Things you didn't know about... Cornwall

Pan-Celt groups such as The Celtic Congress and The Celtic League argue that Cornwall is a nation rather than a county, one of what they term The Six Nations—and we're not talking rugby. (For the record, the others are Brittany, Ireland, the Isle of Man, Scotland and Wales). In fact, seven per cent of Cornish people gave their ethnicity as "Cornish" at the last census.

Cornwall has its own language, unsurprisingly called Cornish, which is related to Welsh and Breton. It has about 300 speakers and is taught in 12 primary schools.

When asked to name local delicacies most people would come up with the pasty and clotted cream. In fact, Cornwall is enjoying a culinary renaissance. The Cornish fishing village of Padstow is nicknamed "Padstein" by locals in homage to TV chef Rick Stein—he has three restaurants, a bistro, cafe, delicatessen, patisserie shop, gift shop and cookery school in the small seaside town. Jamie Oliver has opened a second Fifteen restaurant near Newquay. And chef and Masterchef presenter John Torode last year bought a restaurant in Perranporth.

The town of St Ives on the north coast of Cornwall has become famous for the number of artists who live and work there. Starting in 1928, and continuing up to the opening of the Tate St Ives (a branch of the Tate Gallery in London) in 1993, the quiet beauty of the place has attracted artists of the stature of sculptor Barbara Hepworth and painter Piet Mondrian.

Cornwall is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the UK, with about 5 million people visiting each year. Newquay is a great centre for surfing and clubbing; the Eden Project is a fantastic destination for nature-lovers; the old tin mines and dolmens provide a picturesque background; and Cornwall has miles of beautiful beaches and cliffs.

It is widely accepted (except by those from neighbouring Devon) that Cornwall gave the world the pasty. Steak, onion, swede and potato are rolled in pastry that is then crimped to provide a handle—this was so tin miners miners could carry it to work, then discard the dirty pastry handle when they'd finished. Some claim there was even a second compartment in the pasty for the dessert. And clotted cream is famous thanks to the rich grass Cornish dairy cows graze upon—product of lots of sunshine and lots of rainfall together.

Cornwall has its own flag, named after Saint Piran. It is a white cross on a black background, and is flown on occasions such as Flora Day, a festival day (believed to be pre-Christian) held in the town of Helston on 8 May.

All the MPs elected to Parliament from Cornwall in the last election were from the same political party—the Liberal Democrats. Two of them swore their oath in Cornish.