Cornwall is a historic, scenic coastal county in South West England known for its Cornish culture, dramatic landscapes, beaches, outdoor activities, and vibrant arts scene.
Sandymouth Beach in Cornwall is a long sandy beach with cliffs, rock formations, and strong surf, popular for surfing and managed by the National Trust. The site offers a café, toilets, and seasonal lifeguard patrols, appealing to beachgoers and surfers.
Launceston Castle is a historic Norman castle ruin in Launceston, Cornwall, England, featuring extensive medieval stone fortifications including a motte, keep, high tower, gatehouses, and curtain walls. Serving as the administrative center of the earldom of Cornwall and later a county gaol, it is now a publicly accessible heritage site managed by English Heritage with archaeological remains and scenic views over the former deer park.
Launceston is a historic market town in Cornwall, England, known for its Norman castle, heritage railway, and rich cultural and historical heritage. It offers walkable town center attractions, including Georgian architecture, museums, and active cultural events.
Botallack Mine is a historic former submarine tin and copper mine located in Cornwall, England. It features iconic cliffside engine house ruins and extensive underground tunnels beneath the Atlantic Ocean. The site is part of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape UNESCO World Heritage Site and is owned by the National Trust. Visitors can explore the striking industrial heritage setting along the South West Coast Path. The mine has cultural significance and has served as a filming location for the Poldark television series.
7–31 Oct (another 22 days)
A daily outdoor talk and tour at Botallack explores the ruins of the Tin Coast, sharing the history and stories of the landscape and its industry.
Porth Hellick Down is a significant Neolithic and Bronze Age archaeological site on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, featuring the largest group of entrance graves in the world, prehistoric field systems, and ancient burial monuments known as The Great Tomb.
King Charles's Castle is a 16th century ruined artillery fort on Tresco in the Isles of Scilly, open to the public and managed by English Heritage. It features historic granite fortifications and earthworks overlooking New Grimsby harbour providing an outdoor exploration of Tudor military history.
Trerice House is a historic Tudor manor near Newquay, Cornwall, featuring an elaborately rebuilt 16th-century house with extensive gardens. Owned by the National Trust, it offers visitors a glimpse into the history of the Arundell family and Tudor architecture within landscaped grounds.
9 Oct
A volunteer-led talk exploring the impact of the Romans’ presence in Cornwall, and the fact that they were not present in the county.
Restormel Castle is a well-preserved Norman shell keep castle near Lostwithiel in Cornwall, notable for its unusual circular design and historical significance. Visitors can explore the outdoor ruins and enjoy its scenic riverside setting with a picnic area, maintained by English Heritage.
14 Oct, 21 Oct…
A friendly weekly group walk at Lanhydrock, offering gentle exercise, time outdoors and the chance to chat with others. The walks follow a slow-to-medium-paced route over varied paths, including some hills.
Halliggye Fogou is a well-preserved Iron Age underground stone tunnel complex in Cornwall, managed by English Heritage, open to the public free of charge and notable for its archaeological significance and WWII history.
King Doniert's Stone is an outdoor historic site featuring two granite cross-shaft fragments from the 9th century with intricate interlace decoration, an ancient inscription commemorating a Cornish king, and an underground rock-cut chamber possibly related to ancient mining or worship. The site is freely accessible with parking and open during daylight hours on Bodmin Moor near St Cleer.
Carnewas and Bedruthan Steps offers spectacular north Cornish coastline views with access to rocky beaches, historic mining heritage, and protected natural landscape. Maintained by the National Trust, it features a shop and café, coastal walks, and stargazing opportunities as a Dark Sky site.
Tintagel Castle is a medieval fortification and archaeological site in North Cornwall, known for its extensive ruins, association with King Arthur legends, and significant early medieval elite settlement remains. Visitors explore the scenic outdoor castle ruins and newly constructed footbridge linking the island to the mainland.
8 Oct, 10 Oct
Staff demonstrate how the cloam oven at Tintagel Old Post Office is used, from lighting it with gorse to removing the cooked goods. The demonstration takes place in the main hall.
The Old Blockhouse is a ruined 16th-century Tudor-era gun tower on Tresco in the Isles of Scilly, built to defend against French attacks. Visitors can explore the outdoor remains of the historic fortification that played a key role during the English Civil War.
Lanhydrock House is a Grade I listed Jacobean country house in Cornwall, set in extensive gardens and parkland with historic interiors, including a long gallery with rare plasterwork. Visitors can tour the restored Victorian house, service rooms, nurseries, and church, experiencing both indoor and outdoor heritage.
11 Oct (this Sunday)
A UK Fungus Day event at Lanhydrock featuring guided fungi walks led by Cornwall Fungi Group, close-up mushroom viewing under a microscope and a table for displaying fungi finds.
Pendennis Castle is a historic 16th-century artillery fort near Falmouth, Cornwall, built by Henry VIII as part of coastal defence. Visitors can explore the original Device Fort including the keep, gun platforms, and extensive ramparts with bastions, as well as later defensive structures and batteries. The site offers a blend of indoor castle tours and outdoor historic fortifications overlooking the Carrick Roads. It is managed by English Heritage as a tourist attraction with a rich military history spanning several centuries.
