20 Attractions to Explore Near Towan Beach

St Mawes Castle is a four-story artillery fort, like its counterpart across the bay, and was built in the 1540s as part of the largest national coastal defence programme since the Roman era. It stands solidly above the rocky coast, once a deterrent to hostile ships that might have sought to venture up the river passage. The castle continued in use as a fort through the 18th and 19th centuries.

Pendennis is one of Henry VIII's finest seaside castles. And despite its peaceful setting, it has a rich and poignant history. The castle has defended Cornwall since Tudor times and played a vital role protecting the coast during the two World Wars. The heritage agency Historic England considers Pendennis to be "one of the finest examples of a post-medieval defensive promontory fort in the country.

National Maritime Museum Cornwall is an independent museum celebrating the influence of the sea on history and culture and telling the story of Cornwall’s incredible maritime heritage. National Maritime Museum Cornwall is an independent museum celebrating the influence of the sea on history and culture and telling the story of Cornwall’s incredible maritime heritage. Its mission is to promote an understanding of boats and their place in people's lives, and of the maritime heritage of Cornwall.

Gyllyngvase Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Cornwall, a Blue Flag status beach, with its wide arc of golden sand and inviting sea. Great amenities, with award-winning cafe, yet still only a 15 minute walk away from Falmouth town center. It is a popular year-round sea swimming spot and it also offers paddleboarding, coasteering, snorkeling, kayaking, and more, right off the beach.

Falmouth Art Gallery is one of the leading art galleries in the South West. Its collection features works by major artists including Frank Brangwyn, Edward Burne-Jones, Charles Napier Hemy, Alfred Munnings and Henry Scott Tuke. The gallery has an exciting temporary exhibition programme. Works from the collection are shown alongside loans from national galleries and Cornish artists.

The National Trust's Trelissick, Cornwall, is a house and garden set in an estate with extraordinary maritime views. It was positioned in one of the most spectacular locations with stunning views looking over the Fal River and towards Falmouth, all within easy reach of Truro . Home to the Copeland family up until 2012, the original house dates back to the 1750s and is now open to the public.

Glendurgan Garden is a National Trust property in Cornwall, England. The garden was created in the early 19th century by Alfred Fox, who planted a variety of jungle plants from South America. Today, the garden features a wide variety of plants, as well as a maze made out of cherry laurel. Glendurgan Garden is a beautiful and tranquil place, and it is well worth a visit if you are ever in Cornwall.

Trebah Garden is a sub-tropical paradise with a stunning coastal backdrop. One of the Great Gardens of Cornwall and rated among the 80 finest gardens in England. The garden was planted by Charles Fox in 1831 and has been compared to a Himalayan valley - a description which it deserves more than any other place in England.

Truro Cathedral was the first 'new' cathedral to be built in Britain for 800 years since Salisbury Cathedral was started in 1220. It is built in the Gothic Revival architectural style fashionable during much of the nineteenth century. It is located in Cornwall's only city, Truro, one of the smallest in the United Kingdom. The cathedral is one of only three cathedrals in the United Kingdom with three spires - the classic pointed arches of the gothic style have been adapted.

The Royal Cornwall Museum in Truro holds an extensive mineral collection rooted in Cornwall's mining and engineering heritage. The museum holds an internationally renowned mineral collection rooted in Cornwall’s mining and engineering heritage. With over 300,000 heritage objects in the care of the Royal Cornwall Museum, there is plenty to keep you enthralled during your visit.

Caerhays Estate is set on the quiet coast of Cornwall near St Austell. The gardens and castle are open to the public in the spring. The house was designed by John Nash in 1805 and the garden took on its present form after 1896. Experience the timeless magic of Cornwall’s castle by the sea. The gardens and castle are open to the public from mid-Feburary to mid-June.

The Cornish Seal Sanctuary is a sanctuary for injured seal pups, and is owned by The SEA LIFE Trust. The centre is on the banks of the Helford River in Cornwall, England, UK, next to the village of Gweek. The origins of the seal sanctuary go back to 1958 when the founder, Ken Jones, discovered a baby seal washed up on the beach near his home at St Agnes.

Poldark Mine is the only complete tin mine in Cornwall open for underground guided tours and is generally regarded as one of the most historic locations in the annals of Cornish Mining History. The mine is on several levels and the guided tours by experienced Cornishmen receive many accolades for their unvarnished presentation and the real atmosphere in the mine itself. Its features include underground guided tours through ancient tin mine workings, a museum of industrial heritage.

The Lost Gardens of Heligan belonged to the Tremayne estate evolving and becoming more extravagant with each passing generation. One head of the household inspired the jungle gardens, while another requested that giant rhododendrons be cultivated. The gardens include aged and colossal rhododendrons and camellias, a series of lakes fed by a ram pump over 100 years old, highly productive flower and vegetable gardens, an Italian garden, and a wild area filled with subtropical tree ferns called "The

Healey's Cornish Cyder Farm is a small independent family-run business in Penhallow. It produces and sells its own cider, brandy, whisky, gin, eau de vie, country fruit wines and apple juice. In addition, the farm produces traditional scrumpy cider, reserve and classic cider, with the latter made in second hand oak whisky barrels. The farm also produces jams, marmalades, sauces, chutneys, a pickle and a mustard.

Flambards Theme Park in Helston, Cornwall is a great family day out with plenty of great things to do. The theme park itself boasts the best thrill rides in Cornwall with its famous Hornet Roller coaster, Canon River Log Flume, mighty Thunderbolt and amazing Extreme Force. The Victorian Village Experience is a fantastic full size reconstruction of a typical Victorian Village with 50 shops and homes to wonder around you can really experience how life would have been.

A beautiful beach that was located on the more sheltered eastern side of the Lizard Peninsula, not far from the tip. It was covered with masses of sand , a stream and rock pools a plenty kids love Kennack Sands. The beach to the east is designated as a nature reserve so please treat it with respect, it can be reached via the footpath that runs along the back of the beach and over Carn Kennack.

Loe Beach is a half-mile shingle bank that separates the Loe, the largest natural freshwater lake in Cornwall, from the sea. The fishhook-shaped Loe lies at the heart of Penrose Estate, a bucolic, National Trust–managed park perched atop Lizard Peninsula, mainland Britain’s most southerly point. It is within the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is considered a classic Geological Conservation Review Site.

A dramatic cove set in a mining valley between high cliffs. Chapel Porth is managed by the National Trust who run the car park and the small cafe here. The cliffs here are home to what is probably Cornwall’s most iconic old mining ruins,Wheal Coates.

Lappa Valley is the only attraction in Cornwall that transports families on an exciting nostalgic steam train ride into a secret world of traditional fun. This hidden valley includes a boating lake with canoes and pedalo boats, crazy golf, a brick path maze, a woodland walk and several childrens’ play areas.