Falmouth
The last overnight on this section is the busy port of Falmouth, and suddenly you are back in the real world, with its bustling harbour, busy shopping streets, wider roads and a plethora of things to see and do. The high street has all the usual stores and facilities, as well as a good number of interesting specialist shops including galleries, antique stores and book shops.
Those needing rest and recreation after days on the South West Coast Path will find everything they need here with Falmouth providing a cosmopolitan and varied selection of restaurants, bars, accommodation and entertainment.
Falmouth also has a number of excellent beaches near the town including Castle Beach, Gyllyngvase, Swanpool and Maenporth back along the South West Coast Path. Passing away a few hours by ambling along the sands and out to the headland is very much part of the Falmouth leisure scene!
The excellent National Maritime Museum is housed here and well worth visiting. For those wanting to explore inland along the Fal river you can find ferries departing to many areas of the estuary including the idyllic St Mawes. The harbour and Carrick Roads Waters form the third deepest harbour in the world and the deepest in Western Europe. Falmouth is one of the ultimate destination points for sailors, as proved by the record breaking round the world voyages of Sir Frances Chichester and Dame Ellen MacArther.
Out on the headland, Henry VIII built Pendennis Castle to defend the nation against invaders, and it from here that news of victory at the Battle of Trafalgar reached our shores first. The last few centuries have seen great expansion, with the building of the docks and railway making the port a destination for tourists, traders, the shipping industry and more recently of course for tired and dusty Cornwall Coast Path walkers indulging themselves happily after emerging from the remoter sections of the Lizard!
With easy train connections to the mainline at Truro, and every type of accommodation covered, Falmouth presents itself as a well-placed, lively and enjoyable end to your walking adventure. Indeed, many walkers choose to stay an extra night here to fully explore the town, estuary, nearby St Mawes or take a ferry trip up the stunning Fal river into Truro the Capital of Cornwall.
The place to start looking for information about the town and surrounding area is the official Tourist Information site. Here you can find out what's happening during your stay, what to see and where to eat and drink in the town, along with a useful section on walking and some vital information on the various ferry crossings and river options for walkers.