South Cornwall - Devon and Cornwall - page 353

Tucked at the bottom of a steep hill by the waters of Restronguet Creek, the thatched
Pandora Inn ( 01326-372678; www.pandorainn.com ; Restronguet Creek; mains £10-16) is one of Corn-
wall's landmark pubs, and has been here since the mid-1600s. It's the picture-perfect im-
age of a smuggler's pub. Inside, blazing hearths, snug alcoves, low ceilings and ships-in-
cabinets; outside, thatched roof, cob walls and a pontoon snaking out onto the creek. Hard
to believe it almost burnt to the ground in 2011; thankfully, the ground floor remained
largely intact, and it's since been rebuilt in seamless shipshape fashion.

THE COAST-TO-COAST TRAIL

The disused tram track from Devoran to Portreath has been redeveloped as the Coast to Coast Cycle Trail, which
runs for 11 miles past the old mine workings around Scorrier, Chacewater and the Poldice Valley. It's mostly flat
and easy, although there are a few uphill and off-road sections.
Bikes and maps can be hired at the Devoran end from Bissoe Bike Hire ( 01872-870341;
www.cornwallcyclehire.com ; 9.30am-6.30pm summer, to 5pm winter), which also has a good cafe, and at the
Portreath end from the Bike Barn ( 01209-891498; www.cornwallcycletrails.com ; 10.30am-5.30pm).

There's car parking at both ends if you prefer to bring your own bike.

TOP OF CHAPTER

Trelissick Gardens
Stretching for 200 hectares along the Carrick Roads, Trelissick (NT; 01872-862090;
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/trelissick-garden ; Feock; adult/child £7.20/3.60; 10.30am-5.30pm Feb-Oct, 11am-4pm
Nov-Jan) is another of Cornwall's showpiece estates. It's particularly popular for its walking
trails, which meander through a patchwork of maintained woodland, working farmland
and river estuary; deep-sea tankers can often be seen moored up along the Fal, near the
King Harry Ferry. If you're only here to walk, you can just pay for the car park (free to
NT members; otherwise £3.50).
The estate has been owned by several families, although for the bulk of its history it be-
longed to the Copeland family (of Copeland china fame) before being gifted to the Na-
tional Trust in 1955. Although the estate's neo-Gothic mansion is closed to the public, you
can still explore the ornamental gardens, renowned for their collections of rhododendrons,
camellias and hydrangeas.
The gardens are on a minor road off the A39 between Falmouth and Truro; look out for
the turn next to the Shell Garage at Playing Place. Beyond the gardens, the minor B3289