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All you need to know
There is always something going on when you holiday in St Mawes, whether that be the constant stream of boats in and out the bustling harbour, the synonymous seaside squawking of seagulls or a bustling high-street full of locals and visitors stocking up on local produce and artisan fayre.
Located on the stunning Roseland Peninsula, St Mawes is bordered by three outstanding beaches, all of which make for a great day out. Dog-friendly Idles Beach means you can enjoy your holiday with the company of your pooch, and our dog-friendly properties make the perfect pairing. The southern Cornish coastline boasts some dazzlingly pretty sunbathing spots, so grab your towel and lay on the sand with the sea lapping at the shore as your soundtrack.
History buffs should head to St Mawes Castle. It’s one of the best-preserved artillery fortresses from the rule of Henry VIII. Enjoy an audio tour before heading outside for far-reaching views over the River Fal. St Anthony’s Lighthouse, a short drive away, sits at the eastern entrance to Falmouth harbour. Some youngsters from the eighties may recognise it, as it featured in the much children’s hit TV series Fraggle Rock.
While on holiday in St Mawes indulge in one of the award-winning restaurants dotted around the town, many only a short walk away from our holiday homes. Sample traditional Cornish fayre including fishy favourites, home-made pasties and cream teas. Cuddle up in a window seat or a bloom-filled garden with family and friends and enjoy the sunshine and mild climate this part of Britain is so famous for.
If you’re looking for more adrenaline-fuelled holiday antics, local providers hire out canoes and kayaks. With paddles in hand, set off along sheltered rivers or challenge yourself to navigate the Fal Estuary - which is no mean feat! Those wanting to stay dry can board the local ferry across the swirling River Fal, past a coastline of colourful thatched cottages and head over to Falmouth for the day.
A holiday in St Mawes is for everyone. There’s such a large variety of things to do to tailor your getaway to match the pace you want. Take the days slowly and spend time exploring at your leisure or wake up early and race through your day, you’ll never run out of things to do.
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Lamorran is a subtropical, Italianate inspired garden on Cornwall's beautiful Roseland peninsula. It's unique postion means that the garden remains frost free in all but the most serious of winters and a wide range of plants from all over the world are grown, resulting in something of a plantsperson’s paradise. An extensive and unusual range of plants can be found, with particular emphasis on southern hemisphere and sub-tropical flora.
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Enjoy £1 off admission price per person with your Toad Hall Cottages Discount Card
Paradise! Utterly delightful. If the sun shines could be in the Med. Very steep so reasonable mobility is a must.
July 2023
St Mawes Castle is among the best preserved of Henry VIII’s coastal fortresses, and along with Pendennis Castle was strategically placed to guard Falmouth’s harbour and anchorages. Today you can explore the beautiful grounds and castle, learn about its history, and in summer there are outdoor theatre productions and other events to keep you entertained.
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One of Henry VIII’s finest coastal fortresses, Pendennis Castle has protected Cornwall against invasion since the Tudor period and operated throughout the period 1539–1956. When you visit you can learn about how the castle has evolved, experience the sights and sounds of battle, and examine the role of the castle as part of Fortress Falmouth during the First World War. The castle dominates a high rocky headland on the south side of the Fal Estuary, overlooking the English Channel. It’s a great day out for families or those who are just interested in the area, with lots of events available throughout the summer months. The castle is open from March to September and prices start at £7.90 for non English Heritage members.
a wet and windy trip but a good castle to explore
November 2019
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Through their varied exhibitions programme the National Maritime Museum brings new and diverse perspectives to maritime issues, and highlight their relevance to the present day. They also bring rare objects from around the world to Cornwall to tell local, national and international stories.
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Enjoy £1 off admission with your Toad Hall Cottages Discount Card
Great museum with plenty to interest all ages. Glad they belatedly found out that there were two different half term weeks in the country! Great craft activity
November 2019
An interesting place to visit especially on a damp day.
June 2019
Great experience for all ages. Very interesting and informative displays.
April 2019
There’s no better way to explore the beautiful Fal River than by boat, and with Mylor Boat Hire you can do just that with all equipment provided. Their fleet of safe and stable boats lets you do things at your own pace whether that’s racing along, anchoring in tiny coves for a picnic of visiting a waterside pub. Based at Mylor Yacht Harbour from April – October and also offering kayak and SUP hire. No experience necessary.
