The third largest natural harbour in the world, home to four sandy beaches, a bustling marina, excellent shops, cafes and bars. This lively place, steeped in maritime history and full of trendy art students, is definitely a must visit destination while on holiday in Cornwall.

The long, flat main street is packed with boutique shops as well as high street brands, old book shops, record stores, vintage collectables, independent shops and galleries as well as numerous coffee bars, cafes and restaurants. Stretching from Events Square - overlooked by the Maritime Museum, all the way to The Moor- an open space surrounded by shops and bars, there is ample, easy parking at each end of town, making Falmouth a great place to visit any time of year. The often forgotten Old High Street itself, running up hill slightly from the Prince of Wales Pier is definitely worth a visit, with gems such as the fantastic Finisterre clothes shop, the award winning Star and Garter gastro pub, hidden courtyards and an eclectic mix of boutiques.

The sea is ever present in Falmouth. The main shopping street runs parallel to a stretch of water known as the Carrick Roads, over which you can see the pretty village of Flushing and further still the beautiful pastel coloured houses of St.Mawes. A small ferry will whisk you over for lunch, an even smaller ferry will take you to Place, a beautiful and deserted part of the Roseland, excellent for a walking adventure down to St. Anthony’s Head Lighthouse.

The working docks is home to some impressively huge naval ships, and beyond that, Pendennis Castle sits proudly on the rocky headland, guarding the Fal River estuary for nearly 500 years. From this vantage point you can see how the 4 beaches stretch out to the South West below you. Castle and Gyllyngvase Beaches are a 10 minute walk from the Maritime museum. Swanpool and Maenporth are about 1 and 2 miles respectively along the coastal path. Gylly Beach Café comes highly recommended - the outside seating area allows parents to sit and relax while the kids play on the white sands just below.

Falmouth is the jewel in the South Coast's crown, and rightly so. It’s vibrant, quirky and bustling. The restaurants are numerous and cover all types and styles of cooking; the shops are mostly independent and boutique; the beaches offer opportunities for all types of water sports; the English Heritage run castle offers wonderful tours and the views are spectacular and the Maritime Museum is one of the best in the country.

Truro is the only city in Cornwall. The striking gothic spire of its cathedral dominates the skyline. Home to an intriguing and eclectic mix of art galleries, bars, restaurants, nightclubs, a cinema, the Hall for Cornwall, the Royal Cornwall Museum and numerous independent and well known shops. In a compact city centre, this strong and diverse mix is unique - Truro is a great little City.

The warren of Georgian streets centre around the main shopping plaza, Lemon Quay. Here you will find various local markets and fayres running throughout the year. Truro has a vibrant café culture, with hip coffee houses - we particularly like 108 Coffee House, cocktail bars - we highly recommend The Hub,  and artisan ice cream shops dotted across town.

Small businesses thrive in the UK’s most Southerly City. Take a trip through Lemon Street Market, home to some of the county’s most exciting and innovative interior design shops, or wander around the cobbled streets surrounding the cathedral, home to numerous independant shops. There a various parks and open spaces. Victoria Gardens, a two minute walk from the town centre and close to the impressive railway viaduct, offers peace and tranquillity, with an elegant bandstand, formal gardens and fountains.

The city has well placed car parks and is easily accessible from both the train station and from the river. To truly enjoy the landscape surrounding the city, take a pleasure cruise or water taxi to Falmouth or St. Mawes. The one hour trip, with options to disembark at various points – (a cream tea at Trelissick Gardens shouldn’t be missed) down the River Fal is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. Take the boat back or catch the picturesque branch line from Falmouth. 

The Fal River, stretching from sandy beaches at the estuary mouth between Falmouth and St Mawes then along wooded valleys, creeks and quays to Truro, is one of Cornwall’s South Coast gems.

The river itself is a host of maritime activity; laid up ships at anchor; ferries run to and from the City of Truro, National Trust Trelissick House & Gardens and onto St Mawes & Falmouth, there is fabulous yachting with sheltered deep water anchorages, dinghy sailing from Ben Ainslie’s home sailing club of Mylor, some of the best canoeing in Cornwall, secret fishing spots and the King Harry chain ferry linking The Roseland Peninsula to the “mainland”.

On shore, there is some fabulous walking through the ancient oak woodland, sheltered orchard filled fields, cookery courses, feast nights cream teas.

In contrast to the serene green waters of the Fal River, the towns of Falmouth, Truro & St Mawes are on your doorstep. With plenty of wonderful restaurants, Rick Stein's fish & chips, bars and pubs, plus the sand beaches and rock pools to discover, there really is every reason to visit the River Fal.