Cornwall with Caroline Quentin

Celebrated in literature, Britain's Cornwall region—a former mining area that now attracts five million tourists each year—boasts spectacular scenery, rugged coastlines, close-knit villages, quaint customs, and a mild, invigorating climate. Hosted by actress Caroline Quentin, this eight-episode series takes viewers on a summer vacation to beautiful, historic Cornwall—a journey that features many sites, but the emphasis here is on the residents, both newcomers and old timers, who are proud of their communities and couldn't imagine living anywhere else, but also know that they need tourist money to sustain them over the long off-season. Quentin visits a camping site, restaurants offering local produce and seafood, vineyards, and a "letting" agency looking for properties to rent to well-heeled families. Other activities covered here include rowing, surfing, "belly boarding," and annual or end-of-season events. Of course, after the fun comes the inevitable visit to a quaint local pub. Points of interest include a large country estate that once housed American soldiers who were set to embark on the D-Day invasion, and the iconic St. Michael's Mount castle, now only accessible by ferry at high tide. Quentin emphasizes residents' efforts to preserve their history and customs in this leisurely, scenic series sure to appeal to Anglophile armchair travelers. Recommended. Aud: P. (S. Rees)