An ancient Stannary and market town conveniently located in the heart of South East Cornwall, Liskeard is the administrative centre of the Caradon District. Packed with many Victorian fronted shops it is a very attractive place to spend time shopping.
The town lies above the Looe river valley, some 14 miles west of the Tamar river. The main London to Penzance railway line and the A38 trunk road provide Liskeard with rapid access to Plymouth and the motorway network, and the rest of Cornwall.
The bustling Cathedral City of Truro is the centre for administration, commerce and tourism for the County of Cornwall. Truro, called after Tri-veru meaning three rivers which includes the Rivers Kenwyn and Allen, has developed close to the Truro River and with good road and rail links is within easy reach of almost every part of Cornwall.
Truro is an historic Market Town full of richness and diversity. The Wednesday Livestock Market is a centre for the farming community and has modern, purposebuilt premises on the edge of Truro. Down in the centre of town, the Pannier Market is the largest of Truro’s indoor markets and offers a huge range of goods, with something of interest for every shopper.
Falmouth is the third deepest port in the world and therefore all things maritime are an important feature of its history and commercial existence. The Falmouth estuary is guarded by Pendennis Castle and St. Mawes Castle so it has been considered of military importance for hundreds of years and was a tactical location for WWII operations also. Now it offers visitors a large range of activites and boasts fine beaches and parks, a wide assortment of water sports and past times and a wealth of shopping and leisure pursuits.
St.Austell prospered well in the 18th Century mining the 'white gold' - China Clay, the history of this can be explored at the nearby China Clay Park. The town has all the modern facilties you would expect from ten pin bowling to wide screen cinema, and a shopping centre to a large range of pubs, restaurants and shops. Charlestown is about a mile away and it was from this Georgian Harbour the China Clay was shipped around the country and across Europe, the local Charlestown Heritage Centre is packed full of interesting information and makes the perfect all weather attraction.
This beautiful medieval town which is knee deep in history, is one of the most vibrant and lively communities in the county. Whether you’re here for the day or down on holiday, Lostwithiel is the ideal base to explore breathtaking countryside and discover the unspoilt beaches of south east Cornwall. It is famous for it's wide selection of antiques shops and is now considered the antiques capital of Cornwall. There are also a good choice of restaurants, pubs, shops, delis and there is also a thriving produce market. Free ample parking and regular events from beer to music festivals make this a very popular place to visit for tourists and locals alike.
Fowey is a bustling sailing port on the Fowey Estuary, on the south Cornish coast, set in stunning countryside, with dramatic beaches nearby. Known for its sailing, walks, wonderful views, and vibrant streets, Fowey is a gem in Cornwall. Inspiration to many of Daphne Du Maurier's dramatic stories, it is home to the annual Du Maurier literary festival as well as the Royal sailing regatta.
Fowey town centre has an eclectic mix of independent shops and colourful restaurants, and is a pleasure to explore. Fowey has local primary and secondary schools, together with a leisure centre, numerous pubs, churches and post office, and provides a wonderful place to live as well as visit.
Mevagissey is an ancient fishing village and the name is formed by the combination of St Meva and St Issey, first recorded as a hamlet in 1313 although there were much earlier settlements nearby as evidenced by the discovery two Bronze Age Burial Urns at Portmellon. Mevagissey is one of England's last traditional fishing ports. It remains a working harbour and you can still see fishermen mending their nets on the quayside and leaving the harbour to fish in Mevagissey Bay and beyond.
The surrounding coastline provides many beautiful and awe inspiring views and Mevagissey is the ideal base for walkers, bird watchers and botanists. There are many breathtaking walks along the cliff paths which form part of the South West Coastal Path - the perfect base for many coastal activities such as walking, bird watching, botany and for exploring nearby bays, coves and beaches.
The bustling picturesque seaside town of Looe provides a perfect base for your holiday in South East Cornwall. If you are looking for a ‘traditional’ seaside holiday with your children, Looe is ideal. East Looe has it’s own large sandy beach, shallow seas and a wealth of rock pools for the children to enjoy. During the summer, there are trampolines and other activities on the beach and the ‘Banjo Pier’ is a very popular place for a spot of rod & line fishing and for watching the fishing trawlers and other boats leave and return to the harbour. Looe offers seafood lovers the freshest fish as the day boats bring in their catch faster than any other port in Cornwall and you will find this on the menu in many of the local restaurants.
Looe is the ideal base for walkers, bird watchers and botanists. Cornwall enjoys short winters and the Looe climate is mild all year round so you will find that the flowers bloom earlier than many other places. There are many breathtaking walks along the cliff paths which form part of the South West Coastal Path - the perfect base for many coastal activities such as walking, bird watching, botany and exploring nearby bays, coves and beaches.
The Looe Music Festival started in 2011 and is now an annual event. Set over 3 days and featuring over 60 live bands, the main stage is right on Looe beach. The dates for the 2012 festival are 21st - 23rd September and full details, including all the bands and acts appearing, can be found at www.looemusic.co.uk
For those wishing to participate in sea based activities there is sailing, shark fishing, scuba diving and pleasure cruises on offer, and for the land lovers a variety of sports past times are available locally such as golf, horse riding and go-karting.
Sheltered in its cliff inlet, the beautiful fishing village of Polperro is an exciting maze of narrow streets, small lanes, alley ways and tightly packed historic houses leading down to an unspoilt, picturesque harbour and coastline – an absolute delight to explore. Most of Polperro is largely inaccessible to motor vehicles and so it is very safe to walk around. The main car park is situated at the top of the village and it is a nice gentle half mile walk past the shops, pubs, restaurants and cafes down to the harbour. There are also trams available to and from the car park all year round.
Polperro features a Model Village and a Smugglers Museum, in addition to a variety of gift and novelty shops, art galleries and various eateries including ice cream parlours, pasty shops and cafes. There is also a large selection of pubs and restaurants and live music is often featured at the weekends.
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