Penzance Hotels

Remote Penzance is surrounded by a land of myths and legends. Once a smugglers’s haunt, the town has a few tales to tell, while its cove-studded coastline is a magnet for visitors looking for the traditional seaside holiday.

Swim from the wide sweep of sand that stretches from Penzance round Mount's Bay to Marazion. Take the kids to the tiny beach by the harbour at Mousehole. Try surfing at Sennen Cove and soak up the rays on the golden sands at Porthcurno. Poke around in the rock pools at smugglers' favourite, Prussia Cove.

Discover a land of legends, smugglers and wreckers. Wander through subtropical flora, a real novelty for England, at Morrab Gardens. Explore some of the best preserved ancient sites in Europe like Lanyon Quoit and Madron well area. Check out the narrow streets of Newlyn, a fishing village once renowned as the home of the 19th-century Newlyn School of Artists.

Ramble the South West Coastal Footpath through gorse and heather, passing hidden coves below. Marvel at the crashing waves constantly ravaging the cliffs at Land's End next stop America. Explore abandoned mine engine houses perched on cliffs. Twitch for rare birds on the marshes at Marazion and walk the cobbled causeway at low tide to St Michael's Mount.

Whether you want to be above or below the waves, make for Mount's Bay. Here you can windsurf off the beaches and coves or dive down to shipwrecks. Speed freaks can get an adrenalin rush by kitesurfing along the beach or kiteboarding in the bay. Or try sea-fishing on a charter trip out of Penzance harbour and see what you can catch. If this sounds too exciting, hack the trails across the moors on horseback or cycle the Cornish Way from Land's End to Truro.

Spoil yourself with crescent-shaped pasties laden with meat, potatoes, onions and turnips followed by indulgent clotted cream ice cream. Wash it down with Cornish mead made from fermented honey – the diet starts tomorrow. For something a little more sophisticated try Newlyn's very own crab chowder and freshly caught fish at seafront restaurants. Sample Mousehole's intriguing Stargazy Fish Pie.

Launch yourself into the summer crowds enjoying the long evenings by sampling the local brew in historic pubs around town.. Pack into Chapel Street’s Admiral Benbow before strutting your stuff at one of the clubs around town. If that’s too lively, head for the cinema or come over all cultural with dance, theatre and music at Acorn Arts Centre.

Clotted cream is for sharing, so post a gift-wrapped supply to friends back home. Do the same with fudge, if you haven't eaten it first. Artists are drawn to Cornwall, so buy an original painting of your holiday location from one of the many galleries.