Cornwall Travel Guide

A dramatic clifftop ruin famously linked to the legend of King Arthur's birthplace, split across the mainland and a rugged headland connected by a striking modern footbridge. The 13th-century castle ruins are atmospheric enough on their own, but the setting - sheer cliffs, crashing waves, and Merlin's Cave beneath - is what draws visitors. English Heritage manages the site with interpretive panels separating documented history from legend.

A tidal island crowned by a medieval castle and priory, reachable on foot via a cobbled causeway at low tide or by boat when the sea covers it. Still home to the St Aubyn family, the castle interior features period rooms, armor, and gardens carved into the rock face. The dramatic reveal of the island rising from Mount's Bay as you approach makes this one of Cornwall's most photographed sights.

An artillery fort built by Henry VIII to defend the strategically vital Carrick Roads estuary, standing guard over Falmouth alongside its sister fort St Mawes across the water. Visitors can explore the Tudor gun deck, WWII observation post, and underground tunnels used through both World Wars. Panoramic views stretch across Falmouth Harbour and out to the open Atlantic.

The best-preserved of Henry VIII's coastal artillery forts, built as a clover-leaf shaped defense to work in tandem with Pendennis Castle across the Fal estuary. Unlike its larger sister, St Mawes saw little combat and survives remarkably intact, with decorative Tudor stonework rare among military architecture of the period. A short ferry ride from Falmouth makes it an easy half-day pairing.

A former 18th-century prison turned atmospheric visitor attraction, with cells, gallows, and immersive exhibits recounting 250 years of crime and punishment in Cornwall. Interactive displays and dramatic lighting recreate the harsh conditions inmates faced, including public executions once held outside its walls. The site also houses a hotel and event space within the restored buildings.

A striking modern gallery overlooking Porthmeor Beach, showcasing modern and contemporary British art with a focus on artists connected to the St Ives colony. The building's curved, light-filled design mirrors the coastal landscape that inspired generations of painters and sculptors to settle here from the 1920s onward. Rotating exhibitions pair permanent collection highlights with major touring shows.

The preserved studio and garden of sculptor Barbara Hepworth, one of the 20th century's most important abstract artists, left largely as she worked in it until her death in 1975. Bronze and stone sculptures are arranged throughout a lush subtropical garden she designed herself, offering a rare glimpse into an artist's working environment rather than a conventional gallery display.

A striking waterfront museum in Falmouth exploring Cornwall's deep connection to the sea, from small boats and rescue history to the county's role in global trade and exploration. The Lookout Tower offers 360-degree views over Falmouth Harbour, and interactive galleries appeal to families with hands-on boat-building and knot-tying exhibits.

The county's principal museum, covering Cornish archaeology, mineralogy, and fine art in the heart of Truro. Highlights include an extensive collection of Cornish minerals and gemstones reflecting the region's mining wealth, Egyptian antiquities donated by 19th-century collectors, and rotating exhibitions on local history and culture.

The world's oldest surviving tin mining school and processing site, near Camborne, with original Victorian and Edwardian machinery still largely intact. Volunteer-led tours explain the ore-crushing and separation process that once made Cornwall the world's leading tin producer, offering a more hands-on, less polished experience than the larger heritage sites.

A striking Gothic Revival cathedral completed in 1910, notable for being built on the site of a much older parish church whose surviving south aisle is incorporated into the new structure. Its three spires dominate Truro's skyline, and the interior features vibrant stained glass and a famously resonant organ used for regular recitals and choral evensong.

Widely considered one of Britain's most beautifully situated churchyards, tucked into a lush subtropical creek-side garden on the Roseland Peninsula. The 13th-century church itself is modest, but the setting - palm trees, exotic plantings, and views over the tidal creek - draws visitors as much for the atmosphere as the architecture.

An unusual medieval church built directly on the sand dunes above Gunwalloe Cove, so close to the sea that storm waves have occasionally reached its walls. Local legend attributes its coastal position to a shipwrecked sailor's vow, and the detached bell tower - built into the adjacent rock outcrop - is a rare architectural feature in England.

The ruined remains of one of Britain's oldest Christian chapels, buried and rediscovered beneath the sand dunes near Perranporth, associated with St Piran, the patron saint of Cornwall and of tin miners. A nearby granite cross marks the traditional site, and the surrounding dune landscape is where Cornwall's black-white-and-gold flag is said to have originated.