Falmouth is a historic port town in Cornwall, England, known for its deep natural harbour, maritime heritage, cultural institutions, and scenic coastal beaches, attracting tourists for its arts, history, and waterfront activities.
Penrose is a National Trust estate in Cornwall featuring a historic Grade II listed house, extensive grounds including Cornwall's largest natural freshwater lake Loe Pool, and coastal scenery. The estate offers a combination of indoor historic house experience and outdoor natural exploration.
Trelissick is a historic stately home and extensive garden located in Cornwall, England, owned by the National Trust. Visitors can explore both the house and its exceptional gardens featuring rare plants, woodland walks, and scenic estuary views within a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
10 Oct (this Saturday)
Join the ranger team for a walk through Trelissick parkland, identifying and surveying grassland fungi such as waxcaps and puffballs.
Cotehele is a Grade I listed medieval and Tudor manor house in Cornwall with extensive historic gardens, a working restored mill, and riverside quay, offering both indoor and outdoor historic experiences. It features original Tudor interiors, chapels, and has been used as a film location.
7 Oct–15 Nov (another 37 days)
Visitors can follow a sensory trail around the garden, moving through interactive installations inspired by the picture book and animation ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ as they search for the bear.
Penhallam Manor is a historic medieval fortified manor house site in Cornwall featuring exposed foundations and moats. Visitors can explore the ruins and surrounding outdoor area managed by English Heritage, reflecting an important Norman to medieval heritage site.
The Hurlers is a group of three prehistoric stone circles located on Bodmin Moor near Minions in Cornwall. Visitors can explore these ancient outdoor monuments along with nearby standing stones called the Pipers, managed by the Cornwall Heritage Trust and recognized as a Scheduled Monument.
Bant's Carn is a Middle Bronze Age Scillonian entrance grave located on the island of St Mary's in the Isles of Scilly, notable for its well-preserved burial chamber and proximity to the Iron Age village remains of Halangy Down. It offers visitors an outdoor archaeological site with historical significance.
Godrevy is a coastal headland in Cornwall featuring a historic lighthouse, popular surf beaches, rich wildlife habitats including seabirds and seals, and managed by the National Trust with access to walking paths and a café on site.
Trengwainton Garden is a National Trust historic garden in Cornwall known for its exotic trees, shrubs, and Elizabethan walled garden with scenic views over Mount's Bay and The Lizard. The house on site is not open to the public.
Lydford Gorge is a dramatic and scenic gorge on the River Lyd in Devon, featuring the tallest waterfall in the area, ancient woodlands, and notable geological formations. It is a National Trust protected site known for its natural beauty and biodiversity.
The Tregiffian Burial Chamber is a Neolithic or early Bronze Age chambered cairn near Lamorna in Cornwall. It is a rare type of passage grave called an Entrance grave, featuring a stone-lined entrance leading to a central burial chamber. The site is managed for public heritage and lies close to the Merry Maidens stone circle.
St Mawes Castle is a well-preserved 16th-century artillery fort in Cornwall built by Henry VIII to defend against invasions. Visitors can explore its historic stone keep, decorated with carvings and gun batteries, as well as outdoor terraces and gardens overlooking the Carrick Roads waterway. The site offers a mix of indoor historic rooms and outdoor fortifications.
East Pool Mine is a historic metalliferous mine in Cornwall, featuring preserved beam engines and an Industrial Discovery Centre, offering both indoor and outdoor experiences related to the mining heritage of the area.
St Catherine's Castle is a 16th-century Henrician coastal fortification in Cornwall, England, overlooking the mouth of the River Fowey. Originally built to defend against invasion, it features a distinctive D-shaped stone blockhouse and historic gun platforms, and is now a preserved ruin managed by English Heritage for visitors to explore its historic military architecture and coastal views.
St Anthony Head is a National Trust site at the southern tip of Cornwall's Roseland Peninsula, featuring a historic battery and lighthouse with scenic views over one of the world's largest natural harbours and designated protected natural areas.
Kynance Cove is a picturesque coastal cove on the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall, renowned for its unique serpentine geology, scenic tidal islands and rock stacks. The site is managed by the National Trust and features a café for visitors. It is also famous as a filming location for various TV series and films.
Flambards Theme Park in Helston, Cornwall offered a mix of outdoor amusement rides and extensive indoor historical and family attractions, including Victorian life recreations and WWII exhibit. It was open seasonally from Easter to October with year-round undercover exhibitions and closed permanently in 2024 after 48 years.
Paradise Park is a wildlife sanctuary in Hayle, Cornwall, featuring over 1000 birds and animals, conservation programs including red squirrels and red pandas, a miniature railway, and seasonal bird shows.
Hayle is a historic port town in Cornwall, England known for its maritime heritage, industrial revolution history, scenic beaches and estuary, and ongoing harbour regeneration. It offers a walkable town centre with railway access and public transport, making it a popular tourist destination.
