Helford
Helford is a sleepy, tranquil village with riverside inn and restaurant set on the banks of the Helford River. There is also a foot ferry across to Helford Passage.
The Helford River, immortalised by Daphne du Maurier in her romantic novel Frenchman’s Creek, presents an entirely different landscape from the rest of the Lizard Peninsula. This is a lush wooded river world of inlets and creeks, of sub-tropical gardens and pretty riverside villages, of oyster beds and sailing boats.
Much of the area is best discovered on foot as there are peaceful villages stowed away in the folds of the landscape. Durgan, a tiny hamlet, is typical of the riverside scenery in these parts and there are ancient churches such as Mawgan, Manaccan and St Anthony and Gweek, home to the National Seal Sanctuary.
From the picturesque villages of Constantine and Mawgan, you can meander down gladed footpaths to creeks such as Port Navas or Polwherveral, with their oyster beds and yacht moorings. Strike north from Mawnan Smith to the lush gardens of Penjerrick, or south for the exotic gardens sloping gently down to the river at Glendurgan and Trebah.
Must see and do
Related Links
See more destinations in Cornwall