Cornwall Towns

Your Holiday Itinerary for Looe

Away from the daily mumblings of the English city life, Looe is the perfect coastal refuge when in Cornwall. This 5000-strong town is more than a dainty village; it is filled with historic churches and harbour sights you can calmly enjoy. Here’s a holiday guide for your next Looe trip.

Pick your Cottage

Exploring this small fishing village can get rather tiring. Your first agenda, therefore, is to get settled in your cottage. Looe offers a selection of delightful cottages around the harbour, from a nice rustic dwelling with the romantic fireplace to the modern holiday house facing the sea.

Dropping names is possible as every self-catering cottage is equally beautiful. A wise move would be to check out accommodation sites (e.g., Airbnb, Trip Advisor, or Visit Cornwall) and compare rates and reviews.

If you wish, you can also camp in the nearby areas of Fowey, Polperro, Rame, and Plymouth. Driving through the coastal towns of South Cornwall is truly a refreshing experience.

East Looe Beach

You probably have arrived at Looe mid-day. Take a quiet stroll for a little while and explore the sunset hues at East Looe Beach, a short walk away from the town. It’d be fantastic if your booked accommodation is just within reach, too. It’d be easier to enjoy raw experiences like crabbing and seashell counting.

A little farther is the Banjo pier, where you and your family can watch the fishing boats dock as the day wraps up. Truly an authentic harbour holiday.

Guildhall Museum and Gaol

Start your next day with a historic exploration of the town’s former hall and magistrate’s court. The Guildhall Museum and Gaol, built in the 16th century, houses remnants of the past — shipbuilding materials, minerals collection, prison cells, and magistrate’s benches.

The Old Sardine Factory

Grab a quick lunch at the Old Sardine Factory, now converted to a cafe and restaurant, Looe’s newest attraction in the west side. This Victorian building was recently rehabilitated to become the town’s heritage site, equipped with a massive coastline exhibition and a virtual reality booth featuring the smuggling and fishing life of the past. To get your body warmed up for adventures, try the center’s wall climbing, too.

Talland Bay

Now, it’s time for real outdoor adventures. Jumping from the sardine factory, head to the picturesque Talland Bay, also in the west. The view of the twin coves is so captivating you can’t stop snapping photos. In Talland, you’ll also see the intriguing 18th-century church filled with vicar stories.

Yet if you crave for more adrenaline-pumping activities, you can hire equipment and gear for kayaking, canoeing, or paddling at the Talland cafe (or at the Black Beach Hire) before heading on to the south. Don’t be shy to ask for guides around the cafe, people will more likely have ready names and numbers.

Looe Island

Discover the beauty of Looe Island via a boat. Under the management of the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, you can safely cross the 22.2-acre vastness of the water with a guide. You’ll also see a Medieval Lamanna Chapel built in the 500s as part of a Celtic monastery. There, you will witness the religious significance of the island, believed to be where Joseph brought the child Jesus.

Looe may be geographically small but filled with awesome and rewarding experiences. The Adrenaline Quarry offers rope adventures. Free falling is best experienced with friends. Try the Giant Swing. The Monkey Sanctuary tour is educational just as it is absorbing. You can get there by taking the Millendreath Beach.

Indeed, there’s so much to discover in Looe. Take time to organize which routes will be most suitable for your wanderlust needs.

Cornwall Activities Cornwall Attractions Cornwall Cottages Cornwall Towns | Ruby Boyd | August 28, 2019 | Leave a comment

Exploring the Cornish Coastline with the Best Coasteering Locations

The rugged Cornish coastline is home to one of the most famous outdoor adventures of not only Britons but also international travellers. The art of coasteering allows you to explore the untamed beauty of the Cornish coastline, climb up steep and jagged-faced cliffs, jump into and swim in the water, and explore the various caves dotting the cliffscape. It’s the perfect adventure for the adrenaline-junkie as well as those who would like to try something totally different. If the culinary world has its surf ‘n turf, this is its adventure equivalent. Here are some of the best coasteering locations in Cornwall you’ve definitely include in your bucket list.

Newquay

There are a number of coasteering outfits in Newquay that offer a variety of packages for those who want to try a different kind of adventure. Whether it is negotiating whirlpools or natural rapids, spotting an amazing marine life, or exploring the area’s vaunted smugglers’ caves, Newquay’s coast has it. It’s also the perfect spot for making that adrenaline-filled jump. They’ve got night coasteering, too. The area has different coasteering routes for different folks. The Point, The Big Island, and The Gazzle all provide unique adventures in themselves. You could try all if you want. Newquay is undoubtedly one of Cornwall’s best spots when the absolute outdoor adventure is spoken of.

St. Ives

Boasting of the clearest waters in the British Isles, the coast of St. Ives provides a spectacular array of things to do and explore. This is especially true if you’re the kind of adventurer who doesn’t mind swimming with the resident seals of the area as well as the occasional dolphins that seem to be happy around people. The rock formations in the St. Ives area are simply spectacular, frequently punctuated with caves and other unusual geologic features.

