Where to stay in Bodmin and Cornwall Suggestions

We enjoyed the Minack theatre- just walking around and enjoying the gardens and views while a dress rehearsal was going on. I imagine seeing a performance would be a delight.

This is a tricky one, but I wouldn’t choose to stay in Bodmin. Thirty years ago when I first went there, it was quite a buzzing market town. But now, in common with a number of inland Cornish towns, it really feels quite sad and down on its luck. There’s a nice big old church and a small museum, but it just felt really sad walking around it, and not somewhere I’d want to stay. I wish there was more life in inland Cornish towns, but you are very forcibly reminded that - outside of the tourist hotspots - it’s one of the most deprived parts of Britain. Obviously it would help if tourists did stay in places like Bodmin and bring some money back in, but it perhaps isn’t what you had in mind.

You could maybe look at Truro? As the county town of Cornwall it is a lot more buzzing with more hotels and restaurants. Or otherwise one of the coastal resorts - Falmouth is always a good choice. It has everything you could want - beaches, a fantastic harbour etc. As a university town, there’s a lot of life there. It’s easy to get across to St Ives on the other coast as Cornwall is very thin down there! Also well sited for gardens and castles - maybe get the ferry across to St Mawes, for example.

I’m not sure what you mean by “joy ride” to St Ives but in the UK joyriding means taking a stolen car for a drive… ;-)

Day 3- There is Trelissick Gardens south of Truro, which you could reach via the King Harry Chain (car) Ferry (rather than just a straight drive through Truro) or alternatively by going to Falmouth and getting a passenger ferry up the river (some continue up river to Truro, tidal dependent). Truro sailings have to be pre-booked, all others are turn up and go
Along the Helford river there are several gardens you can visit- Trebah and Glendurgan are the ones which spring to mind, but I think there are a couple of others (Golden Girl, please fill in my memory blank).
Keep on along the River and you come to The Cornish Seal Sanctuary at Gweek,

On Day 4 I am assuming that you mean you are going the long way through Zennor and St Just from St Ives to Penzance.

Not sure what Golden Girl thinks about the last dinner, but I think that somewhere in Newlyn or maybe Mousehole (down by the harbour) might suit.

The Night Riviera boards from 9.15pm, and you may as well use the Sleeper Lounge before hand at Penzance as it's included in your fare- if it's anything like Truro lounge it was pretty good. And the staff at Truro Lounge were so good and helpful with people the day I was there. On arrival at Paddington(stay on the train after arrival until 0645) you are also allowed to use the lounge there on arrival to freshen up. I think it is 1 hour you are allowed to be in there. I'm the last person on earth to use a lounge, but I sure liked being pampered.

On Day 2 I might be inclined to go down to the Historic Harbour Village of Charlestown (it is on my list for Cornwall when I canm squeeze it in).

As you have a car I'm not sure how you'd factor it in (easier when using the buses) but the Mevagissey to Fowey foot ferry would be a good fit with Heligan. Once you are at Fowey (you could drive there from Heligan) you could cross on the Bodinnick car ferry- very nice walks over at Bodinnick). Or park up at Fowey, cross on foot on the Bodinnick ferry, walk part of the South West Coastal path to the pretty village of Polruan and catch the Polruan foot ferry back to Fowey.

If you stay in Bodmin, I would recommend seeing Lanhydrock, a National Trust estate. It was wonderful. I think there is a Premier Inn and a restaurant attached in Bodmin. Otherwise Truro or Falmouth would be good to consider.

"I’m not sure what you mean by “joy ride” to St Ives but in the UK joyriding means taking a stolen car for a drive… ;-)"
I think she's referring to Rick Steves' "Penwith Peninsula Joyride"- his sightseeing driving route between St Ives and Penzance (via Zennor).

The Eden Project is a large garden complex in the same area of Cornwall as the Lost Gardens of Heligan.

I spent a night in Truro back in 2017 because there were no last-minute rooms available along the coast. I liked Truro a lot.

I can't help otherwise since I was using public transportation and couldn't get far off the beaten bath.

