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All you need to know
Tranquil and brimming with history, head to East Cornwall for holidays full of great food and drink, excellent attractions and beautiful beaches and scenery.
A beautiful and unspoilt area, East Cornwall provides a perfect base to discover the tranquil beauty of this region. Teaming with wildlife, the rolling countryside and waterways are a haven for walkers and boating enthusiasts, while those looking for a dog-friendly holiday will be spoilt with the numerous walks and dog-friendly pubs. For food lovers, East Cornwall offers an abundance of incredible locally produced food and drink available in restaurants, pubs and weekly farmers markets. A train line runs from the historic city of Plymouth in Devon, and follows the beautiful Tamar River to Gunnislake, making day trips without the car easy.
East Cornwall's vibrant villages and bustling market towns offer a wealth of independent shops and restaurants, and there are also some incredible historic houses, public gardens to explore, and a rich agricultural history to discover. The rivers and reservoirs in East Cornwall provide excellent fishing opportunities for keen anglers, with wild salmon and trout in abundance during the right season.
With so much to discover, a holiday in East Cornwall offers you the perfect opportunity to combine a few days rest with some rural adventures.
Launceston, at the top of the Tamar valley, was once the ancient capital of Cornwall. Dominated by the Castle built following the Norman Conquest, the town has retained much of its character. The enchanting Steam Railway has been lovingly restored, running for five miles through beautiful open countryside along the old North Cornwall Railway line.
History buffs and National Trust lovers will enjoy a day at the Cotehele Estate, near the village of Calstock. Once the ancestral home for the Edgcumbe family for centuries, the Tudor house overlooks the River Tamar and is decorated with tapestries, arms and armour and old oak furniture. The beautiful gardens include a medieval stew pond and two orchards, while the 18thCentury Prospect Tower offers wonderful views of the Calstock viaduct, Dartmoor, Bodmin Moor and Plymouth Sound.
The small village of Calstock is overlooked by the aforementioned Calstock viaduct which links Cornwall with Devon by rail. The village is famed for an eclectic festival scene while it is also a great place for hiring canoes and taking a paddle down the river.
For a leisurely day out, the St Mellion International Resort offers stunning Jack Nicklaus Signature & Kernow Golf Courses. The Health Club and Spa is the perfect place to relax and unwind with 3 swimming pools, fitness facilities and spa treatments.
Just a few miles east, on the banks of the River Tamar the small village of Cargreen offers a tranquil settng and a blissful escape from the hustle and bustle. There are beautiful views towards Devon and a peaceful slipway where small boats can be launched.
(2)
Great afternoon beginners riding for our children. Staff helpful and knowledgeable.
August 2020
We had a great morning at Polmartin riding school. The staff were lovely and the horses clearly are lovingly looked after. We even got a postcard of our horses to take home as a souvenir, perfect for my horse mad 10 year old. We will be coming again!
June 2019
A stone’s throw from Plymouth, Liskeard and Looe, Whitsand Bay Surf School Was founded in 2011 and has built a solid reputation as one of the UK’s most exciting and unique surf schools and coasteering providers. In the beautiful Whitsand Bay, you learn how to catch waves and get to your feet on the sand before taking to the water to carve up those waves under the supervision of our Surf Lifeguard trained instructors, or for those who have it all sussed you can simply hire the kit. Courses, family lessons, beginner lessons, kids’ parties, private lessons and hen or stag parties are all available, while coasteering is available for groups of four or more.
(8)
A Tudor house and estate with delightful collections, a garden and its own quay, Cotehele was the ancestral home of the Edgcumbe family and is perched high on the hill above the River Tamar. Decorated with tapestries, armour and lots of original features, the inside is testament to its adoring owners while outside there are formal terraces and a valley garden to get lost in, which includes a medieval stewpond and dovecote leading down to the river. It’s peaceful and tranquil and a delightful place to explore while you’re visiting Cornwall, plus they have an excellent restaurant in the 15th century barn, serving homemade cakes, hot soups, wine, ale and lager.
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Always a beautiful place to visit . A lot of steps in the house and a long walk to the quay side ( although you can drive the car down to the water) Excellent National Trust cafe and interesting art gallery in the court yard .
May 2023
Beautiful national trust property and gardens. Lovely walks around area too
August 2022
Charming house and gardens. Reasonable refreshments offering. Need to offer transport to and from quay INCLUDING visitors dogs!
July 2022
Well organised in Covid 19 times. Some of the garden was shut off.
August 2020
A great place to visit. Lovely grounds and an amazing old house.
September 2019
Lovely dog-friendly tearoom at Cotehele Quay and nice walks around the estate.
April 2019
A very nice house and garden but the quay and mill were the best.
May 2018
A very interesting look in to history with lovely grounds and helpful, informative staff.
April 2018
In a Georgian building on Fore Street, that was once the Corn Exchange, Lostwithiel Museum has also been a school room, a butchers, a magistrate’s court and the town jail in its time. These days, things are a little less dramatic but no less interesting, housing the Guildhall, which is used for meetings of Lostwithiel Town Council, above the museum. Showcasing the town’s local history with a number of displays including local ceramics, agricultural tools, wartime memorabilia, medals and minerals, it’s a charming introduction to the area and a charitable organization to visit when you’re in this pretty little town in Cornwall.
