Days out

Places to visit near Polperro (less than an hour’s drive)

There’s a lot to explore within a short drive or even a good walk from Polperro. Here are some of the best day trips, walks, beaches and experiences nearby:

🌊 1. Looe (15 min drive, coastal walk or boat)

• Traditional Cornish fishing town with shops, cafés, and a sandy beach.
• Visit the Old Guildhall Museum, the harbour, or take a boat trip.
• Try crabbing from the harbour wall.

Walk: A scenic 5-mile South West Coast Path walk from Polperro to Looe (moderate, stunning sea views).
Boat: There are boat trips from Polperro to Looe (weather permitting)

🏖️ 2. Talland Bay (between Looe & Polperro) 10 minute drive

• Quiet coves and rock pools for exploring.
• Good café and parking.
• Lovely stop on the coast path walk between Looe and Polperro.

⛵ 3. Fowey (approx. 30 min by car including Bodinnick ferry)

• A picturesque harbour town, associated with Daphne du Maurier.
• Great for boutiques, galleries, and boat trips.
• Readymoney Cove is a small beach nearby.

Boat: There are return boat trips from Polperro. Check locally for dates and times.

🏞️ 4. Lanhydrock House (National Trust) (approx. 40 min drive)

• Victorian country estate with gardens, woodland walks, and an impressive house.
• Estate cycle trails available for all levels.

🏰 5. Restormel Castle (near Lostwithiel, 40 min drive)

• Ruined circular Norman castle with views over the River Fowey valley.

🏖️ 6. Whitsand Bay & Rame Peninsula (approx. 45 min drive)

• Wild, dramatic beaches
• Visit Rame Head, Kingsand/Cawsand for classic Cornish coastal villages.

🌿 7. The Lost Gardens of Heligan (50 min drive)

• Vast restored gardens, jungle walks, Victorian greenhouses, and wildlife.
• Excellent café and family-friendly.

🌍 8. The Eden Project (45–50 min drive)

• Famous biomes housing rainforest and Mediterranean ecosystems.
• Art, education, sustainability exhibits, events, zip line.

🐬 9. Boat Trips & Wildlife Cruises

• From Looe or Fowey, take a seal- or dolphin-spotting cruise, or try sea fishing.

🥾 10. South West Coast Path Walks

• West to Lansallos or Lantic Bay: Hilly, rugged and remote, beautiful coastal scenery.
• East to Looe/Talland: More accessible, hilly, but gentler terrain, with stop-off cafés.

11. Golitha Falls (30-40 min drive)

• Golitha Falls are a series of cascades and waterfalls along a section of the River Fowey.

Ideas for places to visit in Cornwall

Charming Coastal Villages & Harbours

• Polperro – Enchanting fishing village with narrow lanes, smugglers’ history, and no cars in the centre.
• Mousehole – Tiny granite harbour with calm beauty and romantic vibes.
• Port Isaac – Made famous by Doc Martin, with dramatic coastal views and winding streets.
• Boscastle – Cliff-hugged harbour village with natural drama and moorland nearby.
• Mevagissey – Classic Cornish harbour with colourful boats, galleries and a walkable coast path.
• Cadgwith – Thatched cottages and a fishing beach on the Lizard Peninsula.

Surfing Beaches

• Fistral Beach (Newquay) – Cornwall’s most famous surf beach; consistent waves and great atmosphere.
• Perranporth – Huge beach with rolling surf, sand dunes and a laid-back surf town feel.
• Polzeath – Beginner-friendly surf, lovely village vibe and rockpools.
• Watergate Bay – Wide, dramatic beach with top surf schools and clifftop cafés.
• Gwithian & Godrevy – Golden sands, lighthouse views, strong surf and seal-watching.
• Sennen Cove – Near Land’s End, big Atlantic rollers and a peaceful village setting.
• Praa Sands – Gentle surf and one of the prettiest south coast beaches with white sand.
• Porthtowan – Tucked between cliffs, great surf and a beachside bar with sunsets.

Scenic & Photogenic Beaches (non-surf)

• Kynance Cove – turquoise waters and craggy rocks.
• Pedn Vounder – Wild and remote, below towering cliffs – only accessible by foot.
• Porthcurno – Picture-perfect, under the open-air Minack Theatre.
• Trebarwith Strand – Backed by caves and cliffs, best visited at low tide.
• Holywell Bay – Dramatic dunes and rock formations featured in Poldark.

Wilderness & Coastal Walks

• Zennor to St Ives Coastal Path – Wild, granite-strewn coast with Atlantic views.
• Tintagel Castle – Ancient ruins with windswept drama and Arthurian lore.
• St Agnes Heritage Coast – Rich in mining history, now a walker’s paradise.
• Rame Head Peninsula – Untouched, lesser-visited headland with big sea views.

Gardens & Grand Estates

• The Eden Project – Global garden housed in massive biomes, showcasing diverse plant life and exploring humanity’s relationship with nature. Set in a former clay mine.
• The Lost Gardens of Heligan – Rediscovered Victorian gardens full of secret corners.
• Trelissick Garden (NT) – Overlooking the Fal estuary with ferry access and peaceful trails.
• Trebah Garden – Exotic jungle-like planting leading down to a private beach.
• Lanhydrock House (NT) – One of Cornwall’s grandest houses with wooded cycle trails.

Towns with Character

• Padstow – Foodie hotspot with harbour charm, ferry to Rock, and the Camel Trail.
• Fowey – Literary history, sailing boats, estuary views and boutique shops.
• Marazion – Gateway to St Michael’s Mount and calm, scenic beaches.
• Penzance & Chapel Street – Historic buildings, quirky shops, and views over Mount’s Bay.
• Looe (East & West) – Fishing port with sandy beach, great walking and a charming branch line train from Liskeard.
• St Ives – Apart from its beaches, St Ives is a cultural and culinary hub. It hosts Tate St Ives, independent galleries and artisan workshops. The light is described as having an unusual clarity, attracting and inspiring artists.

Days out from Polperro