Fowey is a small seaside town and port at the mouth of the River Fowey in south Cornwall. The estuary of the River Fowey forms a natural harbour and on the western side a small castle was built around 1540 on St Catherine's Point. Ferries cross the river to Polruan (foot) and Bodinnick (vehicle).
Fowey is in the south-eastern section of the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and sits at the end of the Saints' Way long-distance footpath. The town has many historic buildings, including the ruins of St Catherine's Castle, while Readymoney Cove has a small beach.
The old town has narrow streets with mediaeval and Georgian buildings. The shopping includes small, independent shops selling unusual local gifts, artwork, clothing and books. For food a choice of many cafes and restaurants where you'll find menus offering the best in local produce including local caught Fowey River mussels.
Why not check beaches nearby as we have 5 beaches around Fowey, 215 beaches in Cornwall, or have a look at our list of Cornwall dog friendly beaches, or even our United Kingdom Blue Flag beach list.
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Want some ideas on where to visit?
Every favourite location must be visited for the first time. Want some ideas, why not check out the below small selection of coastal locations, including beaches, activities, things to see and do, places to stay and eat:
- 10th May 2019-18th May 2019The Fowey Festival of Arts and Literature takes its inspiration from Daphne du Maurier, the celebrated author who lived in Fowey and wrote about this part of Cornwall in novels like Jamaica Inn and Rebecca.Visit our website for the calendar of events and venues that include talking music performances, exhibitions, river cruises and guided walks of the historic harbour-side town.There’s plenty to see and do.
- Polkerris a small village with a stone quay and a small curved sandy beach that comes with watersports facilities. Something for everyone with traditional beach and watersports. There is also another small beach which can be reached via a ten minute walk on the coast path. Facilities include toilets, car park, shop, pub and slipway.
- Fowey lifeboat station was established in the 1820s and now operates inshore and all weather lifeboats. RNLI shop has restricted opening times and station visits only by appointment.
- St Catherine’s Castle is one of a pair of small artillery forts, built by Thomas Treffry approximately 1540. The D-shaped, stone fortification, equipped with five gun-ports for cannon, overlooked the mouth of the River Fowey. It was protected by a curtain wall and the surrounding cliffs. The castle was closed at the end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815, although brought back into service in 1855 during the Crimean War, but it soon became obsolete and was abandoned. During the Second World War the castle was refortified and used to house a battery of naval guns, protecting the coast against the threat of attack. At the end of the conflict the castle was restored to its previous condition and is now managed by English Heritage as a tourist attraction.
- Lantic Bay a sheltered cove with white sands. Rip currents can make this unsafe for swimming. Parking (National Trust) with toilets a reasonable walk from the beach. The route to beach is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs. Dogs allowed.
- Polridmouth Cove has two sandy beaches that are joined at low tide although all but disappear at high tide. The cove is on the eastern side of Gribbin Head. There are excellent coast walks. No facilities and an approximate 20 minutes walk from nearest car park along a small track.
- Lantivet Bay beaches are a collection of small coves with white sandy beaches but are all difficult to get to. No facilities, selection of National Trust car parks in the area but then short walks to the beaches. We have no dog information for Lantivet Bay beach.
- Readymoney Cove is a small sheltered shingle/sand beach with rock pools. Facilities include toilets and slipway with more available in Fowey town itself.
Some more locations in Cornwall
- Bodmin
- Boscastle
- Bude
- Callington
- Camborne and Redruth
- Camelford
- Falmouth
- Fowey
- Isles of Scilly
- Launceston
- Liskeard
- Looe
- Lostwithiel
- Newquay
- Padstow
- Penwith Peninsula
- Perranporth
- Polzeath
- Port Isaac
- Portreath
- Praa Sands
- Rame Peninsula
- Roseland Peninsula
- Saltash
- St Agnes
- St Austell
- St Cleer
- St Tudy
- The Lizard
- Tintagel
- Truro
- Wadebridge