Local area


Attractions

I'm tempted to say that if you're staying here don't bother about going to local attractions, what with the labyrinth and our wild and wonderful surroundings (see Things To Do page).

First – and original and best! – there's the Monkey Sanctuary next door; it was started by Leonard Williams back in the 60s, and is still faithful to his original mission of rescuing monkeys from the pet trade. It's usually open daily except Monday and Tuesday, from Easter to end October, and you'll need to book.

Beaches, Looe, Polperro

The nearest beach (apart from our own half-mile of foreshore) is at Millendreath; it's a pleasant sandy cove 1 mile from us by South West Coast Path (or 2 miles by car). It has a beachfront bistro, and you can rent paddleboards and sit-on kayaks.

You might like to explore the South West Coast Path further ... a hour's walk (or a 15-min drive) takes you to Looe (see photo above), with a couple of good beaches; Looe is a working fishing port where you can buy what's probably the freshest and best seafish in the UK. You can go out on fishing trips in small open boats, and visit Looe Island, now a Cornwall Wildlife Trust reserve. Three miles along the coastal path beyond Looe is the picture-postcard fishing village of Polperro.

Going the other way, a 20-minute steep walk (or 5-min drive) downhill gets you to the dog-friendly beach at Seaton. Then there's the long, long village of Downderry, and 8 miles further on, the golden sands of the surfing beaches at Whitsand Bay.

Further afield

Take the delightful Looe Valley Line from Looe to the main line station of Liskeard for the start of a car-free day out: Bodmin (with its steam railway), St Austell (for Charlestown), Truro, St Ives, Falmouth, Penzance; or to Plymouth for the pretty Tamar Valley line to Calstock and Cotehele. Cornwall escaped much of the Beeching axe, and there are so many delightful places you can reach by its lovely little lines. Without costing the earth!

By car, the Eden Project and the Lost Gardens of Heligan as well as the National Trust properties at Lanhydrock, Cotehele and Antony are all within easy reach. For children, Porfell Wildlife Park and the Tamar Valley Donkey Park are great value.

Then there's the World Heritage Site of the Caradon Mining District up on mysterious Bodmin Moor, where you can also explore ancient stone monuments such as the Hurlers and Trethevy Quoit.

And if it's raining - or even if it's not! - plan a day out by visiting https://www.101-things-to-do-on-a-rainy-day-in-cornwall.co.uk/

Activities

Within about 10 miles of us are plenty of activities to keep yourselves and your kids busy ... two riding stables, a surf school, dinghy sailing, wakeboarding, a zip wire ...