Cornwall Accommodation

Roseland Peninsula

INTRODUCTION

The Roseland Peninsula is a beautiful estuarine area where two river valleys meet the ocean and is a place unlike any other in Cornwall. The Lizard protects the Roseland from the worst of the region’s weather and with a huge range of landscapes to explore, the visitor is never short of things to do or places to see. One of the most picturesque and unspoilt parts of the British Isles, the Roseland Peninsula offers sandy beaches and dramatic cliffs, delightful rivers and countryside, attractive villages and hamlets as well as a wealth of activities. Flower covered pubs, riverside barbeques, cream tea cottages and restaurants of high repute add a little more magic to your holiday. While on holiday here you can wander the cliffs or along the riversides, swim off the beaches or browse the shops in the charming little market towns. For a more active holiday have a go at sailing, windsurfing, water-skiing, diving or snorkelling. In summer make the most of the numerous carnivals and fetes, regattas and gig racing, not to mention the heavy horse show and all the wonderful gardens open to the public.

The Roseland also offers a wide selection of places to stay, from traditional hotels and farm-house bed and breakfasts, to lovely guest houses, quality cottages and caravans. Well equipped and organised camp sites provide accommodation to the standards you expect. The peninsula shape of the Roseland makes travel by ferry the most convenient and quickest way of visiting from many parts of the County - saving many miles on round trips in the car. The St. Mawes - Place ferryboat take passengers to St. Anthony in Roseland, a remote and unspoilt part of the Roseland. The journey takes about 10 minutes. A regular ferry service operates from Falmouth's Prince of Wales Pier to St. Mawes. The trip lasts 25 minutes and offers excellent views of some of the areas best landmarks including Pendennis and St. Mawes Castles, Black Rock and St. Anthony Lighthouse. The service runs half hourly in the season.

For those who enjoy a good hike or just a quiet stroll, the Roseland offers an array of circular walks of varying lengths. The mild climate encourages the growth of some unusual plants and makes for entertaining and educational walks for even the most amateur naturalist. Gull Rock off Nare Head oasts one of the largest seabird breeding colonies on the South Coast of England. The birds there are using some strange nesting materials: fishing line, rubber from wetsuits and other detritus gathered from the sea. Look out too for Shags and Cormorants as you wander the cliff tops!

SECTION ONE

CONSTANTINE / MAWNAN SMITH

At the south western point of the Roseland Peninsular lies the Parish of Constantine. One of the largest in Cornwall it stretches from the granite ridge of Carmenellis in the north to the banks of the Helford River in the south. Constantine's main street is made up of traditional granite cottages, with a 13th Century Parish Church. There is plenty to explore here and the village offers its tourists an excellent opportunity to recharge their batteries. There is a museum of local history which tells you all you need to know about Constantine’s past. Employment had traditionally centred on the river, farming and granite quarries. Now with very little quarrying done, and no schooners and barques using the river, tourism is very important, with lots of vessels enjoying the river with it's beautiful creeks and small beaches. The village provides ample parking and useful shops as well as a craft gallery and a General Store with very large off-licence offering 500 different whiskies! Fifteen minutes walk out of the village is an award winning pub with a restaurant and bar food so make a break for lunch before heading on to see what else the Roseland Peninsular has to offer.

The Parish of Mawnan Smith has two main beaches that you can drive to,
park and spend some time. You will come across other smaller beaches and coves if you walk the coastal footpath or approach from a listed footpath. In addition it is a gardener’s paradise. Despite being only a small community it boasts no less than three major gardens of note. Trebah is a 26 acre garden set in a wooded ravine leading down to a beautiful private beach. There is a wealth of plants on view, most notably the hydrangeas, rhododendrons, camellias and some 100 year old tree ferns! The garden also has a visitor’s centre with refreshments available. Garden number two is Glendurgan, owned by The National Trust, this is a valley garden of stunning beauty. Designed in the 1820s, this garden leads down to the little hamlet of Durgan with its charming beach and contains many fine trees and rare and exotic plants, with outstanding Spring displays of magnolias and camellias. While the house itself is privately occupied there is plenty to admire in the garden, including a glorious display of wild flowers that carpet the valley slopes. The laurel maze, dating from 1833, is an attraction which puzzles both young and old.

The third and final garden of Mawnan Smith is Carwinion. Here there is a treasure of rare and exotic plants to catch the eye. Developed in the 1840s by the Rogers family, the idea was to bring in and cultivate rare plants. From this time are the Dicksonia Antartica and Cryptomaria. At the beginning of the 20 th century, bamboo was introduced to the garden and Carwinion can now claim to be home to one of the finest collections in the country.

SECTION TWO -

FLUSHING / MYLOR

North of Falmouth is the pretty village of Flushing. Its narrow streets and alley ways offer beautiful views across to Falmouth. Its beach, though relatively small, is stunning enough to attract huge numbers of visitors. Reported to have the mildest climate in Britain it is a very popular place in the summer and parking can be difficult. It might be easier to spend several days in this charming village to avoid the bother of getting in and out and there is a wide range of accommodation to choose from. Built by settlers from Vissingen in Holand in the 17th century, Flushing became a prosperous port during the 17th and 18th century. Though its success depends largely on tourism and not its port, the village still retains its early Dutch appearance and its narrow streets house some grand Queen Anne houses built for sea captains and naval officers.

Further up the estuary Mylor Yacht Harbour has a thriving maritime atmosphere in keeping with its colourful history. For sailors, the harbour offers pontoon berths and swinging moorings that are well sheltered from the prevailing wind and provide immediate access to probably the country's finest sailing water - Cornwall's Carrick Roads. You can get your sea legs in one of the many sailing schools and boat hire places. However for the land lovers there is plenty available too. The harbour is lined with lovely holiday cottages and flats which offer great views of the Carrick Roads. In the village visit the 12 th century church or take one of the coastal walks or bike rides to appreciate the views. Keep your eyes peeled for seals and dolphins that are sometimes visible from the shore. This is a small friendly place with a surprising number of activities even for those not interested in sailing!

