The Area Around Bumblebees

Gorran Haven has a thriving village shop with its own bakery and Post Office and during the day they provide meals. The Llawnroc, the hotel in the village, offers lunch and evening meals in their bistro, as does the Barley Sheaf Pub, a mile away in Gorran village. The fish and chip shop normally opens at Easter, as will the beach cafe the Mermaid. The Cliff Path Cafe will be open three days a week and so will Harbours Reach Cafe.

Bumblebees is 200 yards from the coastal path (see Activities).

The historic fishing village of Mevagissey is 10 minutes by car and has a wide choice of restaurants.

To the west is the lovely Roseland Peninsula going down to St. Mawes, which is a short ferry ride from Falmouth. There is also a regular ferry from Mevagissey to Fowey and back, a convenient way to travel and to see some of the coast line from the sea. In the other direction the Lost Gardens of Heligan are about 10 minutes away and an added 10 minutes takes you into St. Austell, and the world famous Eden Project. In St. Austell are the less well-known 30 acres of Pine Lodge Gardens, well worth a visit. National Trust gardens of Lanhydrock, Trelissick and Trerice are within easy reach.

Our central position is ideal for exploring the rest of Cornwall.

12 Miles - Eden Project Tel:-01726 811900
It would be wise to check opening times before arrival during the winter months as they close occasionally for training.

18 miles - Daphne du Maurier Festival of Arts and Literature in Fowey 9th - 20th May Tel:- 0845 094 0428

Mevagissey Feast Week, no dates as yet

Gardens

A useful website for visitors interested in gardens is: www.gardensincornwall.co.uk

6 miles - Heligan Gardens open all year - Main season 10 - 6 Winter 10 - 5

5 miles - Caerhayes Castle Garden open from 13th Feb to 5th June
Caerhayes Castle open from 12th March to 5th June, booking required. Tel:- 01872 501310

10 miles - Pine Lodge 30 acre garden, St. Austell opens 10 - 6 all year round Tel:- 01726 77960

17 miles - Boconnoc Gardens open every Sunday in May
Cornwall Garden Society Spring Flower Show 31st March and 1st April
Spring Fair 15th and 16th July

20 miles - Trelissick National Trust Garden, February 12th to 11th October 10.30 to 5.30. Prior to this and after these dates 11 to 4.00. Tel:- 01872 863090

17 miles - Lanhydrock National Trust House and Garden, house open from March 1st, grounds generally open Tel:- 01208 265950

There is aslo Trerice House near Newquay, Glendurgan gardens near Falmouth, both national Trust, and Trebah Gardens very close to Glendurgan, which are open all year and can be visited free with National Trust membership.

Walking

Well-travelled walkers have told us that the coast around us is some of the most beautiful they have seen, so walking here is a joy.

Mevagissey can be reached along the cliff path and is about 3 miles away. You can walk on to Heligan, going through Mevagissey and up the wooded valley, and then get a bus back here.

To the west is the long south-facing Vault beach and then Dodman Point with its iron age ramparts. Walk on and you reach Hemmick beach, and on again to Porth Luney and Caerhayes Castle. The path continues uninterrupted to St. Anthony Head, close to Falmouth.

I can transport walkers by arrangement.

Swimming

Gorran Haven beach is particularly safe for swimmers. Vault is a quieter beach which can be accessed with a short walk round the cliff.

Boating

There is easy launching for boats on trailers from the beach. The adjoining harbour has safe moorings except in severe easterly weather.

Boats can be hired in Mevagissey, and there are boating trips during the season and a regular ferry from Mevagissey to Fowey.

The Square Sail Shipyard Ltd. (01726 70241) based in Charlestown organises trips for three or six hour trips from May to mid September on their three tall ships.

Fishing

Shore fishing is popular from the harbour and around the coast and beaches. Sea trips for fishing can be booked from Mevagissey.

Kayaking

Kayaks may be hired on the beach from late June until the end of August.

Cycling

Cycles can be hired at Pentewan. You can explore the Pentewan Valley and the other cycle trails around St. Austell.

Shopping!

For those who can't resist the lure, near St Austell there is a weekend market on a permanent site, the largest covered market in the country. Between Gorran Haven and Liskeard is Trago Mills, a department store like no other, situated in the woods. Truro is the county town, and Falmouth houses the new maritime museum.