The best of the Cornish Riviera
This part of Cornwall has a lot to offer, it's sheltered coves, calm, clear waters and charming villages have earned it the name 'Cornish Riviera'. This area is best known for gardens, quaint seaside villages and sheltered beaches.
The guide below gives you our top picks of the local attractions, all within just half an hour drive from Rockleigh Place. Why don't you also check out this handy, printable map.
Beaches
The South coast of mid-Cornwall is excellent for swimming and kayaking due to the calm sea (see St. Austell Bay beach guide). The North Coast offers dramatic waves and exciting walking trails, perfect for surfing or taking in the views. Our top local picks are:
Hemmick Beach - this scenic beach is surrounded by stunning hills and countryside and offers plenty of space. To get here, you have to park at Penare car park and follow a short walking trail, and for this reason its never crowded.
Porthpean - this beach is totally worth a visit if you want to go kayaking. The nearby caves are fascinating with seals frequently making an appearance here! Read this article about Kayaking. You can rent a kayak from the Porthpean outdoor centre or get a guided tour.
Caerhays Beach - great all rounder with cafe, nearby parking, sandy beach, great walking trails and the beautiful Caerhays Estate. Read more about it here.
Towns and Villages
Whether its the historical port Charlestown, quaint fishing village Mevagissey or the picturesque Fowey, you won't be disappointed. The Riviera is known for its traditional towns filled with winding cobbled streets and Cornish heritage. For something unique, take a ride through Veryan, a tiny village with characteristic thatched round houses.
Top picks not to miss:
Mevagissey - a traditional and functioning fishing harbour. Mevagissey has lots to offer, the fishing trips are excellent and you can also just hire a boat end explore the coastline. There are great souvenir shops, pubs and cafes. More here.
Fowey - beautiful estuary town with plenty for tourists including river cruises, walks and cafes & restaurants. The Ferry between Fowey and Mevagissey allows you to see the beautiful coastline and visit both towns in a day.
Charlestown - small and pretty Georgian port, home to the Shipwreck Heritage centre. If you time it right you will see an impressive tall ship sailing out of the lock. There are a number of great pubs and restaurants.
Gardens
This area is perfect for visiting Cornish gardens. The famous Eden Project is so close you can follow a walking trail there. For something a little quieter check out one of the beautiful privately run gardens such as Marsh Villa Gardens or enjoy beautiful spring blooms at Tregrehan. It's hard to choose favourites but here we go:
Eden Project - very unique, educational and provides a great option for a rainy day. There are seasonal, themed exhibitions and shows and an ice rink in the winter.
Lost Gardens of Heligan - quirky gardens with plenty of woodland walking trails, famous for the natural sculptures. Read a review of Heligan here
Pinetum Gardens - these gardens are less well known but should definitely be on your list! The grounds are huge and you will find different themed gardens for your enjoyment. There is plenty of space to relax and lot of great picnic spots.
Castles
As many places in the UK, Cornwall is rich in history and heritage. The castles here not only offer a glimpse into the past but also stunning coastal views. The rich mining history of Cornwall has left a footprint of old mines, caves, ports, chimneys and viaducts.
Our top picks for this area are:
Restormel Castle - a picturesque, circular castle built in 11th century. There are great views and good picnic spots. Read about it here.
St. Catherine's Castle - Henrician castle built between approximately 1538 and 1540. It sits on a hilltop in the beautiful Fowey.
Caerhays Castle - impressive, semi-castellated manor house and gardens.
For kids
There is lots to do for kids, from farms & animal sanctuaries to adventure playgrounds not to mention of course the famous Eden Project.
Our top picks are:
Pirates Quest - a very fun and engaging activity for the whole family, good for rainy days too as its indoors. A tour with excellent actors as pirate guides. Very well put together and surprisingly entertaining for adults! If visiting during peak season, we recommend to go to the morning sessions as they're less busy.
KidzWorld - indoor and outdoor adventure playground for kids. Right next to it is Cornucopia - a Cornish food market with plenty of local produce, street food style cafes as well as a diner.
Porthpean Outdoor Centre - this brilliant activity centre offers myriad activities for kids (and adults) ranging from archery and indoor climbing to kayaking, coasteering and many more! all safety equipment is provided and the guides are excellent!
Rainy days
Cornwall wouldn't be Cornwall without a bit of rain! But don't worry, there are plenty of attractions for those wet days. Eden Project is huge and its all under cover, so is a great option. Charlestown has a brilliant shipwreck museum and Lanhydrock is a magnificent Victorian house definitely worth a visit. Alternatively, since you'll be getting wet anyway.. why not head to Porthpean Outdoor Centre and enjoy some organised sea activities.
Here are our top picks:
Carnglaze Caverns - fascinating attraction for the whole family. Go on a self-guided underground tour where you will explore 3 huge caves and an underground lake.
Spa - what a great excuse to take a day off and spend some quality time at the nearby Clearing Spa at The Cornwall Hotel Spa & Estate. Book yourself in for some lovely treatments or just get a day pass (£25 for the day) and use all the gorgeous facilities.
St. Austell Brewery - excellent tour of this Victorian brewery with 150 years of history and plenty of beer tasting. It is walking distance from Rockleigh so no designated driver required! Hicks bar on site has a great decor, relaxed atmosphere and is great for lunch.
Walking trails
The continuous 300 mile South West Coastal Path wraps the whole Cornish coast, which means you can join the trail from any coastal point. While Cornwall really does have a spectacular coast, it also offers some heritage and woodland trails which are not to be missed. If you fancy a break from the coast, why not try one of the gorgeous woodland trails such as Luxulyan Valley or clay trails.
Here are our top picks:
Dodman Point - circular coastal walk. Best way to get there is to park at Penare and follow the trail to Dodman Point, then to Hemmick beach and back to Penare. Full review here. This is an easy walk that would take 1-2 hours. Hemmick beach is beautiful so its worth spending some time there. You can extend the walk by following the coastal path to Gorran Haven.
Carnewas and Bedruthan - Dramatic cliff-side walk near Newquay. This has dedicated parking and a nice cafe at the starting point. Walk as much or as little as you wish, stunning views guaranteed. In my opinion the rock stacks look best at low tide. Full review here.
Clay trails - a network of trails through the countryside and old mining quarries. You can join the trail by foot, its a 10 minute walk from Rockleigh. You can either follow the trail to Eden Project or to Wheal Martyn Museum.