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Towns and Villages

There are plenty of nearby towns and villages to explore:

Polruan

Built on a hill opposite Fowey this charming, unspoilt village has one road going through the middle of it which ends at the village quay, from where you can pick up the foot passenger ferry to Fowey. There are 2 pubs, a couple of shops, a café and when the tide is low, a small beach. A popular walk takes you from Fowey to Polruan on the passenger ferry, then through woodland and the creek at Pont to Bodinnick and back to Fowey via the car ferry.

Bodinnick

Daphne DuMaurier lived in Bodinnick for many years and took inspiration from her surroundings. Her former home is by the Bodinnick Car Ferry and is still family-owned therefore not open to the public.

Golant

(3 miles from Fowey) Cormorants, egrets, mallards, swans, kingfishers and herons make their home on the river around Golant. The hamlet has a 13th Century Parish Church, a pub, art gallery and a small post office.

Lerryn

(6 miles from Fowey via Bodinnick Ferry) The river Lerryn, a tributary of the Fowey, runs through this beautiful village. The riverside walks are wonderful and thought to have provided Kenneth Graham with his inspiration for “Tales of The River Bank”. The village has a local store, pub, small bric a brac shop with 2 local Cider farms and riding stables nearby.

Lostwithiel

(7 miles from Fowey) This pretty village is the antique capital of Cornwall, with over 20 antique shops to potter around. It is overlooked by the imposing 12th Century Restormel Castle and bordered on one side by Lostwithiel Golf Club, where non-members are welcome. The village hosts regular auctions and antique fairs and is a popular choice with the BBC’s Flog it! Programme. Restormel Castle, open April – October, 10am – 6pm.

Charlestown

(7 miles from Fowey) The harbour village was once a Georgian “new town” and between 1780 and 1810 is was developed as a port for the export of copper and china clay. Today, largely untouched by modernity, it is home to a number of Tall Ships that are used in film projects all over the world.

Polperro

(8 miles from Fowey via Bodinnick Ferry) This village has retained almost all of its 17th Century architectural charm and is still a working fishing port. The Polperro Heritage Museum is open daily between March – October.

Mevagissey

(13 miles from Fowey) A traditional Cornish village where you can meander down narrow alleyways, enjoy a walk around the harbour, browse gift shops and art galleries or partake of a drink in one of the many pubs. A ferry from Fowey to Mevagissey takes approximately 35 mintues and runs between May – October, weather permitting. Buses are available hourly from Mevagissey to the Lost Gardens of Heligan.