North, south, east & west
North – Surf Beaches, Old Tin Mines, coastal walks
Surf's up! 3 of Cornwall’s top surf beaches are within 20 miles of Truro, located on the north coast. They all have surf schools if you want to get on board – or simply head down to the beach & watch the action!
- Fistral Beach, Newquay
- Gwithian, nr Hayle/St Ives
- Perranporth
Cornish mining history - Cornwall & Devon provided most of the United Kingdom's tin, copper, & arsenic until the 20th century. Although the last working tin mine closed in 1998, there are ruins still visible, & several museums dedicated to the history of mining.
Tolgus Tin, Redruth https://www.cornwall-gold.com/our-world/tolgus-mill/
King Edward Mine, Camborne https://www.kingedwardmine.co.uk/
Geevor, Penzance https://geevor.com/
Walk the Coast path – The South West Coast Path stretches for 630 miles around Devon & Cornwall. You can do sections of it right around the coast, but if you are looking for drama, the north coast is particularly spectacular and rugged.
https://www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk/walk-coast-path/south-west-coast-path-national-trail/
South – Falmouth sailing, cosy bays, beachside cafes
Get on the water - Olympic sailor Sir Ben Ainslie grew up & learned to sail in Falmouth, It has a sheltered deep harbour & there are several RYA recognised sailing schools offering everything from RYA Level 1 to Advanced Seamanship courses. If you don’t want to be at the helm yourself, you can also book a sailing day aboard a tall ship or a Cornish Gaff Cutter.
Check out some of the options here https://www.falmouth.co.uk/on-the-water/sail-in-falmouth/
Cosy bays and beachside cafes - Cornwall’s south coast is more sheltered than the rugged north coast – some have cafes & facilities, others are secluded & quieter. Dogs are accepted on some beaches year-round, others are dog-free zones. Get some inspiration from Visit Cornwall’s beach guide
https://www.visitcornwall.com/beaches/south-coast
West – Rugged cliffs, Spectacular St Michael’s Mount
Island living - 25 miles to the west of Truro, you will find St Michael’s Mount, a historic castle, garden & island community found off the coast of Marazion. It is linked to the town by a causeway, accessible between mid-tide & low water.
East – Bodmin moor, tucked away village pubs full of character
Bodmin Moor - one of Cornwall's designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, is a remote, bleak heather covered upland granite moorland still grazed by moorland ponies & bisected by the main A30 road.
Behind bars - A new Bodmin Jail experience was opened in 2020. Built in 1779 for King George III, Bodmin Jail has played an important role in Cornwall’s history & this bold redevelopment gives visitors the chance to delve into an intriguing hidden history.