Local Area – Some of our recommendations
Walking, Beaching, Eating.
Although not strictly native Cornish we have lived in the area for over 30 years and we know a few of the ‘out of the way places’ to visit, as well as those on the main tourist routes.  The following information is an attempt to share some of that information with you.  There is of course the usual health warning with this, as not everyone likes the same thing, particularly when it comes to eating out.  We consider ourselves to be ‘foodies’ and therefore the ‘eating out’ recommendations are a bit sparse because we are a bit hard to please!
Best Beaches
If you want an easily accessible beach i.e. one that you can walk onto without clambering down cliffs, then head for Seaton and Downderry, about 25 mins by car.  You can park there easily and the sea is relatively safe for swimming.
However, if you want seclusion and don’t mind a climb up and down the cliff, head further along the coast towards Rame Head.  This Bay is called Whitsand Bay and it has many fabulous beaches to choose from.  Freathy Beach has a life guard service and is the easiest of all the beaches that require you to clamber up and down.  [about 30 mins by car].
A little further along Whitsand Bay, nestles the villages of Cawsand and Kingsand.  There is a lovely little sheltered beach, safe for the children to bathe.

There is also a little passenger ferry service from Cawsand Beach to The Barbican in Plymouth.  It’s about a thirty minute journey straight into the delightful Barbican area where the National Marine Aquarium is situated.  There are plenty of shops, restaurants and art galleries in the Barbican for you to enjoy.
You can also walk up to the spectacular Plymouth Hoe from the Barbican where you can see the whole of the Bay and the Breakwater.
Another spectacular bay to visit is Lantic Bay towards Polruan is also a magnificent beach to visit.

You can park the car in the National Trust Car Park at the top of the cliff and take the path to the beach.  However, remember to wear good walking shoes as it’s quite a climb up and down.

Best Eating
Tapenades
Tapenades [14 Dean Street, Liskeard PL14 4AA Tel: 01579 344844] is the best restaurant locally.  This is a small friendly bistro style restaurant that has a great menu.  Everything is cooked to order by Sue the chef and we have never been disappointed.  You will need to book early as it is very busy.

Cartwheels Restaurant
Cartwheels Restaurant [01579 344960] in Merrymeet is a very nice farmhouse restaurant and it is within easy walking distance…..about a mile.  It has a really good new menu and a new chef keen to make a good impression.

The View
The View on Whitsand Bay [01752 822345] is also an excellent restaurant.  They have a great location on the cliff top overlooking Whitsand Bay and the sea. They are known for their local fish dishes.  However, they also have a good range of other dishes all sourced from local ingredients.  The cost of a three course dinner for two is approximately £70 without wine.  They do have a cheaper lunch time menu most days.

Local Pubs
The Crows Nest Inn
The Crows Nest Inn in the village of Crows Nest-about 5 mins by car, or if you are feeling fit you can walk there across the moor.  It takes about 40 mins and is a very pleasant walk up the lane.  They serve food there. There is a short cut on a public right of way but you’ll have to ask us about where to find it.
The Caradon Inn
The Caradon Inn at Upton Cross also serves bar style snacks and is about 10 mins by car.  Opposite STERTS Open Air Theatre.

The Blue Peter
The Blue Peter in Polperro [01503 272743] is very atmospheric and serves good food.  Walk to Polperro along the cliff path from Talland Bay [about 30 mins walk -1.25 miles].

Other places of interest in the area
Sterts the open Air Theatre on the Moor at Upton Cross

Aerial view of Sterts Open air Theatre just three miles up the road

Minions – just up the road 10 mins by car or half and hour by bike.  Minions is a small village situated high up on Bodmin Moor in South East Cornwall, England.  Most of the village is over 300m above sea level and it is therefore the highest village in Cornwall.   The area surrounding Minions is beautiful countryside offering a wealth of archaeological interest from early Bronze Age to the Tin and Copper Mining which finished early in the last century.  One of the Engine Houses of the South Phoenix Mine has been converted into The Minions Heritage Centre We hope that some of the information on this website has been of some help to you in planning your holiday.  It is not by any means a definitive list of places but a small snapshot of some of the places that we take our own visitors to in Cornwall.

Thank you
Enjoy your stay with us. Lindsey and David Fear