Cornwall for a long weekend

[Stev8s]

Hi I think the seafood place you are referring to in Falmouth is the Wheel house down one of the alleyways off the high street quite quirky with kitchen roll to wipe your hands on but food is lovely but very simple either prawns scallop or crab you do have to book a place in advance also no one mentioned Ghyly beach cafe in Falmouth do a lovely breakfast and some interesting evening combinations

[Athlon]

The Leaper said:

Athlon,

I have been to the restaurants that you mention.

The Cove is clearly aiming to be the best restaurant in the Falmouth area. Problem is their attitude. Stick a Roller, Aston in the car park and you may get good service. I’ve been only in my Jaguar. The service has been appalling each time I have been and I’ve had to ask for some attention. I’m not an impatient type, but for example waiting to be offered an aperitif for 45 minutes + and getting the starter another 45 minutes later is not good. It’s been so bad each time they have automatically reduced the bill which tells me that they knew their service was poor. It’s such a shame because it is in a great location and the standard of the food is pretty good.

The Warehouse is also very good but no license I recall.

Harbour Lights is very good for fish and chips (better value than that well-known chef’s place near the museum!).

Personally, I think Oliver’s is the best restaurant in the area although there’s no on-site parking there.

I don’t know the seafood restaurant that you refer to. What is its name, please? We may give it a go in November when we’re in Falmouth next.

R

The Seafood bar

I didn't know the Cove had fallen to that standard, last time we visited it was superb, that is a shame as it is the perfect location.

Harbour Lights has to be the best chippy in Cornwall, the 'other one' is just nasty, he should be ashamed to put his name to that place.

Last time we went to the Norway we left! so things do change!!

We are down in September and will give Olivers a go, thanks!

Edit to add I am sure we had wine with the meal at The Warehouse..

Edited by Athlon on Friday 19th July 19:53

[The Leaper]

Athlon,

My comments regarding The Cove go back 2-3 years, so maybe things have improved.

I’m a big fan of Rick Stein as regards his recipes and TV programmes etc, ( think I’m an OK cook using his recipes etc) but he’s made a serious mistake giving his name to a franchise of fish & chip restaurants where the experience is, well, ordinary. However, he’s been in Falmouth for maybe 10 years so he’s clearly doing well.

I think I read somewhere recently that Harbour Lights came within the top 5 UK fish and chip restaurants, certainly justified in my experience. The only problem is the size of the queue usually!

Thanks for the pointer to The Seafood Bar, I’ll see if we and the family wish to give it a try this November during our next visit.

R.

[The Leaper]

Althon,

Just Goggled The Seafood Bar and I've realise we went there maybe 2 years ago. Great place, it's tiny so there's a need to book well ahead.

R.

[The Leaper]

Steve8s,

I agree....Gylly Beach Cafe an excellent place for breakfast, and lunch too. We stay at The Falmouth Hotel so a nice stroll to the café is something we have done quite often.

R.

[gazapc]

I haven't seen it mentioned, but Amanzi is a great restaurant on Falmouth High Street.

Or grab a harbour lights and take it downstairs to eat one of the best pubs in the region, the Front (preferably on Monday night for Breton Folk Dancing).

[1602Mark]

If you like sea food try 'Mackerel Sky' in Newlyn. (Crab nachos and a beer to be recommended)

I guess it depends what you want from your time here, but there are so many hidden gems if you stray a little further off the beaten tourist trails. My family all come from Portscatho, which is a lovely place and Porthcurnick Beach is close by and you have the Hidden Hut (which is no longer quite as hidden as it once was) for food and drinks. It's one of the few beaches where we are still allowed to walk our dogs in the summer months but doesn't get too busy usually.

Camborne, Redruth and Penzance come in for a lot of stick because basically they're poor areas that have become run down. Camborne used to be the worlds richest mining town I believe? There are some lovely houses and building facade that give clues to just how nice it once was.

Head out past Helston to Helford, Coverack or up to the Roseland Peninsular and hire a motor boat at Mylor Harbour (about £30 for 3 hours or so) and see a whole new perspective heading up past the King Harry ferry.

I love living here and consider myself really fortunate. I'm in St Agnes and go to as many local village fairs as I can when time allows. There's loads to do and you don't need to spend loads to have a great time and see the very best Cornwall has to offer.

https://www.visitcornwall.com/whats-on

[markymarkthree]

Luckily I can visit Cornwall a dozen or so times a year and after 62 years I am still discovering hidden gems. Best recommendation I can make is to buy a good map-book and get out there treating it all as an adventure and discovering these hidden gems for yourselves. Hopefully I shall be moving there from Somerset next year, the Mrs is nearly sold on the idea.

Meanwhile "first to the surf".

Edited by markymarkthree on Saturday 20th July 08:56

[CubanPete]

My folks live on the lizard.

We avoid peak travelling times in the summer, but it is generally fine. We're quite lucky in that once we are at my parents, we don't really need to travel. They have a great view, plenty of local walks and my dad's boat(s) are about to minutes walk from the house.

I love Falmouth. A lot of the trendy towns have been spoilt by money.

Take national trust cards if you have them as this open up a lot of free coastal parking.

What do you want to do? Countryside, water, surfing, sailing, shopping?

