Cornwall is one of the most beautiful counties in England, with a rugged coastline that hides away peaceful white sandy beaches and untouched fishing villages. This area of southwest England is one of the best places for a road trip. There are so many great places to visit in Cornwall that you will likely be yearning to return even before finishing your first road trip.
I grew up in North Cornwall, before moving to Australia, and then Sweden. So it has always been a very special place to me, and somewhere I love to return to year after year. In this 7-day road trip itinerary, I am sharing with you not only the popular places to visit and things to do but locals’ tips as well.
Road Trip Itinerary Outline
This road trip itinerary is made for 7 days in Cornwall, but I have written it in a way that you can extend or shorten the trip depending upon your needs. The road trip has been split up into 7 areas of the southwest coast with optional activities, places to visit and villages to stop at along the way.
Here is a brief outline:
Day 1: Bude to Tintagel
Day 2: Tintagel to Padstow
Day 3: Padstow to St Ives
Day 4: St Ives to Penzance
Day 5: Penzance
Day 6: Penzance to Falmouth
Day 7: Falmouth to Looe
Other ways to travel around Cornwall
If you are wanting to travel to Cornwall but don’t want to drive, there are a few other options! This 7-day itinerary also works for travellers catching public transport or hiking around Cornwall.
Catching public transport in Cornwall
If you are catching public transport be aware that buses are often few and far between in Cornwall, so it is best to plan your time ahead. You will not be able to see as much as you would if you were driving, but if you take it slow then you will still have just as good a trip!
Hiking the south west coast path
If you are a hiker, or just enjoy a long walk, the southwest coast path is another great way to see Cornwall. The path runs around the entire peninsula and through some of the most well-known villages. The southwest coast path follows the same route as this itinerary so will be able to see most of these things along the way!
The 7 Day Cornwall Road Trip Itinerary
This road trip starts from North Cornwall on the border to Devon and loops around the peninsula ending by Plymouth. As I mentioned before, this road trip can be made shorter or longer depending on the stops you decide to make. For example, it is only a 52-minute drive from St Ives to Falmouth. An option for a 5-day road trip could be to skip days 4 to 6 of this itinerary. Alternatively, you could bunch days together and spend day 1 driving from Bude to Padstow, and day 2 from Padstow to Penzance.
Without further ado, here is the 7-day road trip itinerary around Cornwall.
Day 1: Bude to Tintagel
Bude
Start your road trip in North Cornwall in the seaside town of Bude. Bude is known for its beautiful climate, rugged coastline and family-friendly atmosphere. It is well known for water sports, walking and swimming all year round.
Things to do in Bude
Begin by walking around Bude town. This is one of the more popular destinations on a Cornwall road trip but has a much calmer vibe than similar places like Newquay or Penzance. The most picturesque part of Bude starts at The Lock and continues down the Bude Canal.
The Castle Bude
The Castle Bude is a “the gem of Bude”, built in 1830. The building is heritage listen and one of the best places to visit in Bude. Today, it is a history museum and art gallery dedicated to local heritage and culture. The art gallery holds exhibitions for both local and national artists in all kinds of art domains.
The best beaches in Bude
The best beach in Bude is Widmouth Bay, a long, golden sandy beach close just south of the town. It is a great place to swim with kids and has an amazing atmosphere. It is a 7-minute drive south of Bude town centre and there are multiple parking spots along it.
Closer to the town centre you have Summerleaze Beach and Crooklets beach. These are big sandy beaches that can get a bit busier in the summer with visitors stopping by as they pass Bude town. When the waves are stronger, visit Bude sea pool, a man-made pool built into the ocean which has safe conditions no matter the weather.
If you want a more private beach experience then take a walk either north or south and visit one of the many smaller, unnamed sandy inlets along the coast. The South West Coastal Path passes most of these are you will definitely be able to find your own little spot.
Short walks in Bude
If you want a walk, take the path beside the canal down to The Weir Bistro for lunch. This walk takes about 45 minutes and is very peaceful as it threads through the countryside. Alternatively, you can walk out to the headland towards Compass Point. This is one of the best lookouts in Bude. From Compass Point you get views to the North and south, looking over Summerleaze beach towards Devon, and south towards the town of Upton. Behind Compass point is Efford Down Park, a big grassy area great for taking kids to run around of have a picnic. There are several walks through the park that head back down towards the canal.
The South West Coastal Path
If you want to get a longer walk in then the south west coastal path is a great thing to do. Start in Crackington Haven and walk south towards Bude or Widmouth Bay, or, start in Bude and walk towards Boscastle.
Boscastle
The next stop on your Cornwall road trip is in the small village of Boscastle. This is a very picturesque little town with a beautiful harbour enclosed by tall cliffs. The town itself is at the bottom of a big hill and the best way to visit is usually to drive down and park in Cobweb car park.
Things to do in Boscastle
Boscastle Farm Shop
Boscastle Farm Shop is a local favourite. Just outside of Boscastle, in a field overlooking the coastal town, this farm shop is one of the best places for lunch in the area. The shop has quite a simple menu with lunch classic and some amazing cakes. They also sell local art and crafts and it is a great place to get a nice souvenir.
