Crugkern Barn - Cot Valley
Places of Interest
Well, where do you start? West Penwith and the surrounding areas offer a multitude of opportunities for days out and places to visit whatever your interests. Its probably easiest to cover them in ‘groups’ of similar locations or events.
Towns, Villages and Harbours
It would impossible to cover every interesting place in this part of Cornwall as there are so many! So we’ll go for some of our favourites…
PENZANCE has some lovely parts to it. Some of the parks and gardens (see later) are delightful, as are the little terraced streets and ‘parades’ which overlook the bay. As well as the splendid promenade and the recently updated Jubilee Pool, one of our favourite locations is Chapel Streel with its range of quirky independent shops.
NEWLYN is a great place but often overlooked. The harbour is delightful. Home to the Penlee Lifeboat and one of Britain’s busiest fishing ports, it is buzzing with activity and picturesque at the same time. It hosts the vibrant Newlyn Fish Festival (August Bank Holiday) and, if you enjoy fresh fish, the shops along the front are the place to go. Knowledgable, helpful and cheerful staff selling fish as fresh as you can get. If you are in Newlyn try the delightful Duke Street Cafe, and Jelberts ice cream would make it a truly memorable visit.
Just along the coast from Newlyn is the picturesque harbour of MOUSEHOLE. Home of the legendary “Mousehole Cat”, this lovely village is packed with interest. Galleries, cafes and a quintessential Cornish harbour make this a lovely village to spend some time. Its narrow streets and hidden alleyways are full of surprises.
Another of our nearby favourites is MARAZION with the stunning ST MICHAEL’S MOUNT. The mount can be accessed at lower states of the tide via a granite causeway, and at other times by boat from Marazion. The gardens and house are managed by the National Trust.
Along the south coast of the peninsula are three other notable locations which are well worth a visit. Overlooking the beautiful cove of Porthcurno is the unique Minack Theatre. Perched on the cliffs high above the Atlantic ocean the theatre puts on a full programme of drama, musicals and opera every summer, together with music, comedy and story-telling.
Porthcurno is also notable for its stunning beach, with silver sand and turquoise sea. It is also the location of the excellent Telegraph Museum. Porthcurno was the point at which many submarine telegraph cables—transatlantic and to other locations—came ashore. The museum, which opened in May 1998, is housed in the former telegraph facility.
Just east of here is the stunning cove of Porthgwarra. Popular with bird-watchers, sea watchers and fans of Poldark. It was here that the famous ‘swimming scene’ was shot.
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We are spoilt for choice in this part of Cornwall for spectacular houses and gardens. The unusual ‘maritime’ micro-climate, particularly in the sheltered valleys, allows many plants to thrive which would struggle elsewhere. This, together with the flair, imagination (and wealth) of the landowners in the past gives us some truly spectacular gardens to wander round such as Glendurgan, with its challenging maze, Trellisick (right) and our nearest National Trust garden, Trengwainton. Also nearby are the lovely gardens of Trewidden.
As mentioned above, St Michael’s Mount gardens are well worth a visit, but if you are happy to go just a little further afield then The Lost Gardens of Heligan near Mevagissey and the Eden Project (right) are not to be missed if you haven’t been before.
One of our favourites has to be Tremenheere Sculpture Garden near Gulval (left). Stunning views over Mounts Bay, together with unique art work and a superb cafe combine to make this a memorable visit.
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The Tin Coast
St Just owes its existence to tin and copper. Originally the centre of the tin mining industry in this part of Cornwall, the town’s past is reflected in the nature of the streets of granite cottages. St Just was once the mining centre of the peninsula and disused engine houses dominate the landscape. You don’t have to go far to see examples of Cornish mining on the edge, such as these mines, the Crowns, at Botallack or Levant and Geevor.
Wherever you walk along this coast you come across disused mines,, chimneys and pump-houses. It is no wonder that this area features as one of the main locations for the filming of Poldark. Location managers couldn’t resist the rich mining heritage of the stretch of west Cornwall coast linking Botallack and Levant. Cameras rolled with Levant Mine playing the role of the fictional Tressiders Rolling Mill while Owles and Crowns near Botallack starred as Ross Poldark’s Wheal Leisure.
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If your interests lie in art, crafts or ceramics then this is the area for you. We are spoiled for choice in all these disciplines whether you want to simply view and admire or take part yourself.
St Ives has a wide range of galleries, potteries and workshops and is the spiritual home of many local artists, potters and craft-workers. Tate St Ives (as covered on the Art and Photography page) is well worth a visit if art is your thing. The Leach Pottery and museum is also an interesting location, and the shop is a little bit too tempting if you like studio pottery!
You don’t have to go to St Ives to find quality art work. There are many smaller studios and galleries in Penzance, Newlyn, Mousehole or in the smaller villages such as Pendeen (Pendeen Pottery) or Rosudgeon (Peter Swanson Pottery – shown here on the right).
Chris also has a studio here at Crugkern. She is a silk painter, and her work hangs on the walls of the barn (see Chris’s Art page).
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West Cornwall is immensely proud of both its Cornish heritage and local produce, and celebrates these like no other place we have lived. Her are just some of the events which take place on a regular basis.
Porthleven Food Festival – Last w/e in April. Food, drink and music around the beautiful harbour
St Ives Food and Drink – 2nd w/e in May. A celebration and gathering of some of the finest food & drink producers and chefs in Cornwall which will take place in St Ives on Porthminster Beach – believed to be the UK’s only beach food and drink festival.
Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival – a long w/e in Mid June. A free and totally bonkers three days of fantastic ‘maritime’ music with groups from all over the world. One of our favourites
Golowan Festival – Last week of June. Penzance community celebration of the traditional Feast of St. John. The festival has a packed programme of artists in celebration of music, performing arts & theatre. Superb parades, music, food and stalls.
Lafrowda – First week in July – An annual event in St Just celebrating community arts, culminating in Lafrowda Day when there will be a day of free entertainment to suit every taste, with street performers, stalls, refreshments, bouncy castles and three spectacular processions.
Newlyn Fish Festival – August Bank Holiday – a celebration of all that is fishy, with gig races, fish auctions, music and dance. A great day out. Note: In 2018 (and possibly 2019) it did not take place as the harbour was undergoing a major re-fit and it was not appropriate to run the day.
Note: These dates and info are just a guide. Please check the Visit Cornwall website for information about these and other events and up to date information about when they are on.
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For more ideas why not check out the Visit Cornwall website to see up to date information on events and places to go.