A couple of years ago, we upped sticks and moved just outside Truro in Cornwall, hoping to achieve that elusive work-life balance so many of us strive for. We had been living in a beautiful village in the stunning Peak District in Derbyshire, but as a television producer and director, most of our work took us out of the county. I spent a lot of time commuting to MediaCityUK in Salford, while Dom was often away filming all over the country.
Why We Chose to Relocate to Cornwall
The Peak District has a dark, majestic beauty that is spectacular, but we’re a family who loves the sea—and there isn’t much of that in the middle of England! I have family in Cornwall, and we spent a big chunk of the school holidays here (generally overstaying our welcome). One October half-term, I took the kids to The Headland Hotel in Newquay for afternoon tea with the ‘High Witch.’ For those who don’t know, the original film of Roald Dahl’s The Witches was filmed there. Our son had been reading the book at school, and it seemed like a fun thing to do—it was.
After indulging in tasty little sandwiches and Halloween-themed cakes, I was sitting on Fistral Beach watching the kids running about in their short sleeves when I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be amazing to live down here?’ Then, ‘Maybe we could…?’ The spell had been cast, and I was well and truly bewitched! Luckily, Dom and the kids were also excited about the idea of living in Cornwall, and now here we are.
The Challenges of Moving to Cornwall
Obviously, it wasn’t as simple as packing up and going. We had plenty of anxious thoughts about relocating the kids from their school, leaving our friends and family behind, and whether we would find enough work in Cornwall. But we had to try it—if things didn’t work out, we could always move back up north. Thankfully, it’s been one of the best decisions we’ve ever made.
What’s It Like Living in Cornwall?
Since moving to Cornwall, we’ve fallen in love with the lifestyle, the community, and, of course, the breathtaking scenery. Cornwall is one of the most beautiful and magical places on earth, from The Lizard to The Roseland, from Bodmin to Bude, from Minack to Mawgan Porth. We’re truly spoilt when it comes to stunning landscapes, coastal walks, and amazing places to explore. The people are incredibly welcoming, our kids love it here, and we’ve become hugely popular with our friends and family ‘up country’—especially during the school holidays!
How We Started a Video Production Company in Cornwall
Dom and I have always loved storytelling—listening to people’s experiences and capturing them on camera. We’d always toyed with the idea of creating micro-documentaries, and one day we asked ourselves, ‘What if we did this for a living?’
Maybe taking the plunge and moving to Cornwall gave us the confidence to take another risk and set up our own video production company. Or maybe we were just suckers for stress! Either way, Reef Knot Productions was born.
What’s Next for Us?
Who knows what the future holds, but fingers crossed, we get the perfect work-life balance we always thought was beyond our reach. Uprooting our family and running a business in Cornwall has come with its challenges, but the rewards have been incredible.