Anvil Cottage guidebook
Sightseeing
A short drive or a lovely ramble/ public footpath walk 40minutes each way. The woods are stunning with a river running though them. Old ruins and well maintained paths. Also, just next to the woods is a cafe, Slice.
Bosahan Wood
A short drive or a lovely ramble/ public footpath walk 40minutes each way. The woods are stunning with a river running though them. Old ruins and well maintained paths. Also, just next to the woods is a cafe, Slice.
The closest and probably our favourite beach. It can get busy in the summer months and at high tide there's not much of the slate pebble beach. However, it's worth getting up early for and having a refreshing swim. There are other beaches along the Helford which are also great. We're experts so please ask us for recommendations.
24 locals recommend
Grebe Beach
The closest and probably our favourite beach. It can get busy in the summer months and at high tide there's not much of the slate pebble beach. However, it's worth getting up early for and having a refreshing swim. There are other beaches along the Helford which are also great. We're experts so please ask us for recommendations.
Kernow Adventure Park
HalvassoJust up the road and lots of water activities and a cafe.
Literally a stones throw from our farm. Great nature activities and a cafe.
8 locals recommend
BF Adventure
HalvassoLiterally a stones throw from our farm. Great nature activities and a cafe.
Our closest Town, a short 10 min drive. Go to Harbour Lights fish n' chips and sit harbour side and enjoy the view over the 3rd deepest natural harbour in the world. Home to the International Sea Shanty festival and Maritime Museum. Sometimes free 1hr parking on New Street or a paid parking at the end of the road. Alternatively parking next to the Maritime Museum.
303 locals recommend
Falmouth
Our closest Town, a short 10 min drive. Go to Harbour Lights fish n' chips and sit harbour side and enjoy the view over the 3rd deepest natural harbour in the world. Home to the International Sea Shanty festival and Maritime Museum. Sometimes free 1hr parking on New Street or a paid parking at the end of the road. Alternatively parking next to the Maritime Museum.
Maritime Museum station
Awesome and well worth a visit.
One of Cornwalls best surfers, retired pro and conservationist. Dan has a great set-up at a well equipped beach cove. Book early to avoid disappointment. 20 min drive from ours.
10 locals recommend
Dan Joel Surf School
Poldhu RoadOne of Cornwalls best surfers, retired pro and conservationist. Dan has a great set-up at a well equipped beach cove. Book early to avoid disappointment. 20 min drive from ours.
Can be busy and best at high tide. West, NW or SW winds....otherwise E, NE and South winds get a bit choppy and breezy.
149 locals recommend
Gyllyngvase Beach
Can be busy and best at high tide. West, NW or SW winds....otherwise E, NE and South winds get a bit choppy and breezy.
Parking for free next to the toilets, get there early. High tide, W,SW and NW winds best.
77 locals recommend
Swanpool Beach
Parking for free next to the toilets, get there early. High tide, W,SW and NW winds best.
National trust parking, get there early. Great for sundowners too. Best in North winds . There's a small beach with tricky access at low tide. Not lifeguarded so be careful of the rip current. Nice walk from the car park over west to Henrda beach too. Or the cliff path around and over is also awesome! Take a Pasty from Anns and walk around to Camel Rock, soak up the Atlantic air and walk off around to the tin mines and back over the top path.
16 locals recommend
Rinsey
National trust parking, get there early. Great for sundowners too. Best in North winds . There's a small beach with tricky access at low tide. Not lifeguarded so be careful of the rip current. Nice walk from the car park over west to Henrda beach too. Or the cliff path around and over is also awesome! Take a Pasty from Anns and walk around to Camel Rock, soak up the Atlantic air and walk off around to the tin mines and back over the top path.
Tie in with a walk over to Loe Bar. Or park in Loe bar car park and walk up and around. Long or short walks. Good parking but can get busy.
28 locals recommend
National Trust - Penrose
Penrose RoadTie in with a walk over to Loe Bar. Or park in Loe bar car park and walk up and around. Long or short walks. Good parking but can get busy.
Great long family friendly beach. Lifeguarded, facilities, parking and cafes. Does get busy so worth making a day of it and getting there early.
55 locals recommend
Praa Sands
Great long family friendly beach. Lifeguarded, facilities, parking and cafes. Does get busy so worth making a day of it and getting there early.
Kimberley Park
33 Kimberley Park RdTop kids playground!
Nice little pebble beach (N, NW, and NE winds are ideal and sheltered). Tends to be quieter as it's a 10 min walk form the Mawnan church car park. Having said that, the view from the top of the hill, after the kissing gate, is one of my favourite views in Cornwall.
