Things to do
Explore the Fowey Estuary the way people used to – by boat. Hire a kayak at Encounter Cornwall in Golant, or take the tender upriver as far as Lostwithiel, stopping en route for coffee and cake in the delightful village of Lerryn.
Fowey museum is small but excellent, and has lots of local maritime history.
Readymoney Cove is a beautiful place for a swim and rockpooling. Walk the coastal path to Polridmouth – another beautiful beach and the site of Readymoney Cottage, the inspiration for the Boathouse in Rebecca.
Enjoy afternoon tea in the gardens of the Fowey Hotel where Daphne du Maurier met with her mentor Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch. Here, you can also see the letters Kenneth Grahame wrote to his young son, which later gave him the idea for The Wind in the Willows.
Walk the ‘Hall Walk’ – a spectacular four-mile circular walk through woodland around Pont Creek, which uses Bodinnick and Polruan ferries.
Garden lovers should visit the Eden Project and Lost Gardens of Heligan.
Charlestown is like stepping back in time. It’s also the setting for 18th-century Truro in BBC’s Poldark. The Shipwreck Museum is excellent.
Mevagissey is utterly charming – wander around, get fish and chips and go crabbing. In the summer, you can catch the ferry there from Fowey.
The National Trust house and gardens are Lanhydrock are great.
On the South West Coast Path you can visit the daymark on top of Gribbin Head. This is open to the public on selected dates throughout the year. See www.nationaltrust.org.uk.
Guided walks run from Fowey on Tuesday (meet Fowey Town Quay) and Polruan on Thursday (meet on the Coal Wharf), both at 11am, £5 adults, £2 children.
www.foweyheritage.co.uk