Make the most of your stay in Cornwall!
About Us
Tours: Poldark, Doc Martin, Rosamunde Pilcher, West and North Cornwall
Here at Meneage Tours we offer private tours of the Lizard Peninsula and West Cornwall. In addition, we can take youto the famous filming locations for Poldark, Doc Martin and the Rosamunde Pilcher series. The tours are itinerary based but we are happy to tailor them individually if you have any special requests on where you want to go. Either way, a tour with us is always delivered in comfort and flair in our top of the range Audi Q7.
You can choose to visit one or several of Cornwall’s beautiful gardens, or beautiful places such as Frenchman’s Creek, Lizard Point, St Michaels Mount, Porthcurno, Cape Cornwall, St Ives or Botallack, where the famous Poldark series was filmed. The choice is yours.
There are plenty of ways to travel to Cornwall, be it planes or trains. Meneage Tours will happily collect you from Newquay airport or one of the local train stations and take you to your accommodation. Alternatively we can collect you from all national airports, train stations and seaports. A seamless journey awaits you with Meneage Tours for a door to door service from anywhere in the UK.
If you’re struggling to find accommodation then we can recommend places, from B&Bs to Hotels. We will always pick you up from your accommodation to begin a tour.
What we have to offer
Tours of the Lizard Peninsula, North and West Cornwall
The Lizard Peninsula
It is thought that the name Lizard actually comes from the Cornish word “lysardh” which literally means “high court” but could also be interpreted as “fortress” given the high cliffs of the peninsula. A Lizard Tour will generally look like this:
Frenchman’s Creek
This stunning emerald-watered inlet was made famous by Daphne Du Maurier’s classic novel of the same name. It’s not hard to see why she was so inspired to write about this hidden part of the Helford River.
Helford Village
Helford was once an important port. This is difficult to believe today, as you’ll see when we approach the sleepy little place on the banks of the Helford River. Trading ships once brought French rum, tobacco and lace from the continent and the duty was collected at the old custom house. During the Napoleonic Wars, pirates and free traders populated the reaches of the river.
Porthallow
Situated between St Keverne on the Lizard and the Helford River, Porthallow is a small village whose pub’s name, The Five Pilchards, indicates the traditional occupation of its inhabitants. The old pilchard cellars can still be seen near the beach. It is also the halfway point of the Southwest Coast path meaning that hikers have walked 315 miles from the start point.
Terence Coventry Sculpture Park
This unusual little sculpture park is about 10 minutes walk to the south of Coverack, contained in three small meadows astride the old coast path. There are usually about 25 monumental sculptures on display and the views are incredible.
Goonhilly Satellite Earth Station
We then move onto to Goonhilly Downs in the centre of the Peninsula. Some say the Downs look like the African Savannah in certain light! Here we can see Goonhilly Satellite Earth Station which is a large radio-communication site. It was at one time the largest satellite earth station in the world, with more than 25 communications dishes in use and over 60 in total.
Kynance Cove
With its glorious white sand, beautiful scenic views, and secluded south facing aspect, Kynance Cove is considered one of the best beaches in Britain. The child-friendly beach is perfect for family beach holidays, and with ample parking in close proximity to the cove, it’s easily accessible.
Cadgwith
This village is everybody’s idea of an archetypal fishing village with its tight cluster thatched cottages lining the sides of the valley and the small fleet of colourful fishing boats winched up on the shingle beach.
Lizard Point
Next we visit the most southerly point in Great Britain. It is famous for the local serpentine stone, a unique metamorphic rock which is dark green veined with red and white. The point has a lighthouse, and old lifeboat house and a couple of fantastic cafes. If you’re lucky, you’ll see seals bobbing about in the waves and an elusive Cornish Cough surfing the air by the cliffs.
Mullion Cove
On the west coast of the Lizard Peninsula is a small sandy beach, mostly covered at high tide, beside the historic lifeboat station and picturesque Mullion harbour. There is a great cave to explore at low tide where waves often crash through from the seaward entrance. If you come at high tide in the summer months, you will often see the local children harbour-jumping here.
Church Cove
If we move further up the coast, we find Church Cove Beach at Gunwalloe, which is a sheltered, south west-facing cove and is home to one of the more curiously-sited of Cornwall’s old churches, the church of St Winwaloe (St Wynwallow). Located at the northern end of the beach, the church is separated from the sea only by the rocky hump of Castle Mound, whilst its detached bell tower is actually dug into the cliff side.
More recently, Church Cove and adjoining Dollar Cove have been made famous by regular appearances in Poldark.
Porthleven
Porthleven is a town, civil parish and fishing port near Helston in Cornwall. It is the most southerly port on the island of Great Britain and was originally developed as a harbour of refuge, when this part of the Cornish coastline was recognised as a black spot for wrecks in the days of sail.
Wheal Prosper
I then take you over to Rinsey and Wheal Prosper. This mine was opened in 1860 and produced mainly tin but definitely did not live up to its name and closed in 1866. The engine house is constructed of slate from quarries on the clifftops nearby and was used for pumping water out of the mine. Due to the crumbly nature of slate, the engine house is strengthened with granite blocks along the edges (known as quoins) which act as pillars to hold the weight of the tall structure.
