South Cornwall Coastal Charms

Itinerary

Day 1

Join your coach this morning and head south west towards the beautiful county of Cornwall, and the fishing village of St Mawes. On arrival at your comfortable hotel you will have time to settle in and relax, perhaps enjoying a drink in the bar or taking a stroll around the picturesque harbour before your first tasty evening meal.

Days 2 to 4

Start each day of your break in Cornwall with a hearty breakfast. Your comfortable central hotel allows you to make the most of your free time to explore your lovely resort and its beautiful location on the south Cornish coast.

Spend all your time in St Mawes or doing your own thing. Alternatively, join us on our included excursions to explore some of the highlights of the region as we visit beautiful Mevagissey, a fishing village with colourful old buildings and narrow, winding streets leading down to the picture-postcard harbour. We also make a stop in Charlestown near St Austell, famed for its collection of ships and traditional appearance which makes it a very popular filming location. The picturesque, original Grade II listed harbour complete with tall ships will make you feel as if you have been transported back time. Discover the county town of Truro with its remarkable three-spired cathedral, where you can browse the Pannier Market and charming shops or take a stroll along the river. We also take a short but scenic ferry ride from St Mawes to the pretty harbour port town of Falmouth. We include a guided walking tour with interesting sights and fun facts and stories with tales of pirates, cannibals, and other hidden secrets. Then spend free time exploring with various attractions including the Maritime Museum, Falmouth Art Gallery, the impressive Pendennis Castle and Gyllyngdune Gardens.

Return to your hotel every evening for dinner and the opportunity to swap stories with your fellow travellers. Entertainment is included on some nights, giving you the opportunity to step out and sample St Mawes by night on other evenings, or simply relax in the hotel perhaps with a drink in the hotel bar with the pretty harbour as the backdrop.

Day 5

After a final tasty Cornish breakfast it is time to say farewell to Cornwall today, heading homewards with time to relax on your comfortable coach with fond memories of your lovely weekend break.

Tour includes

• 4 nights night hotel with English breakfast & evening meals
• Evening entertainment on 2 nights
• Free time to explore St Mawes
• A day visiting Falmouth by ferry with an included walking tour
• Visit to Truro
• Excursion to Charlestown & Mevagissey
• Direct Coach Travel
• Net Zero Carbon Offset Certificate

There are a few steps leading up to the hotel and also a few steps within the hotel itself. Therefore this may not be suitable for anyone with severe walking difficulties/mobility issues

St Mawes

INCLUDED Visitor DestinationSt Mawes is a traditional South Cornwall fishing village, bustling with waterfront activities and boasts the perfect-picture postcard retreat. Once a fishing port, narrow streets and cottages help to give this pretty village a quaint feel, albeit with all the modern facilities you could need. There’s a treasure trove of beaches, coves, and creeks all along the Roseland Heritage Coast, including beaches that are perfect for swimming and sunbathing. You can take leisurely strolls along the coast, spend time relaxing on the beach or enjoy serene boat trips. If you are more active you can make the most of the wonderful walking trails and maybe take part in any of the water sport activities available. You can also find St Mawes Castle, among the best-preserved of Henry VIII’s coastal artillery fortresses, and the most elaborately decorated of them all.

Image credit Adam Gibbard

Other information:

Visit St Mawes

St Mawes Ferry

St Mawes ferry to Falmouth

INCLUDED Visitor Destination

This magical route connects the old world fishing harbour of St Mawes on the Roseland Peninsula with the bustling maritime port of Falmouth steeped in history and heritage.

One of Cornwall’s most popular boat trips, it carries over 162,000 passengers a year on the 2.8 mile route and is an absolute must for anyone visiting Cornwall. The fleet is made up of four classic wooden ferries which provide the service to both visitors and locals alike 364 days a year, saving a road journey of over 29 miles. Anytime of year is perfect to visit, whether enjoying a relaxing cruise on hot summer days or soaking in the serene surroundings in winter.

Sailings take approximately 20 minutes and are subject to tide, weather and circumstances.

