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a Picturesque Village in the county of Cornwall

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About Fowey

The picturesque harbour town of Fowey has a history as colourful as some of the pretty boats sailing in and out of its waters. For centuries the town has operated as a port, shipping amongst other goods, china clay. It is also a town with an illustrious sea-faring history. In medieval times, stirring deeds earned its sailors the delightful nickname 'Fowey Gallants' and, it is from here that Drake, Raleigh and Frobisher all sailed. Fowey's literary connections include Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch who lived in a house on the Esplanade from 1892 until his death in 1944. The writer Daphne du Maurier was a well known figure in the town and many local places feature in her books. Kenneth Grahame, author of Wind in the Willows visited Fowey, doubtless he too drew inspiration from the beautiful scenery and fabulous Cornish light which has been the inspiration of artists for centuries.

Set around the estuary of the River Fowey, the town is indeed evocative of Carew's words, with many arms embracing the gentle rise and fall of the wooded hillside along which Fowey developed. It is a bustling town which offers an amazing variety to visitors. It is a joy to wander around the harbour where a happy holiday atmosphere pervades as people jostle for position down narrow lanes crammed with a mix-match of traditional Cornish properties, shops, pubs and restaurants. In the 18th-century, these tumbling lanes are said to have been the haunt of smugglers, certainly they were inhabited by fishermen for there are still many glorious colour-washed stone 'fishermen's' cottages to be seen, some now converted to comfortable weekend homes and holiday cottages.

Of the noted buildings to be seen St. Fimbarrus Church was founded in the 6th-century and is well worth seeing, and The Place has been the home of the Treffry family of well over six centuries.

You can take your pick of places with romantic sounding names linked around the Fowey river. Lostwithiel, Golant, Lerryn, Bodinnick and Polruan at the tip of the estuary, all have something to tempt including a few miles along, at Lostwithiel, the romantic ruins of Restormel Castle. Seaward there is magnificent Gribbin Head, du Maurier's Menabilly and Polkerris.

Worth mentioning is the fact that many places along the estuary are linked either by ferry or by a lovely scenic walk. On the Hall Walk you pass the spot where an attempt was made on the life of King Charles I, and the ruins of St. Catherine's castle can be reached via a picturesque woodland walk.

There is not much to beat the glorious sight of the English coast when viewed at distance from the sea, so why not take advantage of a sea fishing trip or enjoy a cruise along the River Fowey. However, for those who prefer 'terra-firma' there is the pleasure of sitting on the quayside, sipping a drink whilst the setting sun changes the Fowey sea from infinite shades of blue to gold.

Planning a visit? Please see below for other recommended towns, attractions and recommended hotels nearby.

Distances and directions below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Fowey

Readymoney Cove	(0.6 miles, 1.0 km)	Pictures
St. Catherine's Castle	(0.8 miles, 1.3 km)	Pictures
Model Village & Land of Legend	(5.0 miles, 8.1 km, direction E)	Pictures
The Eden Project	(5.1 miles, 8.2 km, direction W)	Pictures
Pine Lodge Gardens	(5.1 miles, 8.2 km, direction W)	Pictures
Restormel Castle	(5.1 miles, 8.2 km, direction N)	Pictures
Porfell Animal Land	(5.7 miles, 9.1 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Lanhydrock House	(7.9 miles, 12.7 km, direction N)	Pictures
Mevagissey Museum	(8.1 miles, 13.0 km, direction SW)	Pictures
The Old Guildhall and Gaol	(8.1 miles, 13.1 km, direction E)	Pictures
World of Model Railways	(8.2 miles, 13.2 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Lost Gardens of Heligan	(8.7 miles, 13.9 km, direction W)	Pictures
Bodmin & Wenford Railway	(9.7 miles, 15.6 km, direction N)	Pictures
The Monkey Sanctuary	(9.9 miles, 16.0 km, direction E)	Pictures
The Shire Hall	(10.0 miles, 16.1 km, direction N)	Pictures

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Recommended towns near Fowey

