Helford River
The Helford River is a waterway on Cornwall's south coast bordered by dense woodlands and tiny villages, stretching between Falmouth Bay and the Lizard Peninsula. It contains several creeks and hidden inlets marked by steep, tree-covered banks that shelter herons, egrets, and waterfowl.
The Helford River was once a busy trading port where ships brought lace, granite, tobacco, and French rum before becoming the quiet place it is today. Small ferries have carried people across the water for hundreds of years and remain part of the area's long maritime and fishing heritage.
The Helford River features prominently in Daphne du Maurier's novel Frenchman's Creek, which centers on one of its creeks and shapes how visitors understand this place. Today, walkers and readers explore the same quiet waters that inspired the author's imagination.
Visitors can explore the area on foot with easy to moderate walks along the coast, or by boat to reach hidden creeks. Kayaks, paddleboards, and small boats are available at several points along the river, and many pubs and cafés near the water offer places to rest.
The area is home to the Sea Life Trust Seal Sanctuary near Gweek, where injured seals are cared for and released back into the wild. Visitors can watch seal pups through underwater windows and learn about their rescue stories.
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