Pilgrim Cottage Guidebook
Favourite Beaches
Lovely safe beach for swimming, SUPs & kayaking. Dog friendly all year. Next to Caerhays Castle & Gardens - follow the signs for Caerhays Estate. Large car park with a seasonal cafe and toilets.
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Porthluney Bay
Lovely safe beach for swimming, SUPs & kayaking. Dog friendly all year. Next to Caerhays Castle & Gardens - follow the signs for Caerhays Estate. Large car park with a seasonal cafe and toilets.
Sweeping, sandy beach. Dog friendly all year. (NB: not to be confused with Towan Beach, Newquay). Head through Gerrans towards St Anthony’s Head, passing the entrance to Trewince campsite. Towan is about 5 minutes further on; there is a NT car park on the right, with toilets and the Thirstea Cafe across the lane on the left . The path down to the beach and the SW Coast Path runs down to the left.
24 locals raden deze aan
Towan Beach
Sweeping, sandy beach. Dog friendly all year. (NB: not to be confused with Towan Beach, Newquay). Head through Gerrans towards St Anthony’s Head, passing the entrance to Trewince campsite. Towan is about 5 minutes further on; there is a NT car park on the right, with toilets and the Thirstea Cafe across the lane on the left . The path down to the beach and the SW Coast Path runs down to the left.
Lovely big sandy beach. Dog friendly all year. There is a large NT car park at the bottom past the Nare hotel opposite the beach with toilets, with a pop-up Thirstea cafe in season. At low tide the beach joins up with the adjoining Pendower beach, which can also be accessed by car from the St Mawes road (but parking there is limited).
28 locals raden deze aan
Carne Beach
Lovely big sandy beach. Dog friendly all year. There is a large NT car park at the bottom past the Nare hotel opposite the beach with toilets, with a pop-up Thirstea cafe in season. At low tide the beach joins up with the adjoining Pendower beach, which can also be accessed by car from the St Mawes road (but parking there is limited).
Sightseeing
C 13th church sitting just above the waters of the Fal in what was described by Sir John Betjeman as “… the most beautiful churchyard on earth”.
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St. Just in Roseland Church
C 13th church sitting just above the waters of the Fal in what was described by Sir John Betjeman as “… the most beautiful churchyard on earth”.
Typical fishing village that still has a large, active fleet. Good selection of gift shops, cafes, pop-ups and pubs including She Sells, The Fisherman’s Chippy, The Fish Grill, Seaosk and The Shark’s Fin, all on or around the quay. A number of boats offer trips round the bay and longer fishing trips, while there is a (weather dependent) ferry service over to Fowey.
196 locals raden deze aan
Mevagissey
Typical fishing village that still has a large, active fleet. Good selection of gift shops, cafes, pop-ups and pubs including She Sells, The Fisherman’s Chippy, The Fish Grill, Seaosk and The Shark’s Fin, all on or around the quay. A number of boats offer trips round the bay and longer fishing trips, while there is a (weather dependent) ferry service over to Fowey.
Veryan is one of the largest (& prettiest) villages on the Roseland, with a thriving year round community with a primary school, church and social club, as well as a pub and a well stocked village shop/post office. Veryan is probably best known for its round houses - ‘no corners for the devil to hide in’ - built in the early 1800s by a local vicar. Interesting church & churchyard worth exploring.
12 locals raden deze aan
Veryan
Veryan is one of the largest (& prettiest) villages on the Roseland, with a thriving year round community with a primary school, church and social club, as well as a pub and a well stocked village shop/post office. Veryan is probably best known for its round houses - ‘no corners for the devil to hide in’ - built in the early 1800s by a local vicar. Interesting church & churchyard worth exploring.
For many the ‘jewel in the crown’ of the Roseland with a fabulous sheltered setting and plenty to see & do with a number of galleries and shops, and a good choice of cafes, pubs and restaurants. The town has two beaches - the main Summer’s Beach on the way into St Mawes and Tavern Beach below the Tresanton - both with swimming platforms. Summers Beach gets the sun until late in the evening. Follow the road along the front past the Tresanton Hotel up to St Mawes Castle, which looks across to Falmouth and the open sea. A little further up the hill is Lamorran Garden, a sub-tropical hillside garden above St Mawes which looks over to the St Anthony Headland. For travelling further afield, passenger ferries run from St Mawes over to Falmouth up to 3 times an hour, while there is a small ferry that crosses over to Place on the St Anthony Headland. Tickets for both can be bought from the ticket office on the quay in St Mawes.
