Ten things to do
1. Sailing
Pinuccia is our magnificent 8 metre classic yacht. She was built in 1939 to race for Italy at an international competition and is the most beautiful boat in St Mawes harbour, with her slender line and tall wooden mast.
From Easter to the end of September, our skipper will take you sailing around Falmouth bay. This area, which includes the estuary of the Helford and the Fal rivers, is one of the most beautiful and safe areas for sailing and boating in Britain.
Tariff and photos
2. Walk to St Just-in-Roseland church
The best walks are along the coastal paths. There is a delightful two-mile stroll past St Mawes castle, built by Henry VIII in 1542 and through the fields beside the sea to the 14th Century church of St. Just-in-Roseland, which John Betjeman called ‘to some people, the most beautiful churchyard on earth’. A regular ferry during the summer months will take you to the other side of the harbour where there are longer walks past the lighthouse, to Porthscatho and beyond. Best to take a picnic from the hotel to enjoy the scenery throughout lunch.
Walking guide
Distance 3.5 miles
Duration 2 hours
3. Gardens
Lamorran, Trelissick, Caerhays, Trewithen and The Lost Gardens of Heligan are nearby; Glendurgan and Trebah are a short drive away on the Helford River. February and March are the best months to see Magnolias and Camellias; April and May, spring bulbs, Rhododendrons, and sub-tropical shrubs; June and July, the spectacular profusion of Hydrangeas and exotic succulents. Tours can be arranged with an expert to the gardens not usually open to the public; also day-trips to Tresco on the Isles of Scilly.
P.S. Our sister hotel Endsleigh is set in 108 acres of gardens, woodlands, follies and grottos
created by Humphry Repton.
4.ONDA
5. The Tate gallery
Cornwall has always attracted artists. Some of the most famous ones are exhibited at the Tate Gallery. Attached to the gallery is the Barbara Hepworth studio; it has an extraordinary atmosphere as if the sculptress herself was still working there.
The Tate, St Ives
6. The National Maritime Museum
A charming 20 minute ferry trip from St Mawes, it offers a unique collection of extraordinary boats and interactive displays which are great fun for children. Stein’s fish and chips is next door.
7. Hidden Hut pop-up feast nights!
These are outdoor, rustic, ‘bring your own plate’ affairs. They cook just one dish per event and you buy tickets for the nights you wish to come to.
Previous feasts have included ‘Lobster & Chips’, ‘Slow-roasted spring Lamb’, ‘Wood-fired Seafood Paella’, ‘Gourmet Rare-breed Burgers’, ‘Mackerel Grill’, ‘Sticky Ribs & Pulled Pork’. They cook outdoors on the beach using either wood-fire, charcoal grill or their ever-growing collection of huge Paella pans! These really are a night to remember.
If these nights interest you then it may be worth joining their mailing list, as tickets have previously sold out quickly (usually on the same day as release).
8. The Eden Project
Already world famous, the huge greenhouses contain tropical and Mediterranean zones. An extraordinary achievement, well worth a visit.
9. Crabbing
Find a suitable spot on the harbour wall. No need for a hook just tie on the bacon (St Mawes crabs also love pancetta). Drop your line in the water and wait. The Shore Crab, the most common in Cornwall, needs a little coaxing. About five minutes should do it.
Raise your line, it will feel a little heavier, and there should be a few happy crabs munching away.
10. Find a keepsake of your stay at Tresanton
Head down to the most southerly point of the British mainland, Lizard Point, and find one of the little serpentine workshops surrounding Kynance. Here you can buy a little stone lighthouse to remind you of us!
Hotel Endsleigh, our sister hotel