The Axminster Inn is a friendly, traditional pub near the town centre with a real log fire for the winter months, and a lovely enclosed beer garden to enjoy in the warmer weather. Offering a good range of real ales and good-value home-cooked food including breakfasts, lunchtime and evening meals and Sunday roasts.
Axminster Inn, Silver St, Axminster EX13 5AH (T: 01297 34947)
(3)
Definitely recommend The Bay. During our weeks stay in Cawsand/Kingsand we ate there three times as it was so, so good. The food was excellent and the service definitely worth 10 out of 10. Excellent, highly recommend.
October 2023
Had an 80th birthday meal for my husband here with a group of friends and family - lovely food, friendly staff and perfect location
September 2023
Good honest food, although quite expensive. Great views to eat alongside and attentive staff.
July 2022
(2)
A seasonal bakery, cafe and pizzeria in the heart of Cawsand.
The Old Bakery, Cawsand, Near Torpoint, Cornwall (T: 01752 656215)
Amazing breakfast and pizzas! Couldn't hope for better. Just get in early - they are popular!
August 2023
Awful opening times, never open on any of our visits to Cawsand.
July 2022
(1)
Fantastic fish and chips and so much more!
The Coddy Shack, Gret Tree Farm, Looe, Cornwall (T:01503 263091)
Wow! The best fish and chips ever. A must visit. Recommend eating in, great restaurant and dog friendly.
August 2022
A real gem of a coffee shop in the heart of sleepy Calstock serving excellent coffee, homemade cakes, huge ice creams, cream teas and light meals all cooked and prepared to perfection. Add to this a warm and friendly atmosphere, quirky interiors and super attentive staff and it’s easy to see why Lishe is so popular. Dog friendly too!
Lishe 6 commercial Road, Calstock, Cornwall PL18 9QT (T: 01822 832323)
(5)
A spacious, grey sand beach that’s popular with families, Seaton Beach enjoys views across the green, surrounding countryside and walks in Seaton Valley nearby. At low tide the beach stretches all the way from Seaton Beach to Downderry Beach. There are facilities close by and there is are two car parks as well as road parking, but it does get busy quickly in the summer. The beach is great for surfing, but do be wary of undercurrents. There’s also a café and beach shop close by as well. Dogs are welcome at the beach all year round.
Lovely clean beach where we could walk our dog
April 2023
Beautiful beach, safe and accessible for all.
August 2022
lovely beach spent 3 days here whilst staying in Looe, this is a dog friendly beach and used by lots of of locals, well worth a visit
June 2022
Had a wonderfull stay at meadow view, the spaniels Boston and Fynn enjoyed the paddock to run around in every day. The cottage was very clean and everything we needed was there for us. Yvonne and Dave were brilliant hosts, will definitely stay there again. Pat and Stu from Hampshire
October 2019
Great walking option, and dog friendly. Park at Seaton and walk all the way along the beach to Downderry. Nice option of a pub lunch on the way back at the Inn on the Shore.
October 2019
(2)
With fabulous views across Plymouth Sound, Kingsand beach is a sheltered sand and shingle beach on the Rame Peninsula in East Cornwall, perfect for beachlovers of all ages. In the heart of the traditional fishing village of Kingsand, the beach is backed by narrow streets of fishermans cottages and the famous Kingsand Clocktower as well as several cafes and pubs to choose from. Dogs allowed all year, no lifeguard cover.
Just lively everthing within easy reach including 3 good pubs
October 2023
Fabulous perfect village
August 2023
(2)
A sand and shingle beach with boats to hire, rockpools to explore and safe swimming, Cawsand village beach is similar to neighbouring Kingsand but is the larger of the two beaches. Historically a smuggling village, 17th century Cawsand retains its narrow streets, pretty cottages and traditional pubs making it popular with visitors during the summer months .
It’s an all round great place to visit
October 2023
Cawsand with neighbouring Kingsand, lovely villages with good places to eat including 'The Bay' and 'The Halfway House Inn'
September 2020
A 3 mile stretch of perfect sand located between Rame Head and Portwrinkle, this is possibly one of the best beaches in this part of Cornwall. It is worth noting though that there are dangerous rip currents, and although there is lifeguard cover May-September, swimming here can be dangerous. Access to the beach is via steep cliff paths, unsuitable for wheelchairs or pushcharis from car parks at either end. The easiest access is from the car park near Tregantle Fort leading to Long Sands beach. The other car park is located near Sharrow Point and leads down to Freathy and Tregonhawke Beach. Dog allowed all year round.
(5)
Dog beach for dog walking, more so when tide is out. Not really a batheing beach.
August 2023
It was a good beach for the dogs
June 2023
Brilliant beach, we had a dog so it's great to be able to take him there every day
August 2022
Good beach for rockpooling and walking.
August 2022
Fantastic dog friendly all year round beach. Great access from several locations. Gives everything, crabbing for kids, long walks, great sunsets and quiet even in August.
August 2022