Whether you’re a beer lover or history buff, Cornwall is something of a treasure trove when it comes to old, historic inns. No matter which beautiful town or village you find yourself in while staying at Truro holiday cottages, chances are you’ll stumble upon a fine old building filled with history.
One great way to discover Cornish traditions during your holiday is by visiting some of Cornwall’s oldest inns and pubs. You’ll soon discover no two places are the same; from thatched cottages on the coast to old coves tucked into towns, take a trip through Cornwall’s history by visiting these grand old establishments.
The Oldest Pubs in Cornwall
Cornwall is strewn with fantastic stories of buildings that have stood the test of time. Unfortunately, historical records are not always accurate, but based on what we can confirm, the following pubs rank amongst the oldest in Cornwall:
- The Old Inn, St Breward
- The Crown Inn, Lanlivery
- Weary Friar, Saltash
- The Pandora Inn, Mylor
- The Bush Inn, Morenstow
- Treguth Inn, Holywell Bay
- The Turk’s Head, Penzance
- Tinners Arms, Zennor
The Old Inn and Restaurant, St Breward (11th Century)
Located in a small village on Bodmin Moor, The Old Inn is currently believed to be the oldest pub in Cornwall.
As with a few pubs on this list, the building was hastily constructed to accommodate people – in this case, monks – building the nearby church in the 11th century. While the building has since been expanded, elements of the original construction remain, including granite fireplaces from the period.
Set amongst wonderful rolling hills, The Old Inn also claims to be the highest pub in Cornwall, at 720 feet above sea level.
The Crown Inn, Lanlivery (12th Century)
The Crown Inn is a classic local, a farmhouse set in the quiet village of Lanlivery. Situated on the Saint’s Way, a historic pilgrimage route through Cornwall, records show that it has been an inn serving travellers since the 12th century.
The building has recently undergone refurbishments, but there are still elements of the building with plenty of warmth and history to enjoy.
Weary Friar, Saltash (12th Century)
Another beautiful countryside pub, the Weary Friar can be found in Pillaton, a small village just outside Saltash. The L-shaped pub was originally a collection of cottages built by monks during the construction of the church next door and has gone through various iterations before becoming the Weary Friar in the 1960s.
Nowadays, it’s a classic example of a historic inn, with low-beamed ceilings and brick walls lovingly cared for over many generations.
The Pandora Inn, Mylor (13th Century)
Records suggest the Pandora Inn was once part of a thriving farm. Situated on what was an important road between Falmouth and Truro, it then became The Ship, a fantastic location to offer rest to travellers, before later being renamed after HMS Pandora.
Unfortunately, a major fire in 2011 destroyed much of the Pandora Inn above the ground floor. However, a careful restoration of the Grade II-listed building means it has restored much of the original charm, including its thatched roof.
The Bush Inn, Morenstow (13th Century)
A freehouse dating back to the 13th century The Bush Inn is blessed with stunning views across North Cornwall. It’s also close to the South-West Coast Path, which is perhaps why it’s been such a popular place with travellers for so many centuries!
The Bush Inn is a wonderful monument in what is one of Cornwall’s hidden gem locations, particularly for history buffs. Parson Hawker, a famous priest and writer who created the de facto Cornish national anthem Trelawny, spent most of his life in Morenstow and is believed to have frequented the Bush Inn.
Treguth Inn, Holywell Bay (13th Century)
Treguth was originally a cottage, dating back to the 13th century. It’s been an inn since the early 1900s and is a hugely popular stopping point for visitors to Holywell Bay, one of Cornwall’s most popular beaches.
As you’d expect from a classic thatched building, Treguth is wonderfully cosy with low beamed ceilings. It also has outdoor seating for those seeking the sun!
The Turk’s Head, Penzance (13th Century)
The Turk’s Head is a classic shanty pub. Situated on one of Penzance’s oldest streets, there has been an inn on the site since the 13th century. The building has strong links to pirates and smugglers, with an underground tunnel connecting it to the nearby harbour.
Much of the building’s original charm has been kept, so this is a must-visit for anyone who loves old shanty pubs.
Tinners Arms, Zennor (13th Century)
As with other inns on this list, the Tinners Arms was originally built to accommodate people building the village’s church back in the 13th century. For those interested in Cornish folklore, the church is also part of a famous story about the Mermaid of Zennor – something to ask a local about when you visit!
The building eventually got its name from the tin mining industry, which was a huge part of Cornish life for many generations. Famous novelist D.H. Lawrence, who wrote Lady Chatterley’s Lover, is reported to have stayed at the Tinners Arms in 1916 with his wife, whereupon he wrote profusely about the local beauty spots.
Getting Around Cornwall’s Historic Pubs
If you want to visit all of Cornwall’s historic pubs and inns in relative comfort, you’ll need a car. While Cornwall’s public transport is good for visiting Truro and other major locations, many of these pubs are in small towns and villages where connections aren’t as frequent.
Cornwall’s Historical Pub Crawl: Suggested Routes
Cornwall’s historic pubs are dotted right around the county, from Morwenstow on the northern border with Devon, right down to Penzance near Land’s End. To savour all the locations on our list, you’ll need to divide it over a few day trips.