If you want a hike, you can walk through the fields down to Boscastle from the farm shop on the public footpath. To reach the footpath head out behind the farm shop to the end of the field and you will reach the South West coastal path. Turn left and you will continue on to Boscastle.
The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic
In the heart of Boscastle is the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic. This mystical museum is home to some fascinating objects believed to be used in witchcraft. The museum explores the history of witches and magic in England in a fun and educational way.
The Riverside
On your way through Boscastle, make sure to take a stop at The Riverside for a beer or some tea and scones. The Riverside is a very cosy pub in the centre of Boscastle. If you walk in through the pub and up the stairs you reach their beautiful outside terrace. This is the best place to visit on a sunny day.
Warren Point
Warren Point is the lookout at the end of Boscastle perched on top of the cliffs. From here you get amazing views of the Cornish coastline and down towards Boscastle harbour. The viewpoint is reached by walking along the River Valency to Boscastle Harbour, and then taking the South West Coastal path up the hill. When the path turns right, keep straight and you will continue around the headland towards Warren point.
Pentargon Waterfall
Pentargon Waterfall is located just below the Boscastle farm shop. It is a beautiful waterfall that runs from the top of the cliff down to the secluded beach below. The best way to get here is to park at the farm shop and take the South West coastal path north (by turning right at the end of the field).
Tintagel
The final stop on day one of this road trip is Tintagel. This is a very famous little town in North Cornwall, known as the birthplace of King Arthur. This has never been proven, but still today you can wander around Tintagel castle and Merlin’s cave and learn about the myth.
Things to do in Tintagel
Tintagel Castle
The number one thing to do in Tintagel is visit Tintagel Castle. Just outside the town, sat on the cliffs looking out towards the sea, the best way to visit is to park at The Castle Car Park and walk up the road. The castle is today is only ruins, but you are still able to walk around this impressive piece of 13th century history.
Connected to Tintagel castle is the foot bridge which takes you out to the island just off the coast. Here there are more castle ruins and a short walk that takes you to King Arthurs Statue.
Tintagel castle is owned by English Heritage and you need a ticket to enter. These are best booked online in advance. There is a lot to see and do at Tintagel castle so allow several hours for your visit.
Merlin’s Cove
Merlin’s Cove is a beautiful little cove nestled in between the mainland and the island. This is thought to be the home of Merlin the wizard from the King Arthur stories. The cover is best reached by walking towards Tintagel Castle and taking the path down to the beach that appears just before the footbridge.
Walk around Tintagel
Tintagel itself is quite a small village. If you park in the town center you can spend an hour or so wandering around and admiring the old slate houses and picturesque little roads. Make sure to stop at Tintagel old post office, a national trust stone house from the 1300’s. Inside you can see many artifacts from Tintagel and surrounding areas that date back to the 17th century.
Top things to do between Bude and Tintagel
Penhallam Manor
Panhallam Manor was a big, moated manor house built by Andrew de Cardinham in the 13th century. Today, the manor is no longer around, but the foundations still stand strong. It is open to visitors between day light hours all year round and is a fascinating place to wander around.
Warbstow Bury
Warbstow Bury is a iron age hill fort with a strong historical, cultural importance. It is one of the largest earth works in Cornwall and is in the shape of a pillow mound. It is a very interesting place to visit if you are interested in this era.
Davidstow Airfield and Cornwall at War Museum
Davidstow Airfield is a big airfield still in use today for private pilots. The airfield was primarily in use during the second world war and acted as an important base for Cornwall between 1942 and 1945. It is a nice place to visit for a walk along the fields, with ruins of barracks and wartime buildings nestled into the hills.
The Cornwall at War Museum is a small but interesting museum with many artefacts and stories about areas of Cornwall and their involvement in the second world war. This mostly includes links with the Royal Navy, the army, the home front, and life in Cornwall at the time.
St Nectans Glen
St Nectans Glen is a beautiful nature are with rich woodland. Hidden away inside the forest is an incredible 60ft high waterfall.
Jamaica Inn
The Jamaica Inn is a bit further inland, near the town of Launceston. Today it is a hotel with well-preserved rooms dating back to the 1700s as well as newly built rooms with amazing views over the landscape. There is also a Smuggling Museum full of artifacts and stories from Cornish smugglers through the years. The inn runs Murder Mystery evenings in the summers linking to its supposedly haunted past.
What is the Jamaica Inn known for?
The Jamaica Inn is an incredibly well-known place, featured in Daphne Du Maurier’s novel by the same name. It has a long history, dating back to the 1750s where it was a popular inn for travellers between Launceston and Bodmin. The inn was often used by smugglers to hide their contraband that was brought into England by sea, including tea and brandy.
Bossiney cove
Bossiney Cove is just north of Boscastle in the village of Bossiney. It is a very well-known small beach with tall cliffs on each side. It is just a short walk from the village and there is a car park by the Bossiney Tea Room.
Rocky Valley
Rocky Valley is an area just north of Boscastle with beautiful views. Here, there is a long, thin inlet that the coastal path winds around. It makes an incredible canyon. This is a stop along the South West coastal walk.
