Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
16th-century castle here in conjunction with the one across the water at Pendennis, and a
naval gun battery remained on the nearby headland until after the end of WWII.
Sights & Activities
St Mawes Castle
CASTLE
(EH; 01326-270526; adult/child £4.50/2.70; 10am-6pm Sun-Fri Jul-Aug, 10am-5pm Sun-Fri Mar-Jun & Sep-
Nov, 10am-4pm Sat & Sun Nov-Mar)
Strategically sited to command an uninterrupted field of fire
over the entrance to the Carrick Roads, St Mawes is one of a string of coastal fortresses
built by Henry VIII during the 16th century, and is also among the best preserved. The
castle is laid out in the form of a clover, with circular towers around a central keep. It's
approached via a classic drawbridge, and you can wander freely around the interior cham-
bers and the outside gun-decks, which would have been mounted with heavy 'ship-sink-
ing' cannons.
Ironically, the castle never really saw much action; the threat of Catholic invasion from
Spain never materialised during Henry VIII's reign, and it was easily taken by parliament-
arian forces during the Civil War.
VIEWPOINT
St Anthony's Head
The remains of a turn-of-the-century gun battery can still be seen along the point at St
Anthony's Head. Just along the coast is the peninsula's 1835-built lighthouse, where you
can now stay inside the lighthouse keeper's old cottage,
Sally Port
(
01386-701177;
www.ruralretreats.co.uk
;
from £910 for 5 nights)
.
St Mawes Kayaks
( 07971-846786;
www.stmaweskayaks.co.uk
; 2 hr £15, per day £30)
Kayaks are ideal for exploring the
waters off St Mawes, especially the quiet creeks along the Percuil River, and the nearby
beaches of Great and Little Molunan. Single and two-seater sit-on kayaks are available.
KAYAKING
Sleeping & Eating
Roundhouse Barns
( 01872-580038;
www.roundhousebarnholidays.co.uk
; cottages £695-945 per week; )
Three sweet
stone-fronted cottages, plus two B&B rooms, on a 3/4-acre private farm estate about 3
COTTAGES
£££
