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Destination Cornwall - Uniquely Daily |
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The Cornish Riviera
Destination Cornwall - Uniquely Daily
The Cornish Riviera
For the very best of Cornwall go to its heart - the ancient Borough of Restormel, so full of history, scenic variety and activity it is like a country within a county.
Where its northern coastline is ruggedly spectacular, the south is a green and gold tapestry of wooded hills dropping down to secluded coves.
Mevagissey and Gorran Haven.
The fishing village of Mevagissey and the still smaller haven of Gorran Haven are the very essence of a Cornwall which has remained true to its roots and embraced change only slowly.
Both names belong to 6th century Irish missionaries. Mevagissey's labyrinth of tiny streets twist and turn past ancient dwarf dwellings of cob and slate but head inexorably for the twin harbours which are its nerve-centre, a place to watch the fishermen land their catch and mend their nets as they have since John Trewollas built the first pier in 1430.
By the 19th century, the most important catch was pilchard, some 40 million a year were salted in special cellars you can still see and packed into barrels for export to France and Italy.
Earlier still, some of the crew doubled as smugglers or privateers, but today their secondary role is to introduce visitors to inshore fishing for mackerel or deep-sea shark-hunts. The full range of fish in local waters can be seen at the aquarium, converted from the old lifeboat house.
Mevagissey is renowned for the soaring, switchback walks that whet the appetite for its seafood or help to work it off. From Polkirt Hill you ca