Things to Do

Minack Theatre - operates in the summer season only but the exhibition centre is open all year round. Buy your tickets as soon as possible because the most popular performances are sold out way in advance
Land's End - the exhibitions are definitely worth seeing. On Tuesdays and Thursdays in August there are spectacular firework displays
Geevor Tin Mine - an excellent tour of one of the last mines to close down. Geevor and the surrounding area has been awarded World Heritage Status - more information on the Cornish Mining website.
Turn of the Tide art gallery, St. Just - worth a browse around
Museum of Submarine Telegraphy, Porthcurno - a secret wartime communications centre with fascinating interactive exhibits
St. Michael's Mount - check the tide to see if you can walk across - if not phone the Manor office to check the sea conditions
Surfing- surfing lessons can be arranged at Sennen Cove
Beaches - some fantastic beaches within walking distance including Sennen Cove, Nanjizal, Gwenver, Porthchapel and Porthcurno
South West Coastal Path passes close to the properties in both Sennen and Porthcurno
Isles of Scilly day trips by helicopter- the helicopter departs from Penzance or you can go with Skybus from Land's End Airport, or by boat from Penzance. A visit to Tresco is particularly recommended
Land's End Airport scenic flights - an opportunity to see the area from the air
Geneaology - the Cornwall Family History Society may be able to help you trace your family tree
Diving - from Penzance round to St. Ives
Marine Conservation & Diving Centre, Penzance
Trekking - the Land's End trekking centre is just across the road from Treeve Moor and about 3 miles from Porthcurno
Marine Discovery - exhilarating wildlife boat trips from Penzance
Gardens - there are some excellent gardens in the area including Trengwainton, Trewidden, Trebah and the Lost Gardens of Heligan
Eden Project - even if you're not keen on plants the engineering project alone is worth seeing
National Maritime Museum, Falmouth - a mixed reaction from people on this one but worth combining with a river cruise afterwards
Mousehole - visit the Ship Inn to find out about Stargazey Pie - this can be eaten in most of the pubs on Tom Bawcock's Eve (23rd Dec)
River Fal boat trips - just turn up and choose on the day. Cruising up the Helford for a cream tea is a favourite
Flambards, Helston - you can spend a whole day here and there are things to do for both adults and children
Paradise Park, Hayle - parrots, penguins, otters, red pandas and more. An excellent place for a picnic
St. Ives including the Tate Gallery - lots of art galleries including the Tate which has an excellent coffee shop, plus craft shops, excellent beaches and high quality restaurants
Birdwatching - a fantastic area for birdwatching, particularly at Porthgwarra.
Climbing - lots of places in the area are used for climbing, particularly around Bosigran.
Penlee House Gallery & Museum - usually free on Saturdays. Some lovely Newlyn School paintings and an excellent café
Gweek Seal Sanctuary - try to time your arrival at feeding time - a nice setting for a picnic
Cape Cornwall Golf Club and West Cornwall Golf Club both worth a visit
Fishing - Stithians Lake permits from 01209 860301, Marazion Angling Club - day tickets from West Cornwall Angling 01736 362363, Trout Fishery Hayle 01736 850889
Sea fishing - various trips daily in the summer 01736 368565
Restaurants - in the last few years the restaurants in the area have greatly improved, including the Abbey Restaurant in Penzance being awarded with a Michelin star. In addition to this link, please see recommendations below
Cornish Way Cycle Path - the Cornish cycle path starts at Land's End plus information on other cycle paths is available from Sustrans
CATA - Cornwall Association of Tourist Attractions - this site gives you lots of information on places to go, especially for children
Car free days out are being promoted by Devon & Cornwall rail partnership and there are two websites which you might find useful www.carfreedaysout.com and www.railaletrail.com

101 Things to do in Cornwall when it rains

Food/Drink

Morning coffee - Lavenders Delicatessen, Penzance - their tea is particularly good, no tea bags in sight and you can definitely taste the difference; Blue Snappa, Penzance; Coco's Chapel Street, Penzance (excellent hot chocolate); Penlee House Gallery, Morrab Road, Penzance; de Wynns Coffee House, Church Street, Falmouth; La Bevanda at Casa Fina, River Street, Truro; Costa Coffee above Waterstones bookshop in Truro

Lunch - Sennen Beach Cafe; Little Barn Cafe, Trevescan, Sennen; Logan Rock Inn, Treen; Turks Head, Chapel Street, Penzance; The Ship, Mousehole

Cornish pasties - we like the ones from WC Rowe in Causewayhead the best - other good ones are sold at Warrens and Lavenders - don't buy before 1030 otherwise they won't be fresh.

Sunday lunch - The Old Success, Sennen Cove 01736 871232; Badger Inn, Lelant 01736 752181; Logan Rock Inn, Treen 01736 810495 - bookings essential

Cream tea - Porthcurno Beach Cafe; Porthgwidden Beach Cafe, St. Ives near Island car park; Trevescan Barn Cafe, Sennen; Trelissick Gardens, near King Harry Ferry

Local pubs - The Old Success Inn, Sennen Cove; The First and Last Inn, Sennen; The Logan Rock Inn, Treen; The Cable Station Inn, Porthcurno; St. Buryan Inn; The Queens Arms, Botallack

Dinner - Coco's, Chapel St, Penzance 01736 350222; Sennen Beach Cafe; The Lime Tree, Chapel St., Penzance 01736 332555; The Cornish Range, Mousehole 01736 731488; The Old Coastguard, Mousehole 01736 731222; Turks Head, Chapel Street, Penzance 01736 363093; The Bakehouse, Penzance 01736 331331; Caffe Pasta, St. Ives 01736 796447; Taj Mahal, Daniel Place, Penzance 01736 366630; The Abbey Restaurant, Penzance 01736 330680; On Shore, St. Ives 01736 796000; Porthminster Beach Cafe, St. Ives (my favourite, although closely followed by The Lime Tree) 01736 364408. Please phone before setting out because most places will close for a couple of weeks in winter for refurbishment and in summer they get booked up very quickly. For further information consult www.eatoutcornwall.com where you can search under Land's End or Penzance.

Take-away - no-one delivers in either the Sennen or Porthcurno areas. You can get fish and chips from Sennen or St. Just but they tend to close by about 8pm in the winter. You can also order Chinese or Indian (from St. Just or Penzance) and collect it. Curry Corner in Penzance will deliver to St. Buryan so that you can collect it from there.

Events Calendar

4-6 July Sea Salt & Sail, Mousehole

11-19 July Lafrowda Festival, St. Just culminating in Lafrowda Day on Saturday 19 July

30 July Culdrose Air Day

6-22 August Cape Cornwall Arts & Crafts Exhibition, St. Just

15-17 August West of England Steam Rally, St. Agnes

25 August Newlyn Fish Festival

6-20 September St. Ives September Festival

10-13 September Falmouth Tall Ships Regata

13 Dec until early January, Mousehole Christmas Lights

14-21 December Montol Festival, Penzance

23 December - Tom Bawcock's Eve, Mousehole

May 9 Shirtlifters Jazz Band at the Dock Inn, Penzance

May 10 Shirtlifters playing at the Minack Theatre

May 11 Shirtlifters playing at the 51 Jazz Club, St. Erth Praze

Contact Liz Trenary, Treeve Moor House, Sennen, Penzance TR19 7AE, tel 01736 871284, info@firstandlastcottages.co.uk