Fowey has a population of over 2,000 and lies in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Rows of pastel-coloured terraced houses sit on the west bank of the River Fowey and cling to the steep hillside that looks out over the bay. These buildings are divided by a warren of narrow streets which are home to a number of antique shops, bistros and restaurants. Most of these can be found in the flatter areas of the town, away from the slopes. Visitors will also find a collection of historical buildings around the town including Noah's Ark, which is a timbered Elizabethan merchant's house that dates back to the 15th century.
Town QuayThe bustling town quay is one the town's most picturesque locations and is the heartbeat of Fowey. The buildings are a mish-mash of working boat-houses, Fowey holiday cottages and pubs. The King of Prussia is central to all this and stands out from the rest with its colourful hanging baskets and window boxes. St Finbarrus Church and Place House, which are situated behind the King of Prussia both overlook Fowey and are often mistaken as the same building. Thankfully, the Fowey streets are not crammed with cars and other vehicles. The use of a one-way system and a collection of car parks, situated on the outskirts of the town, keep traffic to a minimum and mean that the Fowey streets are pedestrian friendly. In fact, plans are being discussed to ban cars altogether. See Coastal Connect for more details of other coastal cottages, self catering properties and holiday accommodation.
Ready Money Cove
Ready Money Cove is a popular, sheltered beach that lies near the mouth of the Fowey River. It is bounded on either side by St Catherine's Castle and Neptune House. St Catherine's Castle was built in 1536 by Henry VIII to repel Spanish raids and is managed by the English Heritage. The castle, which is in poor repair can still be reached by a short path that runs from the beach. Point Neptune House also overlooks the cove and was home to Daphne du Maurier during the Second World War - a commemorative plaque celebrating this can be seen on its walls.
PolruanThe nearby Polruan, on the opposite side of the estuary, has a contrasting waterfront which consists largely of working buildings such as boat-houses and ship-building yards. Behind these, Fisherman's cottages creep up the hill and look out over the wonderful harbour. Although few shops remain in Polruan there is still a collection of popular pubs and inns such as the Lugger and Russell. Ferries leave from Fowey to Polruan every 15 minutes using both Town Quay and the Whitehouse slip, depending on season.
Fowey Harbour
Fowey harbour was central in the emergence of Fowey. Its capacity to accommodate large ships was exploited fully during the China Clay boom. Now, its deep-water harbour is used for different kinds of large vessels, namely cruise-liners. The 205 meter long Boudicca moored up in August 2007 allowing its passengers to explore the town and other nearby attractions. It proved so popular amongst locals and passengers that plans are now afoot to increase the intake of these types of large holiday cruise liners - tourism is fast becoming Fowey's chief trade.
Famous residentsThriller writer, Daphne de Maurier resided most of her life at nearby Polridmouth Cove. Her life in Cornwall influenced some of her greatest works such as Jamaica Inn. She now has a festival held in her honour which attracts enthusiasts and influential literary figures from all over.
Wind in the Willows author, Kenneth Greene also spent much time in Fowey. He first visited in 1899 to help his recovery from pneumonia and became friends with fellow writer, Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch (Q). Leo Walmsley is another famous Fowey resident who wrote a great number of short stories relating to maritime life.
Fowey accommodation - Fowey holiday cottages | Hotels | Pub accommodation | B&Bs
Fowey tourism - Fowey visitor attractions | Events | Nearby attractions | Beaches and Walks
