One-Week Cornwall Gardens, Beaches and Coastal Walks Itinerary

Afternoon — Eden Project

After arriving near Bodelva, make Eden Project your main first stop. Allow around four hours, including time to explore both enormous biomes, the rainforest humidity, and the outdoor gardens around the crater. In September, the site is usually open from around 9:30am until 6pm, but check the official calendar and book timed admission before travelling; adult tickets are typically in the £35–£40 range, with online prices often better. The main car park is free, though allow a little time to walk or take the shuttle from the parking areas to the entrance. Comfortable shoes and a light layer are useful—the Rainforest Biome is warm and humid, while the outdoor paths can feel breezy.

Lunch — Eden Project Mediterranean Biome Café

Have an unhurried lunch or coffee at the Eden Project Mediterranean Biome Café, which is the easiest option on an arrival day and saves you from moving the car. Budget roughly £10–£20 per person. If you are travelling with a dog, check the current access rules: dogs generally cannot enter the biomes or indoor café areas, although assistance dogs have different provisions and outdoor areas may have designated arrangements. After lunch, leave enough time for the quieter outdoor viewpoints and planting displays rather than trying to see every corner.

Late Afternoon and Sunset — Par Beach

Drive about 10–15 minutes to Par Beach for a gentle first walk beside the broad sweep of sand. Parking is close to the beach and usually chargeable; September evenings are much quieter than high summer, but check local signage for seasonal hours and dog restrictions. This is a good place to slow the pace, especially around sunset, when the estuary and dunes take on warm light. Keep an eye on the tide and avoid leaving valuables in the car while walking.

Evening — The Rashleigh Arms, Charlestown

Finish at The Rashleigh Arms in Charlestown, roughly 10 minutes by car from Par Beach. The historic harbour is particularly atmospheric after the day-trippers have gone, and the restaurant’s seafood-led menu makes it a fitting Cornwall welcome dinner; allow around £25–£45 per person. Reserve ahead for a September Saturday, especially if you want a harbour-facing table. Parking in Charlestown can be limited, so arrive a little early and use the signed public car park rather than relying on spaces directly beside the harbour.

Morning — The Lost Gardens of Heligan

Arrive at The Lost Gardens of Heligan shortly after opening, ideally around 9:30am, and give yourself roughly four hours rather than trying to rush every corner. Start with the restored formal gardens, then follow the paths into The Jungle, where the giant gunnera, bamboo and raised walkways feel much more atmospheric in the morning mist. Continue through the woodland trails and The Hide, allowing time for the quieter corners as well as the headline sights. Tickets are typically around £25–35 per adult, with dogs welcome in many outdoor areas on leads; check the garden’s September opening hours and book ahead, particularly for a Sunday. Wear shoes that can cope with mud, as some paths become slippery after rain.

Lunch — The Steward’s House Café

Stay on site for lunch at The Steward’s House Café, which is the easiest and most pleasant option rather than moving the car. Allow about an hour for a garden lunch or cream tea, with meals and drinks generally costing around £12–25 per person. It is worth checking whether outdoor seating is available if you have a dog, and keeping a little flexibility here—Heligan is the sort of place where you will probably spend longer than planned browsing the plantings and woodland edges.

Afternoon — Pentewan Beach

After lunch, drive the short distance to Pentewan Beach for an easy change of scenery and a gentle coastal stroll of about 90 minutes. The broad sandy beach is backed by dunes and is much more relaxed than the better-known surfing beaches farther north. September dog restrictions may still apply during daytime hours, so check the local signs before letting your dog off lead; a lead is sensible around the access paths and any busier sections. The beach can be reached by the narrow village roads, with parking near the seafront usually chargeable and spaces more readily available later in the afternoon.

Evening — The Kingswood Bar & Restaurant

Finish at The Kingswood Bar & Restaurant at Tregrehan, a short drive towards St Austell. Book ahead for dinner, especially on a Sunday, and expect around £25–40 per person for a relaxed meal and drinks. It is a good place to keep the evening unhurried after the garden walking—allow roughly 90 minutes, and check the closing time before setting out from Pentewan Beach, as rural Cornwall restaurants can run shorter services outside peak summer.

