10 of the best free days out in Cornwall

Cornwall has hundreds of beaches. Sandy ones, rocky ones, huge ones such as those at Perranporth and Hayle, dog friendly beaches and those on which dogs are not allowed.

Many beaches have amazing rock pools to explore, teeming with wonderful creatures and unusual looking sea plants but please remember to be gentle with the wildlife and preferably observe it in the pool without removing it. If you do pick out a crab or other creature please be careful with it and place it back into the pool again as soon as possible.

Organisations such as the National Trust, Surfers Against Sewage and local groups arrange regular beach cleans and you can always have your own 2 minute beach clean to keep the environment safe for wildlife.

See What’s On in Cornwall for organised beach cleans and for detailed information visit Beaches in Cornwall.

While woods are not the first place you think of when thinking about Cornwall, there are a surprising amount of beautiful woodlands here. Many of these have footpaths, nature trails, streams and some have organised events such as treasure hunts.

Woods are a great place for an adventure and if there are loose branches lying around, you may be able to make a den. Explore what grows in the woods to see how many trees and plants you can identify and look out for birds, butterflies and other interesting insects.

Cardinham, Trevaylor, Penrose Estate and Loe Pool, Ethy Woods, Kennall Vale, Coose Trannack, Lerryn, Millook Valley, Golitha Falls, Kilminorth, Idless, St Loy, Herodsfoot, Coombe Valley, Pendarves Wood, Bishop’s Wood (Wadebridge) are just a few of the wonderful woodlands to explore.

Visit Woods in Cornwall for more information.

Cornwall is famous for its tin and copper mines, which recently have been given a new audience in television series such as the modern dramatisation of Poldark. So important is mining and its history, that Cornwall’s sites have earned UNESCO World Heritage Site status (together with part of Devon).

Most of Cornwall’s mining heritage is free to access including at Botallack and Levant (admission fee to see the Levant working engine but exploring the site is free), Kenidjack Valley at St Just, Chapel Porth and St Agnes and between Praa Sands and Porthleven. More former mining sites can be seen throughout Cornwall with many along the Mineral Tramways Trails (see "Walking, Cycling and Horse Riding Trails" below).

Visit Geology and Mining in Cornwall for more information.

Cornwall’s ancient sites are numerous with some of the oldest sites dating from as early as the Mesolithic period (Middle Stone Age), some 11,600 years ago. Neolithic (New Stone Age) Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman and Dark Age sites are very well represented with many hundreds of identified and excavated sites and probably thousands yet to be identified.

Most of Cornwall’s ancient sites are free to visit. There is only one we can think of which has an admission charge but if you are a member of English Heritage you will be able to access Chysauster for free.

The Men-an-Tol, believed to date from the late Neolithic or early Bronze Age attracts much attention and has a place in Cornwall’s folklore, where it is known as the Crick Stone.

Stone circles include the Merry Maidens, Boscawen-Un and the Hurlers; ancient villages such as Carn Euny, Bodrifty, hill forts including Castle-an-Dinas at Ludgvan, Castle-an-Dinas at St Columb and Carn Brea; cliff castles at Gurnard’s Head, Treryn Dinas, Trencrom Hill, The Rumps; ancient tumuli at Trevelgue Head near Newquay; giant megalithic burial sites such as Lanyon Quoit, Mulfra Quoit, Chun Quoit, Zennor Quoit and Trethevy Quoit. In addition there are hundreds of Holy Wells and Celtic Crosses across Cornwall, all with their own history.

Visit Archaeology in Cornwall for a list of sites and their details.

Visit Crosses, Saints and Holy Wells in Cornwall for more information on these sites.

Roskilly’s Farm near Coverack on the Lizard Peninsula offers a free farm trail where you can see the animals - calves, goats, sheep, pigs, turkeys, geese, chickens and even feed them.

To extend your walk you can explore unspoiled meadows, one of which contains a bee hive where you can watch the bees going about their work, follow the trail through Old Withy Woods and enjoy the ponds, where wildfowl and dragonflies can be seen. There is at least one mile of easy walking and numerous places to sit and relax.

There’s organic ice cream too, made on the farm with milk from their Jersey herd so after spending a day in the fields you can treat yourself.

Roskilly’s Farm, Tregellast Barton Farm, St Keverne, Cornwall TR12 6NX

Road Directions

A lovely day out to visit more than one hundred donkeys and horses who have been rescued. Find out about the work of the sanctuary, wander along the trail between the paddocks to watch the donkeys and horses, visit the stables.

Refreshments are available at the cafe. There’s also a gift shop where you can buy souvenirs of your visit with many of the donkeys featured on mugs, cushions, fridge magnets and many more excellent gift ideas.

There’s no admission fee. Donations are always welcome to help this working sanctuary.

Penty Noweth Farm, Trenoweth Lane, Mabe Burnthouse, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9JB

Road Directions

Please see poster for details

Royal Cornwall Museum, River Street, Truro, TR1 2SJ



Road Directions

Cornwall has almost 300 miles of coast path. While walking even a small section of the coast path you will see wonderful views, tiny coves, hidden beaches, colourful wildflowers, birds, butterflies and you may even catch sight of seals, dolphins, porpoises or even sharks and whales.

Discover fantastic view points, beautiful locations to rest a while and enjoy a picnic, ancient cliff castles and forts, iconic mine engine houses and fascinating landscapes.

Visit our list of all the sections of the Cornwall Coast Path.

Whatever your interest there’s bound to be a festival for you. Every September Gorseth Kernow, celebrates Cornish culture, choosing a different historic site in Cornwall every year; in July the town of St Just on the Land’s End peninsula celebrates Lafrowda; March brings St Piran’s Day with festivities across Cornwall; in May, Padstow celebrates May Day with its ‘Obby Osses’ and Helston with Flora Day; in August Helston hosts the Hellys International Guitar Festival with free lessons by performers from ten countries and Falmouth holds its annual races of keelboats, traditional craft and dinghies during Falmouth Week; during winter months there are numerous Christmas festivals including the City of Lights in Truro and Montol in Penzance; Golowan and Mazey Day in Penzance take place every June; and throughout the summer months numerous waterside villages and towns hold their annual regattas.

With carnivals, ancient customs such as the Hurling of the Silver Ball at St Columb Major and St Ives, art and literature festivals and many more free events, you’ll always be able to find a festival to enjoy in Cornwall.

See our What’s On in Cornwall Diary or individual town diaries for the area where you’re visiting.

Cornwall has many walking, cycling and horse riding trails so wherever you are in Cornwall there’s likely to be a trail near you.

The Mineral Tramways Trails include the Coast to Coast Trail, Great Flat Lode Trail, Tresavean Trail, Portreath Branchline Trail, Tehidy Trail, Tolgus Trail and the Redruth and Chasewater Railway Trail.

The Cornish Way Trails take you from one end of Cornwall to the other - First and Last Trail, Engine House Trail, Coast and Clay Trail, North Cornwall Trail, St Piran Trail and the Camel Trail.

All the trails above can be used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders.


More trails include:

St Michael’s Way, The Saints Way, Cornish Celtic Way, Goss Moor Trail, Pentewan Trail, Wheal Peevor Trail and the St Austell Link to Wheal Martyn Trail.

Specifically for cyclists are National Route 2 which ends at St Austell (NCN2), National Route 3 beginning at Land’s End (NCN3) and National Route 32 from Bodmin to Truro (NCN32)

Visit Hiking and Walking in Cornwall, Cycling in Cornwall and Horse Riding in Cornwall for more information.