Wheal Coates is a historic former tin mine located on the cliff tops between Porthtowan and St Agnes in Cornwall, preserved by the National Trust. Visitors can explore the outdoor remains of 19th-century engine houses and mining structures, part of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site.
Antony House is an early 18th-century Grade I listed historic house museum in Cornwall, featuring fine 18th-century furnishings and a notable art collection. It is complemented by Georgian landscaped gardens and a large woodland garden with walking paths, offering both indoor and outdoor visitor experiences.
7–8 Oct, 13–15 Oct…
Visitors follow clues through Antony’s house and gardens to find ingredients for an enchanted potion. Halloween costumes are encouraged.
Torpoint is a planned town on the Rame Peninsula in southeast Cornwall, notable for its ferry link to Plymouth, historical roots, and naval training connections offering a scenic riverside visit.
St Breock Downs Monolith is a prehistoric standing stone in Cornwall, notable for being the largest and heaviest menhir in the region, dating back to the Late Neolithic or Early Bronze Age. Visitors can explore this ancient stone set on a cairn atop St Breock Downs, showcasing significant prehistoric ritual heritage.
Tintagel Old Post Office is a 14th-century medieval stone house located in Tintagel, Cornwall. Owned by the National Trust, visitors can explore the historic Grade I listed building and its surrounding cottage garden, with the house restored to its Victorian-era post office condition.
Carn Euny is an archaeological site in Cornwall showcasing well-preserved Iron Age and Romano-British ruins including stone roundhouses and a unique underground fogou passage. The site is free to visit and lies near the village of Sancreed on the Penwith peninsula.
1 Sep–30 Nov (another 52 days)
An exhibition of local artist Sophie Anderson’s paintings, inspired by the landscapes and changing light of Penwith’s coastline and moors. The works use pastel, oil and mixed media.
Hawker's Hut is a small historic timber hut near Morwenstow, Cornwall, built by poet Robert Stephen Hawker and offering coastal views. It is maintained by the National Trust and accessible by foot along a coastal path.
Levant Mine and Beam Engine is a National Trust industrial heritage site in Cornwall featuring the world's oldest Cornish steam winding engine still in its original location, a visitor centre, and a short underground mine tour. The mine is historically significant and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Boscastle is a scenic fishing village and port on Cornwall's north coast, featuring a natural harbour with historic stone walls, situated within the Cornwall National Landscape, popular for walking and its heritage connections.
Chysauster Ancient Village is an Iron Age and Romano-British archaeological site in Cornwall featuring the remains of courtyard houses and an underground fogou, offering an outdoor exploration experience under the care of English Heritage with paid admission.
Cromwell's Castle is a 17th-century artillery fort located on Tresco in the Isles of Scilly, featuring a circular gun tower and adjacent gun platform. It was built to defend New Grimsby harbour and is now managed by English Heritage as a historic open-to-visitors site.
Newquay Zoo in Cornwall is a conservation-focused zoo spanning 13 acres, home to nearly 1,000 animals of 36 species. Visitors can explore diverse exhibits such as African Savannah, Tropical House, and Gems of the Jungle walkthrough aviary. The zoo offers educational programmes, on-site food facilities, and activities suitable for children, emphasizing species conservation and biodiversity.
16 Oct (next Friday)
An hour-long guided outdoor tour of Trerice’s gardens explores the site’s archaeological and architectural history, including notable features and archaeological finds.
Newquay is a popular seaside town in Cornwall known for its extensive sandy beaches, renowned surfing conditions, rich historical sites, and vibrant cultural events, including major music festivals and spaceport activities.
Dupath Well, near Callington in Cornwall, is a Grade I listed historic well-house built in 1510 over a natural spring, featuring distinctive granite architecture and medieval religious significance. Visitors can explore the well-house and its ancient water trough in a scenic outdoor setting.
7 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
An exhibition at Cotehele exploring tapestries and other textiles in the collection, including how they were made and their significance to the property’s history. Visitors can see items such as cushions and natural dyes, along with objects that have been stored away.
Ballowall Barrow is a prehistoric chambered tomb on a cliff top in Cornwall, featuring unique Neolithic and Bronze Age funerary elements, managed by English Heritage and the National Trust.
Trethevy Quoit is a well-preserved Neolithic dolmen located in Cornwall, England. It features large standing stones capped by a massive slab and is accessible to the public for free. The site is managed by Cornwall Heritage Trust and is part of the region's rich ancient heritage.
Cadson Bury is an outdoor Iron Age hillfort near Callington, Cornwall, featuring a large oval enclosure with curved ramparts and ditches, owned by the National Trust and accessible to the public.
The Godolphin Estate is a National Trust property in Cornwall featuring a Grade I listed Tudor/Stuart mansion with Elizabethan stables, early formal gardens, and significant archaeological sites. The estate offers a mix of indoor historic house exploration and outdoor garden and landscape experiences, including views from Godolphin Hill. The house is open to the public on certain days and also available as a holiday let.
19 May, 22–23 May…
Join a volunteer guide for a short walk through Godolphin’s mining landscape. The walk highlights surviving mining features and explains the historic relationship between Godolphin and mining.