Places To Visit
Situated almost exactly halfway between Bodmin and Liskeard, Rivermead is perfectly placed for you to explore this beautiful part of the country.
There’s so much to do in Cornwall and so many stunning places to visit that a week is never long enough! We’ve given you just a few ideas here and there are also some of our favourite trips out. If you have any recommendations, let us know and we’ll give them a try.
In under 30 minutes, you could be exploring Bodmin Moor, Looe, Lantic Bay, Fowey, Charlestown, Lanhydrock or Polperro. In under an hour, you could drive to Padstow, Port Isaac, Newquay, Constantine Bay, Mevagissey, St Mawes, Perranporth or Plymouth.
A little further afield, and just over an hour’s drive away, are Penzance, St Ives and Marazion, home to the awe-inspiring St Michael’s Mount. From Penzance, you could really push the boat out and book a day trip to the stunning Isles of Scilly, accessible by boat, plane or helicopter.
If you need further inspiration, in our Information Room we have a wealth of leaflets with ideas (and some discounts) for days out and things to do in Cornwall.
Beaches
Cornwall’s coastline is over 420 miles long and there are rumoured to be over 365 beaches; a different one for each day of the year! Everyone has their favourites whether they’re wide and sandy expanses like Watergate Bay and Constantine, or sheltered coves like Ready Money Cove, there’s a beach for everyone. We love Booby’s Bay, with its rockpools at low tide, Polkerris beach, where you can sit at the pub just a few feet away from the water’s edge, and the wild beauty of Lantic Bay. Visit Cornwall Beaches to discover your favourite and then check out this tides app cornwall to check the tide times and find the best time for your visit.
Walks
If you’re feeling energetic, we are less than half an hour’s drive from the South Cornwall section of the South West Coast Path, a 630 mile route from Minehead in Somerset to Poole Harbour in Dorset. Our section runs from Falmouth to Cremyll and passes through the picturesque towns and villages of St Mawes, Mevagissey, Charlestown, Polkerris, Fowey, Polruan, Polperro and Looe as well as offering breath-taking coastal views and out to sea.
For more information, visit South West Coast Path’s website. We’re also close to Forestry England’s Cardinham Woods, National Trust properties like Lanhydrock, Cotehele Mill and Antony, and the rugged beauty of Bodmin Moor.
Bikes
If you prefer wheels to walking, but don’t want to spend all your time in the car, cycle hire is available from Wadebridge, less than 30 minutes away. The Camel Trail route runs from Padstow to Wenfordbridge and there are wonderful views all the way.
Attractions
We’re 4 miles from Carnglaze Caverns, a former slate mine; 6 miles from Golitha Falls with its falls and cascades on the River Fowey; and 12 miles from the Eden Project, Cornwall’s global garden set in a former clay mine. The Monkey Sanctuary near Looe is less than 30 minutes away and Newquay Zoo just 24 miles. The immersive visitor experience at Bodmin Jail is well worth a visit if you enjoy history and a little of the macabre; there’s even a chance to spend a night at the jail, rumoured to be the most haunted in the country!
If you like the theatre, why not check out what’s on at the Hall for Cornwall in Truro during your stay? Reopened after a £25m renovation, it’s only 40 minutes from Rivermead and a wonderful venue which stages everything from ballets to stand up to pantomimes. A little further away, but worth the drive, is the Minack Theatre, an open air theatre carved in to the cliffs largely by hand!
Trains
We’re five minutes from Bodmin Parkway station which is not only on the mainline from London’s Paddington to Penzance but is also a scenic stop for the Bodmin and Wenford Railway and its heritage steam engines. Launceston, 30 minutes away, also has its own narrow gauge Steam Railway. If you like letting the train take the strain, why not catch the train from Bodmin Parkway down to St Ives instead of driving? The fares are reasonable and the views out of the windows are marvellous!
Messing about on – or near - the water
As well as offering fishing on our private stretch of the River Fowey, sea fishing is also available from nearby Looe. There are many companies hiring out boats, kayaks and paddle boards or you can sit back and relax and let someone else take the helm on many of the boats and ferries operating across Cornwall.
Book A Stay
You deserve a break so why not book your stay at one of our fabulous Rivermead cottages today. For more ideas and lots of contact details when you get here, check out the leaflets in our Information Room.
Here are some of our favourites...
Lantic Bay
Head over to the NT carpark at Lantic Bay and walk across the fields to this stunning bay. There’s a steep walk down to the bay where you can paddle, swim and picnic on the beach, or join the South-West Coast Path and walk the coast along to Polruan where you could have a pint in the Lugger Inn, dating back to 1782, or catch the foot ferry across the harbour to Fowey where there are plenty of independent shops and places to find a delicious lunch.
Constantine Bay
This is a beautiful stretch of large, sandy beach linked to Booby’s Bay with its fascinating caves and rockpools appearing at low tide. Walk up the hill towards Trevose Head and its pristine lighthouse and see if you can spot any seals frolicking below you. Take a picnic and position yourself on the cliff top for the most scenic views all around you.
Polkerris
If you’re looking for a place to have a drink just a few feet from the sea, the Rashleigh Inn or Sam’s on the Beach at Polkerris really hit the spot at this pretty cove away from the hustle and bustle. Park in the large carpark at the top of the hill and walk down into the village. The calamari at the Rashleigh is the best we’ve eaten!
Charlestown
The harbour is the last working 18th century harbour in the UK and a UNESCO Heritage Site, as well as home to some historic tall ships. The Shipwreck Museum is here as well as interesting independent shops to explore.
Golitha Falls
Just off the A38 towards Liskeard, you’ll find Golitha Falls, a National Nature Reserve, where the River Fowey winds through ancient woodlands and over craggy rocks, descending 90 metres in falls and cascades. There’s a free car park and the walk is a great excuse to visit Inkies Smokehouse for breakfast from 10 a.m. and work your way through their list of delicious milkshakes. The food portions are huge, so make sure you’ve worked up an appetite first!