The UK’s answer to the Amalfi Coast…
Updated: Feb 15
Fowey is pronounced “foy” and rhymes with boy. There is a common misconception about how to pronounce the name so I thought I’d better clear that up first. Fowey is a glorious port town at the mouth of the River Fowey in the south of Cornwall. The Cornish coastline is known for its beauty and its hidden gems, Fowey being a prime example. Fowey has a spectacular harbourside and boasts immaculate views of the river along with a beautiful town bustling with amazing local businesses. It’s the perfect coastal escape and is reminiscent of many European ports boasting its water clarity and hidden coves.
Things to do near Fowey
Explore the town and harbour
The town of Fowey is a gorgeous, quaint harbourside gem featuring pretty cobbled pathways, picturesque narrow streets an plenty to keep you entertained. The buildings beautifully represent the medieval and Georgian architecture the town was built from. Along the streets you will find an array of local businesses, restaurants, pubs and much more! There are plenty of shops to have a reasonable mooch around which is rare of a uk harbour town. Often through the streets you will catch glimpses of the shimmering Fowey river. There is a bustling harbourside with several pubs/restaurants surrounding, making it the perfect spot to enjoy lunch.
2. Relax at Readymoney Cove
Readymoney cove is roughly a 10 minute walk from the town along the esplanade. From the walk alone you will see unbelievable views over the Fowey river. The first thing that will catch your eye when arriving at the hidden cove is how clear the water is. The water is turquoise and resembles an Italian style beach along the Amalfi coast. It is crystal clear making the perfect opportunity to snorkel and see some Cornish sealife up close. It is ideal for swimming as the water is usually very calm due to being in a very sheltered cove, however always be aware as there are no lifeguards patrolling the beach. If you like a challenge and are a good swimmer, there is a small pontoon to swim to in the middle of the cove. Dogs are allowed for most of the year, there is only a seasonal dog ban from 1st July to 31st August, 10am to 6pm.
3. Eden project
The Eden project is home to the worlds largest indoor rainforest! It is a huge botanical garden featuring a rainforest biome, Mediterranean biome and outdoor gardens. There is plenty to see and do including zip wires, an assault course, parks, restaurants and exhibits. The best thing to do in my opinion is simply explore the biomes as it is a very unique experience, being in the heart of Cornwall, encompassed by lush tropical vegetation. I recommend having lunch at the Mediterranean restaurant as it really feels like you are abroad and you can sit “outside”, al fresco style, whatever the weather. They also host suppers some nights if you fancy a quick escape to Italy one evening!
4. Get on the River!
The Fowey river is incredibly wonderful and teeming with activities! I don’t believe a trip to Fowey would be complete without some fun on the river. There are many options for hire such as Paddleboards, Kayaks and self-drive boats which allow you freedom to explore the river. There’s many secret coves to be discovered so it’s worth renting for a while so you can search for and enjoy these little hidden gems along the river. You can also go on several different boat trips for example a rib ride or river cruise, there’s even a ferry that takes you to Polraun. The Ferry departs roughly every 15 minutes and allows dogs, bicycles and push chairs. It’s a cheaper way of cruising the river and allows you to venture into Polruan and see its harbour, castle and coves.
5. Polkerris Beach
Polkerris is a tranquil sandy cove, sheltered by a harbour wall. Duet to this the water is very calm making it an excellent place to swim or partake in water sports. With that bieng said, they offer paddle board lessons and hire alongside kayak hire too! Dogs are banned on the beach between easter and October 1st. There are public toilets, a pub, cafe and shop close to the beach and there is also a public car park in the hamlet next to the beach. There is disabled access to the beach (ramp) and also a disabled toilet. The beach is absolutely stunning and I highly recommend spending some time there, especially on a sunny day!
Places to eat
Ruby’s Ice cream
Ruby’s Ice cream is a must to fix your ice cream cravings! They have a great range of flavours that all taste premium. Sometimes when you buy a brownie ice cream there is little to no brownie, well this is not the case as my brownie ice cream was jam packed with the stuff! You can chose from a variety of cones and even have your ice cream dipped in melted chocolate, which I highly recommend. At Ruby’s they also sell ice cream milkshakes that look phenomenal, they come dipped in chocolate with toppings too! They also have ice cream sundaes and cookie dough sandwiches, so there are plenty of options for your seaside sugar fix!
2. Pintxo Fowey
Pintxo is just outside the town on the esplanade towards Readymoney cove. The restaurant really gives off a Mediterranean vibe, serving Spanish tapas with al fresco seating in the street. The restaurant is quite small but when the weather is good they fully open the sliding door to combine the inside with the outdoor seating. The decor is very modern and Spanish inspired, transporting you on holiday with the laid back atmosphere it provides. If you’re a fan of Spanish cuisine I highly recommend you pop in for your tapas fix, they also have a selection of wines and sherry to try.
3. Game of cones
It’s not often two ice cream joints would make it onto my list but there’s no option here! Game of Cones is evidently a ‘Game of Thrones’ themed ice cream shop selling a wide variety of seaside sweet treats. They serve over 30 flavours of ice cream, milkshakes, smoothies, coffee and hot drinks, cakes, traditional sweets, chocolate and Cornish fudge! They now also sell crepes and loaded Dragon waffles, which are essentially a bubble waffle filled with ice cream, cream and toppings of your choice such as lotus biscoff and Rolo. The loaded dragon waffles are very popular and definitely worth trying.
4. Sam’s Fowey
Sam’s is a restaurant/cocktail bar that serves scrumptious local produce, from award winning burgers, locally caught fish, mussels from the bay to lobsters and scallops from a local fishermen. The decor is very bright and bold with memorabilia filling the walls and there are punk rock tunes playing, creating a fun atmosphere. You could say it gives a very American diner vibe with a much higher quality standard of food and drink, especially with their pride of place going to homemade burgers. There is seating with a gorgeous view of the river and a cocktail bar upstairs. If you fancy taking on a giant burger, a few evening drinks in the town or eating quality local seafood with riverside views then this is the place!
Places to stay
Coming soon…
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