Cornwall

The southwestern corner of England is popular with international visitors who are drawn by surf beaches, history and unique Celtic culture. Although the Cornish language has all but died out, this county is distinct from other parts of England.

Fowey

This historic town at the mouth of the River Fowey was Daphne du Maurier's hometown. The town attracts fans of du Maurier's novels and it also makes a good base for visiting nearby attractions like the Eden Project and Restormel Castle.

Practical Information

Tourist Information Centre

5 South Street, Fowey

Tel (01726) 833 616

Website www.fowey.co.uk

Open Apr-Sep Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm, Sun 10am-5pm

Coming & Going

First (website www.firstgroup.com) runs buses 24, 24B and 27between Fowey and St Austell where you can make bus and train connections to Bristol, London, Plymouth and destinations throughout Cornwall.

Accommodation

Golant YHA

Penquite House, Golant, Fowey, Cornwall PL23 1LA

Bus 24

Tel (01726) 833 507

Sights

Daphne du Maurier Literary Centre

The centre has displays about Fowey's literary heritage and also shows videos about Fowey and Daphne du Maurier's ties with Cornwall.

5 South Street, Fowey

Tel (01726) 833 616

Website www.dumaurier.org

Open Apr-Sep Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm, Sun 10am-5pm

Eden Project

The Eden Project is one of Cornwall's biggest attractions. This series of biomes has recreated the natural environment of various climatic regions including biomes with flora from the humid tropics and warm temperate regions.

Bodelva, St Austell

Bus T9, T10

Website www.edenproject.com

Admission £12 (£6 students)

Open Jan-Mar 10am-3pm daily; Apr-Oct 9.30am-4.30pm daily; Nov-Dec 10am-3pm daily

Restormel Castle

This 14th century castle is surrounded by a moat and features a large circular keep with lovely views of the countryside. Edward, the Black Prince, once called this castle home. It is near Lostwithiel, 13km north of Fowey.

A390, Lostwithiel

Tel (01208) 872687

Website www.english-heritage.org.uk

Admission £2.20

Open Apr-Jun 10am-5pm daily; Jul-Aug 10am-6pm daily; Sep 10am-5pm daily; Oct 10am-4pm daily

Falmouth

This historic maritime centre is one of Cornwall's nicest large towns. It is built around the world's third-deepest harbour, which is guarded by castles on both sides and it is also home to the National Maritime Museum.

Practical Information

Falmouth Tourist Information Centre

28 Killigrew Street, Falmouth

Tel (01326) 312300

Website www.falmouth-cornwall.org

Open Jan-Mar Mon-Fri 9.30am-5.15pm; Apr-Sep Mon-Sat 9.30am-5.15pm; Oct-Dec Mon-Fri 9.30am-5.15pm

Coming & Going

First (website www.firstgroup.com) and Truronian (website www.truronian.co.uk) operate buses to neighbouring towns. Bus T11 goes to the Eden Project making it an ideal daytrip from Falmouth.

Falmouth has several train stations. Dell-Falmouth Town is the most centrally located station for both the hostel and the town centre but Falmouth Docks station is closest to the harbour and Pendennis Castle. Falmouth lies on a branch line with Wessex Trains (website www.wessextrains.co.uk) running trains to Truro where you can change for trains to Bristol, Exeter and Penzance.

Accommodation

Falmouth Lodge

9 Gyllyngvase Terrace, Falmouth

Tel (01326) 319 996

Sights

Falmouth Art Gallery

The small Falmouth Art Gallery has works by local artists but is best known for John William Waterhouse's The Lady of Shalott.

Municipal Buildings, The Moor, Falmouth

Tel (01326) 313 863

Website www.falmouthartgallery.com

Admission free

Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm

National Maritime Museum

The excellent National Maritime Museum has a range of nautical themed exhibits that covers boatbuilding, yacht racing, navigation and Cornwall's fascinating maritime heritage. Visitors to the museum can watch boat builders restore boats, sail a radio-controlled yacht and take in panoramic views from the tower.

Discovery Quay, Falmouth

Train Falmouth Town

Tel (01326) 313388

Website www.nmmc.co.uk

Admission £5.90

Open 10am-5pm daily

St Mawes Castle (Castel Lanvawseth)

The 16th century St Mawes Castle is located across the bay from Falmouth, facing Pendennis Castle. It considered the loveliest of Henry VIII's coastal fortresses and it offers lovely views of Falmouth.