Launceston Castle
Launceston Castle is an impressive ruin dating back to the end of the Norman conquest. It is a round tower reached by a staircase that runs along the ridge of a small hill. Today, the castle has a small museum which traces the last 1000 years of history, and amazing views over the historic town and surrounding countryside.
Hurlers Stone Circles
The Hurlers Stone Circles are a unique set of three stone circles arranged in a line. This is a unique phenomenon in England and something truly special to visit. These stone circles date back to the Neolithic or early Bronze Age.
Day 2: Tintagel to Padstow
The second day of this Cornwall road trip starts in the town of Tintagel and heads south towards Padstow. There is a lot of things to see and do in this section of the trip, passing by some of my favourite fishing villages in Cornwall. If you want to spend longer than 7 days in Cornwall, this is a great place to extend your trip! Instead, spend several nights in one place and take day trips to the different towns, beaches and activities.
Port Isaac
Port Isaac is one of the most popular places to visit in Cornwall and one of my personal favourites. It is somewhere you have to include in your Cornwall road trip itinerary if you want to see an authentic, small fishing village. Port Isaac is most well-known for its feature in the British TV program Doc Martin. If you watch the show, walking around the village you will likely see several places you recognise.
Can you drive into Port Isaac?
Parking is quite hard in Port Isaac and no matter what time of year; I recommend parking in one of the carpark at the top of the hill and walking down to the town. If you do choose to drive down it can be difficult to navigate the small streets, especially in the summer when there are a lot of visitors.
Things to do in Port Isaac
Port Isaac Beach
Port Isaac only has one pebble beach which is housed in the inlet and doubles as a harbour. It is quite small and subject to dramatic tidal changes. Often, when the tide is out, there will be several boats moored on the pebbles, held in place by big metal chains.
It is possible to swim in Port Isaac and it is quite popular to jump from the harbour wall. As the tide makes such a dramatic difference, make sure to double-check the depth of the water before jumping from here.
Portwenn View
Portwenn View is the viewpoint on top of the cliff that looks back over towards Port Isaac. This is definitely a short walk worth taking.
Squeezy Belly Alley
This is a very cosy little street in the middle of Port Isaac. It highlights the unique nature of this little village and the way the houses are built. I am not sure if Squeezy Belly Alley is the official name – but you can use this to find it on Google Maps.
A Doc Martin Tour
As I mentioned before, Port Isaac is the home of the television show Doc Martin. If you want to see all the places used in filming the show, you can take a Doc Martin tour of Cornwall. This one is a personal recommendation.
Padstow
Padstow is another very popular destination in North Cornwall. It is a slightly bigger fishing village with quite a few great restaurants and shops to wander around. You could spend a whole day in Padstow if you are happy wandering around the streets and perhaps catching a ferry to the other side of the river camel.
Padstow is definitely worth visiting if you want to see a real little Cornish village. It is usually the first place I recommend to people visiting Cornwall. There is always a great atmosphere here, and it’s somewhere locals like to visit which says a lot.
Things to do in Padstow
Take the ferry to Rock
Taking the ferry from Rock to Padstow is one of the best things you can do when visiting this area. The best way to do this definitely depends on where you are staying. If you are visiting for the day on your road trip around Cornwall, you can park in Rock, take a walk along the beach and then take the ferry over to Padstow for the day. You could also park in Padstow, spend a few hours exploring, take the ferry to Rock for a play on the beach and lunch, and then head back to Padstow for the rest of the afternoon.
The ferry runs every 20 minutes but the pick-up position changes depending on the tide. The first ferry is at 7.50 am and the last is anywhere from 4.30 pm to 7.30 pm depending on what season you are visiting.
Rock
Rock is another beautiful destination to visit. Rock beach is a beautiful, long sandy beach that feels like an oasis at low tide. The beach almost disappears when the tide rises which is an amazing phenomenon in itself. In the town, you can wander around the small harbour, visit a restaurant or one of the local galleries. A very popular walk in the southwest coast path which heads up towards Daymar Bay towards Polzeath.
Cycle the Camel Trail
The Camel Trail is an old railways line that has been made into a very popular walking and cycling path. The section of the Camel Trail from Wadebridge to Padstow is one of the best parts. This section is 8.7km (5.4 miles) long and takes around 2.5 hours to walk and just over 1 hour to cycle.
The Camel Trail is suitable for all types of bikes and there are several bike rentals shops near the beginning of the trail in Wadebridge. At the other end, as you enter Padstow, there is a great area for leaving your bike while you explore the village.
Prideaux Place
Prideaux Place is a beautiful manor house and gardens only a short walk from the centre of Padstow. The house was completed in 1592 and has been in the Prideaux family ever since. Behind the house is a deer park which is thought to be the oldest park herd of deer to exist, dating back to the Romans in 435AD.
Lower Beach
Lower Beach is the main beach of Padstow. It is not in the town itself, but a short walk further north. Here, you swim in the river Camel and are often close enough to swim to Rock beach on the other side.