We’ve created our itineraries based on your starting point being somewhere in the Truro or Falmouth area – this is the most popular area to stay in Cornwall and is where you’ll find us at The Valley. However, our up-country route is great if you want to tick some off on your way down to your Cornwall accommodation.
2-Day Cornwall Historic Pub Crawl
Generally, to have time to explore Cornwall’s delights, we’d recommend doing this pub crawl over at least three days. However, if you want to see all these locations in just a few days, this is one way to go about it.
- 1. Head north to The Bush Inn, Morenstow, on the Devon/Cornwall border. Note that The Bush Inn doesn’t serve food until 12, but there are some beautiful walks nearby if you need to kill time.
- 2. Head down the A39 to the Treguth Inn (around one hour and 40 minutes). If the weather’s nice, make time to visit Holywell Bay, one of Cornwall’s most popular beaches.
- 3. Travel down the A30 to Zennor (around one hour) to visit the Tinner’s Arms. If you have time, enjoy a nice walk through the village and its beautiful headland overlooking the coast.
- 4. After the Tinner’s, make the short 20-minute drive to Penzance to visit The Turk’s Head. Enjoy Penzance before heading back to your accommodation.
- 5. The next day, head to Saltash to sample the town’s delights, and maybe pop over to one of their popular beaches, before visiting the Weary Friar when it opens at 12.
- 6. After Saltash, head deep into Cornwall’s heartland to visit St Breward (just under an hour’s drive) and soak up the history of The Old Inn.
- 7. After The Old Inn, drive 30 minutes south to the village of Lanlivery. Enjoy The Crown Inn, an authentic local with a great sense of community.
- 8. After Lanlivery, head down the A30 towards Falmouth before stopping off at Mylor (around an hour’s drive). Here you can enjoy The Pandora Inn and its wonderful pontoon filled with outdoor seating overlooking the water – the perfect spot to end your Cornish pub crawl.
3-Day Cornwall Historic Pub Crawl
We think this is the perfect way to tick these historic Cornish pubs off your list. There’s plenty to keep you occupied and moving each day, but also time to savour these locations between your food and drink.
- 1. Day one will tick off the northern pubs. Start by heading up to The Bush Inn, Morenstow, on the Devon/Cornwall border, where you can enjoy some beautiful walks.
- 2. Then, travel down the A30 to The Old Inn at St Breward. This welcoming village pub is filled with history and also offers some lovely lunches.
- 3. Continue down the A30 to the Treguth Inn at Holywell Bay. Explore the delights of one of Cornwall’s most popular beaches before enjoying some more food and drink. This will be the end of day one.
- 4. Day two will cover our two easterly inns, starting at The Crown Inn. Situated in the village of Lanlivery, this is a true and honest local. It’s also a great point from which to reach many of Cornwall’s popular attractions.
- 5. After The Crown, take a 40-minute drive to the Weary Friar, a charming old village pub just outside Saltash. Enjoy some food and drink here before exploring Saltash. You may also want to give yourself some time for a few stops along Cornwall’s southern coast, such as Looe and St Austell, before returning to your accommodation.
- 6. The final day will explore the westside pubs. Head off in the morning to Zennor and enjoy stunning walks along the Cornish coast before visiting the Tinners Arms for some lovely food and drink.
- 7. Once you’re done in Zennor, make the short 20-minute drive into Penzance to visit The Turk’s Head. Penzance is a thriving town, so stop off for a spot of local shopping, too.
- 8. Finally, drive up the A394 towards Falmouth to visit The Pandora Inn in Mylor (around a one-hour drive). With wonderful views over the water, this is the perfect end to your Cornwall pub crawl.
Cornwall Historic Pub Crawl: The Up-Country Route
If you can’t wait to get your Cornwall pub crawl started, a few of these historic inns are located just off the main A30 that most people will drive along to reach us in Cornwall.
- 1. On your way down, stop off for some food at The Old Inn at St Breward, which is just off the A30 after you pass Launceston.
- 2. After the Old Inn, and assuming your accommodation is somewhere in the Truro/Falmouth area, stop off for an evening meal at The Pandora Inn in Mylor and enjoy their beautiful views across the water.
- 3. The next day, head back the way you came to tick off the other East Cornwall locations. Start up at The Bush Inn in Morenstow, a wonderful place for walks. Then, drive around 80 minutes south to Saltash to visit the Weary Friar. Finish your day off with a visit to The Crown Inn in Lanlivery, a classic village local.
- 4. On the third day, you can tick off the West Cornwall locations. Start with an early visit to the stunning sands of Holywell Bay before popping into the Treguth Inn. Then, drive an hour down the A30 to Zennor to enjoy the Tinners Arms and more beautiful coastal walks. Finally, complete your crawl 20 minutes south at The Turk’s Head in Penzance, a popular town filled with things to see and do.
If you’re looking for the perfect Cornwall accommodation to enjoy everything the region has to offer, consider our self-catering cottages at The Valley. Perfectly placed between Truro and Falmouth in the village of Carnon Downs, we’re within easy access of many of Cornwall’s most popular locations, making road trips a breeze. We also have an award-winning restaurant of our own on-site, perfect for refuelling between your adventures.