150 locals raden deze aan
St Mawes
For many the ‘jewel in the crown’ of the Roseland with a fabulous sheltered setting and plenty to see & do with a number of galleries and shops, and a good choice of cafes, pubs and restaurants. The town has two beaches - the main Summer’s Beach on the way into St Mawes and Tavern Beach below the Tresanton - both with swimming platforms. Summers Beach gets the sun until late in the evening. Follow the road along the front past the Tresanton Hotel up to St Mawes Castle, which looks across to Falmouth and the open sea. A little further up the hill is Lamorran Garden, a sub-tropical hillside garden above St Mawes which looks over to the St Anthony Headland. For travelling further afield, passenger ferries run from St Mawes over to Falmouth up to 3 times an hour, while there is a small ferry that crosses over to Place on the St Anthony Headland. Tickets for both can be bought from the ticket office on the quay in St Mawes.
Local Attractions
Historic ‘lost’ gardens, long neglected after WW1, before being rediscovered in 1990 and brought back to life. Good cafe and shop, also plant sales. Dog friendly.
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De Verloren Tuinen van Heligan
B3273Historic ‘lost’ gardens, long neglected after WW1, before being rediscovered in 1990 and brought back to life. Good cafe and shop, also plant sales. Dog friendly.
Located in a former China clay pit, based around two large indoor biomes - replicating Rainforest and Mediterranean conditions - with extensive outside gardens also. Number of food options and extensive gift shop. Prebooking required. Plenty undercover so good if the weather is a bit iffy. Dogs allowed generally but not in biomes.
1111 locals raden deze aan
Eden Project
Located in a former China clay pit, based around two large indoor biomes - replicating Rainforest and Mediterranean conditions - with extensive outside gardens also. Number of food options and extensive gift shop. Prebooking required. Plenty undercover so good if the weather is a bit iffy. Dogs allowed generally but not in biomes.
Interesting museum on a former processing works which sets out the history of the China clay industry and the processes involved from the industry’s origins through to the present day. Homely cafe and good gift shop. Dog friendly.
57 locals raden deze aan
Wheal Martyn Clay Works
Interesting museum on a former processing works which sets out the history of the China clay industry and the processes involved from the industry’s origins through to the present day. Homely cafe and good gift shop. Dog friendly.
Offers brewery tours with tasting, on site pub and gift shop selling a wide selection of merchandise and beers, including a number of special small batch brews. Good for a rainy day. Near the station in St Austell (staustellbrewery.co.uk/the brewery).
31 locals raden deze aan
St Austell Brewery Visitor Centre
63 Trevarthian RdOffers brewery tours with tasting, on site pub and gift shop selling a wide selection of merchandise and beers, including a number of special small batch brews. Good for a rainy day. Near the station in St Austell (staustellbrewery.co.uk/the brewery).
Just up from the King Harry Ferry on the Truro side at Feock. Extensive gardens and grounds. NT shop, sunny courtyard cafe and gallery.
220 locals raden deze aan
National Trust - Trelissick Garden
Just up from the King Harry Ferry on the Truro side at Feock. Extensive gardens and grounds. NT shop, sunny courtyard cafe and gallery.
Favourite Galleries
One of a number of galleries in Portscatho, but personal favourite. Has a wide range of art works and gifts for all budgets.
(spindrift-gallery.co.uk)
Spindrift Gallery
8 The QuayOne of a number of galleries in Portscatho, but personal favourite. Has a wide range of art works and gifts for all budgets.
(spindrift-gallery.co.uk)
One of 3 galleries in St Mawes, The Square Gallery - across from the Rising Sun - is my personal favourite. Carries a wide range of works from local artists, with a very helpful & knowledgeable owner. (thesquaregallery.co.uk)
Square Gallery
5 The ArcadeOne of 3 galleries in St Mawes, The Square Gallery - across from the Rising Sun - is my personal favourite. Carries a wide range of works from local artists, with a very helpful & knowledgeable owner. (thesquaregallery.co.uk)
Favourite Pubs
Lovely traditional pub serving good food. Welcoming & dog friendly.
17 locals raden deze aan
The New Inn
Century LaneLovely traditional pub serving good food. Welcoming & dog friendly.
Well kept St Austell Brewery beers & good pub food esp. fish & chips. Front terrace prime spot for watching the world go by - try to get as far to the right as you can as this stays in the sun for longer. Super busy in the summer - be prepared to queue for an outside table on a good day (risingsunstmawes.co.uk)
29 locals raden deze aan
The Rising Sun
Mitchell HillWell kept St Austell Brewery beers & good pub food esp. fish & chips. Front terrace prime spot for watching the world go by - try to get as far to the right as you can as this stays in the sun for longer. Super busy in the summer - be prepared to queue for an outside table on a good day (risingsunstmawes.co.uk)
A peaceful oasis away from the biz. Lovely shaded terrace. Nice traditional pub serving good food. Excellent Sunday roast.
