My first impression was the chop, the waves off the headland knocking the boat around and consequently the boom as I was trying to drop the mainsail. We’d turned North to head for the entrance and the pilot book mentioned that there was a bit of a chop that you have to grit your teeth and just get through. As we got further inshore the chop began to ease off. I looked around me and […]
There are plenty of seaside related things to do at Fowey with the usual water, beach and walking activities. Fowey is also a place for artists. Daphne du Maurier lived here and there’s now an annual literary festival. Trip up river to Leryn The river is navigable up to Lostwithiel and Leryn at high tide. Leryn is famous for being the inspiration for Kenneth Grahame’s Wind in the Willows. In my world, it’s also famous for […]
I think I’ve already said Fowey is well supplied with shops. There isn’t the variety that Falmouth offers but what it lacks in quantity it makes up in quality. Alongside the typical high street stores are a range of boutiques, galleries and food shops that makes for an enjoyable experience. The shopping street runs the length of the shore side road. There are no pavements. It’s one lane wide and cars and vans do drive […]
Fowey is a good place for food as there is a wide range of restaurants and food shops. We tried a few during our stay, some old favourites and discovered some new. Sam’s We started at Sam’s a seafood brasserie and bar on the high street. Back in the good old days, in the late 1990s, you used to be able to get Lobster and Chips for less than £20. This time they were sold out and […]
Fowey, pronounced Foy, is named after the river. We’d motor-sailed from Salcombe partly to charge the batteries but partly to avoid the beat into the South Westerly. We’ve sailed to Fowey a few times to race in Regatta Week. We visit more regularly by land as we have family living nearby. We like it a lot. It’s a first for me to sail from the East to gain the harbour entrance. It’s not an easy entrance to […]
The last full day of our holiday. We avoided this by sneaking in one last trip. Turning our back on Falmouth Bay we went upriver. We knew that you could, in a smaller boat than ours, get all the way to Truro. We’d settle for less than that. I’d wanted to climbi the trees at Trelissick so the first plan was to sail and anchor in the bay off Trelissick. As usual plans change. We […]
We woke to bright sunshine and a gentle breeze. The perfect day for a sail. We’d wanted to sail from Falmouth to the Scilly Islands but the timings and longer term weather forecast didn’t work out for us. Instead we sailed the 8 nautical miles to the Helford River that is West of Falmouth. We’d rounded Black Rock and set sail. Then I saw breaking waves to port. It seemed strange on such a perfect sailing day to see […]
Falmouth shopping; the last post on Falmouth promise. There is a whole High Street of shops. Most familiar to high streets the length and breadth of the UK. I won’t cover these. I won’t cover the food or drink shops that I’ve already mentioned. I’ll just mention the few that were interesting or best in breed. Chandlers – The Bosun’s Locker Chandlery is a traditional chandlers with everything from striped shirts and smocks to shackles, flags […]
What with the eating, drinking, reading and fettling we only managed to get to the National Maritime Museum Cornwall. £11 gets you an adult ticket which is valid for a year so if you’re intending to go back represents good value for money and supports the charity. For a day trip it’s about what I’d expect to pay to get to any museum or gallery so, for me, it didn’t seem unreasonable. The museum is set […]
We tried a number of places to eat in the short time we were in Falmouth for re-provisioning but also immediate consumption. In the sunshine Falmouth had the feeling of a mediterranean country with plenty of al fresco dining opportunities which surprised and delighted. Around the Port Pendennis Marina there are numerous options including Pizza, Steak, Fish and a cocktail lounge. We also went into Town to sample the cafes and what follows are brief reviews […]
On Land 