Corner Cottage - Information

What to do in and around Polruan

It is easy to spend time in Polruan and Fowey while leaving the car in the St Saviour’s car park at the top of the hill. Access to Fowey is very straightforward with a regular ferry service from the quay and there are lots of good places to eat there, a multitude of interesting shops, art galleries and even an aquarium.

The Polruan Ferry (by foot only) across the river runs from the quay in Polruan to Whitehouse Quay in the season and to Fowey Town Quay out of season. Watch for ferry times as the last ferry may be quite early out of season.

Food and Drink

Polruan is well served with two good pubs, The Russell and The Lugger, and well-stocked local shop, Jam First café, which does excellent breakfasts and lunches and Crumpets Too which bakes lots of lovely things daily, including the best croissants outside of France.

Recommended eateries in Fowey include:

For the more adventurous, there is Sam's on the Beach at Polkerris, a lovely restaurant housed in the old lifeboat station with views over the bay, serving excellent seafood and pizzas. It can be reached by car if you take the Bodinnick Ferry, or by walking if you like to work up an appetite for lunch. Booking essential.

Sailing

If you at all interested in sailing you will probably be aware of Fowey, which is an excellent venue for all types of sailing. It even has two traditional local boats; the Troy and the Fowey River Boat. Two prestigious sailing clubs provide plenty of opportunity for the sailor; Fowey Gallants and the Royal Fowey Yacht Club.

Walking Routes

There are many lovely walks around the area. Polruan is on the Coast Path so the more adventurous can set out to places such as Polperro and Looe. For the less adventurous there are plenty of lovely circular walks around Polruan and Fowey, many incorporating changing scenery of woodland, seascape and river views. Some incorporate excellent pubs and restaurants too. Several books in the house can provide inspiration.

The Hall Walk is famous as an ancient smuggling route. Follow the path out of Polruan at the East end and walk along the edge of Pont Pill until you reach the small bridge. Follow the path out the other side and take a sharp left back along the other side of the Pill. Follow the path back to Bodinnick where you can catch a well-earned meal at the Ferry Inn. Then take the car ferry across to Fowey and walk back through the town to pick up the foot ferry to return to Polruan.

An ambitious walk is to take the path out of Polruan at the top of St Saviour’s Hill to pick up the coast path going East to Polperro. It is a lovely stimulating walk of about 6.5 miles, but it incorporates many very steep inclines and sheer edges to the cliffs. Polperro is an interesting little fishing village with plenty of good pubs etc. Worth a visit. You can be extremely ambitious and walk back, or alternatively take the bus or even a taxi. Even more ambitious would be to carry on to Looe!

In the opposite direction you can take the ferry across to Fowey and walk out of the town going west, past Readymoney Cove, following the path on towards the ‘Lego’ Lighthouse at Gribbin Head and on to Polkerris. If you book ahead, there is the special delight of lunch in Sam’s On The Beach, a very good restaurant specialising in Pizzas and seafood, located in the old lifeboat station. You can then take the track out of the back of Polkerris up to the road and follow the Saints’ Way back to Fowey. An excellent way of walking off the lunch. The less adventurous may prefer to drive to Polkerris, but whatever, booking at Sam’s is essential.

A shorter but very pleasant walk involves turning back from Polridmouth on your way to Polkerris and taking the path up the hill and following the track back to Fowey, remembering to turn right towards Coombe Farm and across the fields back towards Readymoney Cove.

Our regular dog walk takes in woodland, road walking and coastal paths, providing a host of different scenery. Take the path out of Polruan at the start of the Hall Walk, continue until you cross a very narrow drive, then a small stream and shortly after fork off to the right up the hill to a gate to the road. Turn right down the road, past Essa Farm and then turn left at the junction. After about 300m turn right through a gate, across the field and to the headland with a view over Lantic Bay. Sit on the bench and admire the view. Then turn back on yourself and left down the hill to join the coast path back to Polruan, returning to Polruan at the top of the hill.

This walk can be extended by not forking off to the right but continuing along the Hall Walk until a long rise at the top of which is a gate on to the road. Go through this gate and follow the road to the left until a sharp bend to the left, where you will see a path ahead of you which will take you up to Lanteglos Parish Church. Very much worth visiting. Come out of the church and turn left, following the road until it joins the main road to Polruan by the car park for Lantic Bay. Cross the road and take the path towards Lantic Bay. You can then re-join the coast path and follow it back to Polruan, or if you are much more athletic, take a detour first to Lantic Bay.

Places to Visit

There are so many places to visit in Cornwall if you do decide to get in your car.

Ideas on what to do in Cornwall

Locally there are:

Whatever you decide to do, have a great stay in Polruan.

Take the Ferry from Polruan to Fowey

Then take the return Ferry from Fowey to Polruan