Places To Visit in Cornwall Near The Valley

May 24th, 2021

With how the past year has gone, it’s understandable to still be wary of travelling. So, why not treat yourself to a holiday a little closer to home?

A rural, luxury Falmouth holiday is just the thing you need to help you relax and get back in touch with yourself.

As Covid restrictions continue to ease, we’ve made a list of some of our favourite places to visit in Cornwall. And the best part? They’re all within 10 miles of our site. So, if you want to explore what Cornwall has to offer and still be home in time for tea, then this is the list for you.

Bissoe Valley Nature Reserve

Only 2 miles away from our site at The Valley, Bissoe Valley Nature Reserve is a former mine site that boasts beautiful and easy nature walks.

Owned by the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Bissoe Valley is dedicated to creating a Cornwall that is rich in wildlife. Their vision is for people to care about the natural world and help ensure its protection for generations to come.

Being so close to our site, you can have your pick of transportation to the reserve. It’s only a 6-minute drive or 8 minutes to cycle. Or, if you’d prefer to be in the arms of Mother Nature for a little while longer, you can walk to the reserve in just under half an hour.

Trelissick Garden

Only 3 miles away, nestled in the woodlands on the River Fal you’ll find Trelissick House and Garden.

Owned by the National Trust, Trelissick Garden is a scenic estate that’s perfect for woodland and riverside walks. With an onsite gallery, second-hand bookshop and a cafe serving hot and cold food and drinks, it’s easy to feel a world away.

Trelissick Garden is only a 7-minute drive from our site and only 25 minutes to cycle along the B3289.

King Harry Ferry

Just a stone’s throw from our previous attraction of Trelissick Garden, you’ll find The King Harry Ferry.

One of only five chain ferries in the UK, the King Harry Ferry runs seven days a week, all year round. The ferry departs from Feock and crosses the Fal River to Philleigh with a journey time of only 5 minutes. This means you’ll avoid the 27-mile journey through Truro and Tresillian if you’re trying to reach St. Mawes or the Roseland Peninsula.

The ferry runs every twenty minutes and can be used whether you’re in a car, on a bike or even on foot.

Truro Cathedral

With the city of Truro only 4 miles away from our site, it would be absurd for you not to visit Truro Cathedral.

Built between 1880 and 1910, this Gothic Revival style Cathedral soars above the surrounding rooftops. Truly an architectural marvel, the Cathedral sits in the centre of the thriving city of Truro and is within walking distance of various shops, cafes, restaurants and more.

Truro is an 11-minute drive from our site with plenty of parking available throughout the city. Or, you can catch the U1 bus that runs every 30 minutes to and from the city until late at night.

Royal Cornwall Museum

Only 5 miles away from our site and also within the Truro city limits is the Royal Cornish Museum. The museum was founded in 1818 by the Royal Institution of Cornwall who is also responsible for the establishment of the Courtney Library.

The museum is a hub for Cornish culture with exhibits ranging from an extensive collection of minerals from Cornwall’s mining heritage to collections of art and history.

The museum is a 12-minute drive or you can catch the same bus service as you would to see the cathedral. Why not make a day of it and visit both attractions for a real feast of Cornish culture.

Enys Garden

Enys Garden is situated just over 5 miles from our site and features beautiful gardens and woodlands as well as a variety of 20th-century buildings. They even host weekend art exhibitions and have multiple tearooms on site.

Along with gorgeous flower-filled gardens, you can also view the Mansion House which was built in the 1830s. Though mostly only open for the occasional event, the house is available to view in its entirety from the outside.

The onsite cafe holds true to Cornish values, offering a variety of fresh baked goods daily as well as a cream tea served with traditional china. Just make sure you put the jam on first!

Enys Garden is a 14-minute drive from our site or you can enjoy more of the countryside with a half-hour bicycle ride.

Healey’s Cornish Cyder Farm

No matter when you choose to visit, you’ll have an amazing time at Healey’s Cornish Cyder Farm.

Only a 15 minute drive away, this family-run farm has been making award-winning cyders, wines, juices and more for nearly 40 years!

The farm offers a wide range of activities for all seasons. Why not take a guided tour of the farm and see firsthand the journey from orchard to bottle. Or visit the museum to see the history of an award-winning cyder company. You can even have taster sessions where you can sample over 20 different drinks in their range.

Penrose Water Garden

Nestled in a beautiful woodland valley only 9 miles from our site you’ll find the Penrose Water Garden.

