesome portable meal, its creation is arguably nothing short of genius. From thick pastry crimping—which acted as a handle so that grubby hands couldn’t contaminate—to buttery slabs of beef skirt, this gorgeous morsel balances practicality and lip-smacking deliciousness in perfect unison. In more recent times, you can’t swing a bag of cats in Cornwall without knocking into a pasty shop, so it’s as easy pie to get your hands on one of these iconic south-westerly treats. I mean, why eat anything else?
In the unlikely case that the pasty isn’t enough, be sure to make the most of Cornwall’s impressive food scene. From fresh fish in Rick Stein’s seaside stronghold—Padstow—to cream teas by the coast (done the Cornish way) prepare ya chops for a journey steeped in salivation and wonder.
Eden Project
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Weaving serpentine through a Cornish valley is what appears to be a stretch of globular bubble wrap. What, you ask, is a stretch of globular bubble wrap doing in a Cornish valley? It is in fact the world-famous Eden Project—a handful of ginormous biomes encased in spherical greenhouses. Here, you can bear witness to the largest rainforest in captivity—a sight not to be missed! These bubbly biomes are brimming with the riotous colours of far-flung Amazonian plants, delicately curated gardens and sustainable exhibitions. By showcasing such gorgeous flora, this educational charity aims to highlight the importance of protecting our planet. Aside from this, it looks really bad-ass, enough so, that the site was used as an evil lair in the James Bond film, Die Another Day.
