Vault Bow Beach (Cornwall)

Little Perhaver beach also known as Gorran Haven beach is a sandy beach on the most eastern point of the Roseland Peninsula, sheltered from the prevailing west winds by Dodman Point. Quieter than its neighbour Mevagissey, Gorran has a nice a stone harbour and quite safe bathing which makes it popular with families with easy access. The area has some nice cliff walks; southwest to Dodman Point and a northeast passing Great Perhaver Beach and on over Pabyer Point and Turbot Point to Portmellon and Mevagissey. Facilities include car parking, toilets, telephone, disabled access, cafe, shops, deckchair hire.

Great Perhaver beach is just along the coast from Gorran Haven, lovely sandy beach with lots of rocks for kids to explore only accessible by boat or very steep and muddy footpath from field above the beach. No beach at high tide. Closest facilities are at Gorran Haven. We have no dog information for Great Perhaver beach.

Dodman Point is a 400-foot (120 m) high headland that was once an Iron Age promontory fort. At its seaward end is a large granite cross, erected to help protect shipping from this headland. It is mentioned in the shanty Spanish Ladies. Below the large stone cross, there is a way down to the bottom of the small cliffs and there is some climbing there on the faces. Mainly bouldering as it is rarely climbed and so there are no fixed anchor points.

Hemmick beach is a small sandy beach to the west of Dodman Point. Relatively safe swimming. No facilities and the nearest small car park is some 15-20 minute walk away. Dogs allowed.

Colona beach is a small sandy secluded beach between Turbot Point and Chapel Point. The beach is good for swimming and exploring rock pools. None, only access on foot. We have no dog information for Colona beach.

Portmellon beach is in a small cove with a sand and shingle beach at low tide. Facilities include pub, slipway and pimited parking nearby, more car parks in Mevagissey (20 minute walk).

Porthluney Cove a sheltered sandy beach part of Caerhays Castle estate. The beach backs onto the castle and gardens. Facilities include toilets, car park and shop.

Caerhays Castle was designed by John Nash at the start of the 19th century, there are the Gardens and parkland with the magnificent camellias and rhododendrons for which the estate is world famous and the National Magnolia Collection which has a home here.

Mevagissey is a working harbour that at low tide has a beach which acts as a good break whilst visiting Mevagissey. If you want a true family beach travel to one of the others very close by. Car parks and all facilities of the town. We have no dog information for Mevagissey Habour beach.

Polstreath beach is fine sand and split in two by a stack, the smaller beach is known as Little Polstreath. The beach offers good swimming and a quieter alternative to Mevagissey around the corner. Hard to get to for the elderly and those with young children as the climb back up from the beach is quite steep. No facilities, nearest are in Mevagissey. We have no dog information for Polstreath beach.

Portholland beach, a large sandy beach joining the two hamlets of East and West Portholland. Portholland has two separate coves at high tide, but at low tide they are linked by a sandy beach and some rock pools. Facilities include limited parking, slipway, shop and toilets.

The Lost Gardens of Heligan are one of the most popular botanical gardens in the UK. The style of the gardens is typical of the nineteenth century Gardenesque style, with areas of different character and in different design styles. The gardens were created and enhanced by members of the Tremayne family, over a period from the mid-18th century up to the beginning of the 20th century, and today still form part of the family’s Heligan estate. The gardens stood neglected after the First World War and then restored in the 1990s. The gardens now boast a fabulous collection of rhododendrons and camellias, a series of lakes fed by a ram pump over a hundred years old, working flower and vegetable gardens, an Italian garden, and a stunning wild area called “The Jungle” filled with sub-tropical tree ferns. The gardens also have Europe’s only remaining pineapple pit, warmed by rotting manure, and two figures made from rocks and plants known as the Mud Maid and the Giant’s Head. The gardens surround the house with the northern part which includes the main ornamental and vegetable gardens, being slightly higher than the house and sloping gently down to it. The areas to the west, south and east of the house slope steeply down into a series of valleys and are much wilder, including The Jungle and The Lost Valley. The gardens include a gift shop, multiple options to eat and plant shop.