Local Experiences

Mount’s Bay is full of adventures, attractions, and hidden gems. From exploring the coastline on the water to discovering sub-tropical gardens and historic landmarks, there’s something for everyone. Let our local team guide you through the best things to do on your visit to Cornwall.

On the Water – Beaches & Water Sports

Get on the water and try sea kayaking, coasteering, surfing and paddleboarding. There are mandy excellent adventure centres in the area that are highly experienced and offer organised days out. Try:

Vertical Blue Adventures, Porthleven and Helford
Boatshed Activity Centre, Praa Sands
Lizard Adventure, Mullion Cove

Sea swimming and beach days

Cornwall offers plenty of opportunity to take a dip in the sea. Many beaches have lifeguards and some harbours are lovely for swimming too (if you do so safely).

There are plenty of beaches which make a wonderful day for the out. Here are a pick of our favourites:

Porthleven beach (lifeguarded in summer) is great for a dip, and the harbour is popular for swimming too.
Praa Sands – Golden sand, surf, parking, café and pub.
Marazion – Wide sandy beach with views of St Michael’s Mount.
Mullion – Rugged coves and dramatic coastal scenery.
Poldhu – A wilder surf beach towards the Lizard Peninsular with parking and a cafe.
Perranuthnoe – Beautiful sandy beach with a lovely cafe. Get there early to grab a parking space in summer.

Jubilee Pool, Penzance

Jubilee Pool in Penzance is a restored, art-deco styled lido filled with sea water that replaces with each tide. The pool is also home to Cornwall’s first geo-thermally heated outdoor pool where you can swim in the 30 degree water. The Poolside Cafe offers delicious food and the views across Mount’s Bay are outstanding. This is a truly unique place to visit.

Coastal Walks

The coast around the Mounts Bay area offers incredible scenery, beautiful beaches and diverse flora and fauna. The South West Coast path is popular for walkers at all times of year. In Spring you can enjoy wonderful wild flowers and gentle sunshine before the business of Summer. Summer offers walmer waters and opportunities to swim in secret coves along the way. Autumn and Winter bring storms across the Atlantic with dramatic crashing waves.

Visit the South West Coast Path website to plenty of ideas for an adventure – southwestcoastpath.org.uk

Our favourite local walks

Porthleven to Loe Pool – a gentle walk to Cornwall’s largest freshwater lake.
Marazion to Penzance – flat beachside walking with Mount views.
Mousehole to Lamorna – rugged cliff paths with sweeping sea views.

On the blog

Walks links ***

On two Wheels – Cycling around Cornwall

Cycling in South West Cornwall is the perfect way to discover the region’s natural beauty at your own pace. Whether you’re planning a family cycling holiday in Cornwall or looking for scenic bike rides near Porthleven, Helston, or Penzance, the area offers routes for all abilities. From gentle rides along quiet country lanes and leafy cycle trails to more challenging coastal paths with sweeping views of Mount’s Bay and the Lizard Peninsula, there’s something for every cyclist. Along the way, you’ll find welcoming cafés, traditional pubs, and plenty of local attractions to explore.

The Kernow Way

This is a 143 mile circular routes which can be done in bite size sections. It follows many of the ancient by-ways and includes the Tinners Way. The route takes in many of west Cornwall’s most spectacular scenery such as Land’s End, St Michael’s Mount and the Lizard Point. Find out more about the route with maps on the website: cyclinguk.org

Bike Hire

Lakeside Cycle Hire, Helston – Hire e-bikes, hybrids, town and children’s bikes by the boating lake. Maps and suggested routes provided.
Ride-On-Ebikes, Penzance – Located in the centre of Penzance and perfect for riding the routes near St Michael’s Mount.

View of harbour from Custom's house Loft

Local Culture & History

From ancient stone circles and mining heritage to vibrant festivals and timeless fishing traditions, Cornwall’s culture is woven into every village, harbour, and headland. Exploring the local history of Mounts Bay and beyond means uncovering stories of shipwrecks, folklore, and a proud creative legacy that continues today. Whether you’re wandering through cobbled streets, visiting historic landmarks, or experiencing Cornish customs first-hand, you’ll find plenty of ways to connect with the heart of Cornwall.

