Tucked away in a hidden valley between St Austell and Mevagissey, Bosinver offers the perfect base for exploring Cornwall. The beauty of our location is that while it feels like weโre miles away from anywhere, Bosinverโs just off the A390 outside St Austell, making it easy to travel around the county.
Many of the most popular attractions in Cornwall, such as the Eden Project and the Lost Gardens of Heligan, are just a stoneโs throw away, and there are also several sandy beaches close by.
A little further away youโll find the surf beaches of the north coast, the unspoilt coastline of the Roseland Peninsula and some of Cornwallโs finest subtropical valley gardens, Glendurgan and Trebah.
Travel by public transport
Many of Cornwallโs top attractions are also accessible by public transport. St Ives, for example, is an easy day trip from St Austell station by train, and the branch line between St Erth and St Ives is one of the most scenic routes in the country.
St Austell railway station and bus terminal are only three miles away and First Bus have services which stop close to Bosinver
Weโve put together a handy guide to days out in Cornwall without a car, all starting at Bosinver. Itโs packed full of ideas for things to do and places to see, along with details of how to get there on foot, by bus, train or boat.
10-15 minutesโ drive
There are several fantastic places to go within a few minutesโ drive of Bosinver. Visit historic Charlestown and see the Tall Ships or explore the winding streets of Mevagissey and enjoy fish and chips overlooking the harbour. The Lost Gardens of Heligan are on many peopleโs โmust visitโ lists during their holiday to Cornwall, and guests staying at Bosinver can reach them in less than 15 minutes by car (or a little longer by bus, bike or even on foot). If youโre interested in finding out more about Cornwallโs mining heritage, visit Wheal Martyn China Clay Museum and Country Park.
There are also several sandy beaches close by in St Austell Bay, such as Pentewan and Porthpean, which are ideal for when time is limited or a more leisurely day out in Cornwall. And if you need something to keep the kids entertained on a rainy day, Kidzworld Cornwall offers a great range of indoor play options.
Under 20 minutesโ drive
The Eden Project is a mere 16 minutesโ drive from Bosinver (and can also be reached by bike or bus). The Luxulyan Valley is great for walking, and is an ideal area to explore with your dog.
The Caerhays Estate offers a variety of options to appeal to all members of the family. The castle was designed by famous Regency architect John Nash around 200 years ago, while the 140 acre gardens are world famous, particularly for their collection of over 600 varieties of magnolia. Caerhays beach (also known as Porthluney Cove is dog friendly all year round and offers safe swimming and golden sands ideal for sandcastle building.
Under 30 minutesโ drive
Truro, with its magnificent cathedral, restaurants and shops is less than half an hour away, as are the delights of Fowey. Alternatively you could take a trip to Lanhydrock (National Trust) and explore the house and grounds, or, if you prefer something more active, have a go at the cycle trails. Nearby Cardinham Woods also offers some fantastic trails for cycling and walking, plus an excellent cafe and interactive Gruffalo trail for kids based on Julia Donaldsonโs popular book. Or how about a trip to Lostwithiel, where you can visit Restormel Castle, which dates back to the 13th-century.
30 โ 45 minutesโ drive
In just over half an hour, you could reach Wadebridge, and the start of the Camel Trail. Bring your own bikes or hire them for the day at the Camel Trail Cycle Hire and explore one of the most beautiful areas of Cornwall by bike.
Trelissick (National Trust) is ideal for a family day out, and the woodland walk offers beautiful views of the Fal estuary (and itโs popular with the four-legged visitors). Or you could head towards Newquay, where there are several great choices for family days out, such as DairyLand Farmworld, Blue Reef Aquarium and Newquay Zoo, not to mention excellent surf at Fistral Beach and Watergate Bay (where youโll also find Jamie Oliverโs restaurant, 15 Cornwall).
Other highly recommended places to visit include St Mawes, Padstow, Perranporth (with its vast, sandy beach where dogs are welcome all year round) and St Agnes.
45 minutes โ 1 hourโs drive
Polzeath is an award-winning beach which is popular with surfers and holidaymakers alike. There are some excellent walks in the area too, offering spectacular views of the Camel Estuary.
The delights of Falmouth are just over 45 minutesโ drive, including a variety of shops, restaurants and easily accessible beaches. The National Maritime Museum Cornwall and Pendennis Castle are also highly recommended if you choose to visit this area.
Close to Falmouth, Glendurgan garden (National Trust) and Trebah are definitely worth a visit, particularly in springtime, when theyโre at their finest.
The golden sands, iconic lighthouse, and good surf often draw visitors to Godrevy, while fans of the TV series Doc Martin will be beating a path to the pretty fishing village of Port Isaac, where the show is filmed.
Polperro, Looe and Boscastle are also all under an hourโs drive, as is Antony (National Trust), a delightful 18th century estate where Tim Burton filmed Alice in Wonderland.
Just over an hour
While it means spending a little longer in the car, itโs definitely worth making a longer trip to St Michaelโs Mount, St Ives or Tintagel.
Plymouth is approximately 1h 10 minutes by car, but can also be reached easily by train from St Austell.
A holiday in Cornwall isnโt complete without a trip to Porthcurno and the Minack Theatre. Book a ticket for one of the shows and go down early to make the most of the spectacular location. the beach, with its white sand and turquoise water, looks like paradise. Sitting in the amphitheatre with a picnic as you watch the sun go down over the water is an experience thatโs simply unique.
Whatโs top of your holiday โmust visitโ list and why? Share your suggestions below, tweet @bosinver or post on our Facebook page.