Polruan, a Picturesque Village in the county of Cornwall (0.7 miles, 1.1 km)
A holiday resort of considerable merit and charm.
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Polkerris, a Picturesque Village in the county of Cornwall (2.1 miles, 3.4 km, direction W)
Polkerris in St.Austell's Bay has a lovely sandy beach backed by a cluster of cottages built haphazardly along a narrow village street leading towards the wooded hills and cliffs which give shelter to this enchanting little cove.
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Polperro, a Picturesque Village in the county of Cornwall (4.9 miles, 7.8 km, direction E)
Jagged rocks rise as if to guard the entrance to the picturesque harbour of this enchanting fishing village which has for decades been a magnet for tourists and a mecca for artists from all over England.
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Lostwithiel, in the county of Cornwall (5.2 miles, 8.4 km, direction N)
Lostwithiel, once the 13th-century capital of Cornwall and lively centre of the tin trade, sits on the River Fowey in the heart of the Fowey Valley.
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Charlestown, in the county of Cornwall (5.5 miles, 8.9 km, direction W)
This lovely little port hugs the rugged south Cornish coast overlooking picturesque St. Austell Bay.
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St Austell, in the county of Cornwall (6.8 miles, 10.9 km, direction W)
One of the blessings of St. Austell, is its parish church, a glorious structure that has a beautiful carved 15th-century tower built of local yellow stone.
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Pentewan, in the county of Cornwall (7.2 miles, 11.7 km, direction SW)
Set amidst enchanting countryside, Pentewan has caravan and camping sites making it a popular resort for families. It has a fine sandy beach which is ideal for beach-games, swimming, fishing and other watersports.
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Looe, a Picturesque Village in the county of Cornwall (8.2 miles, 13.2 km, direction E)
In far off medieval times both East and West Looe were granted a charter and each retained its own identity for several centuries.
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Mevagissey, a Picturesque Village in the county of Cornwall (8.3 miles, 13.3 km, direction SW)
One of a ribbon of picturesque fishing villages dotting the fabled Cornish coastline. Mevagissey has ancient buildings flanking...
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Millendreath, in the county of Cornwall (9.4 miles, 15.1 km, direction E)
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Gorran Haven, a Picturesque Village in the county of Cornwall (9.6 miles, 15.5 km, direction SW)
Historically, this beautiful location is said to be the place where Sir Henry Treworth of Bodruggan spurred his horse over the cliffs in 1485.
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Bodmin, in the county of Cornwall (9.9 miles, 15.9 km, direction N)
Historically fascinating and naturally beautiful, this area of North Cornwall has so much to offer. Equidistant from both the...
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Boswinger, in the county of Cornwall (10.9 miles, 17.5 km, direction SW)
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Portloe, a Picturesque Village in the county of Cornwall (13.9 miles, 22.4 km, direction SW)
"One of the least spoiled and most impressive of Cornish fishing villages" - Sir John Betjeman (famous poet 1906-1984)
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Veryan, in the county of Cornwall (15.1 miles, 24.3 km, direction SW)
Popular Cornish resort in the heart of the beautiful Roseland peninsula, Veryan is a place of strong Cornish traditions which offers it's visitors a genuine welcome.
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Nearby travel help

Par Station	(3.5 miles, 5.7 km, direction NW)
Lostwithiel Station	(5.0 miles, 8.1 km, direction N)
Newquay (Cornwall) Airport	(17.9 miles, 28.8 km, direction NW)
Plymouth City Airport	(23.9 miles, 38.5 km, direction E)
M5 Junction 31	(54.8 miles, 88.1 km, direction NE)
M5 Junction 30	(57.8 miles, 93.1 km, direction NE)
Fowey to London	(212.9 miles, 342.6 km, direction E)

Hotels & Accommodation in Fowey

Hotel Name	Approximate distance from Fowey center
Old Quay House Hotel	(0.0 miles, 0.0 km)
The Fowey Hotel	(0.3 miles, 0.5 km)
The Carlyon Bay Hotel	(4.6 miles, 7.5 km, direction W)
Cliff Head Hotel	(4.7 miles, 7.6 km, direction W)
Porth Avallen Hotel	(5.0 miles, 8.0 km, direction W)
Best Western The Restormel Lodge Hotel	(5.1 miles, 8.2 km, direction N)
Wisteria Lodge	(5.1 miles, 8.2 km, direction W)
Lostwithiel Hotel Golf & Country Club	(5.5 miles, 8.9 km, direction N)
Fieldhead Hotel & Horizons Restaurant	(8.1 miles, 13.0 km, direction E)
Lanhydrock Hotel & Golf Club	(8.4 miles, 13.5 km, direction N)
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