South Cornwall >> Towns >> Towns and Villages

Charlestown
A beautifully unspoilt Georgian harbour town and working port, Charlestown is a stunning little slice of history. At the harbour itself, there is often a variety of traditional ships, including tall ships, many of which are open to the public. The Charlestown Shipwreck and Heritage Centre has many exhibits detailing the seafaring history of the port, including the many sailing disasters the town has borne witness to. The village has two beaches, one either side of the harbour.

Falmouth
Historically one of Britain’s most vital ports, now home to the National Maritime Museum. Falmouth is a thriving resort (check out the flash yachts in the harbour), a rich centre for art, including one of the country’s best art schools, and a great collection of beaches.

Feock
Lying on the shore of the River Fal, the village of Feock can be reached easily fom Falmouth or Truro by road or by the King Harry Ferry. Trelissick House and Garden are to the west. Tregew, a former farmhouse, dates back to 1315. From nearby Loe Beach 30 or more oyster boats can be seen working during the winter months.

Flushing
Flushing lies across the water from Falmouth and rumour has it that this atmospheric village enjoys the mildest climate in the country. With sandy beaches, friendly pubs, a great restaurant (The Sticky Prawn) and lush, green woodland surrounding it; Flushing is a wonderfully relaxing oasis at any time of year.

Fowey
A pretty harbour town that tumbles from high on the hill right down to the water. Narrow, crooked streets give Fowey a classic Cornish feel. The inspiration for much of Daphne Du Maurier’s writing, Fowey hosts the hugely popular Du Maurier Festival each year. The Regatta Week, held every August, is a highlight in Fowey’s calendar.

Kingsand
Together with its twin village, Cawsand, Kingsand is a little piece of holiday heaven. Tiny, twisting streets, a string of three beaches separated by rocks (excellent rockpooling to be had here) and calendar-perfect fishermen’s cottages have inspired many a photographer here. If you’re looking for an oasis of peace, you’ve come to the right place.

Looe
Much of the finest Cornish fish is landed in Looe, creating a very busy fish market and inspiring a clutch of good seafood restaurants in the town. The beach has a classic English seaside feel.

Maenporth Estate
This secluded holiday spot is within easy reach of the bustling town of Falmouth and all its facilities, yet it feels like you’ve been let into a well-kept secret. The beach is a perfect, sheltered little cove backed by woodland and gentle hills; it’s the kind of place you can imagine the Famous Five having visited. Maenporth Estate itself is 29 acres of peaceful wooded countryside overlooking the sea.

Mevagissey
Mevagissey has a bustling working harbour where the fishermen will take you out for fishing or pleasure. The twisting tiny streets have a variety of art and craft shops, pubs and restaurants and a World of Model Railways exhibition of 50 working trains.

Seaton (Cornwall)
More of a hamlet than a village, Seaton has its own beach and a quaint village green. Along the coast is the much busier Looe, a lively resort that straddles a river and edges up the sides of a deep wooded valley. Seaton’s biggest attraction is undoubtedly the Monkey Sanctuary, home to a colony of Woolly monkeys and a group of Capuchin monkeys, all of which are guaranteed to melt the heart.

St Austell
Approaching St Austell from the west, your first impression will be of a vast, sweeping bay that, on a sunny day, glitters like somewhere far more exotic. St Austell itself is a town in the midst of total transformation; once somewhat workaday, St Austell is now becoming a holiday destination with restaurants, bars and unique shops. The seaside remains the principal draw here, though – from Par Sands in the east to Porthpean in the west, St Austell Bay has many great beaches.

St Mawes
St Mawes takes the Cornish coast to a very classy standard; perching on the unspoilt Roseland peninsula, the surrounding countryside is outstanding.

Truro
Truro’s attractive Georgian streets are packed with unique shops, funky cafes and sleek restaurants. It’s easy to spend a day nosing around the little back streets and sipping a glass of wine on the piazza. Don’t miss the cathedral, a grand and newly renovated delight.