A trip around the Cornish Coast

The following is a trip from the South East corner of Cornwall up and around the coast to the North Cornwall resort of Bude near the border with Devon. We are starting just South of the Tamar Bridge in Saltash.

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About 20 minutes drive away from Pencubitt is The village of St Germans sited on the estuary of the Lynher Just south on the tamar from Saltash. The village is famous for its magnificent Norman church, set in a hollow with two towers and a magnificent doorway as its west front. This seems to be a rather humble place for such a huge and ancient church, but the parish is still the largest in Cornwall. This church's predecessor was Cornwall's cathedral from AD926, when King Athelstan made Conan the first Cornish bishop. You can travel by train from Liskeard Station to St Germans and visit Port Eliot House nearby. Port Eliot was the seat of of the Lords Eliot and is now occupied by the 18th Earl of St Germans. This 1000 year old gem is now open to the public. Click on the image above for more details

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About 20 minutes drive away is the village of St Germans is on the River Tiddy, part of the beautiful estuary of the Lynher which joins the Tamar just downriver from Saltash. The glory of the village is its magnificent Norman church, set in a hollow with two towers and a superb doorway as its west front. This might seem an incongruous setting for such a huge and ancient church, but the parish is still the largest in Cornwall and this church's predecessor was Cornwall's cathedral from AD926, when King Athelstan made Conan the first Cornish bishop, until 1043 when the see was transferred to Crediton, and thence to Exeter in 1050. Down on the river, St Germans Quay was busy in the last century with cargoes of minerals, coal, timber and limestone, and a vigorous trade in roadstone continued until the last war.

About 15 minutes drive away is Whitsand Bay with its wide sandy beach. Whitsand Bay As the name suggests, beautiful three mile long stretches of white/golden sand beaches at low tide, approached via steep stepped path over National Trust cliffs. Care must be exercised as beaches are cut off at high tide and there are rip currents off-shore . Life guards patrol during the summer season. No facilities. No disabled access. Very popular on sunny days. There is limited parking, so get there early. Beautiful cliff top scenic drive. Car parking available (free).

Looe and Polperro are side by side and only 6 miles away from Pencubitt. Why not take the train from Liskeard to Looe, the journey takes you through the beautiful Looe valley and makes a break from driving. Looe is a quaint and picturesque fishing village which seems to be built on water. Its tidal harbour separates quiet West Looe from the bustling waterfront, pier and sandy beach of East Looe. A seven-arched bridge joins the twin communities, which have shared a fishing, trading and seafaring life for centuries. Explore the cobbled streets of the old village around the harbour, and watch the fishing boats bringing in their catches and offloading on the quayside. Laze on the safe bathing beach, stroll out on the famous "Banjo Pier" or wander along the coastal path and enjoy the magnificent views. Hire your own motor boat to explore the harbour and bay, or take a trip in one of the many boats for a bit of sightseeing. Looe is one of the Venues for the TV series 'Echo Beach'.

Polperro is a car free village in the season and tourists are conveyed by mini tram from car parks and stops in the village centre. Much favoured by Artists & Photographers alike. It has been the chosen site for many a film. Truly an area of outstanding beauty! The Village retains almost all of its 17th century architectural charm and is still a working fishing port, an activity which is believed to have been around, uninterrrupted, since the 13th Century. Polperro achieved great notoriety in the 18th and early 19th centuries due to the enormous amount of smuggling taking place around the Port, so much so, that King George ordered a "Water Preventative Guard Station" to be sited in Polperro Harbour, the first in the Kingdom! Tales abound of the Pilchard Fishermen and sometimes Smugglers of Polperro! A visit to the Polperro Heritage Museum, situated in the old "Pilchard Factory" will provide much of the history.

Approximately 20 minutes drive away, Polruan, opposite Fowey, is one of the small harbour towns which flourished by raiding French ships in the hundred years war. It is mentioned in Daphne du Maurier's books. there is a foot passenger ferry to Fowey.

25 minutes from Pencubitt. One of the largest towns in Cornwall, became prosperous after the demise of tin and copper when china clay became in demand. It was in 1748 when the chemist William Cookworthy discovered china clay and the result was huge mountains of white granite and kaolin. Today this industry has declined and most of the mountains have been landscaped and turned into leisure centres.

Mevagissey is about tourism today although it used to be busy with commercial fishing. It's 18th century harbour is more used by the yachting and boating fraternity than fishermen and it has also become popular with visitors.

Portloe is a tiny village cove and harbour, just a gap in the cliffs in fact, with a steep little hillside village made up of one small unified church, one shop and one hotel and bar. It's about 45 minutes drive from Pencubitt

This is the real lands end, the most southerly tip of England. Its rugged cliffs and frequently churning seas have caused it to be given many strange names. Devils Bellows is one such name, given to the caves which suck and spit sea foam and have been the cause of many a disaster to boats.

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Next to Penzance and some 75 minutes from Pencubitt is St Michael's Mount. St.Michael's Mount is commonly referred to as the jewel in Cornwall's crown. It was named after a vision of St. Michael appeared to local fishermen in the middle ages. You arrive in an ancient harbour where you will find shops, restaurants and an audio-visual presentation on the history of the Mount. Click on the photo to find out more about St Michael's Mount.

