Top 10 things to do in Falmouth from The Captain’s House.
There is so much to do in Falmouth and the surrounding area, from coastal walks and boat trips to wandering through the buzzing town and finding cool shops, interesting art galleries and tasty eateries.
Here are 10 of our favourite things to do; all are walking distance from The Captain’s House.
1. The Fal River Ferry
Take a trip from Customs House Quay, or Prince of Wales Pier, across to St Mawes. This 20-minute ferry trip is a beautiful way to see the harbour and Carrick Roads. Watch the hustle and bustle of ships and sailing boats as you cruise across to the pretty town of St Mawes. If you like walking there is a lovely coastal walk to the charming Church at St Just in Roseland.
(Captain’s House guests have a discount on the Ferry as we are Falriver partners).
2. The National Maritime Museum
Situated on the edge of Events Square this fascinating museum is the place to discover everything nautical. From maritime history to trying your hand out on a sailing boat, or discovering more about the amazing work of the RNLI, you can easily while away many hours in this maritime treasure house. The design of the building adds to the enjoyment with great views of the harbour from the lookout tower and a unique watery view beneath the sea in the tidal zone. The best bit is that your ticket lasts a year so you can visit more than once during your stay.
3. Gyllngvase Beach
Just a ten-minute walk from the Captain’s House is this popular sandy beach.
Impossible to spell! The name is from the Cornish An Gilen Vas meaning the shallow inlet. It is Falmouth’s largest beach from which are great views out to sea and across to Pendennis Head to the east and Lizard Peninsula to the west. At low tide you can walk across the arc shaped sandy bay onto the rocks. It’s then hard to resist visiting the Gylly Beach Café for some refreshment and stunning beach views.
Just behind the beach is the tropical Queen Mary Gardens, which are also worth a visit while down at the beach.
4. St Anthony’s Head, Roseland Peninsula
Take the Fal River Ferry across to St Mawes and then the Place Ferry over to Place Creek on the Roseland Peninsula. From here you can join the South West Coast Path up to St Anthony’s Lighthouse. Stay on the path heading east for the most amazing panoramic views and enjoy this spectacular walk along one of the South West’s areas of outstanding natural beauty. If you have time just keep walking until you get to the pretty little village of Portscatho and savour the dramatic cliffs, secret coves, sandy beaches and seals wallowing in the shallow waters and hanging out on the rocks.
5. Fish and Chips at Harbour Lights Restaurant
The best fish and chips ever – possibly the best in the world! Fresh fish caught daily and potatoes from local farms are cooked to perfection. Eat in from the restaurant with great views or enjoy a take-away down on the quay (keep an eye out for eager seagulls!) or at The Front Bar with a pint of local ale or cider. This bar is actually underneath Harbour Lights Restaurant and is also a real favourite of ours.
6. A trip to the Helford Estuary
This beautiful estuary is worth a visit. Situated between Falmouth and the Lizard Peninsula the muddy shoreline offers an abundance of wildlife, there are some interesting houses to see along the banks as well as a few pubs to visit and then peaceful creeks winding away from the main river, including Frenchman’s Creek made famous by Daphne DuMaurier. A great way to visit the Helford is to take a day trip with Cornish Day Sailing who will sail you across the bay and offer a delicious lunch too.
7. Boat trip to Truro
Leave your car behind and take an unusual trip to Cornwall’s capital and regional hub by hopping on board the Enterprise boat that travels up the Fal River from Falmouth to Truro. You will need it to be high tide as the river dries out before the capital city. However if that happens they lay on a bus from Malpas. The boat trip offers a unique opportunity to see this beautiful flooded river valley at its best. It is very deep and offers anchorage to some large vessels including the yacht Donna Amelia that featured in the Mamma Mia movie!
8. Walking to Pendennis Head
Stroll out to the Pendennis headland for the most stunning views of Cornish coastline. In a half-hour round trip you see the harbour, historic castles, and a superb coastal panorama. See our previous blog for more on this walk.
9. Visit Flushing by Ferry
Take a quick trip across the Penryn River to the pretty village of Flushing where you can enjoy the local pubs or follow the footpath for a lovely walk out towards Trefussis Point and then on round to Mylor enjoying the views along the way.
10. Falmouth town
Are we saving the best ‘til last? No, all ten are equal but this town is a treasure and simply the best! During your stay at The Captain’s House you are a mere 3 minute walk away from the heart of Falmouth with it’s fantastic array of shops, art galleries, boutiques and endless choice of cafes, restaurants, bars and pubs. As you wander down onto Arwenack Street and turn left towards Market Street it’s a treat to look at all the shops to your right as they have fabulous views of the Penryn river from their back windows. If you want to escape to the movies we love the Phoenix Cinema, an independent cinema with a restaurant and bar. There are too many places to recommend here but a secret escape from the hustle and bustle is Dolly’s Tearooms for some delicious cakes and tea or the unusual experience of gin in a tea-cup!
