LOCAL Towns & villages

The Cottles bed and breakfast and holiday apartments, Polperro, is in an ideal location for exploring the many attractions Cornwall has to offer.

Looe The popular resort of Looe is about 10 minutes’ drive from Polperro, or around a 2.5 hour walk away along the coast path. Buses also run between Polperro and Looe, or you could even take a boat trip there from Polperro harbour. The Looe estuary divides East and West Looe. East Looe is more bustling, with wide sandy beaches and plenty of shops, restaurants and pubs. West Looe has a long shingle and rock beach with good rock pools and a great view of Looe Island, a marine nature reserve.

Fowey A vibrant waterside town, Fowey (pronounced ‘Foy’) has some beautiful historic buildings, with narrow streets and alleyways leading down to the large, deep-water harbour. There are plenty of shops, galleries, restaurants and pubs, and you can take river boat trips. Stroll along the promenade to the sheltered beach at Readymoney Cove. There are some lovely walks around the Fowey estuary. Fowey is about a 6-mile drive from Polperro, connected to Polruan by foot ferry and to Bodinnick by car ferry, or a longer drive around avoiding the estuary crossing.

Polruan. About 6 miles from Polperro, the pretty village of Polruan sits facing Fowey. It’s built on the side of a hill, with charming cottages climbing high above the waterfront. You can walk the coast path from Polperro to Polruan (it’s a tough walk, with quite a few steps), or take a bus. A foot ferry runs between Polruan and Fowey.

Talland Bay This small, pretty bay lies on the coast path between Polperro and Looe. Talland Bay has a lovely beach with rock pools to explore, and a couple of beach cafes, including Smugglers Rest, which does fantastic barbecues during the summer.

Lansallos Cove A lovely, secluded cove, Lansallos sits on the coast path between Polperro and Polruan. A 20-minute woodland walk links the cove to the quiet village of Lansallos.

Lantic Bay

Lantic Bay This small, beautiful bay, with white sands and turquoise water, is on the coast path between Polperro and Polruan. It’s a very steep walk down from the cliff to Lantic Bay, but it’s well worth the effort.

Lerryn A pretty creekside village with beautiful riverside walks. From the car park you can cross the river on stepping stones or by bridge further up when the tide is too high. The walk through the woods to the 15th century riverside church of St Winnow is particularly lovely.

Kingsand and Cawsand Part of the Rame Peninsular, the twin villages of Cawsand and Kingsand were originally divided by the old border between Devon and Cornwall – both are now in Cornwall, and it’s hard to tell where one ends and the other begins. Narrow streets lined with pretty cottages lead to the beaches, with plenty of rockpools to explore. Look out for the iconic clock tower. A seasonal passenger ferry runs from Cawsand to Plymouth. 

Seaton Seaton has a large, dog-friendly beach with a river running across it, plus a pub, restaurant and beach cafe. Walk past the sensory garden to Seaton Valley Countryside Park, a wildlife haven and home to a nature trail that leads to Hessenford.

Bodmin Moor The beautiful, wild and unspoiled landscape of Bodmin Moor is an expanse of grassland and heather, strewn with boulders and granite outcrops. There are many pretty villages on the Moor, including Altarnun, Blisland and Minions – the highest village in Cornwall and home to the dramatic Cheesewring and the mystical Hurlers stone circle. It is a World Heritage designated area thanks to its industrial mining heritage, and the remains of mines can be seen all around.

These are just a few suggestions from The Cottles as to what you can enjoy on your holiday in Cornwall.

See our links page for much more.

Visit the Cornwall Tourist Board’s website for a comprehensive guide to all that the region has to offer:
www.visitcornwall.com