Things to Do
One of the marvellous things about Bosavern House is its location amidst unchanging landscapes and tranquility. Yet, it is within easy reach of all the pleasures and attractions which West Cornwall has to offer, providing endless choices for all ages and energy levels.
Here are some of many things which you might like to consider whilst you are staying with us.
Sightseeing
Just travel around the area (we can give you ideas and an itinerary if you wish) – enjoy the breathtaking scenery, explore some of the fishing coves, visit a beautiful garden, step back into time in an ancient stone circle and, along the way, find somewhere to indulge in the best food and drink which Cornwall has to offer.
Countryside
Walking – in addition to the glorious South West coastal footpath there are many other lovely routes to wander along, including the Tinners Way across the moors to St Ives; and St Michaels Way which crosses the peninsula from St Michael’s Mount to St Uny Church at Lelant.
Natural history – here is birdwatching, at its best – especially during the spring and autumn migration time; the spectacular flora and fauna of the cliffs and hedgerows never fail to delight; then there is the excitement of looking for marine life including seals, dolphins and basking sharks. Marine and wildlife tours are also available locally.
Golfers can enjoy a round at the dramatic course above Cape Cornwall; horse-lovers can ride out from the stables at Lelant, near St Ives; cyclists can follow the Cornish Way or just follow their fancy!
To read more about wildlife in Cornwall, pease visit Cornwall Wildlife Trust and RSPB.
Beaches and the Coast
Swimming, surfing and water sports – there are many lovely sandy beaches close by, with the beach at Sennen being renowned amongst surfers; alternatively sailing, windsurfing and kite surfing are popular in Mounts Bay. Fishing is another option – from beach, rocks or boat. Away from the beaches, the coastline of west Cornwall is a great attraction for climbers.
Archaeology and History
Discover the UNESCO World Heritage site (this includes Bosavern House and St Just) which recognises the historic significance of our mining landscape and its international legacy. At the Geevor mining museum you can even don a hard hat and feel what life might have been like for the miners underground.
West Cornwall has been inhabited for over 6000 years and has a wealth of ancient monuments, stone circles and prehistoric field systems to delight any visitor, as well as the monuments from more recent history such as St Michael’s Mount, Pendennis Castle and many lovely historic houses.
Art and Culture
During the summer months, no visit is complete without an evening at the glorious open-air Minack Theatre. Perched upon the cliffs at Porthcurno you can enjoy a play or a musical with the sparkling blue sea providing a magical backdrop. We will be happy to provide you with a sumptuous picnic… and blankets on cooler evenings.
With its exceptional quality of light, West Cornwall has long been an inspiration for artists. Whilst the Tate at St Ives, the Newlyn and Penlee Art Galleries are best known, there is a wealth of smaller arts and crafts galleries to discover.
Bird Watching
Bosavern House is ideally situated for access to the key birdwatching sites of the Land’s End peninsula, which is renowned for migrants and, in particular, the number of unusual species which arrive at different times of the year.
Due to its geographical location, the far west of Cornwall is afforded many bird watching highlights.
We are on a migration route that sees thousands and thousands of seabirds pass by with rare warblers, chiff chaffs and buntings among a number of others making stops on their way. Early spring (March to early May) and autumn (October to November) is an especially fantastic time to visit.
During these periods, rare birds get blown off course and can be found in the valleys taking a sheltered break before they attempt to continue their journey. These valleys are in walking distance from Bosavarn Guest House with Cot Valley just across the fields, Nanquidno and Nanjulian to the south and Kenidjack to the north. You are able to walk between each valley via the South West Coast Path or take the inland footpaths through farmlands. The town of St Just in Penwith links them all. We are also just a short drive from more local birding hotspots - Porthgwarra, Polgigga and Nanjizal.
Rare species or uncommon birds that can be found nearby include those that find themselves in the far west from their eastern homelands such as Siberian Chiff Chaff or famously the Dalmatian Pelican from Poland.
