an ideal base to explore Penzance and the beautiful West Penwith coast line of Cornwall.

Trannack Cottage makes the perfect location to explore Penzance and all the many wonderful areas in this part of Cornwall. Here we provide a brief tour of the well-known beauty spots, villages and towns.

Cornwall's history is unique when compared to the rest of England: it has been populated since the Stone Age and was not ruled by London until comparatively recent times. It is steeped in mythology with tales of mermaids, piskies and giants. Many believe that King Arthur, Excalibur and The Lady of the Lake are all to be found in Cornwall.

Cornwall is rich in archaeological treasures dating back thousands of year: standing stone circles, Stone Age burial chambers and Bronze Age villages.

Penzance town centre is within easy walking distance of Trannack Cottage and there you will find many restaurants and shops. Walk through the sub-tropical Morrab Gardens to the Promenade where you will find the recently modernised open-air Jubilee Pool, which you will pass on your way to the picturesque fishing villages of Newlyn and Mousehole.

Newlyn is a working fishing port with its harbour full of trawlers and Mousehole, a pretty village with quaint harbour and artists galleries.

Marazion, with the fairy tale castle of St. Michael's Mount is only four miles away. The beach there is long and golden and the swimming extremely safe. There is also a well-equipped children's playground next to the beach.

St. Ives is a well-known "artists' colony". It has several beautiful beaches and of course the New Tate Gallery. Wander through the pretty narrow streets full of craft shops and galleries. To avoid the traffic, leave your car at St. Erth and take the Park and Ride train along the lovely coastal route through Lelant and Carbis Bay.

Porthcurno is a beautiful cove with a beach of shell sand. The Minack open-air theatre is on the cliff top directly above it, and all through the summer there is a varied programme of productions. All around this coast there are beautiful secluded coves nestling like jewels under the cliffs.

The romantic Isles of Scilly are only a short flight away by helicopter, or go by ferry on the Scillonian which leaves daily from Penzance harbour. There you can visit the sub-tropical gardens on the island of Tresco and take boat trips to all the other off islands, big and small.

The recently opened Eden Project near St. Austell, is a fascinating place to visit and will provide you and your family with an experience not to be forgotten.

National Trust gardens are plentiful in Cornwall. To walk in the peace and serenity of an historic garden may be just what you like to do. Trengwainton and Trewidden Gardens are within a couple of miles and further afield are Trelissick and Trebah in the Falmouth area, and the very popular Lost Gardens of Heligan are near Mevagissey in North Cornwall.

Sennen is a popular beach with families and if the wind is right good for surfing. For some more challenging waves, Gwenvor is just around the headland and very popular with the more dedicated surfers. Gwithian, near Hayle, is also a very popular beach for families and surfers alike.