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This stretch of the South Cornish Coast from the Tamar to Mevagissey has long been the haunt of holiday makers seeking the sun and sea.
Long stretches of golden sands with high cliffs interspersed with pretty coves provide the widest range of holiday activities from the traditional building of sand castles, swimming and scuba diving to sea angling and shark fishing, sailing and the increasingly popular wind surfing. Looe is a well developed holiday town with quaint narrow streets and an interesting harbour. Polperro, a few miles westward, is best described as one of the most picturesque fishing villages in the traditional Cornish style.

Further on are the twin villages of Polruan and Fowey, the former with a quiet charm of all of its own, whilst the latter a Yachtsman's paradise, full of colour and character. Round Gribben Head are the beaches and small resorts of St Austell Bay and so to Mevagissey. Inland the countryside is undulating, green and much wooded. The Fowey Valley is superb as are many of the inland Inns.
Things to Do in the South Cornwall area...
  • Hall for Cornwall is the largest theatre in Cornwall offering a mix of live theatre shows from musicals, children's shows, gigs, drama, plays and music shows.

  • Check out Active-8 if you are looking for adventure in Cornwall! Via this activities in Cornwall site, you can book and pay online for a range of first class Holiday Activities in Cornwall. They cater for families, singles, couples & groups and for beginners to experts alike. They have found the very best holiday activities and arrange them for you, often at the same price as direct booking. From Coasteering to Canoeing to Horse riding and Helicopter flights in Cornwall, they have something for everyone.

  • Whether you want to find out more about Cornwall’s rich China Clay heritage in the interactive visitor centre, fancy exploring the nature trails complete with children’s woodland play area and adventure course, or want a unique view of a modern China Clay pit at work with monitor jets and giant machinery, the China Clay Country Park has something for everyone.

  • Looking for things to do in Cornwall? Then visit Kidzworld Cornwall one of the leading kids indoor adventure parks and children's party venues in Cornwall. Kidzworld Cornwall provides great days out in Cornwall for your family and kids at very little cost.

  • Local cinema in St. Austell.

  • Local cinema in Truro.

  • 25 metre swimming pool, teaching pool, diving pit with 1 metre high springboard, hydrotherapy pool with hoists available for disabled swimmers, 6 badminton court sized sports hall, 2 squash courts, new Life Fitness gym, dance studio, conference room, sauna, bar and café.

  • Main pool, teaching pool, fitness suite, 6 court multi-use sports hall.

  • A fantastic venue for family entertainment, in the heart of Truro City centre.

  • The headquarters of the Great Britain Shark Angling Club offers boat charters of all kinds, for groups and individuals for basking shark and dolphin spotting. to mackerel and shark fishing.

  • Situated on the beautiful South Coast, Pentewan Cycle Hire provides all kinds of bikes and accesories, for hire and purchase, to explore the tranquility of the local area.

  • A fun filled day out for all the family, a real country experience with the donkeys, guinea pigs, goats and sheep to pet and feed. 

  • Healey's Cyder Farm is a great day out for all the family, take a tractor ride through the orchards, pet the ponies, take a tour through the press, distilleries, underground cellars and jam kitchen and have a taste of course! Relax in the Mowhay restaurant and enjoy a cream tea or Cyderman's lunch before stocking up on your favourite cyder and other local produce in the Farm shop.

  • This championship golf course with views out to sea and back across the rolling hills, is a challenge to experienced golfers and beginners alike.

  • One of the fastest growing sports in the UK, quad biking offers adrenalin rushing entertainment for all the family to enjoy. Lessons from qualified instructors or super fast speeds around one of the country's largest circuits, it is guaranteed to be an experience to remember.

Eating out in the South Cornwall area...
  • 10% OFF YOUR FINAL BILL AT COUCH'S GREAT RESTAURANT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BOOKED A COTTAGE HOLIDAY WITH CORNISH TRADITIONAL COTTAGES.
    Couch’s Great House Restaurant is situated in the quaint fishing village of Polperro Cornwall. A recent addition to Polperro, it has opened under the direction of Richard McGeown (Executive Head Chef) who hopes to draw from his past experience of working with country’s most famous names.

  • The Home of Good Food, Good Beer, Good Wine, Good Service, Good Value and Great Atmosphere

  • Muffins is a small Tea Room and Delicatessen based in Lostwithiel Cornwall, about 5 miles east of the Eden Project and 4 miles north of Fowey.
    Our first option for both our Deli and Tea Room  is to buy Cornish produce –
    if a product is not yet available from our Cornish suppliers, or we find something that tastes delicious from elsewhere, we will look further afield to offer it to you!
    Muffins is open from Tuesday  to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm. Closed on Sundays and Mondays.