Excitingly, we get visits from America of birds which wouldn’t normally be found in the UK. A recent example is the Grey Catbird, discovered in the Land’s End area. This bird’s home is North America, however migrates to the southern states for winter.
It is not only the spring/autumn migratory times that bring in the special visitors. In the same year as the Pelican, we had a brief visit from a Bearded Vulture (also known as a Lammergeier) that arrived in February. Snowy Owls can also be a rare winter treat.
Pendeen Watch, Gwennap Head and Cape Cornwall are fantastic spots to sea watch from where you can easily view Gannets and Manx Shearwaters as well as marine life including minke whales and porpoises but at the right time of year, see large passages of Guillemots and Kittiwakes.
Birding in Cornwall is not just about the visitors as we are home to a variety of bird life including Cornwall’s national bird, the red-billed chough, known locally as the Cornish chough.
Having become extinct from its Cornish stronghold in the 1970’s, three choughs now known to have flown over from Ireland, made the southerly tip of Cornwall their home. Now, the far west has approximately ¾’s of Cornwall’s wild chough population residing on its coast. A delight still when you do, it is very hard to not see (or hear) them if you take a walk along the cliffs between Pendeen and Porthgwarra.
Hayle Estuary which is an RSPB reserve is a great place to spot waders such as egrets or spoonbill among the more common species. There are a number of fantastic spots to bird watch from in the area such as Drift Reservoir, Porthgwarra (Gwennap Head) or Marazion Marsh.
Bosavarn Guest House makes a great base for your day trip to Isles of Scilly on the Scillonian where guides on board will point out marine life and sea birds on the way. The RSPB has volunteers running this service every Friday during sailing times.
Cornwall Bird Watching and Preservation Society is Cornwall’s official society for recording bird sightings and numbers in Cornwall and have a sightings database online which is updated regularly http://www.cbwps.org.uk/cbwpsword/sightings/
Other useful links:
https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/hayle-estuary/
https://www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk/
https://www.islesofscilly-travel.co.uk/scillonian-iii/
Key sites of interest:
Porthgwarra: (7 miles) is the favourite haunt of birdwatchers who are seeking migrants, especially the more unusual and rare. The most popular area is to the west of Porthgwarra, towards Nanjizel although the eastward stretch of coast towards St Levan church can sometimes be equally rewarding.
Marazion Marsh: (10 miles) is a freshwater marsh which is easily accessible and provides a rich wetland habitat. Again, this is an area which attracts unusual visitors, especially during migration.
Hayle Estuary: (13 miles) is a small estuary which provides wonderfully close views of a wide range of waders and waterfowl. The RSPB reserve, with parking and viewing hide at Ryan’s field are located next to the B3301 between Lelant and Hayle.
The Lizard Peninsula: (29 miles) is the most southerly peninsula in England and is a recognised conservation area. Goonhilly Downs and the numerous coves again provide a wide and rich range of habitats which will reward the birdwatcher and general naturalist.
The Isles of Scilly: (just 15 – 20 mins flying time from St Just airport) are well worth a day-trip for those who have the time. Bosavern House is only a few minutes from the airport and therefore provides an extremely convenient location for those travelling to or from the Scillies.
Other sites of interest which are within 5 miles of Bosavern House include: Sennen Cove and Whitesand Bay; Cot Valley (which is directly below, and accessible from, Bosavern House); Cape Cornwall; Drift Reservoir, Kenidjack; Pendeen; St Just airfield and Nanquidno Valley; Carn Brea and any of the higher moorland which backs on to the St Just/St Ives road.
There is a very useful website which provides daily updates of unusual bird sightings in the area – as well as other helpful and interesting local information.
Theme Parks and Attractions
These include Lands End, Flambards, Poldark Mine, the Seal Sanctuary and Paradise Park.
For further ideas, please visit one of the tourist information sites or our places to visit page.