Morning — Readymoney Cove and Fowey Harbour

Start at Readymoney Cove, a sheltered little beach just south of Fowey. Arrive around 9:15am, when it is generally peaceful, and spend about an hour following the shoreline path towards St Catherine’s Point before returning to the cove. There is limited parking nearby, so use the signed car park in Fowey and walk down Readymoney Road; the approach is steep in places. Dogs are usually welcome on the beach outside the main seasonal restrictions, but check the local signs. From the cove, walk uphill and into Fowey Harbour in roughly 15 minutes, allowing time to browse the narrow streets around Fore Street, watch the boats and look across the River Fowey.

Lunch — Brown Sugar

Stop at Brown Sugar in central Fowey for lunch and coffee, budgeting around £15–25 per person. It is a useful early lunch stop before the longer coastal walk, and arriving around 11:45am should help you avoid the busiest period. Allow an hour, then pick up water and any snacks you need in town. Much of Fowey is hilly and pavements are narrow, so comfortable shoes are more useful than trying to navigate with a large car; if driving, leave the vehicle in the main town car park rather than attempting the steep central lanes.

Afternoon — St Catherine’s Castle and Polruan Quay

From Fowey, follow the signed woodland route towards St Catherine’s Castle, a small National Trust coastal fort reached by a pleasant path above the estuary. Allow around two hours for the walk there, exploring the fort and returning at an unhurried pace; sections can be muddy after rain, and there are no facilities at the castle, so take water. Finish at Polruan Quay by taking the short passenger ferry from Fowey across the river—services are frequent in the daytime but are weather- and season-dependent, so check the day’s timetable before setting out. Spend an hour wandering the harbour and waterfront, then return by ferry before the final service; if the crossing has stopped, the practical fallback is a taxi or a long road journey via Lostwithiel rather than trying to walk around the estuary.

Morning — Lanhydrock

Set off from Fowey around 8:30am for the 35–45-minute drive to Lanhydrock, approaching via the A3082, A390 and A30. The estate has ample visitor parking, but arrive near opening time for an easier start and quieter rooms. Allow about four hours to tour the Victorian house, explore the formal gardens and wander into the surrounding parkland; September is especially good for the woodland colour and softer light. Check the National Trust website for the exact 2026 opening hours and admission—non-members should expect roughly £15–£25, with parking normally included or free for visitors.

Lunch — The Lanhydrock Kitchen

Have lunch at The Lanhydrock Kitchen, conveniently close to the house and gardens, before leaving the estate. Allow about an hour for a relaxed meal, with sandwiches, soups, cakes and hot dishes generally working out at around £12–£25 per person. It is worth carrying water and a light layer: even on a bright day, the estate’s wooded paths can feel cool, and some parkland trails are muddy after rain.

Afternoon — Cardinham Woods

Drive roughly 10–15 minutes north to Cardinham Woods, where the riverside woodland trails make a good change of pace after the formal estate. Give yourself around two hours for an easy dog-friendly walk beside the River Fowey, following the marked paths rather than trying to cover every trail. Parking is usually pay-and-display, and facilities are limited, so bring water, dog towels and sturdy shoes. After the walk, continue into Bodmin for dinner at The Borough Arms, a traditional town-centre pub with hearty British dishes and local ales. Book ahead if visiting on a Wednesday evening; budget around £20–£35 per person and allow about 1½ hours.

Morning — Polzeath Beach

Arrive at Polzeath Beach around 9:00am, when parking is easier and the sand is still relatively quiet. The main car park is close to the beach, though September spaces can fill quickly on sunny days; expect roughly £2–£5 for several hours. Spend about two hours on the broad sand and the easy shoreline paths, checking the tide before letting your dog run freely—restrictions can apply during the busier summer period, so follow the signs on the beach. Bring a lead for the short road sections and cliff edges.

Late Morning — The Rumps

From Polzeath Beach, drive or walk via Pentireglaze Haven towards the National Trust car park at Pentire Head—allow around 10 minutes by car, with limited spaces and a small honesty-box or National Trust parking charge depending on the current arrangement. Follow the headland path out to The Rumps, allowing roughly 2½ hours for the return walk. This is one of the finest stretches of the north Cornish coast: exposed grassland, seabird-filled cliffs and wide views towards Pentire Point and Puffin Island. Wear proper shoes, as the path becomes uneven and muddy after rain, and keep dogs close near the cliff tops.

