Cornwall
3
Day Itinerary •
UK
Three days in Cornwall reveal the finest Atlantic coastal landscape in England. St Ives with its Tate gallery and turquoise harbour, the Minack Theatre carved into the cliff above Porthcurno, Land's End, the extraordinary Fal estuary and Roseland Peninsula, Tintern-rivalled Tintagel Castle and the finest fish restaurant town in Britain at Padstow are all within reach of a west-to-north Cornish circuit. This route explores Cornwall from the extraordinary art town of St Ives through the drowned river valleys of the Fal estuary to the dramatic moorland of Bodmin and the spectacular north coast. Three days that reveal why Cornwall is the finest coastal county in England.
Best Time To Visit
May to September
Getting There
Train to Penzance from Paddington, 5 hours
Getting Around
Car essential throughout Cornwall
Budget Per Day
Approx 90 to 240 GBP per person per day
Difficulity
Easy, coastal walking
DAY 1
ST IVES AND THE PENWITH PENINSULA
MORNING
ST IVES, THE FINEST ART TOWN IN BRITAIN
St Ives is the most extraordinary art town in Britain, its extraordinary harbour of turquoise water, the Tate St Ives gallery in its extraordinary clifftop building, the Barbara Hepworth Sculpture Garden and the extraordinary maze of cobbled streets above Porthmeor beach making it the finest small town in Cornwall. The beach at Porthmeor below the Tate is the finest surfing beach in west Cornwall. Tate entry approx 12 pounds. Drive/Travel: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
PORTHCURNO AND THE MINACK THEATRE, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY OPEN-AIR THEATRE IN BRITAIN
The Minack Theatre carved into the granite cliff above Porthcurno is the most extraordinary theatre in Britain, its extraordinary stone seating carved by Rowena Cade from 1932 onwards above the Atlantic with Porthcurno beach and the Logan Rock headland as the backdrop. Performances run May to September. Entry to the theatre grounds approx 7 pounds. The beach below is the finest in west Cornwall. Drive/Travel: 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
LAND'S END AND THE SENSATIONAL ATLANTIC HEADLAND
Land's End is the most south-westerly point on mainland Britain and the finest Atlantic headland in England, its extraordinary granite cliffs dropping 60 feet to the sea with views to the Isles of Scilly on clear days. The coastal path north from Land's End to Sennen Cove passes extraordinary sea stacks and blowholes. The first and last house in England is the finest novelty in Cornwall. Entry to headland free, car park approx 7 pounds.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Botallack mine engine houses perched on the cliff edge between St Just and Pendeen are the most dramatic and photogenic tin mine ruins in Cornwall, their extraordinary position directly above the Atlantic surf accessible by a 10-minute walk from the Botallack car park. The ruins are particularly extraordinary at sunset when the light turns the granite gold. The Crowns engine houses below the cliff accessed by a steep path are the finest. Entirely free.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Blas Burgerworks, St Ives Outstanding breakfast in the finest independent cafe in St Ives. Local eggs and Cornish sourdough. | Lunch: The Beach Restaurant, St Ives Outstanding seafood lunch above Porthminster beach. Local crab and mackerel extraordinary. | Dinner: The Gurnard's Head, Zennor The finest pub in Cornwall. Outstanding seasonal food, local ales and extraordinary cliff-top location.
DAY 2
THE FAL ESTUARY AND ROSELAND PENINSULA
MORNING
FALMOUTH AND THE NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM CORNWALL
Falmouth has the third deepest natural harbour in the world and is the finest maritime town in England, its extraordinary National Maritime Museum Cornwall the finest small maritime museum in Britain. The extraordinary collection of small boats, the tidal zone basement where the sea enters the museum and the extraordinary Fal estuary views from the tower are remarkable. Entry approx 15 pounds. The Falmouth Arts Centre is the finest independent arts venue in Cornwall. Drive/Travel: 20 min drive
MIDDAY
THE ROSELAND PENINSULA AND ST MAWES, THE FINEST HIDDEN PENINSULA IN CORNWALL
The Roseland Peninsula across the Fal by the extraordinary King Harry Ferry chain ferry is the most extraordinary and least visited peninsula in Cornwall, its extraordinary coastal villages of St Mawes and Portscatho, the extraordinary Castle of St Mawes built by Henry VIII and the Roseland Coast Path making it the finest hidden area in the county. The King Harry Ferry carries cars and operates year-round. Ferry approx 9 pounds per car. Drive/Travel: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
THE HELFORD RIVER AND FRENCHMAN'S CREEK
The Helford River is the finest drowned river valley in Cornwall, its extraordinary wooded creeks, the hidden village of Helford only accessible by foot or boat and the extraordinary Frenchman's Creek immortalised by Daphne du Maurier making it the most atmospheric hidden landscape in the county. The walk from Helford village to Frenchman's Creek and back through extraordinary oak woodland takes 2 hours. Entry free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
Creeks of the Fal estuary accessible only by foot or kayak, particularly Lamouth Creek and Pill Creek near Feock, are among the most extraordinary hidden places in Cornwall, their extraordinary silence, the wildlife and the complete absence of any development making them unlike any other landscape in the county. The Fal River rowing gig clubs operate from Truro and Falmouth. Kayak hire from Truro approx 30 pounds per day.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Espressini, Falmouth The finest coffee in Cornwall and outstanding pastries at the best independent cafe in Falmouth. | Lunch: The Ferry Boat Inn, Helford Passage Outstanding Cornish pub lunch above the extraordinary Helford River. Local mussels and crab. | Dinner: The Wheelhouse, Falmouth The finest seafood restaurant in Falmouth. Outstanding locally caught fish and Fal oysters.
DAY 3
BODMIN MOOR AND THE NORTH CORNWALL COAST
MORNING
ROUGH TOR AND BROWN WILLY, THE FINEST MOORLAND IN CORNWALL
Rough Tor at 1,312 feet is the second highest point in Cornwall and the finest moorland summit in the county, its extraordinary granite tors and the remains of a Bronze Age settlement on the ridge giving the finest view over Bodmin Moor. The adjacent Brown Willy at 1,375 feet is the highest point in Cornwall. The 3-mile walk from the Rough Tor car park crosses extraordinary open moorland with wild ponies and ancient standing stones. Entry free. Drive/Travel: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
TINTAGEL CASTLE AND THE FINEST CLIFF CASTLE IN BRITAIN
Tintagel Castle on its extraordinary sea-girt promontory is the most dramatically sited castle ruin in England, its extraordinary position on a near-island connected to the mainland by a narrow neck with 300-foot cliffs on three sides giving it a legendary association with King Arthur that predates any historical evidence. The extraordinary new footbridge across the chasm is the finest piece of new heritage infrastructure in Britain. Entry approx 14 pounds. Drive/Travel: 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
ROCK AND PADSTOW, THE FINEST ESTUARY IN CORNWALL
The Camel Estuary between Rock and Padstow is the finest estuary in Cornwall, its extraordinary combination of the finest fish restaurant town in the county at Padstow with the extraordinary beach at Rock accessible by the ferry giving the finest afternoon in north Cornwall. The Camel Trail cycling path along the former railway from Padstow to Bodmin is the finest cycling route in Cornwall. Ferry approx 4 pounds return.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Cheesewring on Stowes Hill above Minions on Bodmin Moor is one of the most extraordinary natural granite formations in Britain, a stack of naturally balanced granite slabs eroded into the shape of a giant cheese press rising 15 feet above the extraordinary moorland. The Hurlers stone circles in the adjacent valley, three Bronze Age rings of standing stones, are the finest prehistoric monument in Cornwall. The walk from Minions village takes 20 minutes. Entirely free.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: The Woods Cafe, Cardinham Outstanding woodland cafe breakfast in the extraordinary Cardinham Woods near Bodmin. | Lunch: Stein's Fish and Chips, Padstow Rick Stein's finest casual offering. Outstanding Cornish fish and chips above the harbour. | Dinner: The Seafood Restaurant, Padstow Rick Stein's finest. Outstanding locally caught seafood. Book weeks ahead.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
West Cornwall, Nights 1 to 2 St Ives or Penzance. The Garrack Hotel or Artist Residence Penzance. Approx 90 to 200 GBP. Falmouth, Night 3 The Greenbank Hotel or Falmouth Hotel. Approx 90 to 180 GBP per night. Budget Option St Ives Backpackers or YHA Penzance. Approx 25 to 50 GBP per night.
Top Tips
1. Kynance Cove: visit 2 hours either side of low tide. The beach disappears completely at high water.
2. Minack Theatre performances: book ahead at minack.com. The cliff-top setting is extraordinary at dusk.
3. Padstow Seafood Restaurant: book weeks ahead. Rick Stein's finest and the most popular table in Cornwall.
4. St Ives parking: park at Lelant and take the St Ives Bay Line railway into town. Beach car parks fill by 9am.
5. Tintagel new bridge: opens to ticket holders only. The views from the bridge are extraordinary.
6. Cadgwith Friday folk singing at the inn: turns up spontaneously after 8pm. Extraordinary and free.
Total Budget
90 to 235 GBP/day