A National Trust site preserving a fully restored 1840s steam beam engine, still run under steam on selected days - the oldest working engine of its kind in Cornwall. The clifftop mine site was the scene of a fatal 1919 man-engine disaster, and exhibits explain both the engineering achievement and the harsh working lives of the miners who worked levels extending far beneath the seabed.

Cornwall's most photographed mining ruins, with the Crowns Engine Houses perched dramatically on the cliff edge just above the crashing Atlantic. Part of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site, Botallack's underground workings once extended out beneath the seabed, and the site's rugged beauty made it a filming location for the BBC's Poldark series.

The best-preserved Iron Age and Romano-British settlement in Cornwall, with the stone foundations of courtyard houses still visible on a hillside near Penzance, occupied roughly 2,000 years ago. Interpretive panels explain daily life among the settlement's original inhabitants, and the site's remote moorland setting has changed little since abandonment.

Two of Cornwall's most striking Bronze Age megaliths on the Penwith moors: Men-an-Tol, a holed stone once believed to have healing properties, and Lanyon Quoit, a dolmen (ancient burial chamber) with a massive capstone balanced on upright stones. Both sit along easy moorland walking trails and are freely accessible year-round.

A postcard-perfect working fishing harbour with whitewashed cottages stacked along impossibly narrow lanes, familiar to television audiences as the filming location for Doc Martin. Boats still land fresh crab and lobster at the harbour, sold directly from the quayside, and the surrounding coast path offers dramatic views back over the village's tightly packed rooftops.

A tiny, sheltered harbour village near Penzance, once described by poet Dylan Thomas as 'the loveliest village in England'. Granite cottages cluster tightly around the small stone harbour, which nearly dries out completely at low tide. Mousehole is especially magical at Christmas, when the harbour walls are strung with elaborate lights reflecting on the water.

A maze of narrow, car-free lanes lined with fishermen's cottages leading down to a small, protected harbour, historically notorious as a smuggling hub in the 18th century. Visitors park outside the village and walk or take a horse-drawn cart in, preserving Polperro's unspoiled, pedestrian character. Small galleries and seafood cafés line the main lane.

A colorful sailing town on the Fowey Estuary, with steep streets, independent shops, and a bustling waterfront dotted with yachts and small ferries crossing to Polruan opposite. Fowey has strong literary connections - it inspired settings in Daphne du Maurier's novels - and hosts a well-regarded festival of arts and literature each May.

The oldest part of St Ives, a tangle of narrow granite-cobbled lanes once home to fishing families, now filled with independent galleries, studios, and cafés. The district's tight, maze-like layout and whitewashed cottages have barely changed since it inspired generations of painters, and it remains the most atmospheric part of town to wander without a fixed destination.

A harbour town transformed into one of Britain's leading food destinations, largely thanks to chef Rick Stein's restaurants and cookery school based here. Beyond dining, Padstow retains a working fishing harbour, sandy beaches nearby (including Harbour Cove), and the start of the Camel Trail cycling route along a disused railway line to Wadebridge and beyond.

A remarkably preserved Georgian-era port built for the china clay trade, with tall ships still moored in its small harbour basin, unchanged enough to have doubled as a filming location for Poldark and other period dramas. A small shipwreck and heritage centre on the harbourside explains the port's history and its enduring popularity with maritime film productions.

A lively university and sailing town built around one of the world's deepest natural harbours, with a waterfront mixing independent shops, the National Maritime Museum, and a packed calendar of sailing regattas and festivals. Falmouth's relaxed, youthful energy (driven partly by its art university) sets it apart from Cornwall's quieter fishing villages.

A former china clay quarry transformed into a globally recognized environmental attraction, with giant geodesic biomes recreating rainforest and Mediterranean ecosystems under one roof. Beyond the biomes, extensive outdoor gardens, art installations, and a full events calendar (including a well-known summer concert series) make it a full-day destination for all ages.

One of Britain's most famous garden restoration projects, painstakingly revived after decades of neglect following the First World War, when most of the estate's gardeners never returned. The gardens combine formal Victorian plantings with a subtropical 'Jungle' valley and whimsical living sculptures (the Mud Maid and Giant's Head), making it a favorite for families and garden enthusiasts alike.

A steep, ravine subtropical garden descending 200 feet from the estate house to a private beach on the Helford River, filled with towering tree ferns, gunnera, and rhododendrons that thrive in Cornwall's mild microclimate. The garden's dramatic elevation change and river-mouth setting make it one of the most scenic of Cornwall's celebrated 'Great Gardens'.