[MYOB]

markymarkthree said:

Now I have to say, that is a cool car with the board!

[egor110]

markymarkthree said:

Luckily I can visit Cornwall a dozen or so times a year and after 62 years I am still discovering hidden gems. Best recommendation I can make is to buy a good map-book and get out there treating it all as an adventure and discovering these hidden gems for yourselves. Hopefully I shall be moving there from Somerset next year, the Mrs is nearly sold on the idea.

Meanwhile "first to the surf".

Edited by markymarkthree on Saturday 20th July 08:56

Nice , I’d like to transfer from Somerset to Cornwall.

The one thing putting me off is it would be the end of just popping to Bristol fo gigs.

[1602Mark]

egor110 said:

markymarkthree said:

Luckily I can visit Cornwall a dozen or so times a year and after 62 years I am still discovering hidden gems. Best recommendation I can make is to buy a good map-book and get out there treating it all as an adventure and discovering these hidden gems for yourselves. Hopefully I shall be moving there from Somerset next year, the Mrs is nearly sold on the idea.

Meanwhile "first to the surf".

Edited by markymarkthree on Saturday 20th July 08:56

Nice , I’d like to transfer from Somerset to Cornwall.

The one thing putting me off is it would be the end of just popping to Bristol fo gigs.

It's really not so bad once you get used to the fact everything is simply further away. The quality of life makes the trade off well worthwhile.

I need a new roof rack for mine.



I had a MK3 Estate (2.0 auto) that was my Dad's car. Wish I still had it now. He loved Cortina and had a 2, 3, 4 & a 5 Crusader.

Edited by 1602Mark on Saturday 20th July 13:21

[troika]

Oh God. It’s the last place I’d go in the summer. I grew up in Truro / Falmouth and know most of the county (well, the nice bits, most of it is pretty crap to be honest) like the back of my hand. If you must go and can get in, stay at the Tresanton in St Mawes. The Idle Rocks is very nice as well.

[Zirconia]

Only a few things I avoid with passion in Cornwall, St Ives, Rock, Newquay and anything to do with Rick Stein. I take the rest at anytime of the year in the circumstances of the time of year I am there. Usually have a good time and good food.

Personally I prefer to stay around Truro or Redruth. Used to stay in one hotel in Falmouth but the prices have gone through the roof.

[egor110]

1602Mark said:

egor110 said:

markymarkthree said:

Luckily I can visit Cornwall a dozen or so times a year and after 62 years I am still discovering hidden gems. Best recommendation I can make is to buy a good map-book and get out there treating it all as an adventure and discovering these hidden gems for yourselves. Hopefully I shall be moving there from Somerset next year, the Mrs is nearly sold on the idea.

Meanwhile "first to the surf".

Edited by markymarkthree on Saturday 20th July 08:56

Nice , I’d like to transfer from Somerset to Cornwall.

The one thing putting me off is it would be the end of just popping to Bristol fo gigs.

It's really not so bad once you get used to the fact everything is simply further away. The quality of life makes the trade off well worthwhile.

I need a new roof rack for mine.



I had a MK3 Estate (2.0 auto) that was my Dad's car. Wish I still had it now. He loved Cortina and had a 2, 3, 4 & a 5 Crusader.

Edited by 1602Mark on Saturday 20th July 13:21

I run down there quite a lot so have friends in padstow and st.ives so i think the running would take over more from going to gigs .

The 1st time i went out with the padstow lot we went along the coast path to harlyn , boobies bay , constantine and i was like if i had this on my door step i'd never bother paying for a race again .

[blueg33]

The entire West Midlands headed down the M5 to Devon and Cornwall last night and this morning. Traffic news reporting pretty bad traffic jams.

[bloomen]

Frimley111R said:

So, thinking about the late sleeper, go into London, eat/get pissed, get on the train and get up in Cornwall. But htis gets us to Falmouth which is ok but nothing more.

So, to get around hire a car?

There's plenty of flights from Heathrow to Newquay and car hire will be right there.

All the same it's really not THAT far so I'd be inclined to choose a sensible time of day to drive down.

I was amazed at the intensity of crowds when I had a wander round last year at peak season. Outside Padstow there were single track roads lined for miles with cars towards the beaches, but like everything if you avoid the truly obvious bits it'll be manageable.

I prefer trains for short stretches to the most obviously touristy places like St Ives and Looe. You'll get far less parking hassle and some superb views that you don't get on road. Go from St Erth for St Ives and Liskeard for Looe.

My favourite bits are the Lizard, the stretch from Morwenstow down to Tintagel (all back roads rather than the A39), Land's End itself is of course gross but that whole far end does feel like another land and a day trip to the Isles of Scilly never fails.

[egor110]

Don't forget if you can visit in sept it's the watergate bay hillclimb .

[1602Mark]

egor110 said:

Don't forget if you can visit in sept it's the watergate bay hillclimb .

Should be better for spectators this year too.

Edited by 1602Mark on Saturday 20th July 18:52

[eldar]

blueg33 said:

The entire West Midlands headed down the M5 to Devon and Cornwall last night and this morning. Traffic news reporting pretty bad traffic jams.

Odd. I left Cornwall at 10:30 and travelled to Coventry and arrived at 15:00. The predicted gridlock didn’t seem to materialise in either direction.