St Mawes hotels

Hotels in St Mawes

The historic town of St Mawes lies opposite Falmouth on the Roseland Peninsula in south Cornwall. Its location is on a geological feature known as the Carrick Roads, which was created when melt water floods at the end of the Ice Age caused a rise in sea level and formed an immense natural harbour, often claimed to be one of the world's largest.

History

St Mawes takes its name from the Celtic St Maudez, who is usually associated with Brittany, but might have come originally from Ireland. The most prominent historical feature is the beautifully preserved coastal fortress, St Mawes Castle built at the time of Henry VIII to guard against continental threats. Like so many favourably located, sheltered and accessible Cornish ports, St Mawes was also a flourishing fishing town until the industry's general decline, and throughout the 20th century its stature as a tourist attraction has steadily grown.

The Roseland Peninsula

From St Mawes hotels you can explore one of the loveliest areas of Cornwall. The Roseland Peninsula has a wealth of classic beaches, craggy cliffs, quiet rivers and unspoilt countryside. The villages, such as St Anthony, St Just in Roseland, Veryan and Tregony will delight you at every turn. Warmed by the Gulf Stream and known for its mild southern climate, Roseland really comes alive in the summer months, with carnivals, fetes, regattas and gig races, agricultural shows and more. This sheltered warm part of the county is also famous for its lush gardens, such as the nearby Trelissick.

Restaurants and cafés

From the freshest fish to great coffee and cream teas, you will find plenty of locally sourced beautifully prepared food in and around St Mawes. The Watch House is a bright and welcoming harbour side restaurant with glorious sea views and a varied contemporary menu for both lunch and dinner. Try the restaurant at the St Mawes Hotel for carefully sourced local ingredients used to create delicious international cuisine and a really relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Serious fish lovers might like to pop into Falmouth and try Rick Stein's Fish, which serves some of the legendary chef's favourite dishes such as grilled sea bream fillets, grilled lobster and shucked oysters. There's perfect fish and chips, tiger prawns and fish chilli burgers at the takeaway too!