Why Fowey May be the Best Town to Visit in Cornwall
Fowey, the best town to visit in Cornwall?
On our last trip to Europe, we broke up our big city stays with a 5-night stay in Cornwall, the southwest tip of England. My mom fell in love with Cornwall many years ago, and after several visits, she wanted to experience it with us. What we found was a place so beautiful and peaceful that it seems stuck in time, far away from the busyness of modern life and messiness of today’s world. Here’s a look at our time in this beautiful part of England, including what we think is the best town to visit in Cornwall:
Why visit Fowey in Cornwall
Fowey (pronounced “Foy”) may be best town to visit in Cornwall. It is a small town of about 2300 people located on the water in the southern part of Cornwall. Visiting Fowey is like being in a postcard. From the water to the cliffs to the beautiful architecture, Fowey is a truly beautiful place. Despite its small size, there’s plenty to do here.
Fowey offers a wide range of activities:
- historical sites including , including the ruins of the 16th century St. Catherine’s Castle and the Church of St. Fimbarrus
- quaint shops and galleries on Fore Street
- Fowey Museum to learn about this history in one of the oldest buildings in town
- water activities including boat trips, kayaking, and fishing
- walking and hiking on the Coastal Trail and the Hall Walk (see here for guided walks and more)
- beautiful beaches including Readymoney Cove in Fowey and nearby Polkerris Beach and Lantic Bay
- nearby gardens including the Eden Project and the Lost Gardens of Heligan (accessible by boat, bus or car)
- nearby villages of Polruan, Bodinnick, and Lanteglos
And Fowey has enough shops, cafes, and restaurants whether you’re visiting this town in Cornwall for the day or staying for a while.
Polruan: the best village to visit in Cornwall?
Just across the River Fowey estuary is the picturesque village of Polruan with only about 535 residents. The two towns are linked by a small ferry that runs frequently and takes just a few minutes. It costs about $3 per adult and can be easily found at the waterfront.
Like Fowey, Polruan is situated on the water, backing up to coastal cliffs on the English Channel. The coastal trail is an easy walk from town with miles and miles of good hiking trails with stunning views.
Polruan is not just a quaint fishing village; it also has deep history. Its location at the mouth of the River Fowey made it a strategic harbor and shipbuilding center dating back to medieval times. Polruan’s narrow lanes and charming cottages housed fishermen, sailors, and boatbuilders, but the village also played a defensive role.
The Blockhouse and the ruins of St. Saviour’s Chapel, dating back to the 14th century, are reminders of these once important lookouts for pirates and invaders.
The Hall Walk
A main reason that Fowey may be the best town to visit in Cornwall is the Hall Walk. This is a 4-mile hike of moderate difficulty and takes about 2-2.5 hours to complete. The trail circles the hills that connect Fowey to Bodinnick, to the National Trust farmhouse of Pont Pill, and to Polruan. The walk includes beautiful views of Fowey and Polruan as well as the River Fowey and Fowey Harbor.
Like much of Cornwall, the best thing to do in this area is to spend time outdoors taking in the stunning natural beauty. The nearby trails and sweeping views of the English Channel make Fowey (and Polruan) a pick for the best town to visit in Cornwall. 
What about tourists in Cornwall?
Fowey is not a secret. Some people already think that it may be the best town to visit in Cornwall, so it can be quite touristy during summer months. We were there in late June and saw a lot of other tourists but never felt that it was unbearable.
Polruan, on the other hand, is much less known despite its stunning location across from Fowey and on the English Channel. Because it is so small, it also has far fewer services, but the two towns are so close that you can easily hop from one to the other.
Read more: Slow Travel Itinerary for Scotland
Have you been to Cornwall? What do you think is the best town to visit in Cornwall?
Love this post so much, Jenna! I agree that it is easy to feel one is back in time when visiting this part of Cornwall. The great historical novelist, Daphne DuMaurier, lived near Fowey all her adult life and she felt it was magical. I do too!
Fowey’s charm lies in its perfect blend of coastal beauty and historic character—you really feel like you’ve stepped into a postcard. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to slow down and soak in every detail.