The area around Falmouth is a fascinating part of Cornwall - crystal clear, sparkling blue seas to match the best the Mediterranean or Caribbean can offer, a fine series of sheltered sun-trap beaches with sand and rock pools, a beautiful rugged coastline providing many surprises with hidden coves, wooded creeks and inlets to explore, buildings and boats steeped in history and the romantic past of pirates, smugglers and shipwrecks.

Falmouth itself is a bustling, friendly place with narrow streets, some cobbled, and alleyways leading to the quays, piers and the water's edge. It has many centuries-old inns, lovely restaurants and a variety of shops ranging from art and craft galleries to fish merchants, from antique shops to yachting outfitters, from second hand booksellers to trendy boutiques and surf shops.

In Tudor times, the Fal River was a busy and important port. Henry VIII had the magnificent 16th century Pendennis Castle built on the tip of Pendennis Head, in tandem with its smaller equivalent of St Mawes Castle across the water, to guard the estuary in belligerent times. Both castles are well preserved, have superb views from the ramparts and are well worth a visit.

Pendennis Castle, in Falmouth is Cornwall's largest fort. Here you can discover the wartime secrets of the Castle, step back through time, explore the hands-on Discovery Centre, see a Tudor gun deck in action and experience the sights and sounds of battle. During the 1st World War a garrison was stationed here and you can find out what it was like to be a garrison soldier at the turn of this century, visiting the guardhouse complete with cells. During World War II it housed a secret underground base which is ready to be explored. It's a wonderful day out, whatever the weather.

Falmouth Festival of Literature & Arts

10th - 12th September 2004

Pendennis Castle

Three days of fun, discussion, books, art, debate, entertainment and inspiration! For
programme and booking details call 01326 319777 or visit www.falmouthfestival.co.uk

Falmouth's heyday began in the 17th and 18th centuries when fast Postal Packet Sailing Ships carried mail and expensive cargo for 162 years to and from 43 countries as far afield as the New World and the East Indies. Nowadays, Falmouth is still an important ship repair centre and there are often large and interesting ships to see in the harbour, the Carrick Roads and Falmouth Bay. The Greenbank Hotel & restaurant, originally an old coaching inn, is where Kenneth Grahame developed his story "The Wind in the Willows".

The ancient and historic town of Penryn was an important port long before Falmouth existed. It is situated adjacent to Falmouth, at the head of the picturesque Penryn River estuary, and is rapidly becoming an important town in its own right (once again), as it is now home to the new Combined Universities of Cornwall.

The region is well known for its magnificent, exotic and ornamental gardens filled with unusual plants from distant lands. At Mawnan Smith, Glendurgan Gardens, a National Trust valley garden overlooking the very picturesque Helford River, boasts fine trees, rare exotic shrubs and subtropical flowers. It is great for adults and children who will love the maze and Giant's Stride.

Trebah Gardens, a steeply wooded, sub-tropical 25-acre ravine garden is famous for its tree ferns and falls 200 feet from the 18th century house to its private beach on the Helford River. It has a stream cascading over waterfalls and through ponds. There are many other beautiful gardens in this part of Cornwall, including Carwinion and Penjerrick Gardens.

The Lost Gardens of Heligan were re-discovered in 1990, after 75 years of neglect, and restored back to life.

From Spring onwards, the dramatic coastline, hedges and countryside of West Cornwall are covered with heady-scented, sweet, vivid wild flowers - miles and glorious miles of wild garden at your feet - and it's all free!

Pleasure boats/ferries can be picked up from Falmouth's Custom House Quay (right) and the Prince of Wales Pier.  Visit St Mawes (and the Roseland Peninsula), Truro, the typical small fishing village of Flushing and the unspoilt, wonderfully scenic Helford River.

Sea fishing is plentiful in the Falmouth area. Mackerel and Deep Sea Fishing trips depart daily from the Prince of Wales Pier and Custom House Quay in Falmouth. Argal Reservoir has a coarse fishery stocked with Carp, Bream, Roach, Rudd and some Perch & Trout.