SECTION THREE

TOLVERRE / ST JUST - IN - ROSELAND

The village of Tolverne lies on the eastern shore of the River Fal directly opposite Trelissick Gardens near Feock. You can reach it by boat from Truro or Falmouth, which affords some lovely views as well as the more traditional approach to a very traditional place! At Tolverne the first place to visit is ‘Smuggler's Cottage,’ a pretty thatched cottage with small tea rooms dating from the 15th century. Tucked into beautiful wooded countryside by the river, it’s best to take your time to appreciate this special place. Indulge in a traditional cream tea or sample something from the ‘Smugglers’ large collection of excellent malts before working off the calories on the scenic walk along the Oyster Way from Tolverne to St. Mawes. The historical significance of this place is also worth knowing as you amble about. The shingle beaches at Tolverne and Turnaware Point were used, along with the beach at Trebah Gardens, overlooking the Helford, as embarkation points for Allied troops taking part in the D-Day Landings in 1944.

South of Tolverre is the village of St Just-in-Roseland. Here you can escape into the magic of one of the most beautiful churches in England. Located on the water’s edge and surrounded by sub-tropical trees and shrubs this is a breathtaking location and well worth a lengthy visit. Enjoy a long walk from the church and boatyard to where the coastal path leads the way to St Mawes. The church is just outside the main village, with a small side road, taking you down the hillside to the church gates. There is a small car park and limited parking along the side of the road by the church gate.

SECTION FOUR

PORTLOE / VERYAN

For a true Cornish experience visit the fishing village of Portloe and watch the fishermen unloading crab and lobster as you sit on a terrace and enjoy a meal. Having escaped the horrors of modern development, Portloe remains one of the country’s best kept secrets. The location is dramatic with the harbour squeezed between dark rugged cliffs. Around the harbour the pretty traditional cottages are on both sides of the valley. Look out for the Gala Week in mid-July for a festival of local colour and an impressive parade. Though only small, the village is surprisingly well stocked with eatery’s, a local pub, hotel and restaurant produce excellent fare. For pure indulgence book into The Lugger Hotel, once a smuggler’s den it is now a chic and sophisticated hotel with spa. The shingle bay is good for swimming in the summer months when the water turns a deep shade of turquoise, but look out for the odd fishing vessel coming into harbour! There are plenty of opportunities for walks along the coastal path but do take care as the cliff edge is very steep and dangerous in rough weather and is therefore not suitable for children.

Further along the coast, Veryan is a another village of particular charm. There is plenty to see and do here, with sports facilities, an indoor bowling green and children’s playground. The entrance to the village is marked by the early 19 th century Roundhouses. Built by the Trist family these have come to be a unique feature of the village, their thatched roofs and circular shape make them a tourist attraction. It was originally thought  that their shape would guard the village from evil  as there were no corners in which the devil could  hide! Now privately owned, they make an attractive photograph.

SECTION FIVE

GERRANS BAY AND PORTSCATHO / ST MAWES

The villages of Portscatho and Gerrans are merely five minutes walk from each other, though each possess a very individual charm. Portscatho is situated in a protected cove in the corner of Gerrans Bay and continues to be an active fishing village. The beaches are safe and sandy and so attract families in the summer. From Portscatho there is an excellent view of Gull Rock and the colonies of seabirds that have made it their home.

At the top of the hill above Portscatho lies Gerrans, the medieval spire acting as a landmark to generations of local sailors.

Both villages have a number of shops offering local fish and garden produce, as well as handmade arts and crafts. The surrounding countryside offers interesting walks with an abundance of wild flowers.

Gerrans and Portscatho have become popular as a small holiday resort with visitors returning year after year.

St. Mawes, is a pleasant waterside village that looks out over the River Fal towards Falmouth. The striking coastline around St. Mawes was used as the setting for the popular television series Poldark. The village is an ideal base for exploring the Roseland and makes a pleasant family holiday in itself. With two good beaches, both safe for swimming and mild enough for sunbathing, it’s difficult to beat this little village for pure holiday relaxation. In the way of shops, St Mawes has plenty to offer in and around the harbour as well as hotels, restaurants and a Sailing Club. Tennis courts can be hired in the recreation ground nearby. Ferry trips are available from the harbour at regular intervals to take you across the Percuil River to Anthony Head or across the Fal to Falmouth. The area also includes part of the coastal footpath and visitors can enjoy many lovely coastal and inland walks.
St Mawes Castle was built during the reign of Henry VII to protect against the invading French. While the French never made it, the Castle, with its three huge circular bastions (like a clover leaf) and gun ports covering every angle of approach, remains a fine example of Tudor military architecture. The Castle offers some excellent views out to Falmouth and its location on the water’s edge make it a must to visit. The Castle is now in the custodianship of English Heritage and open to the public all year round.

Its larger sister castle, Pendennis, just adds to the drama of this evocative landscape. precaution against a possible full scale invasion.

St. Mawes and Pendennis, were both Royalist strongholds during the English Civil War. The Royalist commander at St. Mawes, realised that the castle, located part way down the hillside - was impossible to defend from a land attack, so he surrendered the garrison to the Roundheads shortly after being confronted. Pendennis, commanded by Sir John Arundel and assisted by Sir Henry Killigrew, was in a much better strategic position, perched securely on top of the hill and although completely cut off by Parliamentarian forces, resisted the siege for six months.