Walking around Padstow
One of the most charming things about Padstow is its’ small winding streets. You can spend hours wandering around, finding special hidden shops and pretty houses. There are some great galleries in Padstow where you can buy local art, and shops with jewellery made from Cornish tin. If you are interested in history visit the Padstow museum, or head to the National Lobster Hatchery to learn about the local fishing trade.
Top things to do between Tintagel and Padstow
Bodmin
Bodmin is a little out of the way as it is inland from Padstow and Port Isaac. However, it is one of the bigger towns in Cornwall and has a lot of great things to see and do. If you have some spare time or are staying in the area for several days, make sure to make a day trip to Bodmin.
The best things to do in Bodmin are to visit old Bodmin Goal for a tour, or ghost tour in the evenings. Take a walk across Bodmin Moor, or visit Bodmin Keep to learn a little history.
Lanhydrock House and Gardens
Lanhydrock House and Gardens are one of the best manor houses to visit in this area of Cornwall. It is a national trust property with 890 hectares of land. Visiting, you can walk around the beautifully manicured gardens, stroll around the woodland, or take a tour of the house. I personally love this tour as you get taken through the servant’s quarters and it is amazing to see the big kitchen set up like it was back when it was in use.
Pencarrow House and Gardens
Pencarrow House and Gardens is another beautiful manor house worth visiting. Here there are 50 acres of farmland and gardens to wander around as well as a great café for lunch. This is a great place to take kids, with a playground, beehives and peacocks wandering around.
Trebarwith Strand
Trebarwith Strand is a real local gem and somewhere we used to visit very often living in Cornwall. The beach is big and sandy at low tide, with rockpools carved into the cliffs and caves on either end of the beach. At low tide, the sand disappears, and the waves often come up to the road. Above Trebarwith is the Port William, a beautiful little pub with outdoor seating that looks over the cliff.
A great day trip is often spending the day at Trebarwith strand and heading up to the pub for lunch or a drink when the tide starts to come in.
Port Quin
Port Quin is another little village just south of Port Isaac. It is a much smaller village and more well known for its beautiful views rather than the village itself. When you visit Port Quin, make sure to visit Doyden Castle.
The Rumps
The Rumps is an amazing part of the Cornish coastline, only accessible by hiking along the southwest coastal path. You can either park at Polzeath and walk north, or park in Lead Mines car park and access the path via the fields. The site was once the location of an iron age fort. Today, it is just a beautiful part of the coast.
Pentire point
Pentire Point is a beautiful viewpoint along the South West coastal path. Here, you can often see seals relaxing on the rocks down below or playing in the water near the cliffs. It’s a great stop to add to your Cornwall road trip itinerary if you want to explore a bit of coastal nature.
Polzeath
Polzeath is one of Cornwalls’ best beaches and is world-renowned for its surfing. The beach here is less affected by the tide and has sand all throughout the day. It is not as pretty as other beaches along the coast but is a great place for families with children to swim. In the summer there are ice cream trucks parked along the sand and it is a nice place for a short seaside stroll.
Camel Creek Family Theme Park
If you want a fun day out with some amusement park rides, then Camel Creek Family Theme Park is a great addition to your Cornwall road trip! The park has rides for all ages and is a lot of fun.
Camel Valley Wine
Camel Valley Wine is a vineyard in the camel valley known for its sparkling wine. You can visit the vineyard for a tour of their facilities, or simply enjoy a drink out in the garden in the sun. The views over the valley are amazing from here and the wine is definitely special.
Day 3: Padstow to St Ives
This section of the Cornwall itinerary includes fewer little towns and more beautiful beaches, walks, and nature reserves. The drive starts in Padstow and heads south towards the town of St Ives, via some very well-known spots like Newquay and the Bedruthan Steps.
Newquay
Newquay is one of the bigger towns in North Cornwall. It is very popular for weekends away, with great surf and a bit more nightlife than elsewhere in Cornwall. It is personally not my favourite place to visit in Cornwall but can be worth a stop just to see what is there.
Newquay airport is a great option for flying into Cornwall, with flights to and from other areas of England and Europe. There are lots of car hire places in Newquay so in this case, it would be a good place to begin your road trip through Cornwall. Cars are usually a bit cheaper to hire in Newquay rather than at the airport! For this, you will need to take a shuttle from the airport to the city centre.
Things to do in Newquay
Fistral Beach
Fistral Beach is an incredibly beautiful, very well-known beach just outside of Newquay. It is a long, sandy beach with a lot of rock pools, known for its great surf. If you are a surfer then this is the beach to visit on your Cornwall road trip. If you are not a surfer, it is still a great spot to add to your itinerary!
Other beaches in Newquay
Just around the headland from Fistral Beach, Little Fistral Beach is a much smaller sandy inlet with much fewer visitors than its counterpart. To get here, you have to climb down the stairs by the cliff from Towan Headland Car Park.
Newquay beach is the most popular of the beaches in Newquay as it runs parallel to the town. Further north is Porth Beach, followed by Whipsiderry Beach. These are usually slightly quieter beaches further out of the town.
