Lockdown had been rumbling on for what felt like forever. Myself, like many others, was getting a little bored of being indoors. A dream holiday to Malta had been cancelled due to the pandemic. With the restrictions loosening, and eager to support English tourism, me and some of my friends decided to have a ‘staycation’. We are so glad we did. It was lovely to get out of London and into a cute little Cornish town. Our accommodation was a three bedroom Airbnb, right in the centre of town. Due to the location, we had easy access to all of the local amenities and it really was perfect. Easily the best thing about Falmouth is how calm and peaceful it is, one really can escape the hustle and bustle of a city.
Top 3 Attractions:
1. Pendennis Castle:
This beautiful building is nestled on the edge of Falmouth. You can walk around the grounds, snapping photos and taking in the breath-taking view of the coast. Tours also run around the Castle Keep, with a knowledgeable guide who reveals very good insights into the history of the Castle and its grounds. Afterwards, you can sit outside the café like we did with a beverage of your choice. Ultimately, it is a peaceful area and is great to visit to snap photos, have a picnic and just take some time to relax with friends and family. Currently, it is possible to visit by purchasing tickets online for a particular time slot, through the website.
2. Gyllyngvase Beach:
We really enjoyed coming down to this lovely little beach in the evening time. The water is so clear and people do swim, surf and paddle-board (in wetsuits!) during the day. For me, a beach is the ultimate stress reliever. It is simple to walk down to Gylly (as the locals call it) and spend time as you please, drinking in the atmosphere. Given the chance, I would have spent an entire day on Gylly.
3. Swanpool Beach:
This is a smaller but scenic beach. To access it, you do a short coastal walk. Again, the views are stunning. It is the perfect place to sit and chill, bringing a BBQ or just enjoying the peace and quiet.
Hidden gems
1. National Maritime Museum’s Lookout Point:
Visiting the nautical museum, guests can look at the exhibits. Afterwards, guests have access to a panoramic view of Falmouth, from the Look-Out Tower. The views of Falmouth are best accessed here, allowing breath-taking photos.
Visit the website to book tickets here.
2. The Harbour:
Falmouth is a lovely place to walk around at night. One of our favourite hidden gems was the harbour. We found it calming to stand and look out over the harbour and see the lights on the many boats.
Travelling around Falmouth
As Falmouth is a small place, it is largely possible to just walk everywhere if you are staying only there. Falmouth Town rail station provides rail links to Truro and acts as a starting point for journeys back to London and cross country. There is a dedicated bus service, ferrying passengers around the town and further afield.
Additionally, ferries run from Falmouth to the picturesque St Mawes, 365 days a year. There are numerous car parks, allowing road trips to Cornwall. I recommend the Dell car park, in the station.
More information can be found here.
Timetables and updated safety information can be found here.
Top 3 spots for food and drink
1. Harbour view: Bar and restaurant
As it says in the title, this restaurant provides a lovely view across the harbour. We found the food delicious and affordable. I enjoyed fish and chips and a lovely salted caramel cheesecake. It is a restaurant that I strongly recommend as the waiters were kind and the service was great.
To book and to see further information click here.
2. Lemon Twist:
For a last night treat, we were looking for somewhere to go for cocktails. We stumbled upon Lemon Twist. Looking back, I am so glad that we did. Drinks were very well priced and it was lovely to have a proper cocktail again after so long in lockdown. The music choices were brilliant also and we loved dancing to all the 70s hits. You do not need to book, just turn up and make a waiter or waitress aware you have arrived.
3. Dolly’s Tea Room , Wine House and Gin Palace:
Naturally, we had to get a cream tea. After a few days deliberating we chose Dolly’s. It was a quaint little tea room with a vintage feel. Our party settled on sandwiches and scones. It was a great atmosphere and we loved all the 1940s music. Our food and drink was tasty also. The location allowed for some sneaky people watching too as it had a central high street location.
I recommend booking as it gets busy and you can do so by calling the number here.
All in all, I am so glad we chose Falmouth for our staycation. It is a beautiful, quaint town and there are so many things to do and see. I recommend everyone visits, it really helped clear my mind!
Words by Olivia Devereux-Evans, Image Credit: Great Rail Journeys.
Love Lifestyle? Read more here.
Support The Indiependent
We’re trying to raise £200 a month to help cover our operational costs. This includes our ‘Writer of the Month’ awards, where we recognise the amazing work produced by our contributor team. If you’ve enjoyed reading our site, we’d really appreciate it if you could donate to The Indiependent. Whether you can give £1 or £10, you’d be making a huge difference to our small team.