Poldark
Get a glimpse of Poldark locations, both from the original books and the TV productions, with a quick self-drive, one day tour taking in both the south and north Cornish coasts.
Morning
Starting at the iconic and historic port of Charlestown, near St Austell you will immediately be transported to the Cornwall of yesteryear. Take a walk around the harbour and visualise Verity Poldark boarding Captain Andrew Blamey’s packet ship.
Find Capt. Blamey’s cottage overlooking the port. Walk the breakwater where Ross consulted with the merchants and wander down onto Charlestown beach which has recently doubled as St Mary’s on the Isles of Scilly.
Charlestown has been used as both Truro and Falmouth and also featured in the opening title sequence of Poldark.
There are excellent restaurants, pubs and cafes surrounding the harbour and a central car park that allows for easy access. Allow an hour to have a wander around and perhaps visit a coffee stop.
Morning continued:
Cross Cornwall from the south to north coast heading for stunning Holywell Bay beach, home to the iconic twin peaked Gull Rock. Many Poldark beach scenes have been filmed here including encounters between Dwight Enys and Caroline Penvenen.
Geographically, Holywell Bay is the closest beach to the Hendrawna Beach of Winston Graham’s novels which is in fact Perranporth a few miles further west.
Lunch
Perranporth with its small but bustling town centre is a good place to stop for lunch. Pick up a Cornish pasty from one of many bakeries and eat it with a view of the ocean from the Winston Graham memorial beach nestled amongst the dunes.
Graham once had a writing chalet here and dreamed up Poldark gazing out to sea. Many locations from across Perranporth crop up in his novels, most noticeably Wheal Leisure mine which was central to mining life in the area in the 16th Century. The dumps of this mine which inspired the name of Ross Poldark’s fictional Wheal Leisure now lie under the Wheal Leisure car park!
Afternoon
From Perranporth strike out on the South West Coast Path and walk a breathtaking 3.5 mile stretch of Cornish mining heritage coast to St Agnes. As well as secluded smuggling coves you will see the heavily mined Cligga Head and on a challenging valley ascent, Blue Hills, the last tin stream works in Cornwall.
Once on the top of the cliffs, the village of St Agnes with its numerous engine house chimneys lies before you. The ore from these mines was once taken to the Trevaunance Cove harbour for export. All that remains of the harbour are the granite blocks at the foot of the cliffs.
After a well-earned coffee in Trevaunance Cove retrace your footsteps to Perranporth or wander in St Agnes and get the bus to your start location.
Your weekly dose of Cornish cheer!
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