.

OUR BEAUTIFUL LAND

> For Around North Cornwall click here

> For Places of Interest click here

> For Attractions click here

> For Around Boscastle see just below

> Around Boscastle

So often your holiday destination has one main road, one route and few alternative ventures. Not so in Boscastle.

Boscastle itself is like a step back in time, mostly unspoilt and with cottages and tiny lanes full of interest. There are so many places to explore it could take you a week to discover even half. Just a short stroll from us is the 16th century Napoleon Inn and from there it is an "old world" walk to the harbour.

The churches of Forrabury, St.Juliot’s, Lesnewth and Minster all have a unique attraction. The Valency Valley walk links the latter three and is delightful, especially in springtime, when there is a mass of daffodils.

The cliff activities and walks via Pentargon Waterfall take you higher towards Crackington Haven. High Cliff is the highest in Cornwall at 735 ft and can be seen from Trerosewill. There are also panoramic views of the Bristol Channel and Lundy Island.

Behind Forrabury church are the ancient "stitches", a relic of the medieval system of farming large open fields communally. The silent tower of Forrabury, echoed by the white 19th century disused lookout tower, originally a "summer house" perched upon Willpark, lends itself to a legend. A bell, lost at sea on transit, may be heard tolling on stormy nights.

The harbour mouth has a mass of under-sea caves which seals are known to frequent and you can hear the famous "blow-hole" at certain tides. The fishermen of Boscastle are some of Cornwall's best navigators due to the skills needed to negotiate the treacherous harbour entrance.

> Around North Cornwall

This is the land which inspired the writings of Hardy and Tennyson – Beeny Cliff, Valency Valley, mythical Tintagel. It still inspires today, with Port Isaac the setting for hit films such as Saving Grace plus TV’s Doc Martin. Here you can watch the fishing fleet set sail at dawn, and find the day’s catch on restaurant menus that night!

There are superb sandy beaches, too – Bossiney, Crackington Haven and Trebarwith Strand – all suntraps sheltered by the dramatic cliff curtain. But whether you're soaking up the sun or hiking the coastpath, the sheer beauty and grandeur of the scenery is guaranteed to leave you awe-struck.

Every part of this landscape has a story to tell – of wrecking and smuggling at Boscastle, legend and romance at Tintagel and industrial heritage at Delabole Slate Quarry.

Watching the kittiwakes soar above Bounds Cliff, rambling over the Iron Age ramparts of Rumps Point, wandering beside the waterfalls of Rocky Valley or making a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Nectan's Glen... wherever you go, take your time, and let the spirit and atmosphere of this beguiling place work its spell on you.

Betjeman Country – the landscape lovingly evoked by the Poet Laureate in Old Friends, Summoned by Bells, and Seaside Golf. Hear his poetry recited on summer evenings on Brae Hill, overlooking St Enodoc Church where the poet is buried, and see his personal artifacts at the Betjeman Centre, Wadebridge.

Walkers will take the coast path in their stride, heading north to Sandy Mouth and stormlaced Morwenstow, home of the legendary poet, Parson Hawker.

Just 45 minutes’ drive from Boscastle is the Eden Project. It recreates the tropics and Mediterranean in domes so huge that one even includes a 75 foot waterfall. Combine this with visiting Lanhydrock, the Lost Gardens of Heligan and Pencarrow and you are in horticultural heaven.

North Cornwall's wild flowers put even skilled Victorian plantsmen to shame, with cliff top carpets of squill, sea-campion and thrift, hedgerows of wild gladioli and meadowsweet and woodland glades of ramsons and anemones.

Bodmin Moor – totally unspoilt, rolling moors, bewitching at any time of the year with solid, granite villages such as St. Breward, Blisland and Alternun perched above the surrounding countryside.

> Places of interest:

Please note: The distance from Trerosewill Farm is in brackets.

Villages and Towns:

Rocky Valley (1.5 miles)- Pretty small valley, which runs down into the ocean, with ancient carvings attributed to the Bronze Age, situated just outside of Tintagel.

St Nectan’s Glen (2 miles)- Known for it’s peace and tranquillity, this enchanted wooded area has a beautiful waterfall and rare plants.

Tintagel (3 miles)- small touristy village associated with the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.  Situated in Tintagel is a ruined Norman castle which is spectacularly set on the edge of the cliff and an Old Post Office (originally a 14th Century manor house).

Crackington (5 miles)-  attractive small coastal hamlet, situated just below the highest cliff in Cornwall.  The cliffs surrounding Crackington have a spectacular rock formation.  Nearby, is the tiny church of St Genny’s which has a rare altar tabernacle.

Port Isaac (13 miles)- not to be missed- ‘it’s the Jewel in North Cornwall’s Crown’.  A historic, unspoilt fishing village, which has kept most of its original character.  Once a busy coastal port, renowned for its narrow and winding streets, including one called ‘squeeze-belly alley’ which is only 18 inches wide.  Famous for Doc Martin.

Port Gaverne (11 miles)- peaceful and pretty unspoilt cove (around the corner from Port Isaac). 

Bude (15 miles)– Small seaside town, once a busy port, with tremendous beaches ideal for surfing, a canal for more sedate walking, water sports and a shopping centre. 

