Pictures of Polruan

About Polruan

A holiday resort of considerable merit and charm. Polruan at the mouth of the River Fowey was once a famous centre for the building of wooden ships, and there is still a busy boatyard. However, the gaily painted boats seen thronging the busy Fowey estuary are of a more modern variety, and you can often see powerful yachts with brilliant white sails mingling in the estuary with humble fishing craft. All are equally enjoyed by their owners, and make an entertaining and colourful spectacle for visitors and residents alike.

There is a delightful mixture of properties spread out from the narrow village street which plunges down to the centre of the village at the entrance of the River Fowey. Old fishermen's cottages, brightly painted blend easily with homes of a newer build. From the high ground surrounding the village there are spectacular sea and river views, particularly looking towards Gribbin Head and across Lantic Bay to the east. Pencarrow Head, a headland 450ft above the sea is easily reached from Polruan. The strenuous walk from the National Trust car park takes you along a bracken and gorse clad path-on reaching the top it is well worth it, the views take in over 80 miles of coastline, extending almost to Cornwall's southern most tip.

Lots go on in this bustling little place; there are boats for hire, sea fishing trips, a ferry to take you across to Fowey, a local bus service to St.Austell and other places and two excellent inns provide good food, beer and wine. There are attractive little gift shops and cafe's serving scrumptious Cornish cream teas. Friendly locals are always ready to tell you tales of the regions fascinating maritime history and of daring deeds of smugglers. In times past, ship's where often wrecked along the storm lashed Cornish coast and whole families lived on the proceeds of pillage and smuggling.

Places to visit include; The Eden Project, Par Sands, Menabilly - once home of Daphne du Maurier, Lost Gardens of Heligan and a Trip up the Fowey.