Towns with historic interest:

Porthleven – Historic harbour and surrounding buildings. Join Porthleven Town Talks for relaxed and informative talks about Porthleven’s history – book in advance.
Helston – Known for Flora Day, one of Cornwall’s most famous cultural festivals held every year on the 8th May. The market town has, what is now known locally as, the boating lake which is the gateway to the National Trust Penrose.
Penzance – Walk the promenade along the sea front, visit the PZ Studios and the famous art deco lido, The Jubilee Pool. A creative hub with maritime history and independent galleries.
Newlyn – Cornwall’s fishing capital and home to the Newlyn Art School. Get there early to buy fish from the market that supplies London or eat in the fabulous local restaurants.
Mousehole – A storybook harbour village steeped in history. Catch the famous Mousehole Cat theatre production at Christmas time and take a look at the wonderful light displays. Enjoy scenic walks along the coastline with views towards across Mounts Bay.
Marazion – Ancient market town and gateway to legendary St Michael’s Mount with lovely café’s and independent art galleries. Enjoy the beach, eat a pasty from the famous Philp’s Pasty Shop and walk in the steps of giants, across the causeway to St Michael’s Mount
Lizard Village and Cadgwith – Traditional Cornish villages surrounded by rugged coastline and perched on the edge of land. Visit these villages for a true taste of fishing village life in Cornwall.

Cornwall’s historic landscape

Tin has been mined in Cornwall since around 2100BC and is an integral part of Cornwall’s history. There are plenty of historic landmarks and attractions to visit

Geevor Tin Mine – Discover the story of Cornwall’s Tin industry and go underground a real tin mine on the beautiful cliffs of far West Cornwall.

Botallack Tin Mine – Perched on the edge of the cliffs the famous Crowns engine houses are part of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site and Poldark filming location.

Food festivals

Plan your stay around one of Cornwall’s favourite food festivals. Perfect for the whole family to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy locally sourced food and drink:

Porthleven Food Festival – Cornwall’s most popular food festival, located around the harbour over 3 days of food and music.
Truro Food Festival – a smaller affair, in the town centre.
St Ives Food Festival – incredible location on the Porthminster beach.
St Ives September Festival – a ten day festival celebrating food, art and culture of south Cornwall.

Bluebell woods at Enys Gardens, penryn, cornwall

Gardens & Attractions

South Cornwall is home to some of the most enchanting gardens and fascinating attractions in the UK. From subtropical gardens to iconic landmarks and family-friendly days out, here’s your guide to the best gardens and attractions in South Cornwall.

Gardens

St Michael’s Mount (Marazion) – A tidal island with castle, terraced gardens and stunning views.
Trebah Garden is one of Cornwall’s most celebrated subtropical gardens. Nestled in a valley that leads down to a private beach on the Helford River, Trebah is a paradise.
Glendurgan Garden, right next door to Trebah, is cared for by the National Trust. This peaceful valley garden has pathways that lead down to the hamlet of Durgan.
Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens (Penzance) – Exotic plants and contemporary art in a breathtaking setting.
Trengwainton Garden (Penzance) – National Trust gardens with rare plants and walled gardens.
Godolphin House & Estate (Helston) – Historic house and grounds with woodland and mining heritage.
Bonython Estate Gardens (Mullion) – Colourful borders, lakes and Georgian garden design.
Morrab Gardens (Penzance) – Subtropical public gardens with exotic plants.
Trelissick Garden – Set on its own overlooking the River Fal, Trelissick Garden offers breathtaking views and includes an art gallery, café, and riverside paths.

Attractions

St Michael’s Mount is one of Cornwall’s most iconic landmarks. This tidal island is home to a medieval castle, subtropical terraced gardens, and legends of giants
Minack Theatre is a world-famous open-air theatre carved into the cliffs at Porthcurno. With its subtropical gardens and sweeping sea views, it’s a magical setting for performances under the stars.
The Cornish Seal Sanctuary in Gweek, is where you can meet rescued seals and learn about the vital work of marine conservation. The sanctuary is home to seals, sea lions, otters, and even penguins
Telegraph Museum Porthcurno you will discover the hidden history of global communication at the. Once the hub of international telegraphy, this fascinating museum tells the story of how Cornwall connected the world.
Land’s End is Britain’s most westerly point offering dramatic cliff-top views, family attractions, coastal walks, and of course the famous signpost for that must-have holiday photo.
National Maritime Museum Cornwall, Falmouth, celebrates the sea and Cornwall’s maritime heritage. From fascinating exhibitions on seafaring history to hands-on displays and a lookout tower with panoramic harbour views.

Practical Info

Tide Times – Check local tide times before planning your beach or harbour activities: Cornwall Tide Information – Porthleven.

Preparing for your stay

We make it simple and relaxing to come on holiday with us. The below information gives useful tips on what you need to know before you arrive.