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Excellent breakfast for non residents
October 2023
Lovely terrace by the sea, we had Cornish tea there, a real treat.
July 2022
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Great Sunday lunch and very friendly staff.
April 2024
Brilliant location, lovely place to sit for a drink and good pub food.
July 2022
Harbourside dining in St Mawes which also do the best fish and chips take away!
Watch House, 1, The Square, St Mawes, Cornwall (T:01326 270038)
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Enjoyed by both locals and visitors alike, this traditional Cornish pub offers something for everyone: including fresh local seafood dishes, steaks, pasta and vegetarian options.
Victory Inn, Victory Steps, St Mawes, Cornwall TR2 5DQ (T: 01326 270324)
Always stop here for a great pint of beer when in St. Mawes
April 2019
There’s a thin arc of sand and shingle to flop on here at Falmouth’s most northerly beach, but that’s not the main attraction … at low tide a wide expanse of rock pools is exposed where kids and adults alike can spend hours discovering the watery pools packed with miniature sea life. Diving and snorkelling are popular here too, with plenty to see in the clear waters beyond the rocks. If you forget your bucket and net you can buy one at the beachside café, also serving drinks, ice creams and sandwiches that can be enjoyed on their large sundeck with lovely sea views. Keep an eye on the tide times though as at high tide the majority of the beach can be covered. There’s no lifeguard or car park, but plenty of parking along the road running parallel to the beach. Dogs allowed from October to Easter Sunday.
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With its impressive crescent of sand, great amenities and Blue Flag status, it’s no wonder Gyllyngvase Beach is one of the most popular in the area. Found just south of Falmouth town centre this beach is ideal for families, and with its calm seas and gently sloping sand is a good spot for kayaking and paddleboarding too. Local company WESUP are based here offering wetsuit and equipment hire and SUP activities for all ages and abilities. And nearby is the acclaimed Gylly Beach Café with its sun terrace built out over the beach, fantastic views and a menu packed full of local seafood. There’s lifeguard cover from May to September, a large car park and public toilets. Dogs allowed from October to Easter Sunday.
Beach was very busy when we visited with long queues for food. We took the coastal path and things were much quieter. There were a lot of dog walkers enjoying the path and not all of them were cleaning up after their dogs.
September 2021
Lovely beach
September 2020
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A lovely sandy cove on the outskirts of Falmouth with lots of sand and clear water for swimming. If relaxing on the sand’s not your thing though, the beach backs onto Swanpool Nature Reserve where you can walk dogs on leads or feed the ducks and swans, and there’s also a beach cafe, kayak hire and 18 hole crazy golf course. Dogs allowed from October to Easter Sunday
A lovely beach but does get a bit crowded sometimes. Parking can be a problem in busy times too.
September 2021
Even in the middle of what has been one of the busiest summers cornwall has seen, this still offered space and attractions without the crowds. Loved being able to take the dog for a swim before 10am and after 6pm
September 2021
Lovely beach and costal walk
September 2020
Lovely beach, not fine sand but ideal for Kayaking and paddleboarding
August 2020
A lovely beach, plenty of parking, sheltered, 2 good cafe/ restaurants - whats not to like
August 2019
A beautiful beach with nice walks into Falmouth.
June 2019
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A scenic sweep of golden sand flanked by cliffs, this family friendly beach looks out across Falmouth Bay towards Pendennis Castle and the lighthouse at St Anthony Head. There’s plenty of sand and shallow water which is great for children and excellent facilities, including a cafe selling great food and beach equipment, plus toilets and car park. Maenporth is also a lovely spot to launch a kayak or paddleboard, both of which can be hired on the beach during summer months. Dogs allowed from October to Easter Sunday.
Fantastic beach
April 2024
Lovely and clean, beautiful.
October 2023
Absolutely loved Maenporth. Lovely sheltered beach with fantastic cafe
August 2023
Lovely beach but early morning dog owners do not on occasion clean up on their dogs. We had to borrow a shovel on two occasions to clear the mess
August 2023
If you think this will be a quiet, hidden gem then you’d couldn’t be more wrong. It’s a very busy, active beach with lots to do and changing tides. We felt very blessed to be staying so close so we didn’t have to arrive super early to get a car parking space. Loved how safe it felt most of time, except when the fog came rolling in as fast as a wave! Enjoyed paddling, swimming, rock-pooling, playing with local dogs (after hours), someone built an incredible pyramid sandcastle which the kids and adults enjoyed.
