Falmouth is one of the major holiday destinations in the UK making it the ideal base for your holiday in Cornwall, whatever your interests. The area has a great deal to offer including watersports, cliff walking on the South West Coast Path, the National Maritime Museum and some superb Blue Flag Beaches. Falmouth stages a number of spectacular events throughout the season ranging from the Spring Festival to the Oyster Festival in the autumn. Falmouth also stages major maritime events most years including Falmouth Classics and Falmouth Week. The maritime events are complemented by a wide range of shore based festivities.
Here are just a few of the many ways in which you can make the most out of your stay with us at the Dolphins Apartment.
Constructed between 1540 and 1545, Pendennis Castle and its sister St Mawes Castle form the Cornish end of the chain of coastal castles built by Henry VIII to counter a threat from France and Spain. Thereafter Pendennis was frequently adapted to face new enemies over 400 years, right through until World War II. There are a wide range of attractions at the castle including an interactive exhibition and cafe. The views are also absolutely stunning.
The National Maritime Museum Cornwall, Falmouth is located on the harbour waterfront just a 10 minute walk from the San Remo. It is the centrepiece of an international leisure / tourism complex, which wraps around a new waterside piazza holding up to 4,000 people, created for concerts, exhibitions and major events and includes restaurants, shops and cafes. Opened in 2002, the National Maritime Museum building has been custom-designed to bring to life the stories of boats, maritime themes and Cornwall's heritage, with an array galleries, shops and restaurants.
The South West Coast Path is Britain's longest National Trail, running from Minehead in Somerset to South Haven Point near Poole Dorset. The path includes two UNESCO World Heritage sites. The path is unique because it is based on a working footpath which was in use until comparatively modern times. Coastguards used to patrol the whole coast of the South West Peninsula on foot, every day, in the course of their duties. It was the essence of their job that the coastguards had literally to be able to see into every cove and inlet on the coast. This meant that their well-beaten path, usually with stone stiles, had to hug the cliff top, so providing the splendidly scenic coastal views we get today.
Located just a few minutes walk from the San Remo, the Princess Pavilion is Falmouth's entertainment centre featuring top names and top shows. The Pavilion provides a year round programme of music for all musical tastes plus drama, variety and festivals. There is a cafe and a fully licensed bar together a lovely, traditional bandstand.
Again, located just a few minutes walk from the San Remo, Gyllyngdune Gardens features many exotic and sub-tropical plants from as far afield as China and Australasia. From 1688 to 1852, Packet Ships sailed from Falmouth carrying mail and goods to the Mediterranean and the Americas. Many plants were brought back, and they thrived in the regions subtropical climate. These world wide voyages led to the creation of many unique gardens, including Gyllyngdune, a garden with a history rich in people, places and plants.
The small, picturesque town of St Ives has attracted painters for over a century including JMW Turner among many others. Many artists are associated with St Ives and West Cornwall, with its rich history and its vivid artistic life. Thus it is very appropriate that we have a branch of the world renowned Tate Gallery located here.
The Flambards Theme Park Experience is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Cornwall. Not only does the Theme Park host the best thrill rides in Cornwall, but also the Flambards Victorian Village and Britain in the Blitz indoor tourist attractions. Flambards is also very proud of its beautiful garden setting and has won many awards over the years for trees, shrubs and flowers.
The National Seal Sanctuary is set in the picturesque Helford Estuary, by the beautiful village of Gweek, in Cornwall. The Sanctuary is a busy rescue centre, and also has resident Grey Seals, Common Seals, Californian and Patagonian Sea Lions, Goats, Ponies and Otters. Visitors can choose to adopt a seal and sponsor it on its road to eventual recovery and release back to the wild.
Explore the amazing island world of St Michael's Mount and discover legend, myth and over a thousand years of incredible history. You can walk the causeway at low water or enjoy a short motor boat trip when the tide is in. Climb the ancient, cobbled path to the inspiring medieval castle, gaze down at the beautiful gardens and enjoy magnificent views across the bay to Penzance.
Cornwall's oldest and most prestigious museum, famed for its internationally important collections. See a myriad of minerals, view an unwrapped mummy and discover Cornwall's unique culture. There is a collection of Newlyn School paintings in the Fine and Decorative Arts gallery. The museum also presents an exciting range of changing exhibitions throughout the year together with an extensive educational programme for all the family.
Lands End is one of the world's best loved landmarks. It's a place of almost mystical beauty where the might of the Atlantic meets the towering cliffs of Cornwall - a place where nature is still one of the big attractions. Discover a myriad of wild flowers, soaring seabirds or even seals coming out to play. There are also a wide range of other attractions including the Dr Who exhibition and the Lands End Shopping Village.
DairyLand Farm Park is an all weather attraction providing family entertainment for all ages rain or shine. There are a wide range of facilities including Animal Ark, Pat a Pet, Bottle feeding and Pony rides - Make some wonderful new friends! Stroke, feed cuddle and ride, a great hands on experience. The overall philosophy is to encourage visitors to the farm and promote a better understanding between town and country.
This event has been created out of a passion for classic yachts of beauty, great design and fine workmanship. At the heart of this race is a desire to create a challenging sporting event which pushes competitors across a range of coastal and offshore races. With all of the vessels built or designed before 1940, the Richard Mille Cup will recreate the spectacle, sporting values and elegance of the regatta circuits of the pre-war years.
Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival is one of the largest free nautical music and song festivals in Europe! Over 65 groups from all over the UK as well as from Brittany, Holland, Spain, Canada and Ireland perform their unique take on sea songs and shanties at over 20 very different venues throughout the town. From cosy pubs to professionally engineered main stages, street corners to parish churches we have them all!
Falmouth Classics features three days of racing featuring a wide range of classic sailing vessels and a spectacular Parade of Classic Boats and the Small Classic Boat Parade. Since it began, in 1987, Falmouth Classics has steadily grown to be one of the largest Classic sailing events in the UK. Falmouth is recognised as having some of the best sailing waters in the world in the Carrick Roads and Falmouth Bay. There are many vantage points for spectators to view the events.
Dating back to a local sailing regatta held in 1837, Falmouth Week has grown into the largest sailing regatta in the south west with more than 200 yachts racing over eight days. There is also a lively programme of shoreside events taking place from the Moor to Events Square including the carnival, fireworks, air displays, daytime and evening entertainment bands/acts, children's activities and much more.
Falmouth Oyster Festival celebrates the start of the oyster dredging season, the diversity and quality of Cornish Seafood and in particular, one of the last remaining traditional oyster fisheries, dredging by sail and hand punt. Daily cookery demonstrations are held during the festival by top chefs and food experts from Cornwall's hotels and restaurants, inspiring visitors to try their hand at unusual and exciting seafood combinations and indulge in the tastes of native oysters, wines, ales and local produce.
Pendennis Castle is one of Henry VIII's finest coastal fortresses, which has defended Cornwall against foreign invasion since Tudor times. Pendennis Castle has a range of events throughout the year including exhibitions, the Discovery Centre, historic tours and seasonal events including Jousting.
Falmouth Art Gallery is family friendly and free. One of the leading art galleries in the South West, it has won or been nominated for 16 national awards. Falmouth Art Gallery runs a range of events throughout the year, including nationally recognised exhibitions and art fairs together with lectures and talks from artists and authors.
Based in an iconic listed building in the heart of Falmouth The Poly is a thriving charity, promoting engagement in the arts, sciences and Cornish history through film, live events, exhibitions, lectures and workshops. The Poly runs a range of events throughout the year including Exhibitions theatre, films, live music, comedy, dance, workshops and talks.
