- Amazing 4 mile beach
- Quiet coastal villages
- Close to Plymouth, Looe and Dartmoor
The long beach at Whitsand Bay, backed by great cliffs, makes an impressive backdrop to a quiet corner of Cornwall. Away from other tourist trap destinations this stretch of coast is a haven for those looking to get away from it all yet is very close to popular attractions such as Looe, Dartmoor and the Eden Project.
Portwrinkle is a small village on the south east coast of Cornwall with a fine view along Whitsand Bay and a history which stretches back to medieval times. Nestled in a steep sided valley running down to the sea, Downderry is an elegant little coastal village, totally uncommercialised, but offering all the amenities you would expect from a traditional Cornish village with its own Church of England church, Methodist chapel, a shop with Post Office, pub, restaurant, coffee shop and a primary school.
Food and Drink
If you enjoy fine dining then the visitors to Portwrinkle will love the award-winning fare at the “Bay Restaurant” in the nearby Whitsand Bay Hotel. Newly renovated, the Finnygook Inn serves very good traditional food. Downderry has 2 food venues, the Inn on the Shore and The Blue Plate restaurant.
Nearby, Looe and Kingsand and Cawsand have a number of restaurants and pubs plus delicatessens for stocking up on local supplies.
Family Attractions
Exploring the beach is the main draw of the area but there is much nearby to tempt the family. Plymouth has theatre and music venues in the Pavilions and Theatre Royal, plus an ice rink and a wonderful aquarium, perfect for a rainy day. The Eden Project is about a 45 minute drive.
Shopping
Both Downderry and Portwrinkle have a village store. The nearest supermarkets are in Torpoint and Looe, both about a 20 minute drive away. Looe provides a large number of tourist-friendly shops and nearby Kingsand has a couple of galleries for art-lovers. For extensive shopping, Plymouth is a short drive and ferry hop away.
History and Heritage
Portwrinkle was traditionally a fishing village and evidence of its past exists in the 17th century walls of the pilchard cellars. Visitors can now experience a part of this history as they have been converted into fantastic eco-friendly self-catering houses with amazing sea views. They are situated just a stone’s throw away from the beach and 50m from the south west coastal path.
Perhaps Downderry’s most famous export is the Lavender grown at Downderry Nursery – which last year won a Gold Medal at the Chelsea Flower Show and another at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. Well worth a visit, the nursery is set in the peaceful beauty of an old walled garden where you can learn from experts about the plant’s history, cultivation and use – a relaxing experience is guaranteed!
Nearby historical places of interest:
- Mount Edgcumbe Park, home of the national camellia collection.
- Cotehele and Antony National Trust Houses.
- Also within a short drive are Lanhydrock and the Lost Gardens of Heligan.
Beach Guide
Whitsand Bay is a beautiful stretch of sand but access down the cliff steps is narrow and steep. There is a lifeguard service from May to September.
Portwrinkle has two sand and shingle beaches, one of which is Finnygook Beach which is popular with experienced surfers plus there are plenty of rock pools for the kids to explore.
Downderry’s beach is part shingle, part sand with numerous rock pools at low tide and dogs are permitted all year. The village and beach offer views of Looe Island to the west and Rame Head to the east and on clear days sight of the Eddystone Lighthouse 8 miles (13 km) to the south.
Events and Entertainment
Nearby Plymouth has theatre and music venues in the Theatre Royal and Pavilions. There are also 2 cinemas. The Eden Project hosts musical performances during the summer. Looe also has a good calendar of events is just a short drive away.
Activities
This area of South East Cornwall is perfect for walkers with South West Coast Path on hand. Also close by is Dartmoor, and Bodmin Moor.
Whitsand Bay is popular with surfers and windsurfers and for those happier to sit down while on the water the Tamar Valley is great for canoeing.
Golfers staying in Portwrinkle will not be disappointed, with the spectacular cliff-top “Crafthole” golf course bordering the village and a host of other golf courses in the area including the renowned St Mellion Golf Club near Saltash, and a club at Looe.
Travel
By car follow the A38 pas Plymouth and over the Tamar Bridge and then onto the A374 at Trerule Foot.
For public transport the nearest mainline station is Plymouth. Both Downderry and Portwrinkle are served by buses from Plymouth, though they are not particularly frequent.