Falmouth

INCLUDED Visitor DestinationFalmouth is a lovely coastal town renowned for its fascinating maritime heritage. You can visit the multi-award-winning National Maritime Museum Cornwall which houses a huge collection of boats, retells stories of intrepid explorers and provides an observation window on to the bustling harbour. Pendennis Castle is one of the finest fortresses built by Henry VIII and visitors can explore the restored Victorian and WWII defences complete with sounds and smells! Alternatively simply stroll around the harbour, beaches, galleries and shops and enjoy a bite to eat or drink in one of the many eateries.

Click here for more information.

Truro

INCLUDED Visitor DestinationCornwall's only city has everything you'd expect from a modern, well connected city but on a human scale - great shopping, great entertainment and a blossoming food and drink scene. Truro's heritage is evident in historic architecture, delightful parks and public spaces but at the same time is contemporary, quirky and unique. Here, vibrant local independent shops and market traders rub shoulders with the usual national retailers in an eclectic mix with a creative vibe. Truro has a criss-cross of cobbled roads, browsable streets and magical mews, always rewarding for the curious and the unhurried. Rising above it all is the iconic architecture of the cathedral's three spires which is well worth a visit.

Charlestown

INCLUDED Visitor DestinationCharlestown Harbour is a great place for a visit. You can stroll this historic site whilst taking in amazing, unspoilt views over St Austell Bay. From the historic ships and harbour through to the stunning beach, shops and cafes – there’s something for people of all ages to enjoy.

From April until October the Inner Harbour is open, free of charge, to visitors who can explore the history of the Harbour from within. One of the resident tall ships, the Kajsamoor, is moored in the Harbour for visitors to view from the quayside. There is a fantastic range of food a drink outlets on offer. Whether it’s a coffee, pasty, rum cocktail or braised beef brisket, there is something for everyone to sit and enjoy whilst taking in the views of the harbour and tall ships.

Charlestown Harbour is also the setting for many famous film and television productions, so you can see where the likes of The Three Musketeers, Taboo, Poldark and BAIT were filmed.

Click here for further information

Mevagissey

INCLUDED Visitor DestinationNarrow streets and steep valley sides lead down to the centre of the old Mevagissey where the distinctive twin harbour provides a safe haven for the many fishing boats that land their daily catch of skate, lobster, plaice and sole. In typical picture postcard style, pubs, cafes, galleries and shops cluster around the harbour walls and line the pretty streets. Named after two Irish saints, St Meva and St Issey, the village dates back to at least 1313 and during the 1800s Mevagissey prospered on the back of the abundant source of pilchards out to sea. Around the maze of streets you’ll find plenty of seafood restaurants that the village is renowned for and there is nothing more sublimely Cornish than tucking into some local scallops and mackerel! Back to top

Accommodation

Ship and Castle Hotel St Mawes, Cornwall

The Ship and Castle Hotel is located on the pretty quay in this traditional South Cornwall fishing village, where the open sea meets the Fal and Percuil rivers. St Mawes is bustling with waterfront activities or alternatively, put your feet up and watch it all from the comfort of the hotel which is just a few metres from the water’s edge. The hotel offers a bar, lounge and restaurant with picturesque views. There is free Wi-Fi in public areas of the building. You can unwind with a drink in the lounge and bar. There are 55 well-appointed bedrooms, each with all of the essential amenities that you need for a comfortable stay including a private bathroom, hairdryer, TV and tea/coffee making facilities.

Accessibility: The hotel has a lift, but due to the nature of the building, there may still be a few steps to negotiate throughout the hotel. There are numerous levels and limited flat access rooms from the lift and therefore may not be wheelchair accessible. Please speak to us regarding any specific requirements, in particular if you have any mobility issues.

PLEASE NOTE: Coach access to the hotel may be limited due to waterfront road restrictions. This may on occasions result in a drop off with a short walk to the hotel.

For more information, click here for the hotel website (opens in a new window)

Hotel Location
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