Places to Visit and Restaurants in Falmouth

Author: howarde | Posted: 29.12.2011

Found on the south coast of Cornwall, the famous town of Falmouth is located at the mouth of the River Fal (Fal-mouth) in the United Kingdom. Although Falmouth’s maritime activity has much declined since the 19th and 20th Centuries, it is still a busy port (the largest port in Cornwall) and famous not only for the start and finishing point for record breaking voyages, but also for its natural harbour. In fact, Falmouth claims to have the deepest harbour in Western Europe and the 3rd deepest natural harbour in the world.

Fast forward to the present day and Falmouth is a busy, vibrant and a popular destination for holiday makers. Now heavily reliant upon tourism as a major contributor to the towns’ economy, Falmouth has many places to visit, fine hotels to stay in and restaurants to try.

If you are exploring the coastal area, there are 5 main beaches for you to explore in the area. If you start next to Pendennis Castle and head along the coast toward river Helford you will discover Castle, Tunnel, Gyllyngvase, Swanpool and Maenporth beaches. In 2003 the National Maritime Museum Cornwall opened in Falmouth and still proves to be a major tourist attraction for the town.

Falmouth is rich in history. Over the years, it has attracted many famous visitors. Florence Nightingale or ‘The Lady of the Lamp’ visited Falmouth and stayed at the town's Greenbank Hotel. The Greenbank hotel can be found in prominent position overlooking the Falmouth estuary. In fact, Florence Nightingale’s name can still be viewed in the hotel register at the hotel today. Falmouth and The Greenbank hotel also claim to be the birthplace of Toad, Mole and Rat in the classic novel ‘Wind in the Willows’ by Kenneth Grahame. The novel began as a simple set of letters sent to his son, and the first 2 letters were actually written at the Greenbank Hotel in May 1907 whilst Grahame was staying as a guest. Copies of these letters can still be viewed and are also on display in the hotel.

With tourism now as a major income stream for the town, many of Falmouth’s Georgian townhouses have been converted into guest houses, hotels and restaurants. With fresh fish and shellfish caught and landed on the doorstep, and the array of local artisan food producers in Cornwall, it’s no surprise that restaurants in Falmouth offer the ‘foodie’ many delicious dining out options to choose from. If you are looking for a spectacular view whilst you eat, again the Greenbank Hotel occupies prime position overlooking the famous estuary and harbour with a menu described as ‘Modern British’ offering lunch and dinner menu’s to suit most budgets. There’s also the Marine Bar and Restaurant which also offers superb views for diners. For less formal occasions, Gylly Beach café on Gyllyngvase beach is a family run award winning business that strives to serve the best locally sourced food in a relaxed atmosphere. It also enjoys fantastic views of the Lizard peninsula. For the trendy crowd, The Shed Restaurant and Bar on Discovery Quay is the place to try. It’s almost next door to the Maritime Museum so very easy to find. Family friendly and a relaxed atmosphere, here you will find tasty lunch or dinner options, together with a range of cocktails from the bar – it’s also nice just to pop in for a coffee and a chat. Finally, if you are looking for an Inn steeped in history, the Ferry Boat Inn is the place to try. It’s 300 years old and can be found on the waterfront at Helford Passage. It’s a remarkably beautiful spot offering breath taking views. In the winter, you can also snuggle in front of open fires or read the papers on comfy sofas inside.



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