A wild, granite-strewn moorland in central Cornwall, home to Brown Willy (the county's highest point), wild ponies, and Jamaica Inn, the isolated coaching inn made famous by Daphne du Maurier's novel of the same name. The moor's bleak, atmospheric landscape and Bronze Age remains offer a stark contrast to Cornwall's softer coastal gardens.

Cornwall's most famous surf beach and the traditional home of British surfing culture, hosting national and international competitions. Numerous surf schools along the beachfront offer lessons for all levels, from complete beginners to those chasing bigger swells further along the coast. Newquay's broader surf scene includes board rental shops, beach bars, and a lively evening atmosphere.

A sport invented on this coastline, combining cliff scrambling, sea swimming, and cliff jumping guided by wetsuit-clad instructors along Cornwall's rugged granite coves. Operators run trips from several Cornish bases, adjusting routes to tide, swell, and group experience level - an adrenaline-driven way to experience coastline inaccessible by any other means.

Day trips by ferry from Penzance (or scenic flights from Land's End/Newquay) to the Isles of Scilly, a subtropical archipelago 28 miles off Cornwall's coast with turquoise water, white sand beaches, and the sub-tropical Tresco Abbey Garden. The crossing itself often includes dolphin and seabird sightings.

Guided tours connecting Cornwall's UNESCO-listed mining engine houses (Levant, Botallack, Geevor) with expert commentary on the industry that once made Cornwall a global mining powerhouse and drove Cornish emigration worldwide following the tin trade's 19th-century collapse. Some tours combine mine visits with underground experiences at sites like Geevor Tin Mine.

A flat, traffic-free cycling and walking route along a former railway line between Padstow, Wadebridge, and Bodmin, following the scenic Camel Estuary through woodland and open countryside. Bike hire is widely available at Padstow and Wadebridge, making it one of the most accessible ways to see inland Cornwall, suitable for families and casual riders.

The westernmost point of mainland England, where dramatic granite cliffs meet the open Atlantic with nothing but ocean between here and the Americas. Beyond the iconic signpost (showing distances to New York and John o' Groats), the surrounding coast path offers some of Cornwall's most rugged scenery, largely free of the small visitor complex's crowds once you walk a short distance.

A spectacular open-air theatre carved into the cliffs above Porthcurno Beach, built almost single-handedly by Rowena Cade starting in the 1930s. Performances run through summer with the Atlantic as a literal backdrop, but even without a show, the terraced stone seating and clifftop setting make it worth visiting, especially at sunset.

The southernmost point of mainland Britain, a wild peninsula of serpentine rock cliffs, coves, and the historic Lizard Lighthouse. Kynance Cove, with its turquoise water and jagged rock stacks, is considered one of Cornwall's most beautiful beaches and is best visited outside peak midday hours when parking and crowds are lighter.

A vast expanse of wild granite moorland just across the Tamar River in neighboring Devon, offering a different landscape of tors, wild ponies, and prehistoric stone circles. Dartmoor makes a natural extension for travelers continuing east from Cornwall, with hiking routes ranging from easy valley walks to challenging multi-day treks.

Cornwall's largest festive market fills Lemon Quay in Truro, the county town, with wooden chalets selling Cornish crafts, mulled cider, and street food. In December 2026 it is expected to run from late November through Christmas Eve, alongside a big wheel, carousel, and evening late-night shopping events with carol singers. It is free to enter and easy to combine with Truro's independent shops and the cathedral, which is lit up for the season. Weekends bring the biggest crowds, so a weekday afternoon visit is more relaxed. It is the closest thing Cornwall has to a classic European-style Christmas market and a good half-day base for exploring the rest of the city on foot.

The Eden Project transforms into an after-dark winter attraction each December, with an illuminated trail through the outdoor gardens, an ice rink, festive food stalls, and seasonal music inside the famous biomes. It typically runs on selected evenings from late November into early January, alongside normal daytime biome visits. It is one of the few Cornwall attractions that leans fully into a big-ticket festive experience rather than a traditional market, so it suits families and anyone wanting something more than stalls and mulled wine. Evening slots sell out, particularly weekends close to Christmas, so booking online in advance is strongly recommended. Warm clothing is essential as much of the trail is outdoors.

This foodie weekend festival, historically associated with chef Rick Stein, takes over the harbour town of Padstow in early December with cookery demonstrations, a torchlight procession, live music, and stalls selling Cornish produce and gifts. In 2026 it is expected to fall on the first weekend of the month. Unlike a typical market, the emphasis here is on food and drink rather than crafts, making it a great stop for anyone touring Cornwall's coast. The town itself, with its working harbour and pastel cottages, is worth wandering regardless of the festival. Arrive early on the Saturday, as the compact centre gets busy and some cookery events require advance booking.

