Biggest solar eclipse in 16 years to plummet Cornwall into darkness

Your caravan holidays in Cornwall come with a unique added extra this March – access to a completely free attraction that hasn't been seen in 16 years...

I'm not talking about a theme park or museum, I'm talking about an astronomical phenomenon!

Cornwall, along with other parts of the UK, will be plummeted into darkness by an incredibly rare daytime solar eclipse.

The unique spectacle is said to be taking place Friday 20th March, and scientists claim it could last up to a massive 90 minutes!

I'm super excited as I wasn't around to witness the last one, I just hope the weather plays ball so we get a good sighting of it down here in Cornwall.

The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office has released details of the eclipse and times around the UK when you can catch it. The list includes Penzance – good news for those of you staying at Kenegie Manor – the eclipse here is expected to start at 8.18am for 90 minutes, with the sun at its most covered at 9.23am.

The UKHO has set out warnings to anyone wanting to look at the eclipse, and advised wearing specialist eyewear. They said: “The sun is a powerful object capable of doing irreparable damage to your eyesight. The only time it is safe to look directly at the sun is during totality. At any other time, the ultraviolet and infrared radiation will damage your eyesight even though you may not feel any discomfort.”

The South West is no stranger to eclipses, so Kenny has been telling me. Long-standing visitors of John Fowler Holidays may have been at one of our holiday parks in Cornwall during the most recent total eclipse, back in August 1999 – I'd love to hear from you if you were.