Helford
OS Grid ref:- SW759261
The tranquil, sleepy village of Helford, considered by many visitors to be the loveliest villages on the Lizard Peninsula lies on an inlet off the Helford River and makes an excellent base for exploring the area.
The village has has a post office, an inn, the Shipwright's Arms and a restaurant situated on the banks of the river. The single street winds around the inlet which is crossed by a small wooden bridge. Many of the villages characterful stone cottages have thatched roofs with neat front gardens containing honeysuckle, fuchsias and roses.
Parking is not permitted in Helford from June to September, visitors must park at the car park at the church above the inlet. Ferries can be taken from the thatched Shipwright's Arms to the north bank at Helford Passage, which allows walkers from the coastal path around the Lizard to continue towards Falmouth.
Frenchman's Pill, now owned by the National Trust, presents a very different landscape from the rest of the Lizard Peninsula and makes an interesting and attractive walk from the village, it was immortalised as the setting for Daphne du Maurier's novel 'Frenchman's Creek'. The area is a popular bird habitat, especially frequented by herons. Frenchman's Creek is best accessed by way of a footpath.
Glendurgan, at Helford is said to be one of the best sub-tropical gardens in the area, while nearby Trebah Garden is well worth a visit.
The National Seal Sanctuary, at the neighbouring village of Gweek an interesting visitor attraction on the Helford estuary, cares for injured and orphaned seal pups.
Image reproduced courtesy of Sundial Photographics