PRICE: £275 per day for up to 4 passengers. Price includes everything apart from food and drink and entrance to attractions. For larger groups please email for price and availability.
West Cornwall: Poldark & Rosemunde Pilcher
Once you have been picked up from your hotel, we will head straight for the beautiful Mounts Bay.
St Michael’s Mount
An island and a civil parish which is linked to Marazion by a man-made causeway of granite, passable between mid-tide and low water. The population is 35. It is managed by the National Trust, and the castle and chapel have been the home of the St Aubyn family since 1650.
Newlyn
Next we’ll stop at the home of one of the largest fishing fleets in the UK. The industry is one of the most important in the county. All sorts of fishing vessels can be seen in the harbour – beam trawlers, long liners, crabbers and even small open boats used for hand-lining for mackerel in the Bay.
Mousehole
We’ll then head over to the tiny fishing village of Mousehole. Its picturesque harbour is surrounded by narrow streets and yellow lichened houses, which huddle together creating a stunning location.
Lamorna Cove
This gorgeous small pebble beach is beside the impressive harbour breakwater and quay with lots of large boulders where perhaps a beach should be!
Porthcurno
You will be bowled over by this Caribbean-esque location, but it is so much more than a stunning beach. Porthcurno was once the centre of world telecommunication and, until recently, there was a training school for that industry to which people came from all over the world. The Porthcurno Telegraph Museum remains as a testament to the past. It incorporates tunnels well below the surface that used to house top secret equipment during the Second World War.
Nearby is the spectacular The Minack Theatre, a world famous open-air theatre, carved into the granite cliff and set in glorious gardens overlooking the spectacular panorama of Porthcurno Bay.
Penberth Cove
This picturesque cove still supports a small fishing fleet – the boats now being hauled up the slip (or cauance as it is known locally) by an electric winch, rather than the spectacular capstan, which is still in situ.
Porthgwarra
This secluded little cove complete with a slipway, caves, tunnels and tiny stone hut, evokes bygone days of smugglers and pirates. At the foot of the slipway there is a tunnel leading upwards – it was dug by miners from St Just to allow access to the beach so that farmers could retrieve seaweed by horse and cart. The seaweed was then used as fertiliser.
The other tunnel leads to the sea and was used by fishermen who would store live shellfish in tidal ‘hulleys’ built into this tunnel for their weekly trip to market.
The scene where Demelza spies on Ross Poldark swimming was filmed here.
Land’s End
Otherwise known as Peal Point, Land’s End is a modest headland. It has a particular resonance because it is often used to suggest distance. Land’s End to John o’ Groats in Scotland is a distance of 838 miles (1,349 km) by road and this Land’s End to John o’ Groats distance is often used to define charitable events such as end-to-end walks and races in the UK.
Cape Cornwall
This is a smaller headland in West Cornwall. It is four miles north of Land’s End near the town of St Just. Until the first Ordnance Survey, 200 years ago, Cape Cornwall was believed to be the most westerly point in Cornwall.
Unlike Land’s End it isn’t commercialised and retains it’s rugged beauty and charm.
Botallack
Near St Just, this is one of the best preserved centres for mining structures. Located on the north coast of the far west of Cornwall a between St Just and Pendeen, this area is littered with the remains of the once great mining industry.
Perhaps the best known of the eleven engines of the Botallack mines are the Crowns engine houses, now protected as part of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site.
The site has also found worldwide status as being “Wheal Leisure” in the BBC Drama “Poldark”.
The B3306 Road
A stunning route from St Just to St Ives , this road is in the “Top 5” scenic roads to drive on in Cornwall. Whatever the weather the sweeping bends, short straights and tight turns will keep you gasping and the views are spectacular as well.
St Ives
St Ives is well known for its vibrant colours, where golden sands meet turquoise sea. Also, the seafront situated Tate St Ives gallery has rotating modern art exhibitions, focusing on British artists. Nearby, the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, in the modernist artist’s former studio, displays her bronzes and other works.
Lelant, a few miles away, is the birthplace of Rosemunde Pilcher.
PRICE: £275 per day for up to 4 passengers. Price includes everything apart from food and drink and entrance to attractions. For larger groups please email for price and availability.
North Cornwall: Doc Martin & King Arthur
Fistral Beach, Newquay
We start the day overlooking Fistral Beach in Newquay to see the stunning scenery and Pentire Headland. Newquay is the home of surfing in the UK, and Fistral has attracted world renowned surfers since the 1960s. Just around the corner is a 13th century Huer’s Hut which offers a panoramic view up the coastline. These huts were originally lookouts for spotting shoals of pilchards and can be found along the coast near to fishing villages.
Watergate Bay
Heading north, we stop at Watergate Bay then head inland to the ancient monastery and village of St Mawgan. We’ll see the 13th century church and the Lanherne Carmelite Convent before taking a stroll around this special village.