Lunch and Afternoon — The Oystercatcher and Daymer Bay

Return to Polzeath for lunch at The Oystercatcher, a relaxed pub a short drive from the beach. Budget about £15–£30 per person, and check opening times or book ahead for a table, particularly if the weather turns wet. Afterwards, drive around 15 minutes through Rock to Daymer Bay, where the large sandy beach and dunes make a gentler final walk. It is an especially good dog-friendly stop, with lovely views across the Camel Estuary towards Padstow; allow about 1½ hours and check the tide, as the beach changes dramatically as the water comes in.

Evening — The Mariners Arms

Finish at The Mariners Arms in Rock, only a few minutes from Daymer Bay. Reserve if possible and ask for an estuary-facing table; dinner typically costs around £30–£50 per person. This is a good place to linger over a drink as the light softens across the water. If you have driven via the Black Tor Ferry, confirm its operating times before dinner—otherwise return via the road route around Wadebridge, allowing roughly 45–60 minutes back towards Bodmin.

Morning — Tintagel Castle

Leave Polzeath around 8:30am for the drive to Tintagel, allowing roughly 30–35 minutes via the B3314 and B3263. The main English Heritage car park is in the village, a short walk from the castle entrance; it can fill on bright September mornings, so arriving around 9:00am is worthwhile. Allow about 2½ hours for Tintagel Castle, including the steep approach, the footbridge to the island ruins and the clifftop viewpoints. Wear proper walking shoes—the steps are uneven, and the wind can be strong even on a sunny day. Check timed-entry availability and admission prices before setting out; English Heritage membership may be useful if you visit several properties.

Late Morning and Lunch — Tintagel Old Post Office and The Cornish Bakery

Return into Tintagel village for Tintagel Old Post Office, a compact National Trust property housed in a wonderfully crooked medieval building. An hour is enough to see the interior and understand its later Victorian post-office history, though opening hours can vary at the end of the season. Then stop at The Cornish Bakery nearby for a pasty, coffee or something sweet—budget around £8–15 per person and allow 45 minutes. It is an easy, unfussy lunch before heading back out onto the coast; consider buying an extra drink for the afternoon, as the next walk has limited facilities.

Afternoon — Rocky Valley and Bossiney Cove

Drive a few minutes east to Rocky Valley, where a wooded path follows the stream through a narrow, atmospheric gorge towards the sea. Allow about 1½ hours, taking care on damp rocks and muddy sections; the route is beautiful but not especially suitable for pushchairs or dogs that struggle with uneven ground. Finish at Bossiney Cove, reached by a steep path from the nearby parking area. Spend around an hour on the shore and coastal path, checking the tide before descending: the beach is much more enjoyable at low tide, and there are no reliable facilities, so bring water and avoid swimming unless conditions are clearly calm. Expect to return to Tintagel in the late afternoon, with time for a relaxed drink or an early dinner in the village rather than trying to add another major sight.

Morning — Tregrehan Garden

Begin at Tregrehan Garden, a short drive from St Austell, arriving around 10:00am. This privately owned subtropical garden is a lovely change of pace after the busier National Trust and heritage sites: allow about two hours for the woodland paths, magnolias, palms and unusual plants tucked around the historic estate. Opening days and hours can be more limited than at larger attractions, so check the garden’s latest visitor information before setting out; admission is typically around £10–£15, with uneven paths and some muddy sections after rain.

Drive roughly 10 minutes to Charlestown Harbour and spend an hour wandering the Georgian quays. The harbour is compact, so there is no need to over-plan: look out for the historic square-rigged ships, film locations and the small lanes rising behind the waterfront. Parking can be tight in the village, particularly around lunchtime, so use the main paid car park rather than trying to squeeze into the harbour-side streets. From there, it is an easy walk to The Longstore, where a seafood lunch is a fitting final Cornish meal; budget around £25–£45 per person and book ahead if you want a table, especially on a Friday.

Afternoon — Porthpean Beach and Wheal Martyn

After lunch, drive about 10 minutes to Porthpean Beach for an unhurried final shoreline walk. It is smaller and generally calmer than Cornwall’s headline beaches, with a sheltered feel and a steep access path from the parking area; check the tide if you hope to explore the sand beyond the main cove. Dogs are usually subject to seasonal restrictions on the beach, so check the current signs before letting yours off lead. Finish at Wheal Martyn, around 15 minutes away in St Austell, allowing two hours for the china-clay museum, old industrial machinery and woodland trails. It normally closes in the late afternoon, so aim to arrive by about 2:30–3:00pm; admission is commonly around £12–£16, and sturdy shoes are useful on the damp woodland paths.