Day 3- There is Trelissick Gardens south of Truro, which you could reach via the King Harry Chain (car) Ferry (rather than just a straight drive through Truro) or alternatively by going to Falmouth and getting a passenger ferry up the river (some continue up river to Truro, tidal dependent). Truro sailings have to be pre-booked, all others are turn up and go
Along the Helford river there are several gardens you can visit- Trebah and Glendurgan are the ones which spring to mind, but I think there are a couple of others (Golden Girl, please fill in my memory blank).
Keep on along the River and you come to The Cornish Seal Sanctuary at Gweek,

Trebah, Glendurgan and Trelissick are the main ones I’m thinking of. There’s a nice one just to the north of Penzance - Trengwaiton maybe?

Although I like Newlyn for its honesty as a working village, it’s not the most immediately attractive seaside place as it’s all about fishing and warehouses. Either Mousehole or Marazion, either side of Penzance, are the two places I’d look to for a picturesque pub/restaurant.

Oh also: while I wouldn’t stay in Bodmin, Lanhydrock House and gardens is an absolutely first-rate National Trust property. One of my favourites in the whole country.

I can only agree that you should find another overnight besides Bodmin, but mainly to get you more centrally located to the gardens you would like to see.

It looks like you have 3 nights to account for (nights of days 1,2 and 3)

You could do a night enroute from Dartmoor to the Lost Gardens of Hegelian area. That could be St. Austell, Truro, or somewhere on the coast (Mevagissey comes to mind)

For the other two nights, you might consider Falmouth. A nice town, lots of restaurants, plus it is in the midst of the Gardens others mentioned, Trebah Garden we found to be really interesting, lovely and a neat history. Falmouth would be a good launching point as well for your drive on day 4.

I booked a hotel in Truro and with that all my rooms are booked!
Thank you all for your feedback and comments. I have a list of gardens and towns to visit. Falmouth and Mevagissey are high on my list now and I had not previously know about them. Golden Girl and Isn31c you have both given me so much good advice on numerous posts. Thank you both. Beth I will look for Minack Theater. Sara you were right the "joy ride" was the scenic drive in the RS book. I don't know why he calls it a joy ride when in both the US and UK that means stealing a car. But the idea of taking a leisurely drive around the coast, stopping in small towns along the way, sounds fun. Again thank you all! I love this forum.

To add to your garden list consider Trengwainton near Penzance. Most of the Cornish gardens are at their best in the Spring but Trengwainton is best in high Summer so may be an alternative depending on your dates. Trengwainton would also fit well with a visit to the Minack Theatre.

All the Cornish gardens are worthwhile at any time between April and October but most are spectacular in the Spring.

The only problem with driving around Cornwall and stopping at different places is that parking is such a pain. Be prepared to get to grips with a myriad of different parking apps and ways of paying. A lot of the car parks are privately run and so there’s no consistency.

Helen makes a good point about parking. You may want to download a bunch of the most common parking apps: RingGo is commonly used in Devon, but you may come across JustPark, PayByPhone etc - but in certain places you might even need cash. Polperro is notorious for this - there’s one private car park and apparently it costs, like £7, and it only takes coins.

Agree about the car parks, on my trip I needed coins/cash for only two things, Parking and laundry.

Another gardens I had forgotten about is Trewithen Gardens just east of Truro. i passed by it on Thursday, on route in pouring rain to Falmouth.

By the way re-reading this you will be having your special dinner on the last night, after you have returned the car.

That pretty much rules out Marazion, due to transport. But Mousehole has a very cute little bus to Penzance every 45 minutes. The one that connects into the sleeper leaves at 2049, or get the previous one if you want time in the lounge.

I could have taken notes if I had remembered this thread, when there at the same time on Thursday-- one of them was 2 Fore Street (you have to call them to book). But there were a couple of restaurants open on the harbour side, and the pub. Also the Old Coastguard, just outside the Village. The bus stops right outside.

Just below the Hotel there used to be a natural rockpool for outdoor bathing. The first meeting of a new Charity to restore the pool was today.

Like you I was waiting for overnight transport- in my case the bus to Birmingham.

Back in Newlyn there is a movie theatre which also has a restaurant- you could do a movie, then dinner.

Options, options.