Places to Visit in Cornwall By Train or Bus and With a Dog
Cornwall is one of my favourite places for a UK holiday, especially for coastal dog walks, fishing villages, beaches and fresh seafood. This guide covers the places in Cornwall I’ve visited myself, including Polperro, Looe, Fowey, Mousehole, Penzance, St Ives, Bude, Polzeath and St Michael’s Mount.
I’ve explored Cornwall on solo trips by train, camping holidays, family breaks and dog-friendly adventures with Henry. Most visits have been by public transport: I arrive at the nearest railway station, then take the local bus.
Handy Railway Stations in Cornwall
Cornwall has a selection of railway stations which I’ve utilised for my adventures, most of which pass through Plymouth or require a change there before crossing the Royal Albert Bridge over the River Tamar into Cornwall. Popular coastal towns with train stations include Penzance, St Ives, Falmouth, Looe and Newquay. You can organise train travel via the RailEurope website from many places in the UK. Trains in the UK are dog-friendly, and there is no charge for dogs; use a lead, and there’s a limit of 2 pets per passenger.
From these and some inland stations, you can use the local bus service provided by Transport for Cornwall. These require some planning and backup plans in case of train cancellations. You can find out the latest pet rules for the three bus companies operating in Cornwall on the Transport for Cornwall website.
Places to Visit in Cornwall By Train or Bus
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Polperro
The fishing village of Polperro is in southern Cornwall. Polperro is in the tree-lined Pol valley; the river runs into the tidal harbour. It has gift shops, a smuggling museum, and art galleries.
It also has a small beach near the harbour, which is ideal for a paddle or a dip. The path leads to Chapel Pool, a natural swimming pool. This becomes a pool after half-tide and quickly warms up in the sunlight.
There are various activities to take part in, including hiking on the South West Coast Path. This is a very nice but challenging walk via secluded bays and rugged cliffs. Watersports are also on the menu, and harbour kayaking is popular.
Fishing trips are available daily in the warmer months, where you can take a boat ride and catch your supper, primarily mackerel. Crabbing from the dock is a popular and relaxing pastime, catching shore crabs while others admire the working port. It is a top destination for seafood; local dog-friendly pubs and restaurants make it their speciality. One of the village’s top culinary experiences is the Three Pilchards Inn.
The nearest railway station is Looe, which requires a change in Liskeard. From there, you can choose a bus service based on your arrival time.
Looe
In the southeast of the county is Looe, a delightful town and fishing port. Looe is a great place to visit with a dog or stay for a holiday, with beautiful scenery and plenty of seafood restaurants. The beach is a popular attraction, as is fishing off the harbourside. Looe Harbour also offers a choice of boat trips.
The area has a beautiful coastline, and the paths around Looe are scenic for walking. After a walk, Looe has many pubs and restaurants, including pet-friendly ones. While visiting Looe, we took a fishing trip, which Henry loved. You will find a choice of accommodation in Looe, including holiday homes, hotels and campsites. We stayed at the pet-friendly Tencreek Holiday Park for a budget camping holiday near Looe.
Looe is a coastal town with a train station a short walk from the central area, making it perfect for a railway holiday.
Fowey
Fowey is a picture-perfect town with views of the sea and the river. The town also has an interesting history dating back to the Norman Invasion in 1066. There are plenty of restaurants to dine out at or pick up picnic supplies for the beach. The most popular beach is Readymoney Cove, which is perfect for swimming.
One highlight for me was the variety of walks, including one to St Catherine’s Castle, which overlooks the River Fowey. Two major hiking trails run through the Cornish town: The Saints’ Way and the South West Coast Path.
Fowey’s nearest railway stations are Par and St. Austell, which have bus connections to the town. You can also arrive via Looe Station, then catch a bus to the Polruan ferry into the town centre.
Mousehole
Mousehole is a fishing village on Cornwall’s coast with plenty to do. The village is very picturesque and is a great place to take photos or for artists to paint. It is quite quaint, with minimal facilities but fantastic views and an interesting harbour to explore.
Mousehole is on the shore of Mount’s Bay; about 350 metres offshore from the harbour entrance lies St Clement’s Isle, not quite as well known as nearby St Michael’s Mount. The village is in the Cornwall National Landscape, meaning it has the same status and protection as a national park.
