Castles, Pirates and Smugglers

With stories of hidden tunnels and secret coves we had to start our tour in the 13th century fishing village of Polperro. We’ll visit the wonderful Smugglers museum before wandering the tiny streets learning about this picturesque villages more sinister history.

Next we’ll drive West along the coast to catch the Bodinnick Ferry across the river Fowey and into the ancient town of Fowey. A safe harbour on the estuary, Fowey was once home to 20% of the British Royal Navy and was raided and burned to the ground by the French Navy in the 15th century to rid it of Pirates. Defended by a 16th century castle and medieval block houses, theres plenty to explore along the esplanade.

A little further West we come to the 18th century China Clay port of Charlestown. Once a bustling harbour, Charlestown is a now a Unesco World Heritage site, and due to its authentic ‘time-capsule’ apperance has become a renowned filming location for 18th century maritime scenes including Poldark, and Pirates of the Caribbean. A great place for a lunchtime Cornish Pasty with a view!

We then drive along the little known coastline of the Roseland Peninsula for our next stop at Caerhays Castle. Designed by John Nash and built in the early 19th century, this stunning folly castle once bankcrupted its owner and in more recent times has become a beautiful, Cornish Sub tropical garden. The earlier house was even hidden from the sea by a large man made hill to evade passing pirates!

Following the coast we pass through many smugglers coves and Pilchard fishing villages before we reach our final destination of St Mawes where you’ll have time to enjoy the village and visit the 16th century castle that guarded the Falmouth estuary form the threat of Spanish armadas.