Summary
Currently a quaint seaside town, Falmouth was once the second busiest port in the British Empire.
From 1668 to 1851, Falmouth served as a Royal Mail packet station, managing mail and valuable shipments from across Europe and the Empire.
This prime location is no accident, as Falmouth Harbour (Carrick Roads) is the third largest natural harbour globally.
Such a significant segment of England’s coastline required protection, leading to the construction of Pendennis Castle and St Mawes Castle—two artillery forts erected during the reign of Henry VIII. The climate along Cornwall’s south coast supports the growth of subtropical plants, resulting in gardens in Falmouth that display oversized Chilean rhubarb and winter-blooming species.
Let us explore the most notable attractions in Falmouth:
1. Pendennis Castle
A comprehensive network of coastal forts was constructed during the 1540s under King Henry VIII to prepare for a potential invasion by the French or the Holy Roman Empire.
Situated at Carrick Roads, at the mouth of the River Fal, Pendennis Castle stands out as one of the finest artillery forts from this period.
It is also among the largest, having been expanded following the Spanish Armada at the end of the 16th century.
Pendennis Castle underwent modernization during the Napoleonic Wars and was armed with artillery during both World Wars.
This English Heritage site encapsulates the history of these military eras, showcasing displays of Tudor, Georgian, Victorian, and 20th-century heavy weaponry alongside artifacts depicting life at the fortress, complemented by letters, photographs, and other historical items.
2. National Maritime Museum
The museum, which opened in 2003, chronicles Falmouth’s maritime history and Cornwall’s seafaring heritage. Topics including Cornish boatbuilding, emigration, shipwrecks, trade, and fishing are explored, along with details about the packet ships that transported British Empire mail in and out of Falmouth harbour for nearly two centuries.
The National Maritime Museum features the National Small Boat Collection, which includes Olympic medal-winning dinghies and hydrofoils, a Falmouth Quay Punt that sailed to the Antarctic, and a Thames steamer launched in 1866. Furthermore, Falmouth has been both the initial and final port for solo round-the-world expeditions by Robin Knox-Johnston and Ellen MacArthur, with the museum recounting their remarkable journeys.
3. Gyllyngvase Beach
Located less than ten minutes from the town center, Gyllyngvase Beach, a Blue Flag certified beach, is the most expansive and popular beach in Falmouth.
This beach features a wide crescent of golden sand, lapped by gentle, shallow waters.
The sand is meticulously cleaned each morning during the summer, and RNLI lifeguards patrol the beach throughout the season.
At the rear lies the elegant and award-winning Gylly Beach Cafe, which operates throughout the day, serving locally sourced meat and seafood caught in Falmouth Bay.
During crisp winter days, visitors can find refuge from the wind while enjoying a cup of tea on the sun terrace.
4. Seafront Promenade
If you wish to unwind by the water for a while, Discovery Quay, located near the National Maritime Museum, offers numerous sights to captivate your interest.
On the quay, visitors can observe various vessels in the harbour, including Royal Navy ships undergoing maintenance at the A&P shipyards.
The area features a spacious plaza surrounded by contemporary weatherboard buildings housing dining establishments such as Pizza Express, Rick Stein’s Fish, and Zizzi.
This plaza hosts the annual Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival at the end of June.
Arwenack Street, located behind, is worth a stroll to admire its townhouses and the Killigrew monument, a pyramid honoring the Killigrew family, who significantly contributed to Falmouth’s development.
Under the leadership of Peter Killigrew in the 1680s, the town was designated a Royal Mail Packet Station.
5. Trebah Garden
A quintessential valley garden in Cornwall, Trebah Garden is open year-round, offering distinct experiences across the seasons.
This region, with its favorable climate for exotic subtropical plants, showcases flora from the Southern Hemisphere blooming in winter.
The most spectacular time to visit is spring, with century-old rhododendrons, camellias, and magnolias flourishing, followed later in the year by the striking giant gunnera (Chilean rhubarb) and magnificent hydrangeas in autumn.
Trebah Garden features four miles of pathways to explore, alongside a tranquil little beach by the Helford River.
6. Falmouth Art Gallery
On the first floor of Falmouth’s attractive Municipal Buildings, visitors will encounter one of the most extensive art collections in Southwest England.
This impressive collection features works of English and French Impressionism, Old Masters, maritime art, Surrealism, children’s book illustrations, prints, and automata, primarily assembled by local collector and philanthropist Alfred de Pass.
The exhibition of prints is remarkable, including lithographs, woodcuts, and engravings by influential artists such as Rembrandt, Picasso, Matisse, Albrecht Dürer, Warhol, and Francis Bacon.
The gallery has also made significant recent acquisitions, adding etchings by Munch and Renoir, as well as 20th-century paintings by Prunella Clough and works by contemporary British artists like Mary Webb, Simon Burton, and Marguerite Horner.
In summer 2018, the gallery showcased captivating automata during the Cabaret of Mechanical Movement.
7. Swanpool Beach
Situated just 1.5 miles from the town center, Swanpool Beach offers a sheltered sandy cove, oriented southeast, and is a favored spot for family outings.
