England
Cornwall

Cornwall Towns and Villages

Bodmin    The former county town of Cornwall stands at the edge of the moors which bear its name. Bodmin is an attractive place, full of interesting historic buildings. Chief amoing these buildings must be St. Petroc's Church, which has the honour of being the largest parish church in Cornwall. Bodmin, Cornwall, England Attraction Type: Town Details of Bodmin OS SX065675 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Boscastle   One of the most scenic villages on Cornwall's north coast, Boscastle has a postage-stamp sized harbour built to handle trade in slate from the nearby Delabole quarrries. The village is located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the medieval harbour is maintained by the National Trust. There is wonderful walking along the cliffs and inland, following swiftly flowing rivers. Boscastle, West Country, Cornwall, England Attraction Type: Village Location: On the B3263 4 miles north of Tintagel OS SX098909 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Cadgwith   The South West Coast Path national trail runs through this picturesque, isolated fishing village tucked into a small cove on the Lizard Peninsula. The scenery is superb, the way of life unhurried and timeless. There are walks along the cliffs, where wildflowers blossom in abundance in Spring and early Summer. Cadgwith, West Country, Cornwall, England Attraction Type: Village Location: On a minor road off the A3083 4 miles east of Mullion, on the east shore of the Lizard Peninsula OS SW723146 Photo Credit: David Ross and Britain Express Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Duloe    A small village noted for its holy well dedicated to St Cuby. The well is located 1/2 mile outside the village towards Looe. A large stone bowl that once held water at the well is now in the village church. Nearby is a stone circle composed of 8 quartz stones. Duloe, West Country, Cornwall, England Attraction Type: Village Location: On the B3254 5 miles south of Liskeard OS SX234587 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Falmouth    Built on a magnificent natural harbour at the mouth of the Fal estuary, Falmouth has a deserved reputation as a popular seaside resort and international boating centre Falmouth, Cornwall, England Attraction Type: Town Details of Falmouth OS SW807 329 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Fowey    This attractive town on the Fowey estuary was once a centre of the Cornish china clay industry, but is now a popular yachting destination. There is little in the way of recognised "atttractions" beyond the sheer natural beauty of the region. Fowey, Cornwall, England Attraction Type: Town Details of Fowey OS SX124 518 Photo Credit: Cornwall Cam Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Hayle    Hayle was for many years a centre of the copper mining and smelting industry. The town is situated in St. Ive's Bay, at the mouth of the Hayle river. The estuary of the Hayle is an important habitat for wildfowl and wading birds, and today more visitors are drawn by birdwatching opportunities than the industrial heritage of the town! Hayle, Cornwall, England Attraction Type: Town Details of Hayle OS SW558 375 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Helston   Helston is a lovely old town, one of the five "stannage towns" of Cornwall, where tin was brought to be weighed, taxed, and stamped before it was allowed to be sold. The prosperity that the tin industry brought to Helston is remembered in the name of Coinagehall Street (coigne being the name for the corner of a tin ingot that was cut off to be assayed for quality). Helston, Cornwall, England Attraction Type: Town Details of Helston OS SW661 281 Photo Credit: David Ross and Britain Express Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Holywell   The village of Holywell is a popular resort destination, though it is less crowded than nearby Newquay. It offers a full compliment of traditional family activities, including pitch-and-putt, a leisure park, and sea bathing off the sandy beach, which stretches for about half a mile. Holywell, Cornwall, England Attraction Type: Village Details of Holywell OS SW767 588 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Land's End   Land's End is the most westerly point of mainland England, and is visited by hordes of tourists each year. Most obediently have their photograph taken beside the signpost by the cliffs, with arrows pointing to major centres around the globe. Land's End, Cornwall, England Attraction Type: Village Details of Land's End OS SW351 250 Photo Credit: David Ross and Britain Express Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Looe    There are actually two Looes, East and West, divided by a narrow estuary. A seven-arched stone bridge connects East and West Looe. Looe is very much a traditional Cornish fishing village, and restaurants in the village provide a delightful opportunity to sample the fruits of the sea brought home by local fishing vessels. Looe, Cornwall, England Attraction Type: Village Details of Looe OS SX253 535 Photo Credit: Cornwall Cam Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Mevagissey    Mevagissey is very much a traditional Cornish fishing village, the largest in St. Austell Bay. The name originates in the old Cornish dialect for "Meva-ag-issey", which means "the towns of Meva and Issey". Meva and Issey were two 6th century Irish missionaries who came to convert the area to Christianity. Mevagissey, Cornwall, England Attraction Type: Village Details of Mevagissey OS SX014 448 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Mousehole   One of the prettiest villages in Cornwall, Mousehole is a maze of narrow, winding streets lined by cottages built of local dark grey stone. Mousehole, Cornwall, England Attraction Type: Village Details of Mousehole OS SW469 264 Photo Credit: David Ross and Britain Express Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Newquay    Newquay is a brash, bustling town, very much a modern holiday resort, with all the amenities one would expect to attract visitors seeking sun, sand, and surf. The latter attraction has made Newquay the "surf capital of the UK". Though Newquay has a history as a mining community stretching back to the Iron Age, it is the 11 beaches here that have made the town's fortune as one of Britain's most popular family seaside resorts. Newquay, Cornwall, England Attraction Type: Town Details of Newquay OS SW809 616 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Penzance    Penzance has been called the "capital of the Land's End peninsula", a tribute to its traditional position of importance in the region. Most people are familiar with the town as the setting for the Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera, The Pirates of Penzance. The name "Penzance" comes from the Cornish for "Holy Headland", a reference to the early Christian chapel established on the headland to the west of the harbour, on the site now occupied by St. Mary's Church. Penzance, Cornwall, England Attraction Type: Town Details of Penzance OS SW472 302 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Porthleven   A lovely combination of holiday resort and fishing port, Porthleven is just southwest of Hayle. The village is built around a ovely port, with an inner harbour protected by a curving breakwater and a baulk gate to keep the ocean waves at bay. Twin cannons face each other across the harbour mouth; these were salvaged from the frigate HMS Anson, which ran aground on Loe Bar in 1807. Porthleven, Cornwall, England Attraction Type: Village Details of Porthleven OS SW627 257 Photo Credit: David Ross and Britain Express Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

St Ives    St. Ives successfully brings together multiple traditions as a fishing port, seaside resort, and artist colony. The area is blessed with superb coastal scenery and sandy beaches which draw the "spade and bucket brigade" by the thousands. Also drawn, this time by the mild climate and wonderful Cornish light, are artists of every description. St Ives, Cornwall, England Attraction Type: Town Details of St Ives OS SW517 404 Photo Credit: Joanne Paul Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Truro    the county town of Cornwall, Truro has a history going back at least as far as the 13th century. The name "Truro" developed from the Cornish for "Three Rivers", which tells you something of the geography of this, the county town of Cornwall. The town developed between the rivers Kenwyn, Allen, and Truro, as a port for exporting Cornish tin. Truro, Cornwall, England Attraction Type: Town Details of Truro OS SW827 448 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Cornwall Travel Guide

Cornwall Travel Introduction Gazetteer Bedruthan - Bodmin - Falmouth - Fowey - Hayle - Helford - Helston - Holywell - Land's End - Looe - Mevagissey - Mousehole - Newquay - Penzance - St. Ives - Truro Attractions Ancient Sites - Castles - Gardens - Historic Houses - Historic Buildings Feature Tintagel Castle Photo Gallery - St Michaels Mount Photo Gallery Travel Resources Tourist information Centres - Travel links Accommodation Cornwall Hotels - B&B - Self Catering