Discover Saint Mawes: Castle, beaches and coastal paths

Saint Mawes combines a distinctive castle history with beaches, waterside paths and seasonal events. Ferries and the regatta have their own timetable and date arrangements; check these before travelling.

St Mawes Castle and the history of the Fal

St Mawes Castle stands on a headland directly opposite Pendennis Castle. Its location is closely connected with its historic role: for more than 400 years, the castle guarded the mouth of the River Fal. It is thought to be the best-preserved example of an artillery fort from the time of Henry VIII. This makes the building a notable point of interest if you are interested in the region’s defence history.

The guns are also part of this history. The castle has a collection of 15 cannon and guns dating from the mid-16th to the 19th century. The collection therefore spans several different eras. A visit to the castle is easy to connect with a view of its setting: the fort stands directly opposite the site at Pendennis and guarded the mouth of the Fal for centuries.

Church art and a historic well

Another way to explore the town’s history is to visit the Church of St Mawes. Three windows in the south aisle depict the story of Saint Mawes; they were created by Francis W. S. Keat. The windows bring together a specific artistic contribution and the town’s patron saint, complementing the castle’s military history with a religious and local perspective.

St Mawes Holy Well also has its own dating: it is attributed to the 6th century, while the arch dates from the 15th century or later. The two dates refer to different parts or aspects of the well. When visiting historic sites, this distinction helps you avoid confusing the attributed early date with the later architectural feature.

Beaches, the Percuil and waterside paths

The two beaches differ mainly in their locations. Summers Beach lies east of Saint Mawes harbour; Tavern Beach is between the town and the castle. Both are sandy beaches with rock pools. Local access conditions may vary, so it is a good idea to check the conditions on site before your visit. Their different locations also help you fit each beach into your plans around the harbour, town and castle.

At the River Percuil, footpaths in Saint Mawes run along both banks. They offer opportunities for birdwatching. You can also go paddling on the river’s sheltered waters and in its creeks. Kayaking and walking appeal to different interests along the same waterway: on the water, the focus is on the Percuil and its creeks; on land, it is on the riverside paths and the chance to watch birds. Check the conditions and availability of kayaking before your trip.

The regatta and seasonal ferry services

The Saint Mawes Regatta takes place in late July or early August and has been running for more than 120 years. The local sailing club also holds regattas and other racing events; programme details may vary. If you want to plan your trip around the regatta, confirm the current event dates in advance. This lets you plan a visit around a long-standing tradition while keeping the seasonal schedule in mind.

The ferry between Saint Mawes and Falmouth runs all year round. From April to October, departures from Prince of Wales Pier in Falmouth to Saint Mawes are available every hour on the hour. The crossing across the harbour takes about 20 minutes, although journey times depend on conditions. Check the timetable before travelling and allow a little extra time for the crossing.

In summer, a small ferry also runs from Saint Mawes to Place on the south side of the River Percuil. This is a seasonal service to a different destination from Falmouth, so it should be considered as a separate part of your plans. The year-round ferry service, seasonal departures and small summer ferry operate within different time frames. If you choose Saint Mawes as your base, plan your day around the relevant service and its current timetable.

Discover more destinations: Landewednack, Marhamchurch, Gooseham, St Pinnock, St Teath, Gerrans, Carlyon Bay, Sladesbridge.

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