Fowey, Cornwall is a charming town along the South Cornish Coast. Overlooking the harbor you can see views of the many boats and yachts as well as the small village of Polruan across the harbor. The main street, or Fore St., has a number of boutique hotels, galleries, shops, bakeries selling the famed Cornish pasties, pubs and restaurants.
Where to Stay in Fowey
Old Quay House: Located at 38 Fore St., this is a small, eleven room, boutique hotel overlooking the harbor. It is a great spot from which to explore Fowey and the surrounding area. Their restaurant is excellent and is one of the best in town. It is perfect for breakfast in the morning overlooking the boat harbor. In the evening they offer a two or three course menu featuring some very creative dishes. It is popular and not large, so book early.
Fowey Harbour Hotel: Further up the hill from the harbor is the Fowey Harbour Hotel with nice views. This is a boutique hotel with 37 rooms, bar and Spinnakers Restaurant. You might enjoy afternoon tea overlooking the harbor.
Fowey Hall: Still higher up is the lovely Fowey Hall. This is a larger, family friendly hotel. It is believed to be the inspiration for Toad Hall in the novel, The Wind in the Willows by author Kenneth Grahame, a frequent visitor to the former family mansion. They have a lovely restaurant, bar, serve afternoon tea and have a pool and spa. I was there for a wedding and most of the wedding party stayed there and all events were hosted there. The staff is friendly and helpful. If you want a quieter stay, you might book during the week or at times when there would not be as many families at the hotel.
Where to Eat
The Dwelling House, at 6 Fore St., is the perfect spot for a Cornish Cream Tea featuring their homemade scones. It is a charming B&B with two tea rooms on the lower level.
Make sure to stop in at the The Ship Inn built in 1570 and is Fowey’s oldest pub. They feature local produce and seafood plus Cornish ales. There are hotel rooms upstairs as well.
Sams: At 20 Fore St., this is a colorful, casual restaurant on the main shopping street in town located in a twelfth century merchant’s house. I enjoyed a fun lunch with friends where they have a number of soups, salads and burgers. Local friends also recommend Sams on the Beach, under the same ownership, in Polkerris with great views.
Old Quay House: Located at 38 Fore St.,their restaurant is excellent and is one of the best in town. It is perfect for breakfast in the morning overlooking the boat harbor. In the evening they offer a two or three course menu featuring some very creative dishes. It is popular and not large, so book early.
What to Do in Fowey
Nearby there are local beaches, coastal walks both short and long, golf, horseback riding, and gardens to explore. The train station in Par is a 4 mile drive where you can take trains west to Penzance and St. Ives.
Polruan is an ancient fishing village with a strong boat-building heritage. You can reach it by ferry from Fowey. The ferry takes around 5 minutes and runs every half hour. Here you will find winding steps, alleys and passageways along the steep hillside village. Crumpets Tea Shop is a fun for a spot of tea and The Lugger Inn is a recommended pub with an emphasis on seafood.
You can also take the Ferry to Mevagissey, a small village with shops, galleries, pubs, restaurants, walks and beaches. The popular Lost Gardens of Heligan are nearby with 200 acres to explore plus the Heligan Kitchen & Bakery for dining or a traditional Cornish cream tea.
In addition to the Lost Gardens of Heligan, there are a number of other gardens and homes to explore in Cornwall. The 15 acre Trewidden Garden is also popular. Check out the website for Great Gardens of Cornwall and National Gardens Scheme to see lists and maps.