  • At Trewithen Restaurant, our ethos is to provide an exceptionally fine dining experience. Our dishes are hand-made from start to finish with locally sourced produce and served in a warm and relaxed atmosphere.

  • Come and enjoy a quintessentially British approach to oyster consumption in our elegant venue in the stunning grade II listed Castle Lodge building on Castle Street, Truro, with its romantic setting overlooking Truro River. The unpretentious surroundings are matched by an easy-drinking wine list, wonderful local seafood and much more.
    Whilst the focus is on local Cornish shellfish, there are other seafood options; fresh fish is landed daily and there are salads and vegetarian alternatives as well as the more traditional Cornish cream teas.

  • Our dishes come from many Asian and Pacific rim countries: Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, China, Vietnam and Laos. Chantek‘s chefs are all from South East Asia.

  • Saffron has an eclectic menu style and the passion with which it is produced has meant Saffron has become one of Truro’s most popular restaurants. Menus are changed weekly in accordance with availability of fresh ingredients and the seasons. Although this makes menu writing challenging, it is worthwhile as it enables Nik to capture the true flavours of his ingredients. All food is produced on the premises including the bread, which is baked daily and the biscuits served with the morning coffee.

  • We feel privileged to be able to use Cornish produce of the highest quality from the array of locally caught fish to the wonderful cheeses, Kestle Farm beef and lamb and the yummy strawberries from just up the hill, to name but a few.
    We are situated in the picturesque fishing village of Mevagissey in Cornwall. Specialising in locally caught fish and local produce our aim is to provide you with food of the highest quality.
      

  • 'A colourful, quirky and cosy cafe that serves a mean breakfast and delicious light lunches. Perfect when you just want to sit back and nothing much else.' We have homemade specials everyday plus a crazy soup or two on the go. Why not chill out outside with a fresh smoothie in the summer or blag one of the sofas and get cosy with a Pinky's FatBoy hot chocolate in the winter?

  • You will be able to experience fresh locally sourced ingredients that are transformed into creations from around the world to Cornwall’s own special dishes.

  • Housed within a character filled period building the decor is a fusion of contemporary and antique offering an eclectic blend of old and new.
    Specialising in local fish and seafood the menu combines contemporary British cooking with Mediterranean and Asian influences and reflects the best local produce that Cornwall has to offer.

  • A sixteenth century inn where you will have good service, locally sourced, homemade food in traditional surroundings.

  • A relaxed, friendly atmosphere ideal for an afternoon coffee or evening drinks before going to the theatre or having dinner.

  • In the heart of the City and now newly opened in Falmouth, Indaba provides first class fresh local fish and seafood in beautiful surroundings, ideal for a pre-theatre meal or a romantic evening out over oysters and champagne.

  • Established in 1997 and situated in the heart of Truro, this stylish but traditional Indian restaurant offers first class food and service, whether you want to eat in or take out.

Places to Visit in the South Cornwall area...
  • The Eden Project is one of the UK's top gardens and conservation tourist attractions located in Cornwall. A living theatre of plants and people, the Eden Project is wholly owned by the Eden Trust, an educational charity.

  • Heligan, seat of the Tremayne family for more than 400 years, is one of the most mysterious estates in England. Heligan have now established a large working team with its own vision for their second decade and the award-winning garden restoration is already internationally acclaimed.

  • ONCE VISITED, IMPOSSIBLE TO FORGET. An historic private estate internationally renowned for its collection of magnolias and camellias also boasting 24 'Champion Trees', woodland walks, 18th century estate house, Tea Shop and highly prized plants from the on-site nursery.

  • The Shipwreck and historical artefacts on display in the centre are the largest private collection of this type on public display in Europe. Brought together over the last 45 to 50 years, it forms the basis of one of the most unusual and interesting collections open to the public.

  • Founded in 1818 for 'the promotion of knowledge in natural history, ethnology and fine art and industrial arts, especially in relation to Cornwall'.

  • St Mawes Castle is among the best-preserved of Henry VIII's coastal artillery fortresses, and the most elaborately decorated of them all. One of the chain of forts built between 1539 and 1545 to counter an invasion threat from Catholic France and Spain, it guarded the important anchorage of Carrick Roads, sharing the task with Pendennis Castle on the other side of the Fal estuary.

  • The great 13th-century circular shell-keep of Restormel still encloses the principal rooms of the castle in remarkably good condition. It stands on an earlier Norman mound surrounded by a deep dry ditch, atop a high spur beside the River Fowey. Twice visited by the Black Prince, it finally saw action during the Civil War in 1644. It commands fantastic views and is a favourite picnic spot.