A3078 St Mawes

Tel (01326) 270526

Website www.english-heritage.org.uk

Admission £3.20

Open Jan-Mar Mon & Fri-Sun 10am-4pm; Apr-Jun 10am-5pm daily; Jul-Aug 10am-6pm daily; Sep 10am-5pm daily; Oct 10am-4pm daily; Nov-Dec 10am-4pm daily

Pendennis Castle

This impressive Tudor Pendennis Castle bills itself as Cornwall's greatest fortress. It has witnessed 450 years of history and features a labyrinth of secret wartime defences.

Pendennis Headland, Falmouth

Train Falmouth Docks

Tel (01326) 316594

Website www.english-heritage.co.uk

Admission £4.50

Open Jan-Mar 10am-4pm daily; Apr-Jun 10am-5pm daily; Jul-Aug 10am-6pm daily; Sep 10am-5pm daily; Oct-Dec 10am-4pm daily

Penzance

Famed for its history of swashbuckling pirates, Penzance makes an ideal base for exploring Lands End and the Penwith Peninsula. It is very popular with tourists although there isn't a great deal to do in the town centre.

Practical Information

Penzance Tourist Information Centre

Station Road, Penzance

Tel (01736) 362 207

Website www.go-cornwall.com

Open Jan-Apr Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 10am-1pm; May-Sep Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-1pm; Oct-Dec Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 10am-1pm

Coming & Going

BUS

First (website www.firstgroup.com) have frequent buses to destinations throughout Cornwall. Useful routes include buses 1, 1A, 1B and 300 to Lands End, buses 9 and 300 to St Just and bus 16 to St Ives.

National Express (tel 0870 580 8080; website www.nationalexpress.co.uk) has buses to Birmingham, Exeter, London, Plymouth.

Buses terminate near the train station on Wharf Road.

TRAIN

Virgin (website www.virgintrains.co.uk) run trains to Bristol, Cardiff and Birmingham; Wessex Trains (website www.wessextrains.co.uk) run trains from Penzance to Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth and St Ives. And First Great Western (website www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk) trains go to Bristol and London (Paddington). The train station is on Wharf Road near Albert Pier.

TRAVEL PASSES

The First Bus and Rail Card costs £10 and allows one day travel on First Great Western Trains between Totnes and Penzance and all First buses in Devon.

Accommodation

Penzance Backpackers (the Blue Dolphin)

Alexandra Road, Penzance

Tel (01736) 363836

Penzance YHA

Castle Horneck, Alverton, Penzance

Bus 5, 6

Tel (01736) 362 666

YMCA Cornwall

International House, The Orchard, Alverton, Penzance TR18 4TE

Tel (01736) 334820

Sights

St Michael's Mount

With a striking appearance similar to Mont St Michel in France this island off the coast from Marazion, 5km from Penzance, is home to a Benedictine monastery that incorporates a church, a castle and a small village at its base. At low tide you can walk across a causeway to get to the Mount; a ferry (£1) runs at other times.

Bus 2, 2A, 17A, 32

Tel (01736) 710 507

Website www.stmichaelsmount.co.uk

Admission £4.80

Open Apr-Oct 10.30am-4.45pm daily

Lands End & the Penwith Peninsula

The Penwith Peninsula and Lands End – England's westernmost point – is a popular destination with many backpackers who come here for its mix of ancient Celtic monuments, quaint villages and surf beaches.

Practical Information

St Just Information Centre

The Library, Market Street, St Just

Tel (01736) 788 669

Open Jun-Aug Mon-Wed & Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-1pm, Sun 10am-5pm

Coming & Going & Local Transport

First (website www.firstgroup.com) run buses on the Penwith Peninsula with most buses terminating at Penzance and St Ives. Useful bus routes include bus 300, which runs along the coast between Penzance and St Ives stopping at Lands End and St Just; buses 1, 1A and 1B from Penzance to Lands End and bus 9 from Penzance to St Just.

Accommodation

Kelynack Bunkbarn

Kelynack Camping Park, Kelynack St Just, Cornwall TR19 7RE

Tel (01736) 787633

Lands End YHA

Letcha Vean, St Just-in-Penwith

Tel (01736) 788 437

Old Chapel Backpackers

The Old Chapel, Zennor

Tel (01736) 798 307

Whitesands Lodge

Lands End, Sennen, Penzance, Cornwall TR19 7AR

Tel (01736) 871776

Surfing

The area around Lands End has good surfing and you can learn to surf at the Sennen Surfing Centre.

The Sennen Surfing Centre

Based out of Whitesands Lodge, the Sennen Surfing Centre teaches you to surf on the uncrowded surf breaks at Sennen Beach.

