iKnow Cornwall
All South Cornwall Accommodation
The Eden Project near St Austell. One of the UK's most popular attractions
Inside the Humid Tropics Biome at the Eden Project - It's hot!
Women Workers in the China Clay Industry, at the China Clay Museum
Sailing and a stunning Harbour at Fowey, home of Daphne du Maurier
Daphne du Maurier walking around Fowey, her home until her death
Kynance Cove, The Lizard
Abseilling Down Cornwall's National Maritime Museum, Falmouth
Truro Cathedral in Truro, the Capital of CornwallEden Project St Austell Fowey Daphne Du Maurier Cornwall
The South Cornwall area is one of the most popular regions in Cornwall for holidays, and you can see why. South Cornwall is home to some of the best gardens in the UK, including of course the now renowned Eden Project (best to pre-book your visit to Eden!). The Cornish Riviera and St Austell Bay is also tops for Cornwall family holidays, with a choice of beautiful beaches, holiday caravan parks and choice holiday attractions including theme parks and more. Literary heritage abounds too, including South Cornwall's most famous prodigy - Daphne du Maurier - her long term home Menability is in Fowey. Fowey pays due homage to Du Maurier annually with it's Daphne du Maurier Festival. With it's gentler coastline, South Cornwall offers a choice of sailing and regattas, and a host of great sandy family beaches along St Austell Bay.
Cornwall's capital Truro has one of the best art galleries and museums in Cornwall, plus of course it's iconic cathedral. Move to Maritime centre Falmouth for a youthful vibe, with a chic developing harbour and a real centre for sailing with numerous sailing competitions held here. Both Falmouth and Truro are great for specialist shopping, a choice of stylish restaurants and Falmouth's Art gallery and Maritime museum are must visits! Don't forget St Mawes with it's historic caste and numerous pretty cottages. Both the Roseland Peninsula coast and Mounts Bay towards Penzance make superb Cornwall holiday bases, offering a mix of historical, cultural and holiday attractions, plus great family beaches.
St Austell & the Cornish Riviera
St Austell and St Austell Bay are prime Cornwall family holiday territory, with a selection of gentle sandy family beaches, easy access to the Eden Project, the Lost Gardens of Heligan and a choice of attractions including the Wheal Martyn China Clay Museum. There's lots to do around St Austell Bay, including visits to numerous Cornwall Gardens in the area, a sprinkling of golf courses, a castle, a Shipwreck museum and a choice of picture postcard fishing villages. St Austell's heritage is certainly industrial, as the key centre for china clay in the region, and crucial as a replacing industry to the declining tin mines.
By the end of the 1990s however, china clay was in full-scale decline, and today St Austell is the territory of Cornish Riviera Family Holidays, and currently receiving a multi-million pound makeover due in no small way to it's rescued status by the Eden Project. St Austell, like many Cornish resorts, is currently re-invigorating and re-inventing itself.
With a choice of family holiday parks around St Austell, plus a choice of family attractions such as the China Clay Country Park and the Pentewan Valley Cycle Trail, all boosted by a choice of superb sandy bay beaches - you've all you'll need for a great Cornwall family holiday. And of courses there's the milder Cornish Riviera climate round these parts. Sandy Cornish Riviera and St Austell Bay beaches abound, ranging from big bay beaches to small sandy coves. No rip roaring Atlantic waves here, just a gentle English Channel offering a choice of rock pools, and relaxing family holiday beaaches - superb! No wonder families flock to this part of the Cornish coast for their holidays. You're conveniently placed in St Austell for more choice of beaches in Fowey Bay, but in St Austell Bay choose from Par Sands Beach. Par Sands Beach is popular, with a large flat sandy beach well equipped with facilities with a pub, cafe and sports facilities adjacent. Par Sands is dog friendly as well.
St Austell Tourist Information Centre, Southbourne Road, St Austell, Cornwall, PL25 4RS. Tel: Local Rate 0845 094 0428, or +44 (0) 1726 879 500.
