Heligan, Eden & Padstow in Easy Reach

"Great location for touring Cornwall. Some of the best scenery very close by!."
Amanda & Simon, Australia

Other than spending time relaxing in the gorgeous surroundings of Buttervilla there are lots of places nearby to visit.

Robert & Gill were both born and have always lived in South Cornwall so we know those special off the beaten track places to visit. Great walking routes, quiet beaches and where to get those gourmet treats. We are more than happy to print maps to help you find your way to those special places and to buy Eden Project tickets in advance, a must see day out for many of our guests.
Looking over Whitsands & Freathy beaches from Rame

Some of the very best beaches in Cornwall are located on the Rame Peninsula. From Buttervilla its just 2 miles to the Rame coast road. Whitsands and Freathy beaches offer miles of white sand and best of all they face west to get the last rays of the setting sun all year.

Throughout 2010, the hidden gem of Antony House less than 5 miles from Buttervilla will be transformed by the National Trust into a fabulous, surreal setting. Renowned British film director, Tim Burton, shot part of Disney’s forthcoming movie, Alice in Wonderland, inside the eighteenth century house, and within the confines of its magical grounds.

The much-anticipated Disney film is a staggering celebration of Tim Burton’s uniquely surrealist, Gothic vision. The film will be released this spring. Unusually, Antony House provided the only ‘real’ location for the film.

The National Trust has created the Alice in Wonderland Experience at Antony. It opens in the grounds of Antony House on 6 March.

We are situated on the 3000 acre Port Eliot Estate an historic Grade 1 listed house and gardens, open from 1st March until 30th June and should not be missed. In July the Estate hosts the wonderful Port Eliot Festival One of the UK’s most original, magical, bohemian, bookish, colourful, musical and comic festivals.
The Library at Port Eliot

This beautiful photograph of the Port Eliot Estate was taken during a burst of gorgeous spring weather.
Photography by Barry Gamble (barrypgamble@aol.com), part of a series of aerial photographs portraying Devon and Cornwall’s world-class mining heritage. Please www.cornish-mining.org.uk for more information.

There are a number of beautiful seaside towns and villages along the South East coast of Cornwall for you to explore. Many of our guests enjoy walking the coastal paths. We have a few favorites that offer a real taste of Cornwall. The stunning views available from the South West Coastal Path are just a couple of miles away. The walk passing through the nearby seaside town of Looe then Talland Bay and onto the historic fishing port of Polperro makes a fabulous day out with breath-taking sea views and hidden beaches to explore.

Another favorite is Daphne du Maurier country. Many of her novels and short stories are steeped in Cornish history and romance. Nearby Fowey, Menabilly and Ferryside were inspirations for her novels. Head off in the morning with our route map and slip into the magic kingdom of Daphne's south Cornwall.

Each year more cycle tracks are opening, the Camel Trail was one of the first; it's also one of the best scenic rides to be found anywhere. The bottom 6 miles is an easy ride running alongside the river Camel estuary from Wadebridge to meet the sea at Padstow, where you can stop off for fish and chips at Rick Stein's take-away, a real treat. Bikes can be hired from Wadebridge, Padstow or Bodmin.

Treat yourselves to a Steins fish & chips just 100 metres from the trail

The twin villages of Kingsands and Cawsands are just a short drive away. Very quaint with brightly coloured houses hugging the coastline. To the east is Mount Edgecumbe park and house and to the west a lovely stroll takes you to Rame Head with great views down the length of the South Cornish coast. Kingsands and Cawsands have a good range of eating places to recharge after a bracing walk.

Mount Edgecumbe park and house offer the opportunity to walk in the beauty of formal gardens. open countryside and deer park beside the sea. The Rame Peninsula is an area of Cornwall generally overlooked by those visiting the county so consequently it is a very peaceful location.


Freathy beach, miles of empty sand in Oct

The popular seaside town and fishing port of Looe is just seven miles from Buttervilla. Looe is a delightful mix of traditional Cornish fishing village and bustling holiday destination and also home to some of the best pasties in Cornwall, look out for Sarah's pasty shop for a tasty treat. There is a varied selection of eateries to tempt you and lots of activities, from shopping to fishing, to keep everyone entertained. For lots more images and archive video visit our Looe Maritime Archive and Cornish-Voices websites..