About 80 minutes drive from Pencubitt is the major harbour town of Penzance. Home to some striking architecture, many shops, Art Galleries, Michelin starred restaurants, ferries and helicopters to the Scilly Isles

About 90 minutes drive from Pencubitt is the little harbour of Mousehole. Famous for the bravery of its fishermen and lifeboatmen, this little community has suffered many losses at the hands of the sea. Very popular with tourists, this village boasts restaurants, art, antique and curio shops and has a large car park.

Approximately 85 minutes drive away, Land's End has a unique, magical quality that touches the hearts and minds of all who make the rewarding journey to the most Westerly point of mainland Britain. The Visitor Centre presents a legendary collection of exciting attractions and displays - like the 200 year old Greeb farm - thought provoking exhibitions, shows, specialist shops and delightful restaurants, where guests can relax and soak up the atmosphere at this Landmark site. Admission to the site is free. Car parking is £3.00 per car. Admission to each attraction is by individual ticket. Special family discount tickets and multi-attraction passes are also available.

About 90 minutes from Pencubitt, Sennen Village and Cove is the most westerly village in England, offering marvelous bathing and surfing. There is a small harbour and cliff walks in either direction, one leads to Lands End. The photo shows the sandy harbour beach and in the distance you can see Cape Cornwall.

St Ives is a Mecca for artists, there are many quaint shops selling a wide selection of craft goods, jeweler and Cornish pasties. The harbour at St Ives is a picture indeed, having it's own art gallery and craft centre,and the focal point of the local nightlife.  Around the corner from the Harbour is the Tate Gallery which is a must for every visitor. St Ives boasts three sandy beaches and is popular all year round with tourists.

It has been called the most beautiful beach in the world, Carbis Bay is at the bottom of a steep hill with car parking, shop and take away food available. Wide expanse of soft white sand in a very scenic bay about 70 minutes from Pencubitt.

Travelling on round the coast, some 50 minutes drive from Pencubitt is Hayle, a wonderfully uncommercialised harbour town with a sandy estuary leading to amazing beaches. Hayle Towans as they are called, are enormous sand dunes bordering three miles of possibly the best beaches in Cornwall directly opposite Carbis Bay and St Ives. Hayle is also home to Paradise Park and the World Parrot Trust. This park houses Penguins, Otters, birds of prey, Red Pandas as well as parrots and breeds the Cornish Chough which became extinct in Cornwall in 1960.

About 35 minutes drive from Pencubitt is Newquay. This is the largest, most active and cosmopolitan resort in Cornwall with 5 splendid beaches, wonderful scenery, premier surfing location and a plethora of things to see and do. It has more accommodation than any other resort in Cornwall and accordingly, its pretty packed in the peak season. Great for families and young adults, not for seniors though. Latest attraction is the Blue reef Aquarium, 250,000 litre display houses black and white tip reef sharks, stingrays, moray eels, giant groupers etc. Watergate Bay is one of the venues for the TV series 'Echo Beach'.

Fancy three miles of soft sandy beaches, cliffs and dunes? then you'll love Perranporth. About 45 minutes drive away from Pencubitt this sandy beach has good access and smashing waves to surf on. Very popular on sunny days, so get there early.

Between Padstow and Perranporth is Bedruthan Steps, about 45 minutes from Pencubitt. Steps from the top of the cliffs have been restored almost top to bottom, not for the faint hearted. When the sea gets whipped up here it is a sight to see indeed, it is easy to forget that there are some nice sandy beaches at low tide.

Up the coast from Newquay some 40 minutes drive from Pencubitt is Padstow. Famous for the 'Aud Obby Oss' a pagan ritual dance performed every May Day which attracts large crowds. Padstow is also famous for its visual setting, picturesque buildings and characteristic harbour which once was a flourishing fishing port. Rick Stein has a fish restaurant here which draws crowds.

On the other side of the Padstow Estuary and about 40 minutes drive from Pencubitt is Polzeath and it's neighbour Daymer Bay. The photo above shows Daymer Bay with it's wide sandy beach. Polzeath, around the corner, also has a large sandy beach, but is much more commercialised with various facilities.

Opposite Padstow and about 40 minutes from Pencubitt is the village of Rock. Seen as a rather select place to holiday it attracts many celebrities and although sailing is big on the agenda here, there are marvelous beaches and sand dunes. Take the road through rock, past the sailing beach to the car park at the end and then walk on up the sand dunes to find paradise. Behind the dunes is a golf course and half buried in the middle is St Enodoc's Church. This tiny church was buried for some time under the sand, but has now been restored and performs weddings. An idyllic setting for picnics and exploring.

About 40 minutes drive away is Port Issac. Not much of a beach here as it is used as a public car park and drivers better watch the tide! This tightly packed fishing village with its picturesque cottages and twisting narrow lanes is very popular with tourists. In peak season it is advisable to park outside the village and walk in as negotiating the lanes with the tourists is difficult. It is always well worth a visit. It is where the popular TV series 'Doc Martin' is filmed.

About 45 minutes drive away from Pencubitt with it's spectacular location on one of England's most dramatic coastlines, Tintagel is a place of legends. Joined to the mainland by a narrow neck of land. The 'island' has been occupied since Roman times. During the 5th and 6th Centuries it is thought to have been the stronghold of a Celtic King. Famed as the legendary birthplace of King Arthur and home of Merlin the Magician, Tintagel Castle is one of the most awe-inspiring and romantic spot in Britain. Shop, toilets and a very steep climb!

Continuing around the Cornish coast we come to Bude. It is about 70 minutes drive from Pencubitt and situated at the northern tip of Cornwall. A popular resort with its wide sandy beach.