St Germans is a small village with a population of 600. It has a great village pub, The Eliot Arms
(01503 232733 - Open 11am-last orders) serving Cornish ales and excellent food all day. At the moment there is no longer a village shop, but there is a stall selling fruit, veg, farm produce, provisions, bread and pasties on Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays, and a bread, cakes and pasty stall in the chapel on Saturday mornings. There is also a brand new childrens playpark.
The quay, with the viaduct towering above it and
its sailing club, is a popular spot. The old part of the village,
which includes the railway station, is virtually unspoilt and has
been made a Conservation Area. There is a row of alms houses built during the reign
of Queen Elizabeth I and a terrace of former police houses complete with cells
built in the 1800's. St Germans and the Lyner Estuary
have been designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and
offer, in addition to the scenery, excellent opportunities for
walking, bird watching, fishing and sailing. The village has a parish church and methodist chapel. St Germans Rail Users Group is a voluntary group that was established to give local rail users a voice, to improve the service and facilities and to encourage use of the line.
The development of St Germans has been strongly influenced by the Port Eliot estate which adjoins the village on the northern side. The Norman parish church, formerly the cathedral of Cornwall and Port Eliot house are built on the site of an ancient priory. An excellent article appeared recently in Cornish World magazine called St Germans - a forgotten corner of Cornwall
PORT ELIOT HOUSE AND ESTATE
Port Eliot (01503 230211 - Open 1st Mar - 30th Jun) house and grounds opened to the public for the first time in 2008. Home to the Earl and Countess of St Germans, the house is one of the most magical and hidden stately homes in England. The Grade 1 listed house dates back as far as the 5th Century and was substantially altered by Sir John Soane at the turn of the 19th Century. The Eliots have lived at Port Eliot since the 16th Century and the current Earl, Peregrine St Germans, is the 10th Earl of St Germans.
During it's open months (check their website for full details) you'll not only have full access to the park and gardens, but you'll be able to tour the house's ground floor reception rooms, including the famous Round Room which boasts a 40ft mural by Robert Lenkiewicz. Covering the entire wall of the round room, the mural is in two halves, one side depicting death, destruction, insanity, unrequited love, and the apocalyptic end of the world, whilst the other reflects love, affection, friendship, harmony, proportion and consensus. Lenkiewicz called this work "The Riddle Mural" as concealed within the picture are various references to family skeletons, art history and cabalistic mysteries. Port Eliot also houses several masterpieces by Sir Joshua Reynolds, including one if his important early works, Group Portait of the Eliot Family, painted in 1746. Works of art by Romney, Ramsey, Van Dyck and many of the Dutch Old Masters can also be seen as well as interesting pieces of museum quality furniture, including an early Boule armoire.
On Wednesdays dog lovers can bring their pets to roam free in the park, a rarity in such landscapes. At other times dogs are welcome but must be kept on their leads at all times.
As a touring centre, St Germans is well postitioned, with good rail connections and the A38 only 2 miles away. Close by are the south coast beaches, fishing villages (including Looe and Polperro), Bodmin Moor and Dartmoor, Plymouth city centre (15 minutes by train, crossing Brunel's Royal Albert Bridge) and the preserved railways of the Bodmin and Wenford (08451 259678 - Trains operate from March to December) and the South Devon Railway (08453 451420 - Check website for full train schedule). The beautiful, Network Rail owned, Tamar Valley Line and the Looe Valley Line are only minutes away.
Bake Fishing Lakes (07798 585836 - Open all year, except Christmas Day) are
2 miles away and comprise 5 lakes offering both course and fly fishing in beautiful surroundings.
Equipment can be hired and tuition is available. Beginners are welcome. There are numerous National Trust properties, ancient monuments, golf courses and river trips within easy reach. Guests also have access to 10 acres of private woodland within 5 minutes walk. For those of you who like active holidays, we can recommend Active8, who will organise all your holiday needs, from horse riding to kayaking
For an evening out, The Halfway House (01503 230202) in the neighbouring village of Polbathic is only half a mile away
and also serves delicious home cooked food. Two miles down the road is the infamous Rod and Line pub (01752 851323) in Tideford, well known for its live music, excellent scallops and crab, and spit and sawdust atmosphere. Our local taxi service Ant's Taxis can be booked for a car free evening (07788 900222). Alternatively, the train times work out well for an evening spent in Liskeard, Saltash or Plymouth where there is a wealth of choice. The journey time is only 5 minutes to Saltash and the fare is around £2.
- Until the opening of the
road bridge in 1961, the car-ferry linking Torpoint with
Devonport and Plymouth was one of the main gateways to
Cornwall. Although not particularly worth a visit in itself, the ferry makes a pleasant alternative route into Plymouth. The town has banks, eateries and a supermarket.
- Tel: 01752 812191 - surrounded by thickly wooded gardens
and lawns sloping down to the Lyner estuary. The Carew
family have lived on the estate since the 15th century
and the present house, built in 1721, is in the Classical
style with a central block of Pentewan stone joined by
colonnades to red brick wings. The house contains
exquisite tapestries, a large library and dining room and
some fine pieces of 18th century furniture. Open on certain days Apr-Oct, check website for full opening times.
-
Tel: 01752 822236 - attractive 900 acre gardens are open all
year and free. Dating back to Elizabethan times, they
contain a deer park, follies, parkland, Italian gardens and an
orangery. Mount Edgcumbe House, open to the public for a fee on
certain days, is a reconstruction of a 16th century building
destroyed in the Blitz. Mount Edgcumbe is host to the National Camelia Collection.
The mild Cornish climate and Mount Edgcumbe's stunning location surrounded on three sides
by water at the entrance to Plymouth Sound ensures that these beautiful and diverse shrubs
are at their best from early February.
- twin coastal villages where cottages
cluster around a small quay. It is a pleasant 2 mile walk
from Cawsand, west along the coast path to Rame Head. On
the way, just as the path emerges from the trees and set
into the cliffs are the remains of a small church. From
here are visible Trinity House buildings that contain a
fog horn. From Rame Head it is possible to return to
Cawsand by the lanes, passing Rame Parish Church on the
way. 
- a distinctive rocky promontory surmounted by the shell of an old chapel. The chapel was first licensed for mass in 1397 and was dedicated to Saint Michael. It is probably on the site of a Celtic chapel. The hermit priest who occupied the building lived in its upper floor and was responsible for lighting a beacon to guide mariners and also warn of seaborn threats. As early as 1486 records exist of Plymouth paying a watchman at Rame to maintain a beacon there to warn shipping and to bring news to Plymouth of important ships. A concrete structure standing on the seaward side of the building is the remains of a second world war radar station.
- 2 miles of high cliffs and the best
beaches on Cornwalls south coast stretching west from
Rame Head. It is well worth descending the network of
paths to seek out the quiet coves and broad beaches, with
their 'white sand', below. The larger beaches have
lifegaurds in attendance during peak months.
- A village with a tiny harbour and great family beach. Parking and
the descent to the beach are easy. Toilets and ice cream kiosk. A harbour and second beach can be found at the far end of the beach and road.
- A fantastic place to birdwatch, many waders and estuarine birds reside in the waters here. There's also the remains of an engine shed and line once used for supplying the fort at Antony.
- the future wife of Sir Francis Drake was born here. 
largely unchanged since the 1940's 
- Brunels world famous rail bridge joining Cornwall to the rest of the nation. 
- branch line following the river stopping at tiny stations linked by
footpaths (Railtrack) (PT)
- Tel: 01579 351346 - Medieval manor house set above sheltered valley garden. (NT)(PT)