Helston

Helston (Cornish: Hellys) is a small market town in the south west of Cornwall which is famous for its Flora Day celebrations and Furry Dance (on or around the 8th May each year). It is the most southerly town in mainland United Kingdom, and it acts as a gateway to the Lizard Peninsula. There is easy access from here to the picturesque fishing village of Porthleven and the unspoilt beaches or coves of Gunwalloe, Poldhu, Mullion, Kynance and the Lizard Point. Helston is adjacent to the beautiful grounds of the Penrose National Trust Estate. The Estate contains Cornwall’s largest natural freshwater lake, Loe Pool, which is cut off from the sea by a large natural sand bar called Loe Bar (accessible from Helston by a moderate walk through the Penrose Estate).

Unless you are in the area on Flora Day, when the town is packed with locals and visitors, the main reason to visit Helston is as a starting-off point for exploration of the eastern coast of the Lizard Peninsula. The walk to Loe Bar through Penrose parkland and along its woodland, lake-side tracks, is scenic at any time of year, and from there the South West Coast Path to Gunwalloe, Mullion, and further south is exhilarating, with spectacular cliff-top vistas.

Understand
Helston was granted its Charter in 1201, and some believe it to have been a port before the silting up of the River Cober which runs through the Cober Valley at the base of the town. In 1725, Daniel Defoe described Helston in these terms: “This town is large and populous, and has four spacious streets, a handsome church, and a good trade: this town also sends members to Parliament.” He also mentions that the River Cober makes a tolerable good harbour and several ships are loaded with tin. However, geologists believe the sand bank at Loe Bar is older than the settlement, and would have prevented using the Cober as a harbour.

Helston no longer has a member of Parliament of its own (it is part of the St Ives constituency), and its former castle (in ruins after 1478) is now the site of the Grylls monument and bowling green at the end of its main street (Coinagehall Street).

There is a nearby Naval Air Base, RNAS Culdrose, which usually hosts an annual Air Day (military airshow) in the summer.

Get in
The nearest train station is, with trains from London Paddington. From Redruth, take Bus 37 to Helston. Alternatively get the train to and take Bus U4 (hourly, two-hourly on Sundays and public holidays) to Falmouth/Helston.

The nearest commercial airport is, with flights from London Heathrow, Dublin, Faro and Alicante. There are flights to the Isles of Scilly from.

The main, including for National Express services to/from Plymouth (twice daily), are in Coinagehall Street.

Get around
Everything in town is reachable on foot, though there are lots of inclines and steps down to the Coronation Park boating lake (from the back of the Grylls monument). The Penrose Estate can be reached across the road at the far end of the boating lake, walking along the river. If you have a car, you can shorten the walking distance and visit the Penrose estate by driving to the hill-top Penrose Car Park on the road to the nearby pretty fishing village of Porthleven.

See

 * There is a café in the grounds, (open Sa Su 10AM-4PM in winter, daily in summer), and an interesting walled garden adjacent to the café.
 * with its medieval church and seasonal lifeguarded beach (Church Cove).
 * (good for swimming and surfing on its lifeguarded sheltered beach), and, a small fishing cove.
 * The Helford River and Estuary.
 * with its medieval church and seasonal lifeguarded beach (Church Cove).
 * (good for swimming and surfing on its lifeguarded sheltered beach), and, a small fishing cove.
 * The Helford River and Estuary.
 * (good for swimming and surfing on its lifeguarded sheltered beach), and, a small fishing cove.
 * The Helford River and Estuary.
 * The Helford River and Estuary.
 * The Helford River and Estuary.
 * The Helford River and Estuary.
 * The Helford River and Estuary.
 * The Helford River and Estuary.

In Helston
Visit the

Afterwards, continue on down Church Street then up to St Michael’s Church (see above) and visit the grave of Henry Trengrouse, inventor of the “Rocket” life-saving apparatus.

Return to Coinagehall Street and stop off for a pint of “Spingo” (local brew) at the Blue Anchor Inn (see below), and then down to the Grylls Monument. From the far end of the Monument, take the down to the Old Cattle Market (over the main road at the bottom) and then on to the Boating Lake, where you can hire a rowing boat or paddle boat. Relax in the Lakeside Café.

Then take the scenic route to Loe Pool and Loe Bar, using the

Around Helston

 * The Helston branch line (of the main Paddington to Penzance line) closed to passengers in 1962, but parts have been restored as a tourist ride. An impressive six-arch viaduct still exists, though it is not in use.
 * The South West Coast Path is perfect for exploring on foot, either starting in Porthleven or by walking to Loe Bar through Penrose, crossing the bar and continuing on to Gunwalloe Cove and beyond. Alternatively, given the sparsity of public transport, it may be better to take Bus 37 to the Lizard and walk up the coast back to Porthleven.
 * The South West Coast Path is perfect for exploring on foot, either starting in Porthleven or by walking to Loe Bar through Penrose, crossing the bar and continuing on to Gunwalloe Cove and beyond. Alternatively, given the sparsity of public transport, it may be better to take Bus 37 to the Lizard and walk up the coast back to Porthleven.

Beaches
There are seasonally lifeguarded beaches at:
 * Porthleven
 * Gunwalloe
 * Poldhu Cove
 * Poldhu Cove

There are non-lifeguarded beaches at:
 * Loe Bar (warning: swimming not permitted due to dangerous currents).
 * Kynance Cove. Beach is covered at high tide.
 * Loe Bar (warning: swimming not permitted due to dangerous currents).
 * Kynance Cove. Beach is covered at high tide.

Eat
Traditional Cornish pasties (and vegetarian alternatives) can be bought from a couple of in Meneage Street at lunch time.

There are, and several restaurants.

Go next

 * The fishing village of Porthleven is 3 miles (5 km) from Helston, and a good place to buy souvenirs and savour fresh seafood. It has a working fishing harbour, restaurants and souvenir shops, and a lifeguarded beach in summer. Porthleven can be visited on foot from Helston by walking through Penrose (an hour’s scenic walk), or by taking Bus U4 in the direction of Penzance.
 * The Lizard, most southerly point in mainland Britain, can be reached with Bus 37 from Helston.