Make your way to your well-appointed hotel in a way to suit you. On arrival enjoy an included porterage service, with time to settle in and explore Falmouth. A fantastic coastal town, Falmouth is attractively located at the mouth of the river Fal. Falmouth’s golden age was in the 18th and 19th centuries thanks to its natural harbour, one of the deepest in the world which facilitated trade and today it is one of the most famous destinations in Cornwall. It is conveniently located for exploring the rest of the county too, offering a wealth of shops, cafes and restaurants, as well as a renowned National Maritime Museum which you can visit during your free time. The beautifully located Pendennis Castle, built by Henry VIII, is also worth a visit with great views of the estuary from the top. Plus of course there are some of Falmouth’s excellent beaches, such as Gyllyngvase, just a few minutes’ walk from the hotel. Tonight reconvene in the hotel bar for a welcome drink before dinner is served.
After breakfast, this morning we take a drive to visit the world-class Lost Gardens of Heligan. These are amongst the finest gardens in England but they were rediscovered relatively recently, as they had been ‘lost’ since the start of WWI until a door in the ruins was found, which led to the restoration of this estate in the 1990s. There really is something for everyone in these gardens, from ornamental gardens to a wild subtropical ‘jungle’, so we will have a guided tour followed by free time to explore – you could easily spend the whole day in this captivating yet tranquil space. We will then head to the nearby fishing village of Mevagissey, a picturesque spot for a leisurely lunch or a coffee overlooking the harbour. This small village is a maze of quaint, narrow streets, nevertheless Mevagissey is still one of the biggest fishing ports in Cornwall. We will return to Falmouth in the afternoon where we will end our first day with a Cornish classic – cream tea at the hotel, with beautiful views over the bay. Just remember that the traditional Cornish method is to put jam first on your scone, followed by cream!