Whitesands Lodge, Sennen

Tel (01736) 871 458

Website www.whitesandslodge.co.uk

Sights

Ballowall Barrow

This Bronze Age tomb features a series of burial chambers.

Near Carn Gloose, 1.5km west of St Just

Website www.english-heritage.org.uk

Admission free

Carn Euny Ancient Village

All that remains from this Iron Age settlement are the foundations of stone huts and an underground passage.

A30, 2km southwest of Sancreed

Bus 10A, 10B

Website www.english-heritage.org.uk

Admission free

Chysauster Ancient Village

This 2000-year-old Celtic settlement is made up of eight stone courtyard houses unique to Lands End and the Isles of Scilly.

B3311, 4km northwest of Gulval

Tel 07831 757934

Website www.english-heritage.org.uk

Admission £2

Open Apr-Jun 10am-5pm daily; Jul-Aug 10am-6pm daily; Sep 10am-5pm daily; Oct 10am-4pm daily

Geevor Tin Mine

Geevor was a working tin mine until as recently as 1990 and has now been recreated as a heritage site that has underground tours plus displays of mining equipement.

Pendeen

Bus 17, 300

Tel (01736) 788662

Website www.geevor.com

Admission £6.50

Open Jan-Easter 9am-3pm daily; Easter-Oct 9am-4pm daily; Nov-Dec 9am-3pm daily; tours Jan-Easter 11am, 1pm, 3pm daily; Easter-Oct 10am, 11am, noon, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm daily; Nov-Dec 11am, 1pm, 3pm daily

Tregiffian Burial Chamber

This chambered tomb is believed to date from the Neolithic or Bronze Age periods.

B3315, 3km southeast of St Buryan

Website www.english-heritage.org.uk

Admission free

St Ives

This medieval fishing village has become somewhat of an artists' colony with many art galleries including a local branch of the Tate Gallery. It is a lovely town although it can get crowded in summer.

Practical Information

St Ives Tourist Information Centre

The Guildhall, Street an Pol, St Ives

Tel (01736) 796 297

Open Jan-Easter Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; Easter-Sep Mon-Sat 9.30am-6pm, Sun 10am-1pm; Oct-Dec Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

Coming & Going

First (website www.firstgroup.com) bus 16 runs directly between St Ives and Penzance while bus 300 takes the much longer route running along the coast to Penzance stopping en route at St Just and Lands End.

Wessex Trains (website www.wessextrains.co.uk) runs trains on the branch line between St Erth and St Ives.

Accommodation

St Ives Backpackers

The Stennock, St Ives

Tel (01736) 799 444

Sights

Barbara Hepworth Museum

Run as an extension of Tate St Ives, the Barbara Hepworth Museum features the artist's house and sculpture garden with exhibits of her artwork.

Barnoon Hill, St Ives

Tel (01736) 796226

Website www.tate.org.uk/stives/hepworth.htm

Admission £4.50; joint admission with Tate St Ives £8.50

Open Jan-Feb Tue-Sun 10am-4.30pm; Mar-Oct 10am-5.30pm daily; Nov-Dec Tue-Sun 10am-4.30pm

Tate St Ives

The St Ives branch of the Tate Gallery has exhibits of modern and contemporary art from both local and international artists.

Porthmeor Beach, St Ives

Tel (01736) 796226

Website www.tate.org.uk/stives/

Admission £5.50; joint admission with Barbara Hepworth Museum £8.50

Open Jan-Feb Tue-Sun 10am-4.30pm; Mar-Oct 10am-5.30pm daily; Nov-Dec Tue-Sun 10am-4.30pm

Newquay

England's surfing Mecca is hugely popular with backpackers and surfers and it has developed a good infrastructure to cater to surfing backpackers with a large selection of hostels, backpacker pubs and surf schools. However Newquay is also a tacky ugly town that is very unlike the rest of Cornwall and it is best avoided if you're not a surfer.

Practical Information

Tourist Information Centre

Marcus Hill, Newquay

Tel (01637) 854 020

Website www.newquay.co.uk

Open Mon-Fri 9.30am-4.30pm, Sat 9.30am-12.30pm

Coming & Going

First (website www.firstgroup.com) runs buses to destinations in Cornwall and Devon with services that include 21 and 21B to St Austell, buses X89 and X90 to Falmouth and bus X10 to Exeter.

Wessex Trains (website www.wessextrains.co.uk) runs trains on the branch line between Par and Newquay with connections from Plymouth and Penzance.

Accommodation

Note that accommodation prices in Newquay are very seasonal. The cheapest period is between October and April (except the Christmas/New Year period) and July and August is the most expensive time to stay here.

