Best of Cornwall

If you have more time to explore Cornwall, then this five-day private tour combines the best that Cornwall has to offer. We’ve taken the best bits from the day tours and added Cornwall’s must-see attractions. We help you choose your accommodation, then pick you up each day after breakfast, show you the sights, stopping for lunch in the best spots and then drop you back safe in the knowledge you haven’t missed anything!

We can also offer transfers to and from Cornwall to make your trip completely hassle free.

Price: From £425 per day for car with guide.

These are private tours with your own guide and transport, and you can book for up to 7 passengers. we recommend accommodation to fit the itinerary, but you need to book this separately. Entrance fees are not included, so you’ll need to pay them as we go. You’ll also need a little money for a delicious Cornish Pasty, or maybe a fresh Crab sandwich, or how about a Cornish Cream Tea?

Day 1

We start the week with a trip up the coast to explore North Cornwall. First stop will be the 14th century Huers hut in Newquay to enjoy the view up the coast and learn a little about the life of a pilchard fisherman. After a drive through the vibrant streets of Europe’s surfing capital, we whisk you away to the quiet Monastic village of St Mawgan to explore the 13th century church and Carmelite Convent. The perfect Cornish village! Then we head just up the road to the famous beauty spot, Bedruthan Steps, with its dramatic clifftop views. We’ll take a short stroll on the magnificent cliffs before heading to Padstow. Made famous by Rick Stein and the Seafood Restaurant, this charming harbour town is normally bustling with visitors enjoying the fine mix of shops, cafes and restaurants all set around the water.

On our way to Port Isaac, we’ll drive through Port Quin, a picturesque Pilchard fishing cove used in the filming of Doc Martin and more recently Fisherman’s friends. We have the option here to walk up the coast path and get some more great views of the coastline.

Port Isaac, or ‘Port Wenn’ as it’s known in Doc Martin is only a mile up the road, and you’ll be dropped at the bottom by the harbour to explore the tiny streets and possibly bump into the grumpy doctor himself!

Following a drive along some spectacularly tiny roads we get to Tintagel, and possibly the most famous tale to come out of Cornwall. Reputed to be linked with King Arthur, we get a spectacular view of the island and ruins from the coast path, whilst we fill you in on the stories that make up this famous legend.

Our last stop of the day, is Boscastle, with its steep sided valley and natural harbour entrance, we can take a stroll out to the Harbour entrance for some spectacular views and it’s an ideal spot to get a Cornish cream tea and reflect on the day.

Day 2

Our first stop today is the historic harbour of Charlestown. Once a busy 18^th Century port for the export of China Clay, this beautiful harbour is still home to Wooden Ship builders, visiting Tall Ships and serves as a backdrop to TV shows and films.

Next we follow the coast through Pentewan to visit the famous Lost Gardens of Heligan. This glorious Victorian garden went to sleep following the first world war and has been lovingly pieced back together and restored to its former glory by a dedicated team of Gardners and volunteers. You’ll get a personal guided tour of the main gardens, with its rich history and abundant plants from all around the world, along with the option to visit the more challenging Jungle with its wooden walkway and rope bridge.

We start the afternoon just down the road at the picturesque fishing town of Mevagissey, where you’ll have some free time to have lunch and explore the harbour.

The Roseland Peninsula is our destination for the afternoon. We start at Porthluney Beach with a beautiful view of Caerhays Castle, which is famous for its sub-tropical gardens, full of Magnolias, Rhododendrons and Camelias in the spring. We will then follow the smugglers coast, visiting pretty seaside villages, such as Port Holland, Portloe, Veryan and St Mawes, with a stop at the Henry V111 castle, before finishing up at Cornwall’s most picturesque Church sitting on the estuary at St Just in Roseland.

Day 3

We start your third day with a visit to the beautiful South coast Town of Fowey. Once a medieval home to the Royal Navy, and a base for pirates, Fowey is an ancient Harbour town at the mouth of the river Fowey, more famous nowadays as the once home of the Cornish Author Daphne Du Maurier and a hub for sailing. You’ll be given a guided tour along the esplanade before having some free time to explore the town.

