Explore the coast
Incredible fishing villages & Beaches
Looe Harbour
One of the most picturesque fishing villages in the whole of Cornwall, Looe has a lovely sandy beach and tidal river, which is bordered by an eclectic array of shops and cafés. Boats provide fishing trips out from the harbour and pleasure cruises around the bay, river and Looe Island. The island, owned by Cornwall Wildlife Trust, is managed as a nature reserve and can be visited by ferry.
17 minutes away
17 minutes away
Lantivet Bay
If you like losing yourself in open country and coastal views, Lantivet Bay is for you. The coves of Lantivet, Lansallos and Lantic Bay, set between Polruan and Polperrp, offer beaches, clean clear ocean and panoramic views of the headland. There are several walks in the area way-marked by the National Trust, one for each day of the week.
Talland Bay
Midway between Polperro and Looe stands Talland Bay, a small and quiet place with two principal beaches. The western beach has sand both at low and high tide and is good for swimming and paddling in the sea throughout the day. At low tide, there are plenty of rock pools to be discovered. The eastern beach is less sandy but can be fun to explore too, with its small coves and beautiful natural tidal pools.
18 minutes away
19 minutes away
Polperro fishing port
Just a few miles along the coast from Looe is Polperro, a fishing village with a unique mix of colour-washed fisherman’s cottages tucked away in the village’s cove. Narrow traffic-free streets wind their way to the small harbour, famous for its fishing but also for its smuggling past. Just outside the main breakwater is Polperro Beach, great for a family day out.
Charlestown
If you want to peer into Cornwall’s maritime past, look no further than Charlestown, a pristine example of a Georgian working port. Known for its exporting of copper and China clay during this time, to this day the port remains unspoiled and retains much of its Georgian character. It’s been a popular location for film and television locations, including BBC’s Poldark.
30 minutes away
30 minutes away
Polkerris
Set within stunning coastline of low cliffs, this idyllic sandy cove offers so much to visitors. The safe and sheltered beach is just what you want for a fun day out with children, while there are first class water sports facilities for paddle boarding, kayaking, windsurfing, sailing and more, with lessons available for those just starting out. There are also some great places to eat when you get hungry!
Fowey
Fowey (pronounced “Foy”) is a town steeped in history but has stayed with the times, operating to this day as a commercial seaport. Standing on the west bank of the River Fowey, the town is connected with a regular passenger ferry to Polruan on the east bank. Take a walk on the Esplanade, explore one of the excellent galleries and shops or head into a pub for some Cornish cider.
32 minutes away
42 minutes away
Mevagissey
Once the centre of Cornwall’s pilchard fishing industry, Mevagissey, with its higgledy streets and pretty cottages, still boasts a working harbour with a few dozen small fishing boats. Many of the cob and slate buildings beat testimony to the fishing tradition, while fishing trips can be taken from the harbour. If you visit at the end of June, visit during Feast Week, seven days of entertainment and celebrations.
Mawgan Porth
Situated on the usually rugged north coast of Cornwall is this beautiful beach, with its wide plain of golden sand that offers the space for a relaxing day of games, making sand castles and enjoying a picnic at the beach. The village of St Magwan has places to eat, while nearby activities include pitch-and-putt golf, go-kart racing, surf schools, ten pin bowling and more.
43 minutes away
51 minutes away
Padstow
There’s just so much to like about Padstow; its links to The Camel Trail cycle path, the pretty Padstow harbour and its boat trips, the ancient May Day celebrations (The ‘Obby ‘Oss Festival) and perhaps most notably of all, the eateries and shops owned by renowned chef Rick Stein. His café, seafood restaurant or fish and chip shop are all worth a visit, as is his cookery school!