St Mawes to Truro

 Enjoy a fabulous cruise from St.Mawes to Truro by sea on board one of the Enterprise Boats. Two departure times from St.Mawes at 9.15am and 12.15 will take you inland along the sheltered waters of The River Fal and through some of the most beautiful, unspoilt scenery in the land.
After a sailors view of the Castle the route follows the coast past St.Just in Roseland and on to a splendid panoramic of Trelissick House with it’s lush gardens and pastures before entering the tranquil twists and turns of The River Fal with it’s wooded banks and wildlife. If you would like a closer look, disembark at the Trelissick pontoon and wander up through the gardens to the gallery and restaurant before returning to catch another Enterprise Boat.
Alternatively, hop off at Tolverne (Smugglers Cottage). Steeped in history this olde worlde location right on the water’s edge is a unique place for lunch or a cream tea.
The Enterprise Boats land at Malpas, a quaint little village with a lovely pub and peaceful walks around the creeks. If tidal conditions allow the cruise will travel into the upper reaches of the Truro River right into the heart of the city and land at Town Quay, just a few minutes walk from the shopping streets.
If the tide is not in our favour you can disembark at Malpas and our free classic double decker bus will ferry you the short distance to the city.

 In the eighteenth century, Truro was as fashionable as Bath.  The Assembly Rooms by the cathedral has a fine facade as does Ralph Allen Daniell's Mansion House in Prince's Street. The date 1792 is engraved on the roof. Merchants like William Lemon built elegant houses on both sides of Lemon Street, named after him, and looking down on them is a monument to Richard Lander. (He discovered the source of the River Niger in 1830).

The ordinary houses are worth more than a passing glance. Strangely shaped roofs, old porticos, decorated facades, narrow, pointed windows and emotive names like Tanyard Court, Tippett's Backlet, Pydar Street and Coombes Lane recall the great days of Truro's wool trade. St Nicholas Street may not seem unusual, but here the merchants' houses and warehouses were cheek by jowl with the Guildhall of St Nicholas, probably extending across Boscawen Street down to Lemon Quay itself. The present car park is where ships anchored while waiting for their cargoes.

Most Cornish towns have narrow passages between houses. These are 'opes'--pronounced 'ops'. Truro is no exception and Squeezeguts Alley is perhaps the smallest and most awkward; Cathedral Lane is another 'ope'.

Truro is small compared with other cities, but it takes time to explore it fully.  Restaurants are numerous, varied and of a high standard.

The Royal Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery (founded in 1818) is home to resident collections of work by Constable, Lowry and the Newlyn School of artists.
The Hall for Cornwall is a first class entertainment venue offering everything from classical music to pantomime, one-man shows and lectures to plays, opera and popular music. 

Both Victoria Gardens, and Boscawen Park along the bank of the river, offer peaceful havens after exploring the City centre.

Of special interest is Truro Cathedral.  The Prince of Wales laid the foundation stone on 20 May 1880. It was the first to be built in Britain since St Paul's. Truro, however, had become a city in 1877 when Bishop Benson was enthroned in St Mary's parish church. This was later demolished, except for the south aisle, which was incorporated into the new building.

The three-spired towers are interesting in their dedications. The central one (Victoria) was given in 1901 as a memorial to the Queen's life, and 9 years later, another local benefactor gave the two western towers--Edward and Alexandra. Altogether an unusual building, its Gothic style gives the city a continental look. Its Willis organ is famous and interesting features include memorials to 'Q' (Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch the essayist), the missionary Henry Martyn, and the Robartes family. Notice the Bath stone reredos representing Christ's sacrifice, the window showing John Wesley preaching at Gwennap Pit and the painting Cornubia by John Miller.