- Beautiful and quiet villages
- Area of outstanding natural beauty
- Take the ferry to Plymouth for a day out
The adjoining villages of Kingsand and Cawsand are the perfect base for the tourist or holiday maker looking for a quiet getaway. The historical fishing villages are unspoilt by time and still retain their colour-washed cottages, narrow streets, pubs, restaurants and shops. There are a good number of friendly pubs in the villages as well as a couple of general stores, galleries and a delicatessen.
Kingsand and Cawsand lie within the boundaries of Mount Edgcumbe Country Park - one of four designated Country Parks in Cornwall. The villages overlook Plymouth Sound and have the River Tamar valley on hand, waiting to be discovered. Looe and Polperro are only a short drive away and both Bodmin Moor and Dartmoor are about a 45 minute drive.
Food and Drink
There are a number of pubs in the villages serving food including The Cross Keys Inn, The Devonport and The Halfway House. The delicatessen, Moran’s, serves good food and coffee. The nearest supermarket is Sainsburys at Torpoint, which is about a 15 minute drive away.
Family Attractions
The beaches and sailing opportunities are a clear draw but there is much to do for those less keen on the ocean waves. In nearby Plymouth - either take the ferry during the summer or drive via the Torpoint ferry (15 minute drive) - are a number of popular venues for families: The Theatre Royal, National Marine Aquarium, and Plymouth Pavilions (including a pool and ice rink). The Eden Project is about a 45 minute drive away.
Shopping
There are 2 general stores in the villages as well as a couple of galleries for those looking to pick up a momento of their stay. Nearby, Looe and Polperro have many shops for holiday buys. A day out in Plymouth provides many opportunities for those looking to do some serious shopping while on holiday, with most major retailers represented.
History and Heritage
Kingsand and Cawsand are ancient villages famed for being the centre of large smuggling rings and a once thriving fishing activity. Inland, the villages of Millbrook, St John, Sheviock and St Germans are all well worth a visit, as is Antony House, the 18th century home of the great Cornish family of Carew, now a National Trust property and a must for nature lovers with its 100 acres of woodland gardens sloping down to the Lynher River and riverside walks to explore.
Other nearby attractions include Lanhydrock and Cotehele (both National Trust) and the Lost Gardens of Heligan.
Beaches
Dogs are allowed all year on Kingsand beach, but are banned on Cawsand from Easter Day to 1st October. A short walk out of the village across the rocks towards Fort Picklecombe, will take you to the lovely swimming beach known as Sandways. Whitsand Bay, very close by, is a lovely 4 mile sandy bay popular with surfers and windsurfers.
Events and Entertainment
Kingsand and Cawsand are quiet villages but the local pubs are always very active! New Year is especially popular with the residents all dressing up in fancy dress for a dip in the sea. Nearby Plymouth has regular events at the Pavilions and Theatre Royal, including top West End productions and famous stars. There are 2 cinemas in Plymouth (Vue Cinema and Reel Cinema)
Activities
Kingsand and Cawsand are perfect for exploring a section of one of England’s best national trails – the South West Coast Path. If you follow it around the coastline, it takes you past Penlee Point and Rame Head, with its 11th century monks' chapel and stunning views to the glorious 4 mile stretch of sand and surf at Whitsand Bay.
For a more active break, why not try sea angling, - bass, wrasse, pollock or mackerel are readily caught from the rocks. Bird watchers might see buzzards circling overhead or cormorants fishing, and the really lucky ones may even glimpse a basking shark or a dolphin out in the bay.
Nearby Whitsand Bay is also popular with beachgoers, surfers, and shore-fisherman.
Golf courses within a short drive include Whitsand Bay (5 miles) and St Mellion (about 12 miles by car).
Travel
For those coming by car either travel through Plymouth from the A38 and take the Torpoint Ferry to the Rame Peninsula or stay on the A38, cross the bridge at Saltash and turn onto the A374 at Trerule Foot.
It is also possible to use public transport to get to Kingsand and Cawsand. Take the train to Plymouth and then catch the bus, which goes via the Torpoint Ferry. Services run hourly through the day (Monday to Saturday) and the journey takes an hour. Check local services for evenings and Sundays, however, as the service is much less frequent.