Swanpool Beach, a short walk along a coastal path from the town

Gyllyngvase and Swanpool beaches are Falmouth's finest. Maenporth and Castle beaches are smaller, but equally as good. All are within a couple of miles of the town centre.

Falmouth is the 3rd largest natural harbour in the world and Cornwall's largest port, with a colourful maritime heritage. Being sheltered from the prevailing South Westerly winds, the River Fal is a haven for yachtsmen and provides some of the best sailing waters in Britain. It is now an international centre for water sports including sailing, surfing, diving, and fishing. Both sailing and motor boats can be hired for private use from St Mawes, Mylor Yacht Harbour and the Helford River.

Voted 'Cornwall Family Attraction of the Year 2003' by the Good Britain Guide, the National Maritime Museum is a world class, award-winning museum that has achieved wide national acclaim. It is a gateway to the maritime world offering unique and interactive displays of boats and their place in people's lives.

The Falmouth Art Gallery is an outstanding gallery of contemporary art, sculpture, photography, textiles and historic art exhibitions. There are a number of exciting shops in Falmouth and Penryn selling paintings, pottery, sculpture and crafts lovingly created by local artists.

The Falmouth Golf Club offers a mixture of downland and woodland with magnificent views of Falmouth Bay. This is the golf course for those in search of pleasant holiday golf. Golf is also available at the Budock Vean Hotel and Country Club which is nearby at Mawnan Smith. For slightly less serious golfers, the Falmouth Pitch & Putt offers a 12 hole course and crazy golf!

The Ships and Castle Leisure Pool in Falmouth, near Pendennis Castle, is a fun pool with slide and wave machine. Gym facilities also available.

The Ocean Bowl in Falmouth is the biggest and newest ten-pin bowling centre in Cornwall offering bowling nights with glow-in-the-dark lanes. There is also a licensed bar, restaurant and separate video games/pool table area.

The Princess Pavilion is Falmouth's entertainment venue, consisting of theatre, café and bar, with beautiful gardens and an Edwardian Bandstand.

The region boasts a number of Farmers' Markets selling freshly produced local commodities such as cheese, meat, bread, olives, fruit and vegetables. There are two such markets held each week in Falmouth alone. 

Falmouth is the gateway to other wonderfully scenic regions such as the Roseland Peninsula, with its picturesque countryside, beaches and historic buildings including the church at St Just-in-Roseland and the curious circular white houses of Veryan. The ferries from Falmouth are the easiest way to reach this area.

The Lizard Peninsula is Britain's most southerly point (with its many small towns, villages and beaches, including Kynance Cove), and the Helford River, very unspoilt and scenic (with its hidden corners such as Frenchman's Creek - immortalised in the writings of Daphne du Maurier).

Flambards Village Theme Park, Helston, is one of Britain's top 10 family attractions with huge undercover areas, award winning exhibitions, exciting rides, family shows, live entertainment, glorious gardens and spectacular new thrills for 2003.

The National Seal & Otter Sanctuary treats injured seals and otters and is set in the nearby picturesque Helford estuary by the beautiful village of Gweek.

Goonhilly Earth Station is the largest Satellite Station on Earth. Well worth a visit.

St Michael's Mount, Penzance - the 'Jewel in Cornwall's Crown', is instantly recognisable the world over. It is accessible at low tide by the ancient causeway and at other times by ferryboat.

At the heart of Mount's Bay is Marazion, one of England's oldest towns, which has a well-known bird-watching area and a safe, wide sandy beach, ideal for surfing, windsurfing and kite-surfing enthusiasts.

The Minack Theatre, an open-air theatre carved out of the granite cliff face at Porthcurno by the extra-ordinary Rowena Cade, is an experience not to be missed. The location is a glorious backdrop to a range of open-air performances which run from May to September.