A 48 hour Cornish Adventure
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The Lizard and the Roseland
Looking for quiet coastal drama? It's time to discover two Cornish gems.
Grab your Garden Kitchen lunch to go and embark upon a gentle exploration of two of Cornwall’s most idyllic peninsulas. The Lizard and Roseland peninsulas both sit within perfect striking distance of your St Michaels base, and each offers the perfect chance to escape and explore our Cornish paradise.
Driving away from St Michaels via the bustling beaches of Gyllyngvase and Swanpool, sand and sea are quickly replaced with quiet country roads which wind their way through sleepy villages along the Helford River and finally onto the Lizard peninsula.
GETTING THERE
Ignore the larger Helston road and travel by car past Swanpool and Maenporth beaches and up towards the Helford, through Port Navas, Constantine and Gweek before striking out back towards the coast. These roads can be busy during summer months and signposts are famously optional in Cornwall, so take a sat nav and your reversing mirrors!
EXPLORE THE LIZARD
Your best bet on the Lizard is really to get lost and see what you find, but here are a few of the highlights you could include on your day trip:
Magical beaches
The Lizard is stuffed with so many incredible beaches - from sheltered coves to dramatic stretches of sand - that it's usually possible to find somewhere undisturbed. For sheer Cornish picture-postcard beauty try Kynance Cove (it can be a solid walk down from the National Trust car park depending upon tide) and Poldhu Beach or for coastal drama head for Kennack Sands or the drama of Gunwalloe Church Cove.
Coverack and Roskillys
The little village of Coverack is well worth a visit and if the tide is right it is possible to walk among the tiny fleet of fishing boats in the tidal harbour before heading up to the Paris Hotel beer garden to take in the sea views and a well-earned drink. The Paris Hotel is also a great point from which to strike out on coastpath rambles.
Just outside the village sits Roskillys Farm, where the iconic Cornish cream and ice cream is made. Stop for something sweet and meet the herd.
Lizard
At the very tip of the peninsula sits Lizard Point with its iconic lighthouse and lifeboat ramp but don't miss the village too, which though a bit of a tourist trap, is home to the exceptional Cornish pasty bakery Anns Pasties and also the perfect spot to park before heading off on a hike along the South West Coast Path, taking in Bass Point and Church Cove.
The Roseland peninsula forms the tip of South East Cornwall’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Dramatic coast paths give way to quiet, dog friendly beaches. On the sheltered side, curlews call lazily across the water as small boats creep through abandoned creeks. Tiny villages stud the landscape, with picture-perfect fishermen’s churches to explore and sparkling small eateries to reward the intrepid visitor.
GETTING THERE
Travel by car from St Michaels towards Truro and roll onto the King Harry Ferry (ask a member of the St Michaels crew about ferry tickets) for a 2 minute crossing onto the quiet country roads of the Roseland.
On foot or by bicycle, a sheltered 20 minute ferry ride (ask a member of the St Michaels crew about ferry tickets) from Falmouth brings you to the village of St Mawes, a favourite with local sailors and holidaymakers alike, thanks to its beautiful harbour and closely packed range of shops, boutiques and eateries.
EXPLORE THE ROSELAND
St Mawes Castle
The little brother to Falmouth’s Pendennis Castle sits perched above the refined village of St Mawes and offers unrivalled views back across the water to Falmouth.
St Just in Roseland
A stroll along the river from St Mawes brings you to the peace of St Just in Roseland, a tiny ancient settlement featuring a bucolic church and churchyard nestled above a tidal creek.
St Anthony Head
At the outer mouth of Falmouth’s rambling natural harbour sits St Anthony Lighthouse, with invigorating panoramic views not to be missed. Taking the tiny Place Ferry across the Percule River from St Mawes brings you to the tip of Place Creek. A gentle walk up through woodland and coast path brings you to St Anthony Head.
Porthcurnick Beach
Adjacent to the fishing village of Portscatho sits Porthcurnick where locals, families and dogs enjoy the small white sand beach, dabble in the sheltered seas before climbing back up the hill for lunch or tea at one of Cornwall’s famous culinary institutions, the Hidden Hut, perched above the beach. As the tide drops, Porthcurnick also reveals rockpooling fun for all ages.
Porth Farm & Towan Beach
Clear days begin with unforgettable sunrises on Towan Beach, where intrepid dog walkers crunch their way across the fine shingle towards Porth Farm Courtyard where Earl, a Vintage Citroen Van is usually found serving tea and fresh bakes through Spring and Summer.