Bedruthan Steps
Back out on the coast, we head for the Bedruthan Steps, one of the most photographed and painted coastal views in Cornwall; with the stunning backdrop you can see why they used it for the opening scenes in the TV series “Poldark”. The cafe is a great place for morning coffee, or even a Cornish cream tea with jam and clotted cream.
Padstow
Onto Padstow, which has been made famous by the seafood chef Rick Stein, this medieval fishing port which was the landing point for 6th century Pilgrims. The town also has one of Britain’s oldest pagan festivals “Obbyoss” which is held annually on 1st May each year which celebrates the beginning of Spring.
After visiting Prideaux Place which is a country house and deer park, we’ll have free time to take a walk around the harbour and shops and maybe to try a pasty.
Port Isaac or Portwenn
After rounding the Camel Estuary and driving through Wadebridge, we wind our way on towards the now famous Port Isaac or Portwenn home of the quirky Doc Martin and the more recent Fisherman’s Friends movie. Exploring this village is best done on foot and we’ll drop you here to explore the tiny streets, have lunch and view the filming sites should you wish. We then pick you up and continue North up the coast.
Tintagel
The dramatic cliffs and rolling farmland continues, as we head for Tintagel and its Arthurian legend. We’ll park up by the Norman Church St Materiana’s above the town (and church wedding venue for Doc Martin) to walk the coast path for a breath-taking view over this iconic island and and to talk about the links with King Arthur and to see the new bridge spanning the headland and island.
Boscastle
Our last coastal stop is Boscastle, one of the oldest harbours in Cornwall made famous by the flood of 2004! It’s a great place to walk the old cobbled street, and enjoy the view over the ancient harbour walls and dramatic headlands… and enjoy a creamy Cornish icecream!
If we have time before dropping you at your hotel we’ll see Bodmin Moor which was home to some of Cornwall’s earliest settlers from Neolithic times. Dozmary Pool is nearby where King Arthur has allegedly thrown “The Sword of Excalibur” although there are a variety of different scenarios!
Although this is our suggested itinerary, please feel free to contact us to adapt the tour to suit you, or chat with your us at the beginning of the day if you have any firm favourites to visit.
PRICE: £295 for a day
Meet Doug Evans, your tour operator
I have lived in Cornwall all my life and for the past ten years I have been running my own successful taxi firm in the area. My favourite thing to do when I am not working is walking the coastal path with my wife Tracy and our two Border Terriers, Dave and Daisy.
Over the years I have increasingly been asked to take visitors to see places of interest rather than simply dropping them from one place to another. As I love meeting new people and have such a passion for the local area, it made sense for my business to evolve into Meneage Tours.
Cornwall is so diverse as a county, from the rugged beauty of the north coast down to the rolling hills of the south. However, the far south of the Lizard and the West over from Mounts Bay up to St Ives are where my favourite parts to explore.
Please join me on one of my tours in Cornwall so that I can show you the sheer beauty of the area and the location points for Poldark, Doc Martin and the Rosamunde Pilcher series!
Doug
Explore
Popular Attractions
Kynance Cove:
There is something very special about Kynance Cove. With its white sand and beautiful scenic views, it is widely regarded as one of the best beaches in Britain. The water is as blue as the Caribbean and the cliffs are made up of red and green serpentine rocks. Truly stunning.
St Ives:
St Ives is one of the most picturesque seaside towns in the UK. It has been voted one of TripAdvisor’s top 10 European beaches. Take a leisurely stroll through the traditional cobbled streets and see the independent shops and fisherman’s cottages in the heart of town. Or take the chance to visit the Tate Gallery or the Hepworth Museum.
Poldark set locations:
Winston Graham's Poldark is synonymous with Cornwall following the airing of the hit BBC TV series in recent years. It has been filmed all over Cornwall, and Meneage Tours can give you a glimpse into its world. We can take you to walk along the famous beach where the night shipwreck scenes took place at Gunwalloe and to explore the cliffs at Botallack where you can see the Wheal Leisure Mine.
Rosemunde Pilcher film locations:
Much of the filming of the popular German television series of Rosamunde Pilcher's works took place in the beautiful county of Cornwall in England. If you are looking to visit some of these filming sites then you have come to the right place. Land's End, Penzance, St Ives, Mounts Bay and the Lizard Peninsula have often featured in the series and Meneage Tours can cover them! We can even take you to Rosemunde Pilcher's birthplace in Lelant.
Minack Theatre:
The Minack is a unique theatre perched on the cliffs high above the Atlantic ocean. One of the world's most famous outdoor theatres, it was lovingly carved into the rock by Rowena Cade and her gardener, Billy Rawlings, in 1931-1932 for local drama enthusiasts. Over the past 80 years, the theatre has evolved into today’s professionally-equipped venue which brings the very best amateur and professional theatre to the far west of Cornwall.
St Michael’s Mount:
A St Michael's Mount visit is not to be forgotten. Walk over the causeway at low tide, or cross by boat. Explore the sub-tropical gardens and medieval pathways of the tiny harbour and village. Climb up to the castle (look out for the Giant's heart!) for the most amazing views of Mounts Bay and immerse yourself in the tales of this legendary family home.
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