Things to do in Newquay with kids
Being such a popular destination, there are a lot of things to see and do in Newquay. If you want to explore a bit of the local sea life you can visit Blue Reef Aquarium. Alternatively, head to Newquay Zoo to see some wildlife or Cornish Birds of Prey for birds. There are several fun parks including Pirates Quest Adventure Golf, Lappa Valley steam railway, Dairyland Fun Park, Jungle Jacks, and Springfield Fun Park.
Houses and Gardens near Newquay
There are lots of old manors and country houses to visit near Newquay. These include Trerice and Trenance Gardens.
Coastering in Newquay
The cliffs in Newquay are perfect for coastering. This usually entails exploring unusual cliff formations and jumping into the sea from considerable heights. A great tour is this one by Getyourguide which includes 2 hours coastering and all you need to bring is swimmers, shoes and a towel!
St Ives
St Ives is a beautiful harbour side town known for its art scene and great surf. It is one of the bigger towns in Cornwall and a great base if you plan to spend several days in the area.
Things to do in St Ives
Art Galleries in St Ives
There are so many art museums and galleries in St Ives. The best is The Tate, a gallery that features exhibitions from British artists, rotating regularly. You then have the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, featuring the artist’s garden as it was in 1975, including her sculptures, art and other documents. St Ives Glass Studio is a beautiful boutique selling handmade glass jewellery and alike, whilst Penwith Gallery features beautiful paintings, pottery and sculptures. There are so many other great galleries I will not mention – the best way is to wander around the town and find them yourself!
St Ives Harbour
St Ives Harbour is at the seafront in the centre of the town. It is very much affected by the tide. At low tide, the harbour is simply a sandy beach covered in boats, whilst at high tide, it is a beautiful watery scene. If you walk alongside Smeatons Pier you will reach St Ives Lighthouse at the end.
The Leach Pottery
This is a great museum, studio and school for anyone interested in pottery. The museum part focuses on the history of Bernard Leach. There is a studio that offers pottery classes, and a shop selling ceramics made by local artists.
A Boat Trip to Seal Island
Seal Island is a small rocky island just 3.5 miles from St Ives which is home to a large colony of Atlantic Grey Seals. Boat trips to seal island usually take you out to the island and circle around it giving you views of not only seals but occasionally also dolphins, porpoises, basking sharks and humpback whales. These trips also give you a great opportunity to see St Ives from a different perspective.
Things to do between Padstow and St Ives
Travose Head light house
Travose Head light house is located on the peninsula just west of Padstow. It can be reached by a short walk from the national trust car park. Alternatively, you can walk to Travose Head via the SW coastal path from Padstow or Trenance. The lighthouse is relatively small but very beautiful contrasted with the rough sea. The area around the lighthouse – Travose Head – is owned by the National Trust and is a beautiful, well-protected piece of the coast.
Bedruthan steps
The Bedruthan Steps are located just south of Padstow, near the town of Porthcothan. Otherwise known as Carnewath at Bedruthan, this is a National Trust area with an amazing view of a very unique rock formation. Legend has it that a giant called Bedruthan used to use the cliff stacks as a staircase to cross the bay.
Visit the beach
This area of North Cornwall has some spectacular beaches to stop at. These are usually much less busy than those near the bigger towns. The best beaches include Poly Joke Beach, Holywell Bay, Portreath, Perranporth Beach and Porthconan Beach. Bassets Cove is a beautiful inlet with an amazing viewpoint above the SW coastal walk. Godrevy Point is a rockier cliff with beautiful views out to the lighthouse on the small island off the coast.
Chapel Porth
Chapel Porth is the site of an old mine, located on the edge of a beautiful cliff. This National Trust site is incredibly picturesque and brings with it a lot of rich historical and cultural meaning.
Day 4: St Ives to Penzance
Day 4 of this Cornwall road trip itinerary takes you from St Ives, down and around the peninsula and back up to Penzance. This area of Cornwall is much more remote, and places are often few and far between. Make sure to fill up with petrol before you leave St Ives to avoid getting stuck or having to drive somewhere out of the way in the middle of the day.
Gunards Head
Gunards Head is another headland with beautiful views. This was the site of an iron age fort, and today you can still see the foundations. On the walk up to the headland, you pass Chapel Jane and Old Mine Ruin. These are two ruins of structures left behind from the days when Tin mining was a big industry in Cornwall. You can head to the Gunard’s Head for a great lunch in a quirky old pub.
Geevor Tin Mine
The Geevor Tin Mine is one of the best places to visit to learn about the history of tin mining in Cornwall. Geevor was the last active mine in the St Just region, closing in 1986. Today, there is a lot of things to see and do. The Museum is very interactive with exhibits about metal mining all over Cornwall. You can also take a tour of the mine itself, going down into the tunnels that were first used in the 18th century. Following this, head to the mill to see how and where the minerals were processed when brought to land.
Botallack Mine
Botallack Mine is more ruins than anything else these days. The shafts themselves reach 570m deep and go half a mile out to sea, however, all that is visible today are the engine houses. These are dotted all over this part of the coastline and the best way to see them is to take the one-mile walk from The Count House towards Crowns Engine Houses. This is a very beautiful walk and most well-known for its use in the filming of the television series Poldark.
