Things to do

What to do around Portscatho and Cornwall's Roseland Peninsula

• Cornwall's much celebrated Eden Project and The Lost Gardens of Heligan are 35 minutes away.
• discover the Roseland's delightful countryside and cliff-top walks, secluded creeks and wooded valleys
• the most beautiful walk from Portscatho to Place manor via St Anthony's head lighthouse — passing the Roseland Church at St Anthony where Jesus and Joseph of Arimathea were possibly shipwrecked and landed — catching the passenger ferry to St Mawes, relax over a cream tea and then catch the bus back to Portscatho
• The Guardian's "10 of the best easy walks in south Cornwall"
• hire a rowing boat, motorboat, kayaks or windsurfing board at nearby riverside Percuil and cruise up creeks and rivers — www.paddleandsail.com or hire a boat hourly, daily or weekly at local www.mylorboathire.co.uk
• stunning wooden sailing day boats for hire: sail around the beautiful Falmouth harbour exploring local waterside pubs and creeks with Fal Wooden Boat Hire — boats available from St Just in Roseland
• walk along the South West Coast Path to Pendower beach, turn and follow the river to Melinsey Mill where you can congratulate yourself with a generous Cornish cream tea (among other things) at this most beautiful natural setting — woodland, lakeside tables and cheeky little birds on your tabletop waiting for crumbs. Definitely the writer's favourite spot for cream tea. Pure poetry.
• learn a new watersport at Percuil's 'Paddle and Sail'
• try your hand at fishing in Cornwall
• check out the Roselands best beaches : Porthcurnick, Towan (winter home to seals), Pendower, Carne, Porthbean and Porthbeor.
• visit the nearby harbour village of St Mawes with it's walled seafront, castle and magnificent sub-tropical plants, which becomes a lively little yachting haven in the summer months and has a good choice of shops, pubs, restaurants and indulge in the obligatory cream tea.
• walk from St Mawes two miles along the coastal walk to St Just in Roseland where you will find 'the most beautiful churchyard on earth' (Sir John Betjeman)
• take the passenger ferry from St Mawes to colourful bustling maritime Falmouth and take in its cobbled streets, antique shops, National Maritime Museum, pubs and restaurants, beaches, and wonderful views across the Carrick Roads (Fal estuary).
• lunch on fish and chips on one of Falmouth's Quays, looking out to sea, enjoying the sun and wondering at the huge ships in for repairs or visiting Tall Ships at Falmouth Docks.
• take one of the many pleasure cruises from Falmouth or St Mawes. The Fal Estuary and Helford River — both areas of outstanding beauty and wildlife — can only be fully appreciated by boat.
• the King Harry Ferry (5 miles away) is an enjoyable shortcut by car ferry to Falmouth, passing alongside the National Trust's Trelissick Gardens.
• visit the picturesque neighbouring villages of Veryan and Portloe!
• Cornwall's capital city, Truro, with its cathedral, shops and cobbled streets — a 25 minute drive. Truro Cathedral has regular organ recitals and if you time it correctly you can enjoy an organ rehearsal.
• spend the day at St Ives with The Tate of the West and other St Ives art galleries
• the village of St Agnes still retains its mining character with its cottages and engine houses.
• Portscatho's Regatta is a lively event that visitors return for year after year — with music and dancing in the streets. Many have been participating for generations.
• local art galleries.
• sub-tropical gardens of Cornwall: The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Trebah and Trelissick to name a few.
• Magnificent Music Machines — "a delightfully eccentric museum created on the back of one man's passion for music boxes, Wurlitzers and organs of yesteryear. Paul personally guides you around his collection, treating you to performances and dipping into his encyclopaedic knowledge." (Holiday Which) — by the old mill steam in the lovely Looe Valley — just off the B3254 at St Keyne Station near Liskeard. 01579 343108
• The Portscatho Harbour Club with stylishly refurbished bar and enviable balcony overlooking the sea- £5 annual membership. It has pool tables, snooker, darts, table football and sea views. Children are allowed in until 9pm. Free events to members include bands and cinema nights.