Padstow (23 miles)- attractive fishing port, with narrow streets, famous for its May day celebrations; where locals dress up, sing, dance behind the two Obby Oss. Home of Rick Stein’s seafood restaurant, bistro, hotel, café, deli and his famous fish and chip shop. Our favourite way to get to Padstow, is to park at Rock and travel across the foot ferry.

Rock (17 miles)- village in a small estuary intet, reputed to be the home of more millionaires then anywhere else in Cornwall.  Beautiful sandy beach fringed with sand dunes.  Haven for water based leisure pursuits.  Nearby, is the church of St Enodoc, where Sir John Betjemen is buried.

Bodmin (18 miles)– Once the administrative centre for the Country, stacked full of historic buildings. In the town is the Bodmin and Wenford Steam Railway, Bodmin Jail and in the Shire Hall you can try out the unique ‘courtroom experience’.

Launceston (18 miles) – The only medieval walled town in Cornwall of which the castle still provides ample evidence. One of the most unspoilt towns in England, an architectural and historic gem. Situated in Launceston is a Steam Railway. Home of the Cornish All Blacks (Launceston Rugby Football Club).

Wadebridge (16 miles)– One of the finest market towns in Cornwall sited on the head of the Camel Estuary. It is the hub of the Camel Trail, an 18 mile traffic free cycle track on a disused railway line running alongside the Camel River and estuary.

Fowey (29 miles)- once a port which exported Cornish china clay, used in the printing industry.  Now it is a haven for sailors, and local fishing boats.  Here, you can take boat trips across to a small village of Polruan, or up stream to Lerryn.

Charlestown (29 miles)- was once a Georgian 'new town.'   The Port was built between 1790 and 1810 for the export of copper and china clay.  Today, it has largely escaped development and it is still a working port; a small amount of china clay is still exported. 

Truro (41 miles)- has elegant architecture, which dates from its day as a bustling tin port, thanks to its location at the head of three rivers.  The Italianate city hall is well worth a visit, as is the renovated neo-gothic cathedral, and wandering the cobbled streets and alleyways, dotted with specialist shops, makes a very pleasant way to spend an afternoon.  The Observer newspaper recommends a visit to Truro.

> Attractions:

Gardens:

Longcross Victorian Garden- (13 miles)

Pinsla- (18 miles)

Eden Project- (28 miles)

Tregrehan- (29 miles)

Lost Gardens of Heligan- (35 miles)

Glendurgan- (54 miles)

Trebah- (54 miles)                        

Country Houses, Gardens and Castles:

Pencarrow House and Garden– (16 miles)

Lanhydrock House and Garden- (20 miles)

Prideaux Place and Garden- (25 miles)

Restormel Castle- (25 miles)

Trerice House and Garden- (31 miles)

Cotehele House and Gardens- (32 miles)

Caerhays Castle and Gardens (38 miles)

Trevarno Estate and Gardens- (47 miles)

St Mawes Castle- (48 miles)

Pendennis Castle- (52 miles)

St Michael's Mount and Garden- (60 miles)

Godolphin House- (60 miles)

Heritage:

Delabole Slate- (7 miles)

China Clay Country Park- (26 miles)

Charlestown Shipwreck Rescue and Heritage Centre- (29 miles)

Dartmoor Prison Heritage Centre- (40 miles)

Cornish Mines and Engines, Redruth- (49 miles)

Poldark Mine- (54 miles)

Lizard Lighthouse Tours- (65 miles)

Geevor Tin Mine- (70 miles)

For more information and to find out which have World Heritage Site Status visit:

1. Cornish Mining World Heritage: www.cornish-mining.org.uk

2. UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation):  www.unesco.org

Museums and Galleries:

The Arthurian Centre - (6 miles)

Davidstow Airfield and Cornwall at War Museum- (6 miles)

British Cycling Museum- (6 miles)

National Marine Aquarium- (44 miles)

Royal Cornwall Museum- (45 miles)

National Museum of Gardening- (47 miles)

National Maritime Museum- (51 miles)

Tate, St Ives- (61 miles)

Porthcurno Telegraph Museum- (65 miles)

Wine Tasting/Brewery:

Wine Tasting, Camel Valley Vineyard- (15 miles)

St Austell Brewery- (29 miles)

Cornish Cyder Farm- (40 miles)

Skinners Brewery- (41 miles)

Animal Sanctuaries and Zoos:

The Tamar Otter Sanctuary- (16 miles)

The Cornish Birds of Prey Centre- (23 miles)

Screech Owl Sanctuary- (28 miles)

Blue Reef Aquarium- (32 miles)

Newquay Zoo- (32 miles)

The Monkey Sanctuary- (34 miles)

Paradise Park- (56 miles)

National Seal Sanctuary- (58 miles)

Other:

Jamaica Inn, Bolventor- (16 miles)

Carnglaze Caverns- (24 miles)

World of Model Railways- (35 miles)

Goonhilly Station- (62 miles)

For more information visit:

What to do in wet weather- http://www.101-things-to-do-on-a-rainy-day-in-cornwall.co.uk/

National Trust- www.nationaltrust.org.uk/

English Heritage- www.english-heritage.org.uk/

Gardens- www.gardensofcornwall.com