The village was first mentioned in 1283. Records show that in the 12th century, local fishermen exported pilchards from here to France. Along with Marazion, Mousehole was one of the principal ports in Mount’s Bay.
At times, the harbour is a hive of activity, while at others it feels peaceful; it is a great place to mooch about and see the boats in action. The harbour has a seawall, which is great for walking along and enjoying the views. It is a tidal harbour, meaning that at low tide the sand is exposed, so you can do beach activities while the sea is out.
To get to Mousehole, take a train to Penzance, a major transport hub, then continue on the number 6 service.
Penzance
Penzance is a pleasant base for a holiday in Cornwall, with plenty of hotel and guesthouse options. The town is at the end of the train line into Cornwall, thus making it easy to reach from the rest of the UK. Penzance has independent shops and a market that sells fresh Cornish pasties and other local produce. The local seafront is perfect for a stroll, and St Michael’s Mount is visible from the town as a backdrop.
I visited several pubs and restaurants in the town, including The Dolphin Tavern for a meal and a beer. The Navy Inn and Admiral Benbow are also pleasant for a pint of local beer or cider. I stayed in a seafront B&B on my last stay, which was convenient for day trips by bus or train.
Penzance is one of the easiest places to reach from outside the county, with direct trains from major UK cities, including London.
St Ives
St Ives is absolutely stunning and a popular place for tourists, artists and foodies. There are loads of things to see and do, including hiking, sea-related activities and art attractions. A highlight of my trip was the boat trip to Seal Island to see some Cornish wildlife.
The town has excellent sandy beaches in the centre and in Carbis Bay. I also enjoy spending time in the harbour that stocks the local eateries with fresh seafood, my favourite. A meal out in St Ives was a half lobster at The Sloop Inn, a wonderful place for locally caught seafood. St Ives is best known for its art, with lots of galleries and painters painting the views.
To reach St Ives by train, change at St Erth, then continue along the coast via Carbis Bay, a popular beach destination.
Marazion & St Michael’s Mount
St Michael’s Mount is a small tidal island in Marazion, on Mount’s Bay. A granite causeway links the island to the town of Marazion, which offers excellent views of the island. Walking across the causeway in the sea between mid-tide and low water is fun. At high tide, you need to take a boat ride to and from the island. The harbour on The Mount is nice to look around before entering the paid areas.
St Michael’s Mount has a long history, dating back to the Neolithic era. Between the early 8th and 11th centuries, the mount was home to a monastery; however, the oldest buildings on the island date to the 12th century, including the castle.
Marazion is a pleasant village with an expansive sandy beach and pubs for refreshments. One of the best pubs is The Godolphin, mainly for its delicious food and terrace with magnificent views of the island.
The nearest railway station to Marazion is Penzance, from where you can catch the 2 or 2a bus into the village. This route also covers some cool places like Praa Sands, Porthleven and Helston.
Polruan
Polruan is a small village at the mouth of the River Fowey, and it is easy to reach Fowey by ferry. It has a nice harbour, a small beach and a castle. We found a few places for food and drink on our visit, as well as some small village stores. You can also enjoy coastal walks from the village.
You can get to Polruan via Looe Train Station, then catch a bus to Polruan.
Millendreath in Cornwall
Millendreath is mainly a resort with a bistro and bars on the beach; it’s about a 30-minute walk from Looe along the coastal path. From my observations, it’s a great place to stay, especially with a family. The resort offers stand-up paddleboards and kayaks for hire. It is on the South West Coast Path, a long-distance walking route.
Millendreath Beach is nice; it has soft sand and faces south, so it can get a bit hot on a warm day. The beach nearly disappears at high tide, with soft sand and rock pools to explore as the tide goes out. We enjoyed food out at the now-named Beach Shack, including some tasty seafood.
For public transport, you can catch the number 10 bus towards Liskeard to the top of the hill overlooking Millendreath, then walk downhill to the beach restaurant.
Is Cornwall Worth Visiting Without A Car?
I love visiting Cornwall by public transport, and it is one of my favourite destinations in the UK. The coast is my favourite part, especially the quaint villages and walking routes. I’ve visited many times throughout the year, including spring, summer and autumn. The local beer and food are also special, especially the fresh seafood and the Cornish pasties.