Page 39 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - Great Britain

DRIVE 1: Lizard Point and the South Cornwall Coast 37

from the busy water’s edge. The wheeling and crying overhead, this
town’s focal point is the 15th-century 13th-century former pilchard-fishing
St Fimbarrus Church with a Norman village is almost too pretty for its own
font. The nearby Fowey Museum good – it gets very busy in summer.
(1 South St; open Mon–Fri Apr–Sep) ª Leave Polperro on A387 (signed
reveals local literary Looe), turning left onto B3359.
connections including At the junction with A390,
Daphne du Maurier. Look turn right to Tavistock
for the original Elizabethan (40 km/25 miles). Park
panelling and ceiling in in Bedford Square.
the Ship Inn (Trafalgar
Square). Take a boat trip y Tavistock
aboard Moogie (Town Quay; Plaque outside the Devon; PL19 OAE Above View over the Tamar Valley, seen from
07792 625 908) to see the Town Hall, Tavistock Gateway to Dartmoor Kit Hill near Tavistock
many cliff-nesting sea birds National Park, Tavistock
and, perhaps dolphins, seals became a prosperous market town VISITING TAVISTOCK
or even basking sharks. during the 19th century, thanks to the Tourist Information
ª Take the Bodinnick car ferry and discovery of copper in mines owned Bedford Square, PL19 0HE; 01822 612
follow signs to Polperro. The village is by the 7th Duke of Bedford. As a 938; www.tavistockonline.co.uk
car free, so park at the top, then either result, he paid for the remodelling of
walk down to the harbour or ride in the town hall in grand Gothic style EAT AND DRINK
one of the “trams”. and built other buildings around
Bedford Square in the local grey- FOWEY
green Hurdwick stone, including the Sams moderate
Bedford Hotel and the Pannier Market. Popular small restaurant specializing in
seafood and American diner-style dishes.
A small local history museum (Easter– 20 Fore Street, PL23 1AQ; 01726 832 273;
Oct, open Mon–Sat) is housed in the www.samscornwall.co.uk
monastery gatehouse on the square.
To the east lies the wild moorland of POLPERRO
Dartmoor, populated by ponies and Three Pilchards inexpensive
Traditional old pub with a small roof
sheep and dominated by granite tors. garden; renowned for its ales and food.
In the centre, Princetown, famous for Quay Road, PL13 2QZ; 01503 272 233;
its prison built in Napoleonic times, www.threepilchardspolperro.co.uk
is the highest town in England. Near Couch’s moderate
Above The small ferry town of Polruan, the edges lie interesting old market Smart restaurant that mixes old-world
looking across the estuary towards Fowey towns such as Moretonhampstead charm with modern influences.
and Chagford as well as atmospheric Big Green, PL13 2QT; 01503 272 554;
t Polperro villages like Buckland-in-the-Moor www.couchspolperro.com; open May–
Sep Mon–Sat, Oct–Apr Mon & Thu–Sat
Cornwall; PL13 2QR and Drewsteignton, both with pretty
A single main street of whitewashed thatched stone cottages and small AROUND TAVISTOCK
cottages, old mill houses, inns and granite churches. The 36-m (120-ft) Copper Penny Inn inexpensive
boathouses, with the little River Pol tower of St Pancras Church at 18th-century village pub with real ales
beside them, runs down a wooded Widecombe-in-the-Moor, a village and meals based on local produce.
Gulworthy, PL19 8NT (4 km/2.5 miles
valley to the fishing harbour and tiny immortalized by the folk song about west of Tavistock on the A390); 01822
stone Roman bridge. With seagulls its fair, is a landmark for miles around. 833 288
DAY TRIP OPTIONS Follow the B3306 from St Ives on to Use the A3083; then take the B3293
As well as the beauty of its coastline, St Just and then take the B3315. to Goonhilly and Gweek and drive
Cornwall has a wealth of superb on to Trebah.
gardens thanks to its mild climate. The Lizard
The Lizard Peninsula 7 offers plenty Harbours and Gardens
Culture and Coast of attractions for both kids and Find the Lost Gardens of Heligan q
Explore St Ives 1 and its galleries in adults. Take a dip at Kynance Cove, and then learn about shipwrecks in
the morning, then grab a pasty and visit the Lizard Lighthouse and have Charlestown w. Tour the Eden Project
head along the coast to pretty Zennor lunch at Cadgwith. Drive past the e before returning to Fowey to end
2, Pendeen 3 and Cape Cornwall – futuristic Goonhilly Earth Station the day by the water’s edge r.
for a clifftop picnic. Finish the day to see the seals at Gweek. Then, The B3273, A390 and A3082 connect
watching the sun sink into the sea at if there’s still time, explore the Fowey to Heligan with Charlestown and
the Minack Theatre, Porthcurno 4. gardens at Trebah 8. the Eden Project well signed on the way.

Eat and Drink: inexpensive, under £25; moderate, £25–£50; expensive, over £50

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