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Port town
Fowey
Port town at the mouth of the River Fowey, with a church first founded in the 7th century.
A mini guide to
Fowey, Polperro & the south-east coast
A sailing harbour, fishing villages and the clay-pit gardens of Eden
Photos
1 / 8Welcome to the area
A sailing harbour, fishing villages and the clay-pit gardens of Eden
Fowey is a port town at the mouth of the River Fowey, where, according to Wikipedia, the first church was established in the 7th century. Visit Cornwall describes narrow cobbled streets lined with Victorian and Edwardian buildings, a regatta, and links to Daphne du Maurier. A ferry crosses to Polruan, the Bodinnick ferry links Fowey with the south-east coast, and St Catherine’s Castle guards the harbour mouth.
East of Fowey the coast path leads to Polperro, a fishing village around a small harbour with a smuggling museum, and on to Talland Bay and Looe, whose banjo-shaped pier gives it a landmark. Inland are Lostwithiel, Restormel Castle and the Eden Project, built in a reclaimed china clay pit.
Highlights
Start here
If you only have a few hours, these are good places to begin.
Castle
St Catherine's Castle
Small artillery fort of the 1530s built by Henry VIII to defend Fowey Harbour; English Heritage lists free entry.
Directions Website Report a problem with St Catherine's Castle
Beach
Readymoney Cove
Sandy beach south of Fowey harbour, sheltered by cliffs near the mouth of the estuary.
Village
Polruan
Steep village across the River Fowey from Fowey, bounded by water on three sides.
Beach and village
Polkerris
Small village and beach on St Austell Bay, part of the Menabilly estate.
Fishing village
Polperro
Large village and fishing harbour on the south coast, about seven miles east of Fowey.
Find your way
On the map
The map shows Fowey, Polperro & the south-east coast and the streets around it. The Getting there page lists nearby stops and stations.
Insider tips
Before you go
1
Take the Looe Valley Line
The 8.75-mile community railway from Liskeard to Looe follows the East Looe River for much of its course and is operated by GWR.
2
Use the ferries
Visit Cornwall lists the Bodinnick Ferry and a passenger ferry between Fowey and Polruan. Crossings save a long drive around the river.
3
Walk to Polperro on the coast path
Visit Cornwall says the South West Coast Path passes through Polperro, with Talland Bay about a mile east on the way to Looe.
4
Combine the Eden Project with Lostwithiel
The Eden Project and Restormel Castle lie inland near Lostwithiel, a short drive from Fowey. Check each site for opening times.
Tips from the Britlens editors
Explore this guide
Everything for Fowey, Polperro & the south-east coast
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Open the mini guide →Photo credits
- Fowey, Polperro & the south-east coast (area photo): Marika Reinholds, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Fowey: Mutney, CC0, source
- St Catherine's Castle: Adrian Farwell, CC BY 3.0, source
- Readymoney Cove: Len Williams, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Polruan: Oliver Mills, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Polkerris: Jowaninpensans, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Polperro: Mick Knapton, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Talland Bay: Richard Law, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Looe: User:Tigershrike, Public domain, source
- Banjo Pier: DS Pugh, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Looe Island: Pyrotek at English Wikipedia, Public domain, source
- Lostwithiel: Matnkat, CC BY 3.0, source
- Restormel Castle: Zaian at English Wikipedia, Public domain, source
- Eden Project: Jürgen Matern, CC BY-SA 2.5, source
- Charlestown Harbour: David P Howard, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- St Ives & West Penwith: ArildV, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Penzance, Mousehole & Land’s End: Lewis Clarke, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Falmouth & the Helford: Tim Green, CC BY 2.0, source
- Newquay & the North Coast: Otto Domes, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Padstow & the Camel Estuary: Derek Harper, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
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