August 2023
This beach is beautiful! Not too busy and everything is within a short distance.
July 2023
My favourite beach. Sunrise from here is something else!
April 2023
Used the beach but time off visit big waves so paddle boarding out off the question but had great fun on the body boards. Not a crowed beach parking prices reasonable, parking right on the beach .
September 2022
Lovely beach our third year in a row. The only problem which is not unique to this beach, is weaver fish. I do think visitors need to be made more aware of the adviseability of wearing beach shoes to protect against this problem. I think all beaches should have signs to this effect.
August 2022
Mix of sand and shingle beach. Quite a bit of seaweed when we were there but of the lettuce type so not too problematic. Not much in the way of waves so not good for body boarding but good for paddle boards or kayaks and swimming. Nice little take out cafe.
August 2022
Lovely beach and so convenient to Maenporth Estate. Shame about the seaweed that arrived! But beautiful nonetheless.
August 2022
Lovely beach
July 2022
Wonderful beach, very clean. Lovely view , didn’t use coffee shop so can’t comment.
June 2022
A lovely, perfect beach, ideal for everyone and great for rock pooling. Really clean too.
June 2022
Beautiful...although it did say no dogs, and there were plenty!
June 2022
Love this beach never tire of the view
October 2021
Lovely 'out of the way' beach with great outlook. Can be a bit 'smelly' when the tide it out in the lagoon nearby but does not distract from the beach or surrounds.
September 2021
Beautiful beach a hidden gem
September 2021
Great beach with a mix of sand and stones. Interesting caves when the tide is out. The tide goes out quite far so a bit of a walk to the sea but great for kids and adults alike.
September 2021
Lovely secluded beach -safe for children and doing water sports. Cafe and toilets nearby. Only downside no tap to wash sand off feet.
September 2021
Beautiful
September 2021
A bustling and busy sandy beach offering water sports and swimming and yet without the crowds of other parts of Cornwall. The coastal walks from there are glorious too.
September 2021
Great beach.
August 2021
Love this beach. It’s just stunning. Definitely returning.
August 2021
This is a great beach for swimming, snorkelling, kayaking, exploring caves and rock pooling. Clean clear water, easy car parking and toilets plus a little cafe.
July 2021
Nice beach but disappointed that many dogs were running free on it. Witnessed several dogs pooing on the beach. This is supposed to be a dog free beach from Easter to October and I visited in June. Does no one police this blatant ignoring of the rules?!!
July 2021
Lovely Sandy beach with great cafe, toilets, parking and coast paths to enjoy.
July 2021
Fantastic holiday in a beautiful location. The holiday home was spacious, clean & the whole site was Covid friendly. We chose this holiday as we felt it was the safest option during these difficult times and everything about it came up to & beyond our expectations. My granddaughter especially enjoyed using the children's playground & indoor pool. The booking procedure and use of the swimming pool was ideal. Well organised. Many, many thanks. We came home feeling relaxed after a great week.
September 2020
Best beach in the area, its like been on a Greek island when the sun is shining
September 2020
Better beach than Swan pool, ideal for young children, gently sloping, perfect for water sports
August 2020
Really convenient if staying at maenporth estate. Mix of sand, shingle and rocks. Great for rock pooling. Calm sea so safe for families and watersports such as paddle boarding and kayaking. Wasn't overcrowded even when very warm!
August 2020
Beautiful quiet cove idyllic spot
July 2020
great beach complete with smugglers cave
November 2019
Lovely beach with decent facilities, but beach needs regular cleaning even after bank Holiday week
September 2019
This is a fabulous family friendly beach as it is quite sheltered. A great place to paddle board, relax and eat ice cream! You do need to get there early as the car park and beach fills up really quickly. I would also recommend beach shoes as several people were stung by weaver fish who were hiding in the sand as the tide went out. Definitely worth a visit ????
August 2019
Perfect beach
June 2019
Lovely beach ,best off season.
June 2019
A beautiful beach and wonderful setting.
June 2019