One of the benefits of travelling out of season is that you get to experience the soul of a place.
From exploring the ancient sites of West Penwith to learning about the significance of our landmarks and celebrations, the activities in this itinerary invite you to experience the culture, heritage and stories of the Penzance area.
You can mix and match from the suggested activities to create a great day out during your stay. If you were to do all the activities on this itinerary, the estimated duration is given above.
Please note: You will need to contact the venue or experience provider directly to book.
Click on each individual experience and find out more about its accessibility and public transport connections, along with an eco tip.
If you would like to build your own itinerary, head to the Experience page. You can add your favourite experiences to a bespoke itinerary, which can be downloaded or sent to your email address. Please note: This is for inspiration purposes only and does not create a booking. You will need to contact the venue or provider directly to book.
Explore the Tin Coast and Cornwall’s mining past with Absolutetours. The Fish, Tin and Copper tour takes you from Marazion to St Ives. You’ll begin with a photo opportunity at St Michael’s Mount before taking the scenic route to Land’s End and the UNESCO Cornish Mining World Heritage Site. The final stop is St Ives, where you can visit the Barbara Hepworth Museum. Find out more here.
Discover the history of Penzance through a guided walk with bilingual tour guide Anna. She’ll explore Penzance with you, sharing its history as well as anecdotes, myths and legends. Anna is known for her extensive knowledge of the area and can be spotted by her rainbow-striped hat. Find out more and book your private tour here.
The Morrab Library can be found in the subtropical Morrab Gardens in Penzance. It was founded in 1818 and is one of only (approximately) 50 independent libraries in the UK. If you’re around on a Friday, there is a free library tour at 2pm, which explores the nooks and crannies of this iconic house. Find out more here.
There’s more to Porthcurno than its beautiful white-sand beach – it was once home to the world’s most important telegraph station and the beating heart of global communications. At PK Porthcurno, you can learn more about this fascinating story, visit the cable hut and even explore a secret World War II bunker. Plan your visit here.
On a crisp and bright day, St Michael’s Mount is a sight to behold. As the tide lowers, the causeway is revealed – and this is your entry point to the famous landmark. The castle itself is a National Trust site, which is open to visitors daily during the summer, but only on selected dates from the 1st November-31st March, so it’s definitely worth planning your day here first.
Bosavern is a community farm, which means it’s dedicated to promoting local food and providing local people with access to land and produce. The farm supplies nearby restaurants with seasonal veg, but it’s also home to beehives, wildflower meadows and a number of allotments. If you’re exploring St Just, visit the farm shop and stock up on jars of honey and chutney. Find out more here.
Polgoon produces award-winning sparkling wines, ciders and fruit juices. You could pop into the shop and buy a bottle or two, but for a deeper understanding of what they do, it’s worth booking a tour. In the winter months, the vineyard offers a slower pace of tour, during which you’ll explore the indoor production areas, learn about the grape varieties and try up to five different Polgoon products. You can check to see their current availability and book ahead here.
Lanyon Quoit is a megalithic tomb near the road that connects Penzance and Morvah. With three upright pillars and a large capstone, it’s an imposing monument that dates back to the Neolithic period. According to the Cornish Ancient Sites Protection Network (CASPN), it was rebuilt in the early 19th Century – potentially because treasure hunters kept undermining its foundations. Find out more here.
If you’ve ever visited Mount’s Bay, home of St Michael’s Mount, it might surprise you to learn that beneath the waves lies the remains of an ancient forest. To bring this secret landscape to life, local artist Emma Smith has created a site-specific artwork, ‘Gwelen’. To find her wooden ‘seeing sticks’, join the section of the South West Coast Path that connects Marazion and Penzance. This unique installation is accompanied by a podcast, which will introduce you to Emma Smith and her work.
Nothing says, ‘Welcome to Cornwall!’ quite like a wander through the narrow streets of a historic fishing village. This 3.6-mile route follows the coast from Penzance, through the working harbour of Newlyn, past the busy fish market and into Mousehole – with plenty of cosy pubs to duck into along the way. An easy route that will take around an hour each way. See the route here.
Travel deep into West Cornwall to the magical little village of Zennor and you will find a big yellow pub that is a destination in its own right. The Gurnard’s Head is an old coaching inn known for its warm welcome, excellent food and use of seasonal Cornish ingredients. Enjoy a walk along the coastal path before cosying up by the log fire for a gastronomic feast or their popular Sunday lunch.
Retreat to a cosy self-catering cottage or book a stylish hotel in the heart of town. Discover the perfect seaside stay for your winter in Cornwall.
Visit out of season and step into an adventure. Explore our entire collection of inspiring itineraries and plan a great day out.
Many of the activities in our itineraries are accessible. Click on each individual experience to find out more about its accessibility. 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.
Enjoy updates from local experts and find information about upcoming events.
Discover the many ways you can get out there and explore without relying on your car.
We’re hoping to make every stay as sustainable as possible. Find out more here.
This listing has been curated by the EXPERIENCE West Cornwall team and was correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We advise that you contact the venue or provider directly to confirm any seasonal opening details and to book the experience.
