Falmouth And Its Famous Harbor

Alongside the lovely river of the Fal River on the coast can be found the city of Falmouth in Cornwall. Falmouth’s name comes directly from the River though no one knows where the river got its name. The harbor is well known around the world as it is the third deepest in the world as well as being the deepest in England. You can visit the castle that overlooks the harbor and was built specifically to defend Carrick Roads.

The main town was actually an off shoot of a nearby town of Penryn and originated in 1613. The town is famous for the Falmouth packet service which was one of the first mail services as it was in operation for more than 160 years. This was the main mail service that was used to get a message throughout the British Empire. Many sailors also disembarked here as it was the first stop for the Navy ships coming home.

The economy centers on the maritime industry and even though it is not as successful as it once was the docks still are thriving and provide plenty of work. Cargo still comes into this port and ships can also bunker down in the harbor. Many cruise ships have taken to departing from here instead of London.

Besides being a busy port it also is a very popular holiday spot as there are plenty of beaches and much of the available accommodation overlooks the beaches and harbor. The main five beaches found in Falmouth are Maenporrth beach, Swanpool beach, Gyllngvase beach, Tunnel beach and Castle beach.

You may remember Falmouth from the story the wind in the Willows as this was the birthplace of toad and his friends and several letters were sent form this place. The city is also the setting for The Forgotten Story which was written by Winston Graham. Several films and TV shows were shot in and around the city and include the Onedin Line, Scott of the Antarctic, Treasure Island and Windbag the Sailor.

There are plenty of water sports and boating to be had in Falmouth and several famous races have begun or ended in the city. The HMS Beagle, Charles Darwin’s ship, ended its journey here and the tall ships race in 1998 originated in the harbor.

One of the best museums for maritime history is the National Maritime museum as the three different floors are dedicated to different aspects to the industry. Much of the exhibits depict the relationship between the city and the sea.

Find your next Falmouth hotel here.

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