tonyee

I wouldnt be too worried about the busyness, especially the Roseland peninsular. You may have a bit of a queue waiting for the King Harry car ferry at certain times of the days, its about a half hour drive to avoid this though and a lovely drive.
Lands End is a mess of tacky overdevelopment, personally I wouldn't bother, but if it is on your bucket list go instead to Sennen Cove just around the corner which is much much nicer and has a pub overlooking the beach. Yes Fowey will have alot of tourists but for a reason , its lovely, especially in the evening with a glass overlooking the harbour watching the lights come on in Polruan on the other side. Truro is really nice and much nicer than Penzance imho but you will want to venture that way to see Marazion and St Michaels Mount

janisj

More like Muzzle - at least to my Yank ear . . .

tonyee

some suggestions for your journey back.

The drive from Sennen to St Ives is spectacular, the dry stone walls you see down to the sea are prehistoric. At St Ives, but do not drive into the town, park at St Erth train station just outside Hayle and as others have said catch the train, they are every half and hour or so.
As you are Doc Martin fans do not be put off by the admittedly nightmare traffic at times in Port Isaac. There is a decent car park at the top of the village, we've never had a problem getting in here during summer holidays.
Make time for a visit to Clovelly on the Devon coast, not to be missed if you havent seen it. There are lifts available form the bottom back up to the car park.
On your way to Lynton stop at the Hunters Inn EX31 4PY and take a shortish walk by the babling river to the rocky beach at Heddons Mouth. This area is a fragment of the temperate rainforest which will be stunning at this time of year, one of the lushest green ferny areas on the planet! take the clifftop coast road here to Lynton past Lee bay and through the Valley of Rocks almost priemeval forest with glimpses of the sea, fantastic in late spring.
Once through Cheddar if you have been to Bath before consider Wells Bradford on Avon or Corsham, lovely smalls towns. Or maybe stay in underated Bristol. On you way back to Heathrow on the Saturday, leave your journey until late in the afternoon when the roads will be less busy, it should only take just over a couple of hours max from that area
regards
Tony

aussie_10

Thanks Tony for your comprehensive suggestions. I am making notes and forming some great sightseeing ideas.
I appreciate your valuable insight of the area. And yes Tony we visited Clovelly on our first visit to the UK in 1982. I don't know how we stumbled on it but remember staying in a B&B for 5 pound a night, tasting our first scones with clotted cream and playing darts with the locals at the pub. In the morning, watching the sleds being pulled by the donkeys. Wonderful fond memories and I think we will have to make a stop there on our way north.

Here is my progress so far:

Lots of great ideas and recommendations from everyone.
I think I have organised our first week staying locations.

First night after picking up our car staying at a pub just north of Durdle Door. I tossed up whether to visit Durdle Door but it is quite an interesting limestone formation and it does seem a shame to miss it whilst in the area of the Jurassic Coast.
We will then make our way along the coast stopping at Cockington, before staying 1 night in the Totnes area. I again tossed up this location but it seems on the route to Fowey.
2 nights staying in Fowey, looking to enjoy the area.
3 nights in the St Ives area. Lots to see and do.

These are now booked but with a free cancellation if I need to move some things around.

I have not booked the next week yet, but am mindful that it is half term break.
We will then make our way north, stopping off in the Port Isaac area to stay a night or two (although not staying in Port Isaac, but a visit in the day)
Then onto the Lynton area and the Exmoor coast and beyond. I have a friend who is staying in Dunster at the moment and loves it. So I might look at that.
Probably move on to the Wells/ Cheddar Gorge area that was mentioned further up thread.

I am investigating everyones suggestions and value your ideas.

At the moment I am experiencing my first Covid infection, which has not been a nice episode and struggling.

tonyee

sorry to here that you are unwell, Dunster is a lovely village, hope the weather will be good for you, it is so unpredictable nowadays and

aussie_10

Still planning my trip.

From St Ives we plan to visit Port Isaac and a Tintagel. I was originally thinking of staying in the Port Isaac area for 2 nights. But I am rethinking that idea and thinking of driving from St Ives for a morning visit to Port Isaac and then on to Tintagel (9.5 miles) and then drive on to Bude for an overnight stay (20 miles). Is this too much?

The next day drive to Lynton stay (overnight or two) with a stop in Clovelly along the way.

This gives us extra days around Wells/ Bath area.

tonyee

Thats perfectly doable. if you stop in Port Isaac for lunch I would book a table in advance as it will probably be quite bust during the half term holiday. The Golden Lion by the harbour cheap and cheerful but if you fancy pushing the boat out there are two michelin star restaurants in the village both run by Nathan Outlaw who is well known as one of the best fish specialists there is.
My father was evacuated to Bude during the war and so had a soft spot for it but I never really saw what he saw in it. I think it must be the weather which has always been bleak when we visited ( haven't been for mmore than 10 years mind ).
The drive up to Lynton is fine for the next day, but don't miss the coastal route I suggested, at that time of year it will be the greenest place on the planet, and if the sun is out on the sea below, well spectacular.

aussie_10

Thanks Tonyee for your suggestions and especially booking somewhere for lunch in Port Isaac. I will look at the options, two Michelin star restaurants in a small village is very impressive.
Yes no particular reasons for stopping in Bude other than it is on the way north and will have quite a few accommodation options, although it will be a Saturday night, so quite busy.

We will be sure to take the coastal route for the scenery. I still have not booked anywhere after Bude, so looking at places /areas and options for the last few nights.

bilboburgler

because Cornwall's main industry is tourism you will find an interesting mixture of great wealth (2 Michelin in one village and Fowey) and great poverty in the area.