Did you know the Cornish town of Bodmin is listed in the Domesday Book?
Picturesque fishing villages and coastal towns, with ancient harbours and winding streets are among Cornwall’s biggest draws. No two are the same so one day you could be shopping for one-of-a-kind souvenirs in Fowey and the next, catching rays on a blue flag beach in St Ives. There’s no place quite like the fishing villages of Cornwall for a seafood lunch or traditional Cornish pasty. When your stomach is full of Cornish ice-cream and you’re finding it hard to muster the energy for a coastal walk, a stroll through the higgledy piggledy back streets of Fowey offer an alternative way to spend a few hours and are full of surprises.
While on holiday in Cornwall, you might want to drive around and see the sights. These popular Cornish towns are definitely worth a visit:
Falmouth
Distance from Fowey: 26 miles
Driving time: 54 mins
Falmouth has developed as a port for over 400 years and today it is full of specialist stores, harbour-side restaurants, galleries and family attractions such as the National Maritime Museum and Pendennis Castle.
Mevagissey
Distance from Fowey: 14 miles
Driving time: 28 mins
By boat: 45mins (ferry operates April – September)
This quaint Cornish fishing village is situated just over 14 miles from Fowey. Stroll through narrow alleyways whilst browsing gift shops and galleries. Mevagissey was once the centre of Cornwall’s pilchard fishery and it still boasts a working harbour today.
St Mawes
Distance from Fowey: 76 miles
Driving time: 51 mins
This pretty village looks across Falmouth Harbour to Pendennis Castle. The sheltered anchorage is home to a fleet of small boats, and is a popular yachting centre. There are two good, small beaches, one each side of the harbour. The old fishing village has steep and narrow streets, good restaurants, attractive shops and a number of galleries.
Padstow
Distance from Fowey: 26 miles
Driving time: 54 mins
A short hop across to Cornwall’s north coast, Padstow is most famously known for the presence of the celebrity chef Rick Stein, where he has a number of establishments, including a seafood restaurant, deli and fish and chip takeaway. For a bit of fun try the Camel Trail which was a former tram line and now a cycle route which runs from Padstow to Bodmin and Wadebridge.
Port Issac
Distance from Fowey: 26 miles
Driving time: 55 mins
An inspiration for artists, writers and poets for centuries. This is one of the most beautiful and un-spoilt parts of Cornwall. A coastline of rugged cliffs and secluded coves that can be explored from the coastal footpaths.
St Ives
Distance from Fowey: 47 miles
Driving time: 1 hr 20 mins
St Ives is one of the most stunning towns in Cornwall. The whole peninsula offers a haven for walkers, photographers, artists and writers giving inspiration through beautiful scenery. It has enticed artists such as Barbara Hepworth and Ben Nicholson and is home to the Tate Gallery which opened its doors in 1993.