Falmouth

The coastline around Falmouth seems like it was made for exploration by rock or water. There are many coves and inlets to explore, including Maenporth Beach, Sunny Cove and Flushing Beach. The Falmouth area of Cornwall is a wonderful place to stay for a holiday. Try Cornish Holiday Cottages for the best choice of holiday homes in the area. Watch out for the tides here as the Fal estuary floods in and out from the sea a few times a day. So it’s sensible to go on a coasteering tour with a local company who can show you the best spots and ensure safety and enjoyment of this magical coast.

Lizard Peninsula

The Lizard Peninsula is home to some of Cornwall’s spectacular sceneries including the Mullion Cave surrounded by stacks of imposing volcanic rock in their foreboding black colour, lapped by warm waters down below. If you’re feeling adventurous, try your luck diving just off the Manacles rocks and feel the eeriness of the shipwrecks in the area. Whirlpools, jagged cliffs, and waterline caves abound. The waters are always inviting and the distant flicker of light on the shores can easily tell you you’re still safe and sound.

Land’s End

With granitic cliffs jutting skywards complete with their very steep faces, Land’s End is a favourite. The unique characteristics of the igneous rock formations allow for a much better grasp when scaling its faces. Head out some 1.6 kilometres offshore to the Longships and you’d be greeted with the mythical lost island of Arthurian legends – the Lyonesse. There are numerous caves, rocky coves, and sheer cliffs that have become the springboard for many coasteerers. The tranquil waters down below should help cushion the impact.

The entire coastline of Cornwall, washed by the waters of the Celtic Sea in the north and the equally tame English Channel in the south, is a haven for modern-day adventurers. It’s beaming for you to try.

Cornwall Activities Cornwall Towns | Ruby Boyd | May 16, 2019 | Leave a comment | coasteering. cornwall

Experiencing Fowey and All Its Glory

Fowey is one of those small picturesque towns in England which is not at all familiar to so many people compared to, say, London, Bath or Liverpool. But if you are the kind of traveller who really wants to breathe in the real British air, Fowey is one of those small picturesque towns in England which you must visit on your next holiday getaway.

And to give you great reasons why this is a wonderful vacation hotspot, do continue reading below:

Fowey Has an Amazingly Rich History

Granted, most places in the British Isles do have an amazingly long history. However, only some have maintained so much of its charm from yore. And one of these is – yes, you guessed it – Fowey in Cornwall.

One of the oldest structures in this region is the Chun Quoit which is quite close to the Chun Castle. A chamber tomb in the area is said to date back 4000 BC. The Polruan Blockhouse still stands on its original spot today since it was built in the late 1300s. St. Catherine’s Castle, built under the rule of Henry VIII, still looms over the town’s harbour as it did in the 16th century.

Fowey Harbour from Polruan. Photo by Toby Atkin

Fowey’s Quiet and Beautiful Harbor

The harbours of Fowey, as well as the neighboring towns of Bodinick and Polruan, have been an important port for trading in all of Europe since the medieval era. The people in the area are so well known as skilled seafarers, they even have their very own pirate heroes they lovingly called the ‘Fowey Gallants’.

Admittedly, it is not a busy and bustling trade port today as it was before. But it has become a favorite spot for so many who want to view the wonderful harbour towns mentioned above.

Small tug boats owned by locals to large and elegant ferries with polished wooden balconies ply the estuaries day in and out. And to be honest, just looking at the picturesque views can make even the most stressed-out workaholic breathe a deep sigh and relax.

The Awe-Inspiring View

Did you know that Cornwall was recently named the most beautiful county in all of England? And it really is no wonder. Staying in the quaint fishing hamlets and sublime beaches of this county for a week will motivate anyone to write an ode about it. This is why the many hotels, guest houses and holiday cottages in Fowey are so popular. Once visitors get a taste of Fowey and the surrounding scenery, they hust want to come back time and time again.

The town itself is picturesque with awe-inspiring harbour and estuary views. And there are numerous sublime beaches surrounding and oh-so-close to it. It really is one of those places which you must visit before you die. This is no exaggeration. Visit Fowey and you will see what that means.

The Real Fish and Chips… And So Many More!

What would be the best fare to be eaten in a restaurant in a fishing village such as Fowey? The quintessential all-British food, of course, and that is the crispy on the outside and oh-so-tender in the inside fish and the starchy goodness of golden-fried chips.

You couldn’t live on just fish and chips your whole stay in town – unless you want to, of course. This is why so many cafes and restaurants have opened recently, giving tourists from all over the world the real taste of Cornwall.

They have posh waterside dining spots offering the freshest oysters straight from the bars and fusion food. But if you want the real deal, visit one of the old pubs in town serving simple yet super tasty food. You’ll get a great serving at an amazingly low price plus a pint of a great brew.

So if you are going to book a trip to the proud and historic England, make sure that you include Fowey in your itinerary. You will not regret this decision!

Cornwall Culture Cornwall Towns | Ruby Boyd | October 17, 2015 | Leave a comment | Fowey