Learn about the ancient, social, agricultural and natural history of Mevagissey and surrounding area...
Heligan, seat of the Tremayne family for more than 400 years, is one of the most mysterious estates ...
Go and taste the wine in a flowery all weather garden.
Characterised by a rich history of industry, smuggling and fishing, the area skirting St. Austell Bay is as diverse as it is beautiful. From the tall ships of Charlestown, through the cobbles of Mevagissey, via the biomes and brewery of St. Austell, to the yacht haven of Fowey (say 'Foy'), this part of mid-Cornwall has much to offer. With sandy bays, flourishing inlets and picture-postcard villages, its scenery seems a million miles from the weather-beaten north coast but is no less breathtaking, and begs investigation for sure.
It would be hard to talk about this part of the county without mention of the Eden Project www.edenproject.com , and with good reason; it's well worth the fuss. The biomes that rise out of a disused china clay pit north east of St. Austell seem out of this world. It's both fascinating and enlightening to lose an afternoon here. In the summer, the Eden Sessions outdoor music events serve up the most unique of gigs, whilst in the winter the ice skating, mulled wine and lantern parades keep thousands coming back for more. If real ale is your tipple, a tour round St. Austell Brewery www.staustellbrewery.co.uk is essential. For a unique bedtime experience, spend a night at Golant Youth Hostel, where you can rent a tipi complete with wood burner to warm up the evening. For a cultural fix, head to Fowey's Daphne du Maurier Festival www.dumaurierfestival.co.uk : the area inspired much of her work. A visit to the Cornish Riviera deserves a trip out on the water, so hire a boat from Fowey Boat Yard www.fowey.co.uk/directory/boat-hire.htm and pootle up the river. See if you can spot a music superstar at Sawmills Studio www.sawmills.co.uk , perched on the riverbank. For more of a swashbuckling adventure, check out the squareriggers in the beautiful Georgian port of Charlestown.
The bouillabaisse at Sam's in Fowey has a dedicated and deserved following, though not being able to book a table is as much a credit as it is an affliction given this local institution is packed to the rafters in the summer. For homemade cake that's to die for, The Thin End Café in St. Austell needs a visit, though don't be put off by the name; the portions are huge. Charlestown's Revival serves up modern British cuisine in a setting that balances the contemporary with the bucolic. Great on the tongue and easy on the wallet. The best crab sandwiches for miles around can be found at the Atlantis Smoked Fish shop in Grampound.
Perfect cappuccinos make St. Austell's Tengo a solid destination to take a load off and browse the papers. For something a little harder that's the perfect partner for sundown, head to the Rashleigh Arms at Polkerris. Sitting on the water's edge, this 300-year-old building is full of rustic charm the main bar used to be a boathouse. The Ship Inn in Fowey is always a good craic for a more boisterous night out, though you'll be lucky to get through the door come regatta week.
Sausages from Mr. Kittow's butchers in Fowey are worth their weight in gold, and with five generations of knowledge packed into each one, it's easy to see why they're such a hit. On Fowey's literary theme, pick up a delightfully dusty volume from Bookends (www.bookendsoffowey.com ), where, naturally, there's a heavy focus on du Maurier. Planet Lifestyle in St. Austell gets a big thumbs-up for up to the minute surf and streetwear.
It's well worth whiling away an afternoon at the Lost Gardens of Heligan (www.heligan.co.uk) , where an easy stroll along the subtropical boardwalks is as possible as a fairly hilly hike through the lush woodland. The coast path that hugs St. Austell Bay takes in scenery that is nothing short of spectacular. Take a wander round Lerryn woods, which inspired Kenneth Graham's 'Wind in the Willows'.