Roseland Peninsular, St Mawes, Falmouth Tourist Information Guide.

 The Roseland found the world's eyes upon it when it was used as a setting for many episodes of the cult TV series "Poldark".  Journalist Christopher Summerville summed up the Peninsular perfectly when he stated in The Telegraph (2001): "The sea has gnawed the granite flank of SW Cornwall into a tatter of peninsulas separated by mazily winding inlets.  Roseland is the remotest and most beautiful of these, uncrowded even in the height of summer.  It's a neck of land drowned in greenery where you can walk without the world's boots grazing your heels". 

There is no shame in taking some time out in St Mawes, on the tip of the Roseland, to do absolutely NOTHING!  The area is full of places to sit and daydream, lose any stress and tension and just take in the natural beauty that surrounds you.  Of course not everyone wants to indulge in such a guilty pleasure so here are a few places of interest that can be visited at our recommendation.

The village of Veryan with its Round Houses - built by a missionary for his daughters - is very pretty.  It has a lovely garden at Trist House and a walk round the village will occupy a pleasant hour or so and from there, it is a short drive to the coast and beaches of Carne and Pendower.

The Church at St Just in Roseland has to be one of the most beautiful in England, set by the water's edge amidst tropical trees and shrubs.  The walk to it  from St Mawes, around the coast, takes about 2 hours and we recommend that you don't attempt it without a camera!

St Anthony's Lighthouse is across the water from St Mawes on the headland.  Originally a spot where a coal beacon burned, the present lighthouse was built in 1834.  It guards the entrance to the Carrick Roads, warning ships of the infamous Mannacle Rocks (find out more at the National Maritime Museum).  It is open to visitors during the summer months.  A small point of interest - it was the setting for the BBC TV series "Fraggle Rock".

Taking to the water is essential and there is a plethora of water taxis that can take you up the Helford River and around, depositing you at points such as Trellisick Gardens, Smugglers Inn, or the Pandora Inn at Restronguet where you can enjoy the delights of the gastro-pub and even take you up river to Truro.  Hope over to Falmouth on the ferry and visit the National Maritime Museum or the Falmouth Art Galleries.  Just on the fringe of The Roseland is the Tregothnan estate where you will another garden worth a visit and discover two interesting points - one, the estate grows tea and is also home to a Dinosaur tree!

 The capital city of Cornwall, and its only city, is Truro.  In the eighteenth century, Truro was as fashionable as Bath, and among the cultural activities were a Philharmonic Society, a Library and a Book Society.  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, who discovered the source of the River Niger and in 1830, was the first holder of the Royal Geographical Society's Gold Medal.

The present car park at Lemon Quay is where ships used to anchor while waiting for their cargoes. Today pleasure boats berth in the summer and run weekday boat trips down the Fal river. 

Truro is small compared with other cities, but it does take time to explore it fully.  Most Cornish towns have narrow passages between houses called 'opes'--pronounced 'ops'. Truro is no exception and Squeezeguts Alley is perhaps the smallest and most awkward; Cathedral Lane is another 'ope'. 
There is much to see in the Royal Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery (founded in 1818) with its resident collection of works by Constable, Lowry and the Newlyn School of artists.  Both Victoria Gardens, and Boscawen Park along the bank of the river, offer peaceful havens after exploring the City centre. 

Truro Cathedral was the first to be built in Britain after St Paul's and it dominates the skyscape.  The Prince of Wales laid the foundation stone in May,1880. 

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.  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.