24 locals raden deze aan
The Roseland Inn
A peaceful oasis away from the biz. Lovely shaded terrace. Nice traditional pub serving good food. Excellent Sunday roast.
Food scene
@ Roseland Plant Centre off the main St Mawes road. Cooked breakfasts and lunches, coffees and cakes including their renowned cinnamon buns and bread to take away. Seating outside or in a tepee in the garden. Mon-Sat 9am - 3.30pm.
29 locals raden deze aan
Da Bara Bakery Cafe
@ Roseland Plant Centre off the main St Mawes road. Cooked breakfasts and lunches, coffees and cakes including their renowned cinnamon buns and bread to take away. Seating outside or in a tepee in the garden. Mon-Sat 9am - 3.30pm.
St Just in Roseland (missvs.co.uk): opposite the church. Lovely café serving cream teas and a good selection of home made cakes & light lunches. Mostly outside seating. Daily 10am - 5pm.
9 locals raden deze aan
Miss Vs Cornish Cream Teas
St Just in Roseland (missvs.co.uk): opposite the church. Lovely café serving cream teas and a good selection of home made cakes & light lunches. Mostly outside seating. Daily 10am - 5pm.
For great coffee with views to match, head up to the Bear Cornwall coffee van, which parks up in the St Mawes Castle car park.
Bear Cornwall
Castle DriveFor great coffee with views to match, head up to the Bear Cornwall coffee van, which parks up in the St Mawes Castle car park.
Head down the ramp to the left of the main square in Portscatho. Excellent coffee and cakes overlooking the sea. Same ownership as the Hidden Hut. Outside seating only. Daily 9am-4pm.
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Tatams
Head down the ramp to the left of the main square in Portscatho. Excellent coffee and cakes overlooking the sea. Same ownership as the Hidden Hut. Outside seating only. Daily 9am-4pm.
Lunch on the terrace at the Tresanton is hard to beat. The dog friendly terrace is surprisingly sheltered and offers unrivalled views across to St Anthony Head.
43 locals raden deze aan
Hotel Tresanton
27 Lower Castle RdLunch on the terrace at the Tresanton is hard to beat. The dog friendly terrace is surprisingly sheltered and offers unrivalled views across to St Anthony Head.
On the right not far after turning off the main down to Gerrans/Portscatho. New venture by Knightor Wines serving tasty, creative food in a barn setting. Dog friendly.
knightor Vineyard Portscatho
On the right not far after turning off the main down to Gerrans/Portscatho. New venture by Knightor Wines serving tasty, creative food in a barn setting. Dog friendly.
Newest venture from the Hidden Hut, just across from Tatums. Pizza & pasta to take away or eat inside at communal tables. Weds-Sat 5-9pm. Order online.
(tavolaportscatho.co.uk)
Tavola
Newest venture from the Hidden Hut, just across from Tatums. Pizza & pasta to take away or eat inside at communal tables. Weds-Sat 5-9pm. Order online.
(tavolaportscatho.co.uk)
Rustic charm of Melinsey Mill nestled in a woodland valley - enjoy teas, cakes & cream teas. Combine with a walk down to Pendower beach through the woods.
24 locals raden deze aan
Melinsey Mill
Rustic charm of Melinsey Mill nestled in a woodland valley - enjoy teas, cakes & cream teas. Combine with a walk down to Pendower beach through the woods.
Live music
On Tuesdays & Thursdays during the summer holidays the Caerhays Beach cafe hosts live music. Checkout their FB page ( caerhaysbeachcafe ) to see who’s on. Beach bar & good choice of tasty food from 17:00, music from 18:30. All outside by the beach so rather weather dependent, but a fun evening with lots of kids & dogs enjoying the vibe too ! If you want to avoid lengthy queues aim to get your food orders in by 6ish, or just take a picnic.
19 locals raden deze aan
Caerhays Beach Restaurant
On Tuesdays & Thursdays during the summer holidays the Caerhays Beach cafe hosts live music. Checkout their FB page ( caerhaysbeachcafe ) to see who’s on. Beach bar & good choice of tasty food from 17:00, music from 18:30. All outside by the beach so rather weather dependent, but a fun evening with lots of kids & dogs enjoying the vibe too ! If you want to avoid lengthy queues aim to get your food orders in by 6ish, or just take a picnic.