The Eden Project
Described as a 'Living theatre of plants and people', and situated on what was an old crater left by an old working pit, the Eden Project with it's two vast biomes and outdoor biome is one of the most visited attractions in the UK! The biomes have caught the public's imagination, certainly a lot more than London's vacant dome! Part of the reason for it's success is no doubt it's intent - an educational charitable trust for all with a mission to open visitors eyes, in the words of Tim Smith, key driver of the project with a history in such things, having renovated the Lost Gardens of Heligan before the Eden project,
Visitors to the Eden Project are in for a treat. Two vast biomes or giant greenhouses, one a humid tropics biome and one a warm temperatures region. Also open to visitors is an area referred to as the outdoor biome, which contains more hardy plants including local Cornwall plants. Inside both biomes is indeed a celebration of nature, with plants jostling for place and care for the environment explored through not just exhibitions of plants but through artwork, lectures, storytelling, workshops and events including music events.
Eden Project, Bodelva, St Austell, Cornwall, PL24 2SG. Tel: +44 (0)1726 811911.
Fowey & Daphne du Maurier
Fowey, pronounced 'Foy' by locals, and the Fowey Estuary is one of the prettiest and most popular destinations for visitors to the Cornish Riviera. A bustling but leisurely historic port, Fowey has much to commend it. The annual Daphne du Maurier Literary Festival in Mid May and Royal Regatta every August are two big event pullers. Fowey Harbour is picture-postcard Ville, and from the 14th century Fowey became an important port, as well as fishing centre. Learn about the plunders of the Fowey Gallants at the charming little Fowey Museum on the harbour front. The Literary Centre has all things Daphne du Maurier and more, with a scattering of excellent local art galleries and superb specialist arts and crafts shops.
Great for walkers too, Fowey hooks into the Saints Way which winds upto Padstow, or makes and excellent base for exploring the South West Coast Path or numerous quaint Cornish Villages nearby. For idyllic sandy cove beaches, such as Readymoney Cove, Fowey is perfect. Literary and sailing/yachting links, cream teas and country pubs, a beautiful historic harbour and a choice of boat trip companies offering cruises from the town's attractive key, Fowey hits the laid back holiday spot!
The Ticket Shop & Du Maurier Literary Centre with Tourist Information, 5 South Street, Fowey PL23 1AR. 01726 833616.
St Mawes & the Roseland Peninsula
St Mawes is and has been for sometime one of the most popular Cornwall coastal holiday destinations. Posh Edwardian holiday makers loved it. Somehow St Mawes on the Roseland Peninsula has retained it's 'fishing village' feel, and is a superb base for coastal walking and birdwatching. All of the Cornish Roseland Peninsula remains unspoilt, and a mecca for cliff and riverside walkers, sailing, windsurfing, water sports and estuary ferry trips. St Mawes is blessed with two excellent family oriented beaches, ideal for swimming!
St Mawes is also perfect for easy access to many of South Cornwall's hotspot attractions such as the Eden Project, Heligan and to the west bustling and booming chic Falmouth. It's position far south, and within the Gulf Stream, St Mawes enjoys a mild climate, ideal for the many boats, yachts and sailing clubs located here. Combine this with a choice of chic seafood restaurants, cafes, pubs and bars, and some of the most idyllic self catering holiday cottages in Cornwall, it's not surprising St Mawes is a particularly popular Cornish holiday location.
The Roseland Visitor Centre, The Millennium Rooms, The Square, St Mawes, Cornwall. TR2 5AG. Tel: 01326 270440.
Truro & Falmouth
As 'capitals' go, Truro feels quite small, as compared to Devon's capital Plymouth for example. Certainly this doesn't result in negative vibes. Truro's centre has much character and charm, giving off an air of mini-chic more akin to Devon's Exeter. It retains it's aloofness, no doubt influenced from it's powerhouse past as a stannery powerhouse and financial centre. It still looks rich, and has seen an influx of residents from outside of Cornwall, and elegant houses built by wealthy mine owners during the 19th and 20th centuries remain. Truro Tourist Information Centre, Municipal Buildings, Boscawen Street, Truro, Cornwall. Tel: 01872 274555.
Truro Cathedral, much like Beverley and Ripon Cathedrals in Yorkshire, looks a little crammed in these days surrounded by modern day shops. This cathedral, built with Cornish granite and Bath stone is relatively new, with building completed as late as 1910. Public money built it, and Truro Cathedral is certainly the capital's iconic landmark. Marks of 19th century paternalism can be seen in the town, particularly the Passmore Edwards Library built by newspaper magnet John Passmore. Truro has much to offer on the cultural side, with the superb Truro Plaza Cinema, the excellent Royal Cornwall Museum which is home to a number of works by the Cornish artist John Opie, and now Truro has a major music and events venue in the contemporary hub that is the 'Hall for Cornwall'.
