Secret Season: Fowey
This south coast town lies where the river meets the sea. Here, boat life reigns and a hidden, sheltered shore invites morning dippers. Shrouded in a rich history of castles and literary connections, there is much to discover about Fowey, making it the perfect out of season destination this Secret Season.
Join us as we spend the day discovering the tidal pool, the best shops and eateries, Polruan (via the ferry), St Catherine’s Castle and Readymoney Cove.
On dry mornings, start the day with breakfast al fresco at the iconic Red Rocket Café overlooking the recently refurbished Whitehouse tidal splash pool, across the estuary and out to sea. Those brave enough (or donning wetsuits), can enjoy a revitalising splash.
Refuelled, head into the heart of the town a discover a rainbow of independent shops housed in a plethora of characterful buildings. Here, you can pick up some unique Christmas presents to take home with you or simply indulge in a shopping spree on your own whim.
For holiday reads, don’t miss the iconic Shrew Books, beautiful in blue and located on the corner at the start of town.
Hide Tide is an Aladdin’s cave of interior textures and fragrances and The Salt Society is a must-see for clothing and accessories (and a coffee or a cocktail too). Molesworth and Bird offer a beautiful range of pressed seaweed prints and Cove Antiques and Liga Eco Store are worth a visit to browse their unique selection of homewares.
Laura Lane Pottery located right above the river houses a beautiful selection of ceramics. No.3 provides the perfect pitstop for an indulgent hot chocolate, checking out their selection of unique patterned robeys whilst you wait.
As you walk through town, gaps in the buildings, offer vantage points to take in the view of the water and the comings and goings of the boats.
Foodies will be in their element. Pop into Middle Eastern deli, Olive Branch for a delicious salad bowl or to pick up some goodies to take home.
If fish and chips is what you crave, you can’t miss Webster’s, an utterly stylish backdrop in pink for a warming, traditional lunch.
For art lovers, The Old Bank provides a colourful and relaxed space to enjoy coffee, cake and an opportunity to browse the gallery space upstairs.
For lunch with a view of the water, head to Havener’s, a popular spot with seating both inside and out.
Just outside, you can hop on the ferry at high tide and enjoy a short and scenic trip across the estuary to the must-see village of Polruan. Dogs are welcome and it runs every 15 minutes (subject to weather conditions). This provides the perfect vantage point to take in Fowey in all its glory, views that inspired the famous author Daphne du Maurier.
Built on a steep slope, Polruan is home to rows of colourful cottages, a sheltered harbour and a small golden beach at low tide.
You can walk through the village and join the South West Coast Path, leading to St Saviour’s Point, home to ruins of a 13th century chapel and a fantastic place to take in the view across to Readymoney Cove and St Catherine’s Castle. Here is a great location to spot wildlife too.
Back in the village, enjoy a pitstop and a pint at the popular Lugger Inn, a historic building dating back to 1794.
Hop on the ferry back to Fowey. For a mid-afternoon walk, head along from the town to Readymoney Cove, the perfect spot for a cold-water dip or simply to enjoy time on the sand.
Readymoney Beach Shop, open every day (except Christmas day), offers hot drinks and snacks. On the opposite side of the beach, you can head up the steep steps and join the coast path that leads through the trees to St Catherine’s Point, home to St Catherine’s Castle, a former gun tower built for Henry VIII in 1958-40. Enjoy the dramatic views and soak up the history.
Stay in the heart of Fowey and explore out of season. Artists House sleeps up to eight guests and welcomes two canine companions. This historic retreat is located just metres from the slipway to the water and boasts an elevated garden with dreamy estuary views and a crackling fire for cosy evenings in.
Located next door to The Salt Society, you can pop into their expresso bar for a morning coffee and pastry or an afternoon cocktail with a view.