From Fowey we follow the river inland stopping at the tidal hamlet of St Winnow which offers a glimpse of Cornish rural life with its stunning 13^th century Church set amongst the backdrop of the tidal river and surrounding historic farm and boatyard.

A little further up the river we pass through the picturesque village of Lerryn, on the banks of the river Fowey that inspired Kennith Grahame’s children’s tale, ‘Wind in the Willows.

Next, we head up onto Bodmin Moor and visit the village of Minions. There’s a great little café for lunch before we take a stroll on the Moors, viewing the Hurlers Stone circles, with a backdrop of the dramatic Cheesewring Tor, granite quarries, Cornish Copper Mines and hopefully some wild Moorland Ponies.

We finish the day with a visit to Lanhydrock House and Gardens. Built from 1620 and rebuilt in the late 19th century after a fire, this house has everything you’d expect from an English country house, and on a grand scale. We’ll guide you to the entrance then you’ll be left to the expert National Trust guides on hand to explore the house and grounds.

Day 4

Today we start with a visit to Cornwall’s only City, Truro, visiting the impressive Victorian Cathedral and the surrounding picturesque streets. We then start our journey South, starting with a drive through Falmouth, past the Packet Quays, through the town, and up over the Pendennis shipyard and castle with views over the world’s third largest natural harbour. We then follow the tiny coast road and around the Helford estuary to our next stop, Trebah Gardens. This sub-tropical garden is set in a valley overlooking the Helford estuary and has one of the finest collections of plants from around the world, collected by plant hunters in the 19th and early 20th century. The garden also has a hidden past connected with World War 11, being a major departure point for the D Day landings.

Our afternoon will be spent exploring the Lizard Peninsula, starting with Lizard point to enjoy the spectacular view off Britains most Southerly point, hoping to spot Seals basking on the rocks below. We will then have a photo-stop at the famous Kynance Cove, used as a backdrop for the Poldark and recent Harry Potter TV series, before we visit Cadgewith, an unspoilt thatched fishing village, where we can watch the fishing boats come and go, whilst enjoying a cream tea or beer in the local pub.

We’ll end the day with a scenic drive along the north coast of the Lizard peninsula through the village Mullion and down to Poldu Cove where Marconi sent the first Wireless message across the Atlantic Ocean in 1901. We finish the day visiting the beautiful historic fishing town of Porthleven.

Day 5

Today we are exploring the rugged, far West of Cornwall, starting the day in the village of Marazion where we embark on our trip to St Michaels Mount. Depending on the tide we either walk across the causeway or take one of the small ferryboats across to the tidal island. Steeped in a fascinating history, this once Monastery, built in the 12^th century, has been a castle and long-time home of the St Aubyn family for 13 generations. The Island holds plenty to see and explore, the climb up the pilgrim steps and path to the castle is a little challenging, but you are rewarded with a fascinating visit and amazing views across the subtropical gardens, Marazion village and Mounts Bay.

Once back on the mainland we start with a scenic drive through Penzance and Newlyn before our next stop in beautiful Mousehole. You’ll have some time for lunch here and to explore this stunning little granite fishing village with stories of heroic fishermen, cats and Spanish invaders!

Next, we continue around the coast, stopping to visit the Merry Maidens stone circle, rugged Lamorna cove, and one of Britains prettiest coves, Penberth. With its cobbled slipway, colourful wooden fishing boats and original capstan wheel it’s a real hidden gem and was used as the fishing village in the Poldark TV series.

Next we visit the iconic Minack theatre, nestled in the cliffs overlooking some of Cornwall’s most beautiful beaches, you’ll learn about the extraordinary tale of one woman’s vision and struggle to build this amazing theatre.

Our next stop is Lands End, England’s most Westerly point, where the English Channel meets the wild Atlantic Ocean. Just a short stop here to enjoy the view before we head along the North coast to the wild cliffs and picturesque Tin mines at Botallack.

These spectacular Tin and copper mines hae recently been made famous as a filming site for the Poldark TV series, we’ll take a walk amounst the ruins whilst your guide tells you the fascinating history of Tin mining in Cornwall and brings to life the incredibly hard life of a Cornish miner. We finish with a drive along the Tin Coast and over the West Cornwall Moors to the stunning coastal resort of St Ives with its tiny streets, white sand, shops and galleries.