Prosperity can be all about harbours, and Falmouth's deep harbour, developed by the Killigrew family of local merchants. The strategic importance of Falmouth was given due attention by Henry VIII who had Pendennis Castle built up on the nearby headland to protect it. Falmouth Port and Harbour is renowned in the world of sailing, with numerous sailing racing events beginning here, and ample areas for yacht moorings. The area around the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth is up and coming, with numerous chic cafe bars and specialist shops. Modern Falmouth has a great vibe, infused by a renowned local Arts College and superb art and culture scene.
Those looking for Cornish centres in art should head to Falmouth, and it's superb Falmouth Art Gallery and Falmouth Arts Centre. Stroll round the headland viewing Pendennis Castle, and local idyllic beaches. Falmouth has two flavours, with one waterfront on the river and one seaside waterfront. A good map is advisable to help you find your feet here. Falmouth town centre is a pleasant pedestrian affair, with some great bohemian shops, and some chic clothes shops! There's a student flavour, with it's Falmouth College of Art, giving the town a vibrant youth feel. Falmouth Tourist Information Centre, 11 Market Strand, Prince of Wales Pier, Falmouth, TR11 3DF. Tel: 01326 312300.
Helston & The Lizard
Helston sits firmly within Cornish stannery and tin mining history, and was one of the key Cornish stannery centres with it's own coinage hall alongside Truro, Lostwithiel and Liskeard. Helston or 'Helly' has it's own superb Town Trail Leaflet (pick this up at the tourist information centre). Follow the guide and take a journey through Helston history taking in Godolphin Hall, The Guildhall, the Helston Folk Museum, the old Angel Hotel and more. Helston's the perfect base for branching out into the Lizard and idyllic beaches around Lizard Point. Also for families the superb Flambards Theme Park is close to hand, with other attractions such as Godolphin Elizabethan House and grounds making the perfect family day out.
Helston Tourist Information Centre, 79 Meneage Street, Helston, Cornwall. TR13 8RB. Tel: 01326 565 431.
Cornwall holidaymakers often miss the beauty of the Lizard and Lizard point, heading instead straight to St Michael's Mount and off to the West and Land's End. Do this and you're missing one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in Cornwall! Both the west and east coasts of the Lizard offer a choice of idyllic beaches, particularly on the west at Kynance Cove not far from the point and the Lizard Lighthouse (which offers tours in the summer). Rugged and dramatic landscapes are on the menu on the lower west coast of the Lizard, whilst on the east side discover some magical fishing villages usch as Cadgwith. Scuba Diving is available too around the popular Manacles offshore reef off Manacle Point on the east coast of the Lizard.
For the jewel in the crown along this stretch of the Lizard coast head to the dramatic Kyance Cove. This idyllic white sandy cove, best for swimming at low tide, is popular and the jagged cliffs which back on the beach make for sublime viewing indeed! Walking the coastal path from Kyance all the way to Lizard Point is highly recommended. Wild flowers cover the cliffs in the summer months to great effect. Cornwall diving is some of the best in Britain, with good clear waters for excellent visibility off the coast, and the Atlantic Gulf Stream keep the water temperatures warm. Diving around the Manacles off Cornwall's Lizard Coast is particularly popular, and a number of Diving companies offer great scuba diving courses and day trips to the Manacles and elsewhere along the Cornish Coast.
Porthleven & Mount's Bay
The big attraction in the Mounts Bay area to the east of Penzance is of course St Michael's Mount. Visitors come from far and wide to see it, and along with the Tate Gallery at St Ives it's one of the most visited attractions in Cornwall. Mind you, surfers visiting Mounts Bay will have Praa Sands and Porthleven beaches on their mind - both are excellent experienced surfer territory! Sailing in Mounts Bay is also extremely popular, and there's an excellent sailing club based in Marazion (see weblink right). Marazion is a popular seaside resort along the Mounts Bay Coast, with an RSPB wetland reserve situated adjacent.
Moving further east you'll discover idyllic fishing village Porthleven. Perfect as a peaceful retreat, Porthleven not only has a superb golden sandy beach, but is crammed with delightful specialist arts and craft shops, and has a picture postcard Cornish harbour. Great pub inns and cafes abound here too.
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