Goonhavern is a small Cornish village in an excellent position just two and a half miles inland from Perranporth, which lies in the heart of Poldark country, the setting for the novels of Winston Graham, who lived in Perranporth in the 1930s. Goonhavern is an active community with a traditional inn, village shop, garden centre and children’s playground. Once known as the source of the finest tin, the community still retains reminders of their rich heritage including abandoned pump houses, mine shafts and workers’ cottages. The nearby town of Perranporth has a beautiful sandy beach which at low tide stretches to three miles long and is overlooked by craggy rocks suitable for rock pooling. The beach is lifeguarded in summer, providing a popular family destination and hosted the 2016 British National Surfing Championships. Perranporth also offers a small selection of shops, restaurants and pubs including The Watering Hole, a unique pub situated on the sand in the middle of the beach offering live entertainment with a great atmosphere, good food and an amazing view of the sunset! The local Blue Hills museum and Perranzabuloe Folk Museum are both well worth a visit to understand the rich heritage of this coastal area. Further afield are the miles of sandy beaches at Crantock and Holywell Bay and the breathtaking coastal walks around St Agnes, much of it owned by the National Trust. For a greater selection of nightlife, restaurants and attractions, why not head for the coastal resort of Newquay (6 miles) Newquay is famed for its world-class surfing and has something for every taste and age including the popular Zoo, Waterworld indoor pool and the Blue Reef Aquarium. A perfect holiday base with activities to suit everyone. Truro (9 miles) the UK’s most Southerly city is a vibrant centre of shopping, farmers markets, culture and impressive architecture right in the heart of Cornwall. Centre stage is Truro Cathedral. You will also find the River Fal, here you can catch a boat trip to Falmouth from the riverbank.
