Mining, Fishing and Smuggling – Cornish Heritage tour

Explore the stunning southeast of Cornwall on this bespoke full-day tour, designed especially for cruise passengers in Fowey as well as other visitors to the area. Travel in comfort and style with an experienced guide, who will share insights into the area’s rich heritage and natural beauty. Personalize your itinerary to include hidden gems and scenic spots and pick up and drop off time and place making this an unforgettable day in Cornwall.
Your Cornwall Tour guides are experienced travellers themselves and having taken tours on all 7 continents they are now dedicated to showing vistors around their own beautiful home county and have a great understanding of what makes for a memorable and value for money excursion.
- Full-day private tour tailored for up to 4 people
- Visit 3 of the most beautiful and historic towns in Cornwall
- Fully guided both on foot and in-vehicle
- Flexible itinerary to suit your preferences and schedule

Fowey, with its historical port dating back to medieval times for the export of tin, wool and fish and latterly as a key export point for china clay from further inland, Fowey still has the ability to accept small cruise ships to this day. A busy main street with boutique shops, pubs dating back over 800 years and St Fimbarrus Church alongside many other historical buildings is a delight to spend time in. Fowey was also the home to the author Daphne du Maurier.

Polperro hasn’t changed in hundreds of years with its inner and outer harbour and is hidden from the sea with a strong ‘smuggling’ history (museum). A walk around this town will truly take you back in time. The 16th century Three Pilchards and the 18th century Blue Peter are just two of the local pubs around the inner harbour, charm and history personified, but with a modern purpose!

Looe boasts a town beach, lifeboat station and gig boathouse and has a working harbour that still has its own day fishing fleet and fish market. A range of pubs, restaurants to suit all budgets, and quaint non chain shops are a delight to explore.

St Nicholas church dates back to the 13th or 14th Century and the Jolly Sailor pub has been across the street since 1516!

The current bridge was built in 1855 and joins East and West Looe as do small ferries that additionally run ‘round the island’ trips to view the seal colony. Looe also doubles as the fictional town of Shipton Abbott in the TV series Beyond Paradise, with the cast and crew often seen in and around the town.

Example Itinerary (tailored to suit)

09.00 - Collection from hotel, cruise, airport, railway or other agreed location

09.30 - Transfer by private transfer to Looe 

10.15 - Arrive at East Looe and walk down across the Wooldown with stunning views of St Georges Island to the South West Coast Path; this leads to the Gig Boat Shed, the beach, Banjo Pier and the Lifeboat station. Then to the fish market, free time shopping then across to West Looe by ferry, tide permitting, to visit St Nicholas Church and the 16th century Jolly Sailor pub!

12.00 - Transfer to Polperro to explore this unspoilt fishing and smuggling village; visit the Polperro Harbour Heritage Museum, the inner and outer harbour and of course sample a Cornish Pasty lunch.

2.30 - Back to your private transfer and head back to Fowey, this time via the Bodinnick Ferry (history back to 14th century).

3.15 - From the top of the town we'll drop down passed 'Place' and St Fimbarrus church to the harbour before free time for shopping and exploring the wonderfully unique town of Fowey to end your day.

4.00 - Depart for hotel, station or other agreed drop off. (Cruise passengers stay in Fowey)

Option

Visit Minions and the Hurlers Stone Circle, The Pipers Standing Stones and The Cheesewring

£395 per day (max 4 guests)

* Order of visits/timings are flexible for tide times and start/finish location

** Suitable for all Fowey Cruise visitors as private tour times are bespoke

Fully licensed and insured​​​​