Falmouth's high street and harbour area switch on their Christmas lights in late November, kicking off a season of late-night shopping evenings, carol singers, and small stalls run by local makers along Market Strand and the Moor. It is a low-key, distinctly Cornish alternative to a formal market: independent shops stay open late, cafes serve mulled wine, and the harbour lights reflect on the water. There is no single ticketed event, so visitors can simply wander at their own pace. It pairs well with a daytime look at Falmouth's maritime museum or a walk along the docks, and makes for a relaxed evening stop for travellers based elsewhere in Cornwall.

As Cornwall's liveliest coastal town, Newquay turns from surf town to party town once the sun sets. Bank Street and the surrounding lanes host a dense cluster of bars, pubs and clubs that keep pumping until the early hours, drawing a mix of surfers, stag and hen parties and summer holidaymakers. Expect chart and dance music in venues like Sailors and Central, pool tables and cheap pitchers in the surf-crowd pubs, and a lively pre-drinks scene along the high street. It is loud, unpretentious and very much geared toward a younger crowd looking for a proper night out rather than a quiet pint. Queues form outside the bigger clubs from around 11pm on weekends, and fancy dress nights are a local tradition. For a calmer alternative, several bars along the same strip offer live acoustic sets earlier in the evening before the music switches over to DJs.

Billed as the only bar in the UK actually built on the beach, The Watering Hole at Perranporth is a Cornish institution for laid-back, sand-between-your-toes nightlife. Evenings here run from beachfire sunset sessions to full live band nights featuring reggae, ska and local rock acts, with the crowd spilling out onto the sand when the weather allows. It draws a mixed crowd of surfers, locals and visitors rather than a strictly party scene, and the atmosphere stays friendly and unpretentious even when the music gets going. Food and cocktails are served until late, and in summer the bar hosts themed festival-style weekends with multiple acts across a single night. Because it sits directly on an active beach, opening hours shift with the tide and season, so checking ahead before making the trip out is worthwhile.

Perched right on Fistral Beach, this laid-back bar and restaurant is the go-to spot for watching the sun sink over the Atlantic with a cocktail in hand. By day it serves surfers and families; by night the vibe shifts to a relaxed lounge atmosphere with DJ sets on summer weekends and a terrace that stays busy long after the beach empties out. The drinks list leans heavily on rum cocktails and local ales, and the kitchen keeps serving well into the evening for anyone who wants dinner alongside the view. It is a favourite for a pre-club drink before heading into central Newquay, or simply as a destination in its own right for an evening that feels more coastal chic than nightclub. Booking a table for sunset is recommended in peak summer, though the bar area is generally walk-in.

Overlooking the working harbour, The Chain Locker is one of Falmouth's oldest pubs and a reliable spot for an evening that favours atmosphere over volume. Wooden beams, nautical bric-a-brac and a quayside terrace set the scene for real ales, Cornish ciders and the occasional folk or acoustic session, especially during Falmouth's regular sailing and shanty events. It is popular with sailors, students from the nearby university and locals alike, giving it a more grown-up, conversational feel than the town's louder late-night bars. On calm evenings the outdoor tables fill quickly with people watching boats come in as the light fades. It makes an easy stop on a wider pub crawl through Falmouth's harbourside streets, most of which stay walkable and well lit into the night.

Set in subtropical gardens overlooking Trenance Boating Lake, Newquay Zoo is a compact, walkable zoo that punches above its size. Kids can watch African penguins being fed, spot red pandas, meerkats and lemurs, and cross the jungle-themed play area with rope bridges and slides. The zoo runs regular keeper talks throughout the day, giving children a chance to ask questions and get close to enrichment sessions. There is a splash pad in summer, an indoor soft-play barn for wet days, and a cafe with a terrace overlooking the lake. Paths are pushchair-friendly and the whole loop takes a comfortable half day. It is a reliable, low-stress outing that works for toddlers through to older children, and the site is small enough that nobody gets exhausted trying to see everything.

