Things to do around the Helford River
Mawnan Church
Mawnan Church sits above the coast path on a cliff edge some 2 miles from Mawnan Smith. You can either walk there or drive and park just to have a look around. With the pub in front of you, head on the left hand road. After about ½ mile you will come to a sharp bend in the road and see the entrance to Nansidwell House. Follow the sign straight ahead to Mawnan Church and keep going to the end of the road where you will see the church gate.
Check the Mawnan Smith website for service schedule. www.mawnansmith.org
Trebah Garden
http://www.trebahgarden.co.uk // 01326 252200
World famous Trebah Garden is just a short drive (or walk along the road) from Mawnan Smith and is open daily throughout the year. Steeped in history as the place from which many Americans departed for the D-Day Landings (in 1944, the beach was used as an embarkation point for a regiment of 7,500 of the 29th US Infantry Division for the assault landing on Omaha beach) Trebah gardens showcase a true Cornish Valley Gardens whilst the restaurant serves up good food. It’s a great place to visit, still family run and the ice creams on their private beach are fabulous in hot weather.
Trebah is dog friendly.
Glendurgan Garden
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/glendurgan-garden //01326 252020
Run by the National Trust, Glendurgan Garden is another valley garden on the Helford River and is located next to Trebah. Glendurgan is ideal for children with it’s Amazing Maze and seasonal activities that will appeal to all ages. The valley garden runs down to the picturesque village of Durgan, on the banks of the Helford River. In the summer, the old fish house serves up wonderful ice cream tubs.
From their website: “There are three valleys of Glendurgan to lose yourself in – full of fun, informality, natural beauty and amazing plants. Big leaves and exotic flowers thrive in the jungle-like lower valley and sun-loving specimens enjoy the upper banks. In spring thousands of wildflowers carpet the sloping sides of this steep valley. Wandering through the garden leads down to the unspoilt hamlet of Durgan on the Helford River: a place to watch birds and boats, skim stones and build sand-castles. Walking back up from Durgan you can find a boat-seat, a gigantic tulip-tree and ponds teeming with wildlife. You can also learn about the Fox family who created this ‘small peace of heaven on earth.’The maze has been foxing people for over 180 years. Who will be first to reach the middle of our living puzzle?”
The Budock Vean Hotel: golf, spa and a very good crab sandwich
www.budockvean.co.uk // 01326 252 288
The hotel has a swimming pool and outdoor hot tub and offers Spa packages as well as beauty treatments. There is a golf course at the hotel: Weekdays – Adults £25 per day, Juniors £15 per day for an 18 hole round. Adults can play a 9 hole round on weekdays for £16. Weekends & Bank Holidays: Adults £30 per day, Juniors £20 per day for an 18 hole round.
National Maritime Museum, Falmouth
The National Maritime Museum in Falmouth is definitely worth a visit and is a particularly good activity if the weather is foul. There is an indoor pond on which you can race model boats (provided) – great fun for kids and adults alike as well as the National Small Boat Collection. If you have any interest in sailing this is a must-do activity and I see there is a new Titanic Exhibition running until January 2019.
Get there early when the doors open, there’s often a queue in the summer and especially if it is raining.
The Seal Sanctuary, Gweek
https://sealsanctuary.sealifetrust.org
A great place to spend a couple of hours if you need to occupy children. It is quite expensive, though, so worth searching the internet for a voucher which often gets you in half price.
Constantine Stores: world infamous off license in a Post Office
30 Fore St, Constantine, Falmouth TR11 5AB // 01326 340226
World famous off license hidden in a village shop in nearby Constantine (not to be confused with Constantine Bay). They stock over 3,000 alcoholic drinks including rare collectors’ whisky plus wines, gin and plenty more besides from around the world. It’s a must for us when we are in Cornwall, the spiced rum is a particular favourite as is the massive array of ‘bitters’ which I’ve never seen anywhere else before (as in angostura bitters, but they have ones for practically every fruit you can imagine)