Penzance and West Cornwall
Creativity & Culture
A three-day example itinerary designed to inspire small groups / fully independent travellers (FIT) to experience the culture of West Cornwall.
Day
One:
Exhibitions & collections on Cornish life
Penlee House Gallery & Museum
Penlee House Gallery & Museum celebrates the history and culture of Cornwall. It’s home to a substantial collection of artworks by painters from the Newlyn School, the group of late 19th-century artists who were inspired by life in Newlyn and helped to shape the British art world. Penlee House welcomes group bookings. Please contact the venue to find out more.
Facilities: Orangery Café and Penlee Park
Booking information: Call +44(0)1736 363625
Walk the promenade
Penzance to Newlyn
Just moments from Penlee House, you’ll find Penzance Promenade, a beautiful stretch of recently refurbished seafront and the only Victorian promenade in Cornwall. Your clients will love exploring this scenic part of Penzance, which features information boards describing the history and wildlife of the area.
Facilities: Cafés, pubs and restaurants in Penzance
Booking information: Free activity
Walking tour of Penzance
Tour Guide Penzance
There’s nothing like a guided tour to introduce your clients to the history, stories, myths and legends of Penzance. Bilingual tour guide Anna provides walking tours of Penzance town, bringing its history to life with engaging storytelling and her extensive knowledge of the area. Contact Anna to arrange a booking for your group.
Facilities: Cafés, pubs and restaurants in Penzance
Booking information: tourguidepenzance@hotmail.co.uk
Creativity & Culture
Day
Two:
DAY TWO: PENZANCE & MARAZION
Penzance to Marazion (Walk/Cycle)
South West Coast Path
This gentle 2.7-mile walk from Penzance to Marazion follows the recently upgraded coast path around Mount’s Bay. Along the route, your clients can enjoy wonderful views of St Michael’s Mount and the new site-specific artwork, Gwelen.
Gwelen: Mount’s Bay is home to Cornwall’s largest submerged forest. Local artist Emma Smith has reimagined this hidden landscape through a series of wooden ‘seeing sticks’. Your clients can learn more about this unique artwork through its accompanying podcast, which introduces Emma Smith and her work.
Facilities: Café nearby
Booking information: Free activity
Causeway & Castle
St Michael’s Mount
On a crisp and bright day, St Michael’s Mount is a sight to behold. At low tide, the causeway is revealed – and this is your entry point to the famous landmark. The castle is open to visitors daily during the summer, but only on selected dates from the 1st November-31st March. Find out more about group bookings and plan your visit here.
Facilities: Shop, café, art gallery
Parking: Find out more here
Booking information: groups@stmichaelsmount.co.uk
Gwelen
Day
Three:
Spring awakening
Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens, Penzance
See Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens as it bursts back into life after winter. There are installations from renowned artists around every corner – from intriguing metal sculptures to the fascinating camera obscura. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a mindful moment, experience the changing seasons and enjoy the details of nature.
New for 2023: Discover the brightly coloured figurative sculptures by Lisa Wright.
Booking information: Find out about group bookings here
Facilities: Café, shop
Parking: There is parking at the venue. Find out more here
Theatre and garden visit
Minack Theatre
There’s nowhere quite like the Minack Theatre. Carved into a cliffside with a backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean, it’s an incredible setting in which to see a play. Groups of up to 10 people can enjoy a ‘Theatre Visit’, during which your clients can explore the theatre and discover the fascinating story of Rowena Cade, the woman who built the Minack. Find out more here.
Booking information: Contact the box office +44(0)1736 810181
Facilities: Café
Parking: Find out more here
Tremenheere sculpture garden
Essential
information:
Essential Information
If you’ve been inspired to recommend an off-season adventure to your clients, please contact the experience providers directly to book.
Accessibility
Many of the activities in this itinerary are accessible. However, we advise that you contact the venue or experience provider in advance to confirm. You can also find information about accessible venues through Access Cornwall.
Positive impact
We’re hoping to make every stay as sustainable as possible. Find out more here.
This sample travel trade itinerary has been curated by the EXPERIENCE West Cornwall team and was correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. You will need to contact the venue or provider directly to confirm any seasonal opening details and to book the experience.