The beach provides safe swimming conditions, although it is important to note the absence of lifeguards.
During the summer, amenities include an 18-hole crazy golf course, a bouncy castle for children, a café, and kayak rentals.
Directly behind the beach lies Swanpool Lake Nature Reserve, a lagoon formed during the Ice Age, providing habitat for eels, kingfishers, tufted ducks, and Eurasian siskins.
8. Queen Mary Gardens
On a warm day at Gyllyngvase Beach, Queen Mary Gardens serves as an ideal refuge, inaugurated in 1912 to commemorate the coronation of Queen Mary, the wife of George V. Similar to the surrounding gardens in Falmouth, this area is characterized by species that thrive within Cornwall’s unique climate, including palms, viper’s-buglosses, lily of the Nile, sugarbushes, and towering Chilean rhubarb.
These plants are beautifully arranged in meticulously maintained flowerbeds and borders, framed by immaculate lawns.
9. Castle Beach
Conveniently located just west of Pendennis Point, Castle Beach lies within the town itself.
In a somewhat exposed area, this beach’s primary attractions are its rockpooling and sunbathing opportunities at low tide, rather than swimming.
Under suitable conditions, Castle Beach offers a wealth of starfish, mussels, crabs, and intriguing sea creatures such as lepadogasters (Cornish suckers) for children to examine closely.
With a considerable tidal range, high tide inundates most of the sandy and shingle areas, making it essential to consider the sea’s height.
10. Watersports
Within the calm waters of the third largest natural harbour in the world, numerous opportunities for engaging in various activities abound.
The Falmouth Watersports Centre, located at the Boat Park on Grove Place, is a short walk along the waterfront from the National Maritime Museum.
This center houses several watersport clubs focused on rowing, sailing, and canoeing, along with a bar terrace providing views of the harbour.
Visitors to Gyllyngvase Beach and Swanpool Beach can rent paddleboards or kayaks for an adventurous journey in search of hidden caves and secluded beaches.
The hire center ensures the provision of necessary safety equipment, monitors weather conditions, and offers guidance on optimal destinations.
11. St Mawes Castle
Constructed in the 16th century, St Mawes Castle on the western side of Carrick Roads served as a fortified bastion, modified extensively by military forces until the conclusion of the Second World War.
When the circular fort became outdated in the 19th century, it transitioned into a barracks and subsequently an anti-aircraft gun position following 1939. Remarkably, much of Henry VIII’s artillery fortress is preserved today, featuring Latin inscriptions paying tribute to the king and his son, Edward VI.
12. St Anthony Head
A short ferry ride from the harbour in St Mawes leads to St Anthony Head, located at the southernmost tip of the Roseland Peninsula.
Designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, St Anthony Head is worth the crossing for its stunning views across Falmouth Harbour.
Visitors can discover noteworthy sites, including a coastal fort that protects the harbor’s eastern entrance and St Anthony’s Lighthouse, established in 1835. The coastal path introduces serene beaches, pine woodlands, and expansive cliff-top views.
The circular trail to the lighthouse showcases an old paraffin store intended for the previous light.
13. South West Coast Path
As is common for coastal towns in Cornwall, Falmouth is situated along the South West Coast Path, the longest designated long-distance footpath in the UK. This National Trail extends from Minehead in Somerset to Poole Harbour in Dorset.
The path meanders along Cornwall’s jagged coastline, necessitating ferry crossings over rivers and inlets.
Visitors can embark in either direction, crossing the Fal to explore the Roseland Peninsula while enjoying views back at Falmouth, or venture around the Lizard Heritage Coast, crossing the Helford River via boat.
For those willing to commit a day, a trek to Portloe awaits, with rugged ascents and descents leading through deep wooded valleys of the Roseland Heritage Coast.
14. Glendurgan Garden
This remarkable garden is another botanical gem easily accessible from Falmouth, offering a sense of whimsy that will resonate with children.
Glendurgan Garden, representative of a typical Cornish valley garden, is nestled within a ravine that benefits from a humid microclimate.
The lower valley exudes a rainforest-like ambiance, boasting impressive rhubarbs, and following the path down leads to the quaint beachfront community of Durgan along the Helford River.
Planted in the 1820s by Alfred Fox, a Falmouth pilchard magnate, Glendurgan Garden is distinguished by its cherry laurel maze, established in 1833. Spring is an outstanding time to visit when magnolias and camellias burst into bloom, while unusual shrub displays remain captivating throughout the seasons.
15. Maenporth Beach
A few miles into the Lizard Heritage Coast, Maenporth Beach offers a sandy cove facing east across Falmouth Bay.
While there are no lifeguards present, the calm, shallow waters make it a safe swimming destination for individuals of all ages, as well as an ideal spot for water sports activities like paddleboarding and kayaking.
In addition, visitors can enjoy breathtaking views over the bay towards Pendennis Castle and St Anthony’s Head lighthouse.
When the tide recedes, it is possible to spot the wreck of the Ben Asdale and explore the rockpools located at the edges of the cove.