Porth Saxon
Nice little pebble beach (N, NW, and NE winds are ideal and sheltered). Tends to be quieter as it's a 10 min walk form the Mawnan church car park. Having said that, the view from the top of the hill, after the kissing gate, is one of my favourite views in Cornwall.
Not so much the hotel but the beach at the bottom (Bream cove) is nice on low tides and W/NW AND SW winds.
7 locals recommend
Meudon Hotel
Maenporth RoadNot so much the hotel but the beach at the bottom (Bream cove) is nice on low tides and W/NW AND SW winds.
Food scene
The best Fish n Chips. Grab some to take away and walk down to the harbour side (the the left of the takeaway) and sit on the benches next to the worlds 3rd deepest natural harbour.
57 locals recommend
Harbour Lights Restaurant
Arwenack StreetThe best Fish n Chips. Grab some to take away and walk down to the harbour side (the the left of the takeaway) and sit on the benches next to the worlds 3rd deepest natural harbour.
Only the very best in the WORLD! Vegan pastys and awesome sage and apricot sausage rolls.
21 locals recommend
Ann's Pasties
The SquareOnly the very best in the WORLD! Vegan pastys and awesome sage and apricot sausage rolls.
This place is just perfect! Best on high tide when the harbour is full and with light NW,W,N,NE winds. This will ensure it's super special, otherwise can be a little blustery and not the greatest view if the harbour is low tide/ empty.
43 locals recommend
The Mussel Shoal
This place is just perfect! Best on high tide when the harbour is full and with light NW,W,N,NE winds. This will ensure it's super special, otherwise can be a little blustery and not the greatest view if the harbour is low tide/ empty.
Check online first for opening. Get there early for lunch as can get busy/ full. The main building is best but the garden house is also great (can get very hot in summer).
76 locals recommend
Potager Garden
Check online first for opening. Get there early for lunch as can get busy/ full. The main building is best but the garden house is also great (can get very hot in summer).
Check ahead for service times. Book a table if you're dining. Otherwise it's a great option for a cleansing ale overlooking the Helford. High tide makes for a beautiful view with a North, NW,NE wind. If the wind is S,SW or Wast can feel a little blustery.
132 locals recommend
Ferry Boat Inn
Check ahead for service times. Book a table if you're dining. Otherwise it's a great option for a cleansing ale overlooking the Helford. High tide makes for a beautiful view with a North, NW,NE wind. If the wind is S,SW or Wast can feel a little blustery.
Well worth the drive. Best in Cornwall! Check online for opening times. Also a good walk close by to Bosigran Castle.
8 locals recommend
Rosemergy Cream Tea
Well worth the drive. Best in Cornwall! Check online for opening times. Also a good walk close by to Bosigran Castle.
The Halzephron Inn
Ideal spot for a sunset ale. Beach close by also. Parking etc.
My personal fav. Grab a Pint of Skinners Porthleven Ale and sit outside if it's sunny. Inside is cosy and full of local charm.
68 locals recommend
The Ship Inn
Mount Pleasant RoadMy personal fav. Grab a Pint of Skinners Porthleven Ale and sit outside if it's sunny. Inside is cosy and full of local charm.
Small, independent, community coffee roasters. Sustainable from solar powered work shop to the single origin coffee fair trade farmers. I've know Yallah since it's beginning and this truly is coffee at it's best and most modest.
Yallah Coffee
Small, independent, community coffee roasters. Sustainable from solar powered work shop to the single origin coffee fair trade farmers. I've know Yallah since it's beginning and this truly is coffee at it's best and most modest.
Our closest cafe in Trewardreva Mill a 20 min walk or 4 min drive. https://www.sliceofcornwall.com
33 locals recommend
Slice of Cornwall
Our closest cafe in Trewardreva Mill a 20 min walk or 4 min drive. https://www.sliceofcornwall.com
It says St Austell but the mobile wood fired pizza truck comes to Mawnan Smith on Fridays and Constaintine on Saturdays (both a short drive from the cottage. Menu is in the folder and it's best to call at 4pm and pre order as they get busy.
Slice Pizza Cornwall
2-4 Bodmin RdIt says St Austell but the mobile wood fired pizza truck comes to Mawnan Smith on Fridays and Constaintine on Saturdays (both a short drive from the cottage. Menu is in the folder and it's best to call at 4pm and pre order as they get busy.