Cape Cornwall
Cape Cornwall is the headland where the Atlantic Ocean splits in two and water begins to flow either into the Bristol Channel or the Irish Sea. The area today is a National Trust site and a lovely spot for a short walk with an amazing view of the coastline.
Ballowall Barrow
Ballowall Barrow is a prehistoric funeral chamber used between the Neolithic and Bronze Age by different clans that lived in the area. It is a really unusual site, with three stone circle walls dug into the cliff’s edge. Ballowall Barrow is located just outside of St Just and is easy to reach by car as there is parking nearby.
Sennen Cove
Sennen Cove is a little village just north of Lands End. It is a great little spot to stop for some lunch or a coffee on your road trip around the southern tip of Cornwall. Sennen Cove has a beautiful long beach that continues on to become Sennen Beach and then Gwynver Beach further along. Sennen Cove is a lovely place to stay if you fancy somewhere a little further out of the way with good access to the surrounding areas. You can take the SW coastal path south to Lands End if you want a bit of a walk.
Lands End
Lands End is the most westerly point of England. It is a very small attraction with a little sign and monument marking the spot. There is a shop and a few cafes but nothing special. It is, however, a great point to start if you want to walk a little section of the SW coastal path, either north to Sennen Cove via Maen Castle, Mayon Cliff Ship Wreck, and Mayon Cliff Old Coastguard Lookout. Or south to Nanjizal Beach via Enys Dodnan Arch, Pordenack Point and Carn Boel.
Nanjizal Beach
Nanjizal Beach is a beautiful rocky beach nestled into the cliffs. It can only be accessed via walking the SW coastal path so is quite secluded and often not very busy. At one end of the beach, you will find the Song of the Sea Cave and Secret Pool. This is a very tall and thin cave that leads through the cliff, towering over a beautiful rock pool. This is a great swimming spot and place to visit for photographers and rock pool lovers.
Minack Theatre
The Minack Theatre is an incredibly picturesque theatre on the cliffs above Porthcurno beach. It was built around 1930 by Rowena Cade at the end of her garden as the stage for a local production of The Tempest. Still today the theatre is in full use, with 20 shows throughout the summer.
You can also visit the Minack Theatre when there is no performance on. It is open from 10 am to 3 pm and it is recommended to buy tickets online. When you visit you enter nearby the old manor house and walk through the manicured gardens down to the edge of the cliff.
Porthcurno beach
Porthcurno beach is undoubtedly the prettiest beach in Cornwall. On a sunny day, the water here is crystal blue contrasted against the white sand. It is a great beach for swimming, surfing and strolling along the sand.
The beach is easily accessible from the Porthcurnow carpark as well as in both directions along the South West Coastal path.
Mousehole
Mousehole is one of the most picturesque villages in Cornwall. The streets here are very thin and windy so I recommend parking in the carpark behind the Rock Pool Café, or alternatively along the Parade beforehand. From here you can either walk down Parade Hill into Mousehole or take the steps down to Mousehole Rock Pool and walk along the water.
There is not much to do in Mousehole per se, but it is definitely worth a visit for a walk around, a play in the sand and a good lunch. The tide here means that the Mousehole harbour is completely sandy in low tide and full to the brim at high tide. It is a beautiful thing to see the change happen. If you arrive at the right time of day the harbour will be empty, you can go and get lunch, and it will be full when you come out.
Day 5: Penzance to lizard
Day 5 of this Cornwall road trip heads from Penzance to lizard, along the south east coast of the Cornwall peninsula. There is a lot to do here, especially if you enjoy walking, as the Lizard heritage coast offers some amazing coastal views and dramatic coves.
Penzance
Penzance is the most westerly big town in Cornwall and a good stop to make if you are staying in smaller villages and want to stock up on supplies. The town itself is quite old, well known for the story “Pirates of Penzance”. If you want you could spend the day there wandering around Morrab Gardens, and along Long Rock Beach. Stop for lunch at Duke Street Café in Newlyn and head to Trengwainton Garden for a walk around the manor house in the afternoon.
St Michaels’ Mount
St Michael’s Mount is a place you must include in your Cornwall itinerary! This hilltop castle is located on an island of the coast of Marazion beach, accessible by walking during low tide, but cut off completely for the mainland at high tide. Depending on what time you visit, you can likely walk over and take the ferry back (or visa versa).
The history of St Michaels Mount dates back to 495 when it was thought of as a refuge for seafarers to escape the mermaids that were calling them out to sea. Today, when visiting St Michaels Mount, you can spend a few hours wandering around the little village, walk around the gardens, have lunch in the café and explore the old mansion house.
Tickets should be booked in advance, and if you want to travel with the ferry at high tide you can either buy your tickets online, or in the shop on the island.
Kynance Cove
Kynance Cove is a beautiful rocky beach hidden in the cliffs behind Asparagus island. In the summer this is a busy place, known for its perfect swimming and snorkelling conditions. Due to it being an inlet, the water is generally quite calm here. On a sunny day the water is a bright blue that looks incredibly inviting.