Built into the cliffs above Towan Beach, Blue Reef Aquarium walks visitors through a glass underwater tunnel surrounded by rays, sharks and tropical fish. Interactive touch pools let children handle starfish and anemones under staff supervision, and daily talks explain the marine life on show, including a resident colony of otters just outside the main tank hall. Themed zones cover everything from Cornish rockpool species to Amazonian piranhas, making it an easy way to combine local sea life with more exotic creatures in one visit. The indoor setting makes it a dependable choice when the coast is too wet or windy for the beach itself. Visits typically take around ninety minutes to two hours, and the aquarium sits close enough to Newquay's main beaches to slot into a longer day out.

Near Helston, Flambards mixes fairground rides with quirky indoor exhibits, including a life-size recreation of a Victorian village street and a hangar of retired aircraft that older kids enjoy climbing through. Rollercoasters, a log flume and gentler rides for younger children sit alongside dinosaur-themed play zones and an indoor soft-play area, so the park works across a wide age range in one visit. Because much of the site is under cover, it stays a solid option even when Cornish weather turns. Queues are generally short compared with larger mainland parks, and there is enough variety that a full day rarely feels repetitive. Food options and picnic areas are dotted throughout, and the park is easy to reach from the Lizard Peninsula's beaches if families want to split a day between rides and coast.

Near Newquay, Dairyland Farm World is a working dairy farm turned family attraction, where children can bottle-feed lambs or calves depending on the season and watch cows being milked from a viewing gallery. An adventure play barn with slides and ball pits gives younger visitors somewhere to burn energy indoors, while outdoor pens let kids handle rabbits, guinea pigs and other small animals. Tractor and trailer rides around the farm are a highlight for toddlers, and the farm shop sells produce made on site. It is a genuinely hands-on, unpolished sort of place rather than a slick theme park, which tends to suit younger children particularly well. Most of a visit can be done in a morning or afternoon, making it easy to combine with another nearby stop such as a beach or the zoo.

On Padstow's harbourside, the National Lobster Hatchery is a small conservation centre where children can see baby lobsters being reared for release back into the sea. Interactive tanks let kids get close to crabs, lobsters and other shoreline creatures, and staff explain the hatchery's breeding programme in simple, child-friendly terms during short talks. Because it is compact, a visit rarely takes more than an hour, making it an easy add-on to a wander around Padstow's harbour rather than a destination in its own right. The hands-on touch tanks and the novelty of watching tiny lobsters up close tend to hold younger children's attention well. It is an inexpensive, low-key stop that also quietly teaches kids about marine conservation without feeling like a lesson.

Golowan, meaning midsummer in Cornish, transforms Penzance from 19 to 28 June 2026 with lantern parades, live music, a serpent dance through the streets and a fireworks finale over the harbour. Rooted in ancient Cornish bonfire traditions, the modern revival includes a large community arts programme, market stalls and Mazey Day, the festival's climactic street celebration on the final Saturday. Children's workshops run throughout the week to build lanterns for the evening procession. The atmosphere is loud, colourful and distinctly Cornish, blending Celtic heritage with contemporary performance. Most events are free and outdoors, though the town gets busy, so arriving early for good vantage points along the parade route is advised. It is one of the largest community festivals in the South West.

From 12 December 2026 to 2 January 2027, the tiny harbour village of Mousehole strings thousands of lights across its harbour walls and cottages in a tradition dating back decades, drawing visitors from across the county each evening. A torchlight procession and choir performances mark the switch-on weekend, followed by nightly illuminations reflecting on the water. On New Year's Eve, crowds gather along the harbour for a midnight countdown and fireworks display over the sea. Narrow streets get extremely busy on peak evenings, so parking in the village itself is very limited and a park-and-ride shuttle from Penzance is recommended. The lights are especially photogenic at high tide when reflections double the display. It is a free, family-friendly way to see Cornwall at its most festive.

Held across the county's famous subtropical valley gardens from 14 March to 5 April 2026, this festival celebrates Cornwall's mild microclimate with camellias, magnolias and early rhododendrons in full bloom. Visitors can join guided walks, plant sales and talks by head gardeners at participating estates near Falmouth and the Fal Estuary. The event marks the unofficial start of the tourist season, and many gardens open extended hours for the occasion. Early spring light makes this a favourite time for photographers, and local cafes run special garden-themed menus. Expect mild but changeable weather, so layers and waterproof footwear are recommended. It is a relaxed, low-key event ideal for families and gardening enthusiasts alike, with several gardens offering discounted joint entry tickets during the festival period.

