Explore the Rame Peninsula

Cawsand

The village of Cawsand (or Porthbugh in Cornish) is a little fishing port with a usually calm and sheltered beach which looks over Plymouth Sound. It’s been said that its name actually comes from “Cow Sand” because the locals used to place lamps around the necks of cows to make the port seem larger and more busy. Ships would turn into the shore after mistaking it for Plymouth, and then founder on the rocks. The locals would then swoop swiftly down and take the cargo. This practice is the essence of “wrecking”, a peculiar form of piracy which many poorer Cornish folk would supplement their incomes in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Cawsand is part of the Mount Edgecumbe Country Park, and has the South-West Coast Path running though the village. Dogs are allowed on the beach from the 1st October until Easter, and lifeguards operate during the summer, making it a safe beach for families to enjoy.

During peak season, a regular boat, called the Weston Maid, takes passengers from the beach to and from Plymouth Hoe. Cawsand has three pubs, a traditional rowing club (Rame Gig Club) and a small cafe that also offers takeaway.

Kingsand

This village of Kingsand is a tiny fishing port with a small, sloping beach which is sheltered at high water by a slight natural harbour enhanced by walls. It was once famous for smuggling and wrecking, and although the many tunnels that were used by the smugglers have now been sealed up, there are still a lot of old fish cellars, historic boat stores and many other items of interest to be found on this part of the coast.

One of Kingsand’s most outstanding features is its Grade II listed clock tower which stands on the seafront. It was built to celebrate the coronation of King George V in 1911. The tower took some substantial damage during the storms of 2014, but it has now been restored and is a striking feature.

Kingsand and its next-door sister town Cawsand, to which it is for all intents and purposes connected, lie upon the wide sweep of Cawsand Bay, but they have their own individual beaches in front of the two respective villages.

Whitsand Bay

With its villages, forts, crumbling cliffs and stunning views of the Plymouth Breakwater, the glorious sandy beaches of Whitsand Bay have become very well established as a Cornish holiday destination.

St Germans

The town of St Germans has an ancient and imposing church that was once the cathedral of Cornwall in the 10th century, a beautiful viaduct, and perhaps most importantly for some visitors, a railway station. With traditional stone cottages framed with roses nestled by the River Tiddy, time is almost lost here. It is easy to imagine bygone days of horse-drawn vehicles clattering through the streets. 

St Germans is well known for the eclectic Port Eliot Festival, held every year in July celebrating music, literature and the arts. The festival takes places in the beautiful Port Eliot Estate, a huge stately home with park-like grounds that is open to the public. 

Antony

Antony is a medieval village best known for it’s beautiful 18th century National Trust site, Antony House. The beautiful silver grey stone house is home to the Carew Pole family whose eventful history during the English Civil War is bound within the house. 

The village also has great amenities including a shop, pub and garage.

Mount Edgcumbe

Mount Edgcumbe House is the stunning former home of the Earls of Mount Edgcumbe, first constructed in the 1500s and extensively restored after the second World War. It’s set in Grade 1 listed Cornish gardens within over eight hundred acres of Country Park.

Rame Head

Rame Head is an iconic headland that overlooks Whitsand Bay and as far as the fishing village of Looe. With free roaming Dartmoor ponies, historical features such as the 13th chapel and Rame church, and the panoramic coastal views, Rame Head is a fantastic location for a walk. Making up part of the South West Coastal Path, there are plenty of routes to explore around the area.