To get to the beach there is a little bit of a walk down from the carpark which passes the Kynance Cove Café.
The Lizard
The Lizard is the name of the little peninsula, and the southernmost point of England. The nature here is beautiful, and it is generally a great spot for spotting wildlife out at sea. This includes dolphins, seals and occasionally whales!
Lizard lighthouse
The lizard lighthouse is located at the edge of the cliffs just beside Lizard point. Today the lighthouse no longer runs for its original purpose, however, it is open as a museum. When you visit, you can climb the lighthouse and see the amazing view from the top. The tour also takes you around the engine room, and they have some great exhibitions on navigation technology.
Day 6: Lizard to Falmouth
Cagdwith
If you like visiting small fishing villages, then Cagdwith is another place you had to add to your Cornwall itinerary! This little village takes you back in time, as fishermen continue to take up old traditions. If the water is high, you will find them pushing their boats into the sea in search of crabs, lobsters, shark and mullets.
If you want to find out all about the charm of Cagdwith, make sure to read this page written by the village! You will definitely be inspired to visit when you have reached the end.
Coverack
Coverack is another of the bigger coastal villages in this area of Cornwall. It is a great place to base yourself for the night or a few days as there are multiple hotels and a hostel. The village is a very popular destination for water sports including wind surfing, sailing and diving, and there are lots of great tours on offer with local companies.
Coverack itself only has a small pebble beach. However, there are lots of other great beaches nearby such as Porthbeer Cove, and Lankidden Cove.
Close by you have Roskillys, an ice-creamery that offers tours of the dairy farm. The ice cream here is some of Cornwall’s best and it is a must on your Cornwall itinerary. They have a café that do great lunch (as well as Ice cream).
Port Navas
Port Navas is a very cosy little village on the Helford River. It is a very sweet place to make a quick stop in on your way to other things in the area. Following Port Navas, head to Helford Passage on the other side of the river. Here you can explore Grebe Beach and Bar Beach.
Take the Helford Ferry over to the village on the other side of the river. This is a great spot for lunch at The Shipwright Arms or the super cosy Holy Mackerel Café. You can then drive around the peninsula towards the hidden Bosahan Cove for a quick swim.
Trebah Gardens
Trebah Gardens is a beautiful 25-acre subtropical garden nestled into the coastline beside Helford Passage. Here you can wander around the beautifully designed gardens down to the water and swim at the secluded Trebah Beach. You do need to buy a ticket to enter the gardens but it does not have to be booked in advance.
Pendennis Castle
Pendennis Castle is a hilltop fortress built by Henry VIII in 1539. The castle is still there today, owned by English Heritage, it has been transformed into a great museum. Here you can learn the history of the fortress during Tudor times up until its use in WWII. This is a great place for families.
Gweek Seal Sanctuary
The Cornish Seal Sanctuary is a seal rehab centre located in Gweek. The centre takes in injured seals, nurses them back to health and then let them out into the wild again. It is a beautiful thing to see.
The Cornish Seal Sanctuary has mostly outdoor exhibits with the exception of the seal hospital and the underwater viewing area. It is recommended to visit on a nice day.
You need around 3 – 4 hours in total to visit the Cornish Seal Sanctuary. This gives you time to walk around all the different pools and spend some time watching the seals, penguins and sea lions.
4 times a day they hold seal feeding sessions with grey seals, common seals, penguins and sea lions. The times for these talks vary every day so it’s best to check the schedule when you arrive.
National Maritime Museum
The National Maritime Museum is located in Falmouth. This is a really great museum, with exhibitions that rotate regularly. In total, there are 15 galleries that explore maritime history and culture, not only in Cornwall but in the whole of England. The museum is also home to the National Small Boat Collection, a collection of artefacts and items that relate to the history of small boats in England.
The museum is open every day from 10 am to 5 pm. It is best to book in advance if you can as there are only a limited amount of spaces available in the museum.
Day 7: Falmouth to Looe
Trelissick Garden
Trelissick Garden is a beautiful manor house and gardens surrounded by forest land. It is a great place for a walk, a visit to the secondhand book shop, and a tea and scone in the café. You do not need to book in advance to visit Trelissick Garden.
From the gardens, you can take King Harry Ferry to Philleigh where you can drive south towards St Mawes.
St Mawes
St Mawes is a lovely little town on the Roseland Peninsula. It is quite a small and simple town but worth a visit on your way past. You can walk up to St Mawes Castle, take a swim at Summers beach, or stroll around Lamorran Gardens. From the castle, you can look over the Carrick Roads estuary to Pendennis castle on the opposite headland.
Truro
Truro is the “capital” city of Cornwall, meaning here you will find the Cathedral. It is a much bigger city than those you will have visited over the last 6 days and there is a lot to see and do. If you are interested in history and minerals, take a visit to the Royal Cornwall Museum, or alternatively visit the Heseltine Gallery for some beautiful art exhibitions. The Hall for Cornwall often has some great theatre and musicals playing. If you fancy a walk, then head to Victoria Gardens or the Glasteinan Riverside Trail.