Established over twenty years ago, this particular attraction is one of Cornwall’s best-kept secrets. Here, you can see aquatic plants growing in their natural environment as well as view some of the local wildlife who have made Penrose Water Garden their safe haven.

With guided tours around the ponds and the beautiful Lily Tearooms, you’re sure to find something spectacular. There’s even a selection of Cornish crafts available to buy from the shop so you can take a little slice of Cornwall home with you.

Whether you’re stepping out for the first time this year or you just want to see more of what Cornwall has to offer, why not give one of these attractions a go on your next holiday with The Valley.

Image credit: Visit Cornwall

Location Guide: Kennall Vale

December 23rd, 2019

Kennall Vale is located between Redruth and Penryn, and welcomes their thousands of visitors, year after year, thanks to the beautiful woodland, fascinating history and its sterling reputation as a popular dog walking spot. Evidence of its interesting past as a gunpowder factory can still be found today. With the nature reserve being scattered with old granite ruins, it is the perfect blend of natural attraction and industrial heritage, and is a great spot to explore for both those visiting Cornwall for the first time and regular visitors looking for a new adventure.

Visiting

Conveniently located at equal distance between Redruth, Penryn and Truro, our luxury Cornwall cottages are just a short and simple twenty minute drive down the A39. Entry to the woodlands is free and the site is managed by the Cornwall Wildlife Trust. The woodlands is open at all times, but the best time to visit for wildlife, views, and weather is between April and September. That said, visiting during the off season increases the likelihood that you’ll get the place to yourself, enabling you to make the most of the peace and quiet.

The History

Today, the densley wooded valley is a peaceful haven for those hoping to escape the hectic nature of everyday life, providing the opportunity to take a step back, slow down and really appreciate your surroundings. Any noise that does disturb the silence is likely to be the song of a bird or the sound of rushing water in the distance, but that has not always been the case. This site was once host to a gunpowder factory, chosen for its proximity to the River Kennall, as the cascading waters provided a power source, diverted into waterwheels. The woodland was also chosen because of the number of trees already there, alongside the opportunity for the company to plant more trees. At the time, this was done to help towards absorbing a large explosion, but has now created a delightful woodland area for both locals and visitors to enjoy.

To make gunpowder, three core ingredients are required; charcoal, saltpetre and sulphur. They are ground down into a fine powder, which is then compressed, and despite these seemingly simple steps, there were ten stages to the process, all of which took place in a variety of different buildings. The site once consisted of 50 buildings to accommodate such a process, and while many remain, nature is slowly taking over those that are beginning to fade away into the undergrowth. Despite all of those safety precautions, accidents happened. In May, 1838, five mills blew up after one another, with some reports suggesting that the roof of one was found over a mile away. A further explosion happened a few years later and one worker wasn’t so lucky, with body parts strewn across the site.

Exploring

There are a plethora of walking routes and trails to check out during your visit, making this the ideal spot for those that have bought their four-legged friend along with them. On a nice day, take a picnic and find a spot close to the picturesque waterfalls for an atmospheric lunch with a view. The quarry is flooded and features a sheer rock face rising out of the clear water.

Whilst looking around the nature reserve, keep a keen eye out for some rare and unusual wildlife species including the greater horseshoe bat, along side the typical creatures you may expect to call this home. Interestingly, Kennall Vale is also popular with bird-watchers as it is often referred to as the best place in Cornwall to spot dippers.

We hope you’ve enjoyed learning a little more about what awaits you at Kennall Vale and the sorts of things you can look forward to for your next visit to Cornwall. For more information on the best places to visit during your stay at The Valley, check out our blog for location guides, including one on Kynance Cove, and other fantastic pieces on what’s on and around our luxury Cornwall cottages.

Truro set to see the return of Gig on the Green after six years

February 03rd, 2015

Previous visitors who’ve stayed in the luxurious cottages, Cornwall may well have heard of this superbly popular event in Truro in the past, but the popular event Gig on the Green hasn’t been staged for the more than half a decade. Good news though, there will be a welcome return for the gig as it returns to Truro’s Boscawen Park once again this summer.

 

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Head down to Loe Beach Watersports Centre for some family fun!

January 31st, 2015

If you’re heading down to our 5 star Cornwall cottages and you want something to do that’s different, but still great fun and exciting for all ages then why not pay a visit to Loe Beach Watersports Centre?

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