AquaSurf B&B

92 Crantock Street, Newquay, Cornwall TR7 1JW

Tel (01637) 879634

Base Surf Lodge

20 Tower Road, Newquay

Tel (01637) 874 852

Cribber Green Rooms

30 Headland Road, Newquay, Cornwall TR7 1HN

Tel (01637) 875 082

Fistral Backpackers

18 Headland Road, Newquay, Cornwall TR7 1HN

Tel (01637) 873 146

Home Surf Lodge

18 Tower Road, Newquay

Tel (01637) 873 387

Matts Surf Lodge

110 Mount Wise, Newquay

Tel (01637) 874 651

Newquay International Backpackers

69-73 Tower Road, Newquay

Tel (01637) 879 366

Original Backpackers

16 Beachfield Avenue, Newquay

Tel (01637) 874 668

Ricks Backpackers

8 Springfield Street, Newquay, Cornwall

Tel (01637) 851143

SAFI Bunkhouse

Narrowcliff Seafront, Newquay, Cornwall TR7 2PH

Tel (01637) 872 8000

St Christophers Inn

35 Fore Street, Newquay

Tel (020) 7407 1856

The Escape

1 Mount Wise, Newquay

Tel (01637) 873 387

The Zone

Headland Road, Newquay, Cornwall TR7 1HN

Tel (01637) 872 089

Surfing

Newquay has some of Europe's best surf with a choice of beaches that includes the famous Fistral Beach.

There are several surf schools in Newquay that include:

ESF Surf School

The Esplanade, South Fistral, Newquay

Tel (01637) 851 800

Website www.englishsurfschool.com

Lessons cost £25

King Surf School

King, Surfside stores, Mawgan Porth, Newquay

Tel (01637) 860 091

Website www.kingsurf.co.uk

½ day lesson £20; full day lesson £30

Sights

Blue Reef Aquarium

This aquarium on Towan Beach features a walk-through aquarium with tropical and Cornish marine life.

Towan Promenade, Newquay

Tel (01637) 878134

Website www.bluereefaquarium.co.uk

Admission £5.95 (£4.95 students)

Open Jan-Feb 10am-4pm daily; Mar-Oct 10am-5pm daily; Nov-Dec 10am-4pm daily

Newquay Zoo

Newquay's zoo features a range of exotic animals including pigmy marmosets, macaques, meerkats, penguins and zebras.

Edgcumbe Avenue, Trenance Gardens, Newquay

Tel (01637) 873342

Website www.newquayzoo.co.uk

Admission £6.95 (£5.45 students)

Open Jan-Mar 10am-dusk daily; Apr-Oct 9.30am-6pm daily; Nov-Dec 10am-dusk daily

Tintagel

This small village is steeped in legend and it has many close links with the King Arthur stories.

Practical Information

Tintagel Tourist Information Centre

Bossiney Road, Tintagel

Tel (01840) 779 084

Open Jan-Feb 10.30am-4pm daily; Mar-Oct 9am-5pm daily; Nov-Dec 10.30am-4pm daily

Accommodation

Tintagel YHA

Dunderhole Point, Tintagel, Cornwall PL34 0DW

Bus First Western National X10, X9/124 from Exeter St Davids; 55, 122/5 from Bodmin Parkway

Tel (01840) 770334

Sights

Tintagel Castle

Overlooking a rugged and spectacular coastline, this 13th-century castle is linked with many legends and many people believe it to be the birthplace of King Arthur.

Tintagel Head, Tintagel

Bus X10

Tel (01840) 770 328

Website www.english-heritage.org.uk

Admission £3.70

Open Jan-Mar 10am-4pm daily; Apr-Sep 10am-6pm daily; Oct 10am-5pm daily; Nov-Dec 10am-4pm daily

Bude

This town near the Devon border in northern Cornwall has lovely coastal scenery and good surfing. Because of its close proximity to both Cornwall and Devon, many backpackers travelling by car use it as a base for making daytrips into the neighbouring counties.

Practical Information

Tourist Information Centre

The Crescent, Bude

Tel (01288) 354240

Website www.visitbude.info

Open May-Sep Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm

Coming & Going

First (website www.firstgroup.com) buses 319 and 372 go to Barnstaple, X8 goes to Plymouth, X9 goes to Exeter, X11 runs between Bude and Camelford, where you can transfer to the X10 to Newquay.

Accommodation

Northshore Bude Backpackers

57 Killerton Road, Bude, Cornwall EX23 8EW

Tel (01288) 354 256

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