St Anthony Head
St Anthony Head is a beautiful area of coastline. It can be reached by taking the Place Jetty Ferry from St Mawes to Place Creek. At one end you can see the lighthouse, and at the other, the old military officers’ buildings turned bed and breakfasts. If you want a swim, then walk down to the beautiful Little and Great Molunan Beaches hidden away in the cove.
Mevagissey
Mevagissey is one of the most picturesque fishing villages in Cornwall. Parking can be a nightmare here so it is best to park in the Pay and Display car park and walk down the hill into the town. Mevagissey is quite a big village and there is a lot to see and do here!
You can start by wandering around the streets, looking out for picturesque slate houses, little galleries, and the Mevagissey Model Railway. Next, head down to the harbour and walk along the outer wall. Here you get a great look back at the village and the boats sitting in the harbour. On the way back, you can visit the Mevagissey Museum or the Mevagissey Aquarium. Make sure to stop at one of the cosy little cafés for lunch or an afternoon tea on your way past.
Fowey
Fowey is another big, but the very picturesque town. Here there is a lot to see and do, and it is a great place to base yourself if you want to spend more time in this area of the coastline.
In Fowey, you can start your day by walking down to the town centre and finding a place for breakfast. Brown sugar or The Lifebuoys Café are good picks! Next, take the ferry from Fowey Landing to Polruan Landing and take a stroll around the village of Polruan on the other side of the river. Make sure to stop off at Polruan Castle on your way back to the ferry. Back in Fowey, you can take a swim at Readymoney Cove, or take a walk up to St Catherine’s Castle. In the afternoon visit Fowey Aquarium, or the Fowey Museum.
Looe
Looe is your final stop on your Cornwall road trip itinerary. It is 20 miles from Plymouth and sits at the edge of the Cornish border. Looe is a very well-known coastal town, sitting along the Looe estuary which runs into Looe Bay. Here you will find the busy East Looe Beach, a popular swimming destination. You have the Old Guildhall Museum and Gaol in the town, surrounded by so many great cafes and restaurants.
Just outside of Looe you have the Wild Futures, Monkey sanctuary. This is a fantastic place for all ages to visit. They have all sorts of monkeys in beautiful enclosures.
The Lost Gardens of Heligan
The Lost Gardens of Heligan is a very special place. They have 200 acres of gardens to wander around, all tropical-inspired dating back to Victorian times. The garden hides many surprises as you walk around you feel enchanted in a fairytale. The gardens are open every day from 10 am to 5 pm. They also have a great café and a farm shop.
The Eden Project
The Eden Project is definitely one of the top things to see when visiting Cornwall. This reclaimed china pit is home to the world’s largest indoor rainforest, with a tropical and Mediterranean biome, there are so many interesting plants to explore. They also have a big outdoor garden to wander around, and an event space that doubles as a theatre and ice-skating rink in the winters.
Frequently asked questions
How long should you spend in Cornwall?
No matter how long you stay in Cornwall it will never feel like enough time. Ideally, you should aim to stay for at least 5 days, but I would say that 7 to 10 would be best. This way you can take it slow, spend some time at the beach, and visit all the places you want to see without too much stress.
Where to stay in Cornwall
There are so many great B&B’s, small pubs, and hotels to stay at around Cornwall. If you plan on staying in the same place, try and find a B&B in a bigger village-like Padstow or St Ives. These have more access to shops, restaurants, and things to do without having to drive every day. If you are changing accommodation every night of your road trip then you can’t really go wrong with where you stay.
What is the best time of year to visit Cornwall
The best time to visit Cornwall is in the summer. This is when all tourist attractions and summer cafes are open, and the water is warm enough for swimming. It can get very busy in summer so off-peak seasons are often better for those who want to avoid the crowds.
The spring and summer are great times for hiking in Cornwall, with cooler temperatures and less people. Nature is just as beautiful and most restaurants, hotels and shops you will want to visit along the way will still be open.
Driving in Cornwall
Driving in Cornwall can be a little nerve-wracking if you are not used to windy country roads. There are no motorways in this part of England, and hardly any dual carriageways on most of the roads that lead to the smaller beaches and villages. In the summer months, it can get very busy and you will likely find yourself reversing to let cars pass or pulling into the bushes to make room.
If you are not a confident driver then I would not recommend driving around Cornwall. Make sure you practice a little first on smaller roads or simply drive to the bigger towns and walk or take public transport to the harder to reach places.
How long does it take to drive around Cornwall?
This 7-‘day Cornwall itinerary takes one week to drive around the Cornish peninsula. This includes several hours of driving per day, plus more if you want to take day trips to places inland.
Where to go on your week in Cornwall?
During a week in Cornwall make sure to stop off at the villages of Padstow, Tintagel, St Isaac, St Ives, Mousehole and Mevagissey. Visit the Eden Project, St Michaels Mount, Porthcurno beach and Lanhydrock house.
How far is it from London to Cornwall?
It takes just over 4 hours to drive from London to Cornwall with no traffic. The train takes a similar time, and the bus takes around 7 hours if you take the direct line from Bodmin to Victoria station.
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