  • One of a pair of small artillery forts built by Henry VIII in the 1530s to defend Fowey Harbour, consisting of two storeys with gun ports at ground level.

  • Mount Edgcumbe House is the former home of the Earls of Mount Edgcumbe. Set in Grade I Cornish Gardens within 865 acres Country Park on the Rame Peninsula, South East Cornwall.
    Whether you are searching for a venue for a family outing or group visit, enthused by the magnificent Grade I Cornish gardens and famous historic house, combining your visit with a cruise of the River Tamar, looking for a civil wedding venue or viewing the national collection of camellias you are invited to come and explore, enjoy, learn its history or even dream awhile.

  • Soaring above the surrounding rooftops, Truro Cathedral is located at the heart of this thriving Georgian city and wonderfully situated in the middle of the Royal Duchy of Cornwall.

  • A beautiful 20 acre garden with ancient, towering trees and flourishing camellias.

  • This family run brewery offers a fine selection of ales, largers and ciders, all based on a figure of Cornish Folklore. Take a tour or drop in to stock up in the Skinner's Shop.

  • A stunning range of photography from Cornwall and around the world all made locally, available as framed or mounted prints or even on canvas.

  • A magical and established 3-acre woodland and water garden provides the perfect afternoon excursion.

  • One of the UKs leading contemporary galleries, in the heart of the City, exhibiting sculptures and paintings from well known artists.

  • A diverse range of exciting and interesting pieces of art from artists around the country, from jewellery, ceramics, sculpture and paintings.

  • Producers of award winning ice cream for over twenty years, with farm animals in the car park during the summer months, including the shire horse and a variety of chickens. The tea rooms are ideal for a spot of lunch or a tasty cream tea and the shop stocks a multitude of locally made produce, whilst the viewing gallery will show you secrets of how their ice cream is made. Well worth a visit and of course a taste!

  • Wingz Bird Sanctuary aims to provide a relaxing visit can experience the wonderful colours and sounds of the birds and animals in our care, all set in exotically planted gardens.

Shopping in the South Cornwall area...
  • Cornish Hampers and Cornish Gifts from the award winning Purely Cornish Farm Shop. They have selected a range of Purely Cornish produce from all over Cornwall and as a family business, they take immense pride in all their products and are confident you will be impressed with their first rate customer service.

  • The Cornish t-shirt factory offer a large selection of Cornish themed T-shirts which include many Cornish sayings, yarns and flag designs for you to choose from or simply add your own slogan! We also have a great range of gifts and fun bags, along with a new special offers, Cornish baby and fun sections. our range is constantly changing.. Please visit our web site to see what's on offer or alternatively you can email to:-shop@speedyprints.co.uk with any queries and we'll get back to you "DRECKLY"

  • Providing quality local produce including poultry, meat, eggs, sausages, ham, bacon, vegetables, fruit, herbs, ice cream, cheese, mustards, chutneys, bread, cake and more. Refreshments available.

  • A really lively market featuring fresh foods, real ale, hog roast, chef demonstrations, entertainments.

  • You will find a range of local homegrown produce at the markets, everything from fresh fruit and veg, to homemade breads and treats can be found on the various stalls.

  • Vagabond Chef takes the stress away from cooking by offering first class food cooked in the comfort of your own house or holiday home. Catering for dinner parties to BBQs, it is the perfect service to ensure you really relax on your holiday in the Duchy.

  • Making fine, local cheese to a high standard since 1968, the Lynher Dairies is a must on your shopping list for their tasty Cornish Yarg, available in local and national retailers and deliverable to the door of your holiday retreat.

  • Instead of visiting the supermarket, why not order your week's fruit and vegetables from Keveral. Supplying seasonal local and organic produce, with additional extras such as egss, bread and homemade preserves, all delivered to your door. 

  • With over 3500 vines producing red, white, rose and sparkling wine, Bosue Vineyard is the ideal place to stock up with local tipple for a weekend BBQ.

  • Cornwall's only commercial goat herd, providing quality dairy products for all to enjoy.

Useful Links
  • 5 ways to be the best sort of visitor to Cornwall! CoaST - the Cornwall Sustainable Tourism Project - has been working for some time with tourism businesses in Cornwall to help make tourism as sustainable as possible - benefitting the environment, the economy and the people of Cornwall. And now we're working to help you - our visitors - to have a fantastic, low impact holiday that keeps Cornwall as beautiful and healthy as she is now!

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Things to do in South Cornwall

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