Set within the parkland of a historic estate near St Germans, this open-air concert series runs on selected weekends from 18 July to 16 August 2026, hosting folk, acoustic and contemporary acts on an outdoor stage beside the river. Picnic blankets and camping chairs are welcome, and local food vendors line the grounds selling Cornish pasties, cider and seafood. The setting combines rolling lawns, ancient trees and glimpses of the estate's deer park, making it as much a scenic day out as a music event. Evening performances often finish with a communal singalong as the light fades over the valley. Advance tickets are recommended for headline dates since capacity is limited to protect the grounds. Dogs on leads are permitted on daytime sessions but not evening concerts.

Taking place across orchards and farms near Truro and the Tamar Valley from 26 September to 11 October 2026, this harvest fair celebrates the county's apple orchards with cider pressing demonstrations, farmers markets and pumpkin picking. Families can watch traditional wassailing displays, try fresh-pressed juice and browse stalls selling autumn produce, jams and local cheeses. Several farms host tractor rides and scarecrow trails aimed at younger visitors. The scent of woodsmoke and baked apples fills the air as evenings draw in, and some venues extend into candlelit weekend markets. It is a slower-paced, rural counterpart to Cornwall's summer festivals, best suited to visitors wanting a quieter, food-focused experience. Wellies are advisable after rain, as most sites are on working farmland.

Half-buried in the dunes above Daymer Bay, this 13th-century church was once so engulfed by drifting sand that the vicar and congregation had to be lowered in through a hole in the roof to hold services. It was dug out and restored in the Victorian era and now sits, crooked spire and all, in the middle of a working golf course near Rock. The poet Sir John Betjeman, who loved this stretch of coast, is buried in the small churchyard, and his grave draws a steady trickle of quiet pilgrims rather than tour buses. The walk in crosses fairways and dunes, so keep an eye out for stray golf balls. There is no entry fee and no ticket office, just a whitewashed nave, salt-worn gravestones and views over the Camel Estuary that feel a world away from nearby Padstow.

Tucked in quiet farmland near Sancreed, this Iron Age settlement is a genuine rival to the better-known ancient villages of West Penwith, yet sees a fraction of the visitors. Its standout feature is a remarkably well-preserved fogou, a mysterious underground stone passage whose original purpose (storage, ritual, refuge) is still debated by archaeologists. Grass-covered stone courtyard houses, hut circles and a corbelled chamber sit scattered across a gentle hillside reached by a short walk from a small roadside parking area. There are no crowds, no gift shop and often no other visitors at all, just birdsong, granite outcrops and a palpable sense of the ancient people who farmed this same land two thousand years ago. Sturdy shoes help since the ground can be uneven and damp underfoot.

A short but steep woodland walk inland from Tintagel leads to this secluded 66-foot waterfall, which plunges through a rock formation locals call the Kieve before cascading into a wooded ravine. The site has been considered sacred since at least medieval times and today the trees along the path are strung with ribbons, coins and handwritten notes left by visitors. A small tearoom at the entrance marks the start of the trail, but once inside the glen the noise fades and it is just moss, ferns and falling water. It is best visited on a weekday morning to have the waterfall largely to yourself, and an entry fee supports the trust that maintains the woodland. The path involves roots, steps and slippery stones, so this is not a stroller-friendly outing, but the reward is one of Cornwall's most atmospheric natural spots.

On the wooded southern edge of Bodmin Moor, the River Fowey tumbles through a series of mossy cascades known as Golitha Falls, set within an ancient oak woodland that has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. A gentle, well-signed path follows the riverbank past lichen-draped boulders and past the remains of old leats built to power long-vanished mills, making it an easy, family-friendly walk rather than a strenuous moorland trek. Dappled light through the tree canopy and the constant sound of falling water give the whole gorge an almost otherworldly feel, especially after rain when the falls are at their fullest. It is a favourite among Cornish locals but rarely appears on visitor itineraries, so it is easy to find a quiet spot on the rocks for a picnic. A small free car park sits at the trailhead.

Named after the 18th-century smuggler John Carter, who styled himself the King of Prussia, this cluster of tiny coves near Marazion was once one of the busiest contraband landing points on the Cornish coast. A narrow lane leads down to a scatter of whitewashed fishermen's cottages, a small stone slipway and rock pools that are ideal for a quiet swim away from the busier beaches nearby. There are no facilities, shops or lifeguards here, which is exactly why it stays so peaceful; visitors are mostly locals walking dogs or wild swimmers who know the spot. The surrounding coast path offers views toward St Michael's Mount without the crowds gathered at the more obvious viewpoints. Parking is